retired frog
albany,ny
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Joined: 10/12/2006
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I should have known better!
I have XM radio as part of my Chevy Silverado package & signed up to cover our 3 month Alaska journey. Everything was fine in the lower 48 and spotty in Washington & Oregon hills. In BC, Alberta, YT & Alaska it was erratic or in AK almost non-existent. It dawned on me that the sattelite is probably equatorial & the transmit angle excessive. The antenna on the truck is rather limited, so maybe a longer, higher gain antenna would have helped.
I just want to warn you good people of the problem.
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Lucky Mr H
Creston, IA
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Joined: 07/29/2008
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You had it nailed. They are equatorial sats.
Here's a good link about it.
Looks like Sirius would have been the better option, but I do understand that XM came with the vehicle.
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j.frank
montgomery, alabama, usa
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Joined: 08/14/2002
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That somewhat parallels our experience last year. We extended our OnStar service just so we'd have telephone capability in the lonely and desolate areas in Canada where our cell phone service doesn't work. No So! OnStar won't work in Canada. At least ours didn't. I decided if it wouldn't work when I might really need it, we canceled.
bamaman
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retired frog
albany,ny
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Joined: 10/12/2006
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Yes Onstar service also uses cellular, Verizon I believe. I thought it was satelite but found out differently.
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Gruffy
monominto mb ca
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Joined: 10/02/2003
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Large areas of the western USA have no service as well. It should have been called OnInterstate.
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Clattertruck
Centennial Colorado
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Joined: 06/19/2003
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Our Sirius radio stopped working in northern BC.
Verizon does not work in Canada despite the coverage map for North America sevice. It worked a couple of times in AK. Verizon is a joke, even in the US western areas.
Clattertruck
2008 SD F450 PSD 6.4L CC 4X4 DRW, Lariat Auto trans 4.30 LS, 2008 Snowriver 108 truck camper. Jeep Unlimited Rubicon as toad.
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robanddi
Burton TX USA
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Joined: 08/11/2003
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We have XM and can get signal in AK when we are stationary. Moving signal breaks up too often.
I have had Verizon for years and generally get coverage in cities or major towns in Alaska. It does work in Canada but is expensive (and there is limited signals in the boonies).
Diann
Robert & Diann
2001 34' Foretravel U270
2004 Avalanche
Burton TX
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dav5942
Stuart, FL
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Joined: 05/24/2004
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We also had XM coverage in most of Alaska but only when stationary. Great to have when no cell, no sat TV, no local, n0 etc, we listened to the old time radio channel.
2007 Newmar 42' Mid Engine w/Fatboy,ATVs-in Garage,lifted Jeep(s) in tow, Hog Valley Florida(a diamond in the rough),'09 Alaska again!
2007 Tour Alaska Fishing '08 Tour Grandchildren Newmar Mid Engine
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