Satellite radio and DirecTV in Canada, Yukon and Alaska

[grammy8]

We have traveled to Newfoundland and Mexico and always had Satellite radio. This year we are traveling to Alaska and were wondering if we would have satellite radio again. Our DirecTV worked in the Maritime until we crossed over to Cape Breton. It even worked on PEI. After the Maritime, we did the Gaspe Peninsula all the way around to Quebec and had DirecTV the whole trip. Just thought I would add that for anyone planning a trip in that direction.

Just a note, but in 1997, we traveled to Maine and couldn't pick up DirecTV. Satellites and systems have greatly improved. We have the Winegard that works while moving.

[tbutler]

We have an XM Radio installed in 2004. We lost the radio coverage as we neared Dawson Creek, BC, the beginning of the Alaska Highway. We didn't have it again until we were south of Dawson Creek. Our antenna is on the outside of the roof of our motor home. It is possible that some of the roof top equipment was blocking the signal. We also have the same XM set up on our Trailblazer and had no luck with receiving signal in the Trailblazer when we were out exploring around Dawson Creek.

The Direct TV on our KVH dish dropped out before we got north of Prince George, BC. As you go further north, you will find even small trees will be above the horizon and capable of blocking your signal. When you get to Alaska you will find that everyone has an oversized dish (about 3 feet in diameter) on their home. We saw some RV'ers who came from the lower 48 and carried one of these larger dishes with them. Of course they had to set them up manually to use them.

Most campgrounds have cable service, at least a half dozen channels, Canadian TV. The Red Green Show! We really enjoyed the Canadian coverage of the Olympics last year when we were up in the Rockies near Jasper, AB. Good luck with your reception. Let us know how it differs from our experience!

[lanerd]

We have an XM Radio installed in 2004. We lost the radio coverage as we neared Dawson Creek, BC, the beginning of the Alaska Highway. We didn't have it again until we were south of Dawson Creek. Our antenna is on the outside of the roof of our motor home. It is possible that some of the roof top equipment was blocking the signal. We also have the same XM set up on our Trailblazer and had no luck with receiving signal in the Trailblazer when we were out exploring around Dawson Creek.

The Direct TV on our KVH dish dropped out before we got north of Prince George, BC. As you go further north, you will find even small trees will be above the horizon and capable of blocking your signal. When you get to Alaska you will find that everyone has an oversized dish (about 3 feet in diameter) on their home. We saw some RV'ers who came from the lower 48 and carried one of these larger dishes with them. Of course they had to set them up manually to use them.

Most campgrounds have cable service, at least a half dozen channels, Canadian TV. The Red Green Show! We really enjoyed the Canadian coverage of the Olympics last year when we were up in the Rockies near Jasper, AB. Good luck with your reception. Let us know how it differs from our experience!

We had Sirris radio and Dish tv and neither much made it past Calgary. Fortunately, I was aware that this would happen and prior to leaving for Alaska, I wired in my DW's iPod as she has probably over several thousand recordings on it. I used the AUX 1 input on the radio and with this, we could listen to the iPod over the dashboard's stereo unit and all of the speakers located throughout the coach including the big base speaker. Great sounds.

As for the Dish tv, forget it. We used either cable at the rv parks or over the air tv in the larger cities (some only had one or two channels). We watched the Olympics in Valdez, Haines, Juneau, and Sitka.....all on cable tv.

Hope this helps

Ron