Thats very true. All we would need is a US postal address, and we shouldn't have any problems with the account/billing etc. Following from your logic, which seems very credible, all I hope is that the reception will be acceptable. Hope it works for me in Calgary!!
Asif

 

That's why if I knew which satellite it was being broadcast from...I can check what it's footprint is and see how low the signal is in various areas...then we will have an idea of what to expect. Now, tall buildings and satellites is not a good mix.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by matrix
[B]

 

I see, I misunderstood how this is working I think...from what you are saying, the sat. signal is received by ground stations then resent via terrestrial waves to the subscribers? Is this what you are saying? If so, yes we should still be able to receive it, just like we can receive US radio station. Ever noticed that on clear, dry days, you can pick up more FM stations? There are people that use HAM radio all around the world. Yes, these use different frequencies, but is still a radiating technology.

If not, I still don't see how we cannot get the signal, especially on our border cities. The microwave energy would just be at a lower level. Then it is just a matter of how low is it and is it still possible to receive it with consumer electronics. The radiation will basically cover all of Canada at increasing lower levels, however, if you have instrumentation sensitive enough, you will be able to detect it. Same principles as radio astronomy, this is how they are picking up very, very, very faint signals from countless light years away. They just have better stuff than we do.

Do you know if this service is working in Buffalo or Detroit? If so, our look angles in Toronto and Windsor will be close. It is the terrestial distribution that I am trying to understand.

 

It is beamed directly to the end-user from the satellite. Terrestrial repeaters are only used in urban canyon/tunnel areas where the 4 sec buffer would be knocked out. You're right to think that border cities may get the service. While the satellite footprints end at the border, I'm sure that you could get some signal. Kinda like how hundreds of thousands Canadians illegally get DirecTV and EchoStar and get there bills forwarded to them from Mail Boxes Etc.

Although, if you live IN a city in Canada, your service will suck because there will be no repeaters installed there so you will surely lose signal (these are short-range repeaters here) because of the combo of low look angles and signal blockage.

Hope this helps.

 

This is what I meant when I stated this:

Another quick question, if the end user receives the satellite signal directly, then the terrestrial repeaters have to use the same freq. in the city for the subscribers. Is that is what is happening?

 

OT - Does anyone know where to buy the Sony XM modulator kit online for a good price?

Reading this thread just helped me decide what to get my dad for x-mass. This thing sounds great for his boat. He could cruise from Montauk to Ocean City and not have to keep changing the radio station.

TIA -- tom

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by matrix
[B]

 

the sony XM FMmod is due to us in the next week (tweeter) - i can't say when it'll be out anywhere else, but that's when sony's shipping us ours.