CSR Ottawa Repeater NOW on

[Kieran]

This morning I was driving to work and noticed the XM signal did not vanish in the usual spots. I switched to the menu on my XR-9 for radio signals and the repeater signal was full scale. Two other XM users in Ottawa noticed the samething. As of 9:00am on Friday, I have my Myfi on beside my desk in Hull and getting a repeater signal.

They may have turned it on yestersday for CRTC demonstartion purposes but it was still on this morning. Hope it stays on

[Raven_]

With the approval, does it mean that we will get repeaters installed all across canada soon?

My dead spots in Montreal are getting annoying

[Kieran]

I do not know about other cities but the Ottawa repeater had been installed for testing purposes a few months back. It may only be a demo repeater but the signal has a range of about 30km.

[HornHonker]

Excellent news ! They were pretty aggressive putting up repeaters in the USA so we may see them going up quickly.

[Raven_]

It would be great to get solid schedule of repeater installations but I guess that's inside info :P

[ken0042]

OK, I feel like an idiot, but what does "CSR" stand for here? I've seen it used twice now; and it doesn't look like the usual "Customer Service Rep."

[Arthur Dent]

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, I feel like an idiot, but what does "CSR" stand for here? I've seen it used twice now; and it doesn't look like the usual "Customer Service Rep."

Canadian Satellite Radio (XM)

[Kieran]

just think of it as XM Canada

[Kieran]

Alas, too good to last. It has been turned off as of 11:00am.
Can't wait for it to be on 24/7

[jvillain]

I wonder if CSR repeaters will be like DAB and OTA HDTV. Only available in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver.

[HornHonker]

The initial repeater placement forcast was in their original CRTC proposal. I recall Victoria was allocated two.

[Kieran]

From the CSR licence application:

15 largest cities and city to city high volume traffic patterns.

18 high power repeaters MAX EIRP 12.5kw
100 low power repeaters max 6.3kw, typical 3kw EIRP
Future plans for ultra low power rural repeaters

The 15 cities getting terrestrial repeaters (# of repeaters high and low power)

1. Toronto (2 high/15 low)
2. Montreal (1 high/14 low)
3. Vancouver (1 high/13 low)
4. Ottawa-Gatineau (1 high/9 low)
5. Calgary (1 high)
6. Edmonton (1 high/15 low)
7. Quebec City (1 high/2 low)
8. Winnipeg (1 high/3 low)
9. Hamilton (1 high/4 low)
10. London (1 high/1 low)
11. Kitchener (1 high/4 low)
12. St. Catharines-Niagara (2 high/7 low)
13. Halifax (1 high)
14. Victoria (1 high/5 low)
15. Windsor (2 high/7 low)

Corridors
1. Hwy 99 Vancouver to Whistler
2. Hwy 2 Calgary to Edmonton
3. Hwy 401 Windsor to Toronto
4. Hwy 400 Toronto to Barrie
5. Hwy 401/20 Toronto to Montreal
6. Hwy 417/40 Ottawa to Montreal
7. Hwy 15/117 Montreal to Saint-Jovite
8. Hwy 20 Montreal to Quebec City

I have been "told" that the "Show & Tell" repeater in Ottawa is installed downtown.

[HornHonker]

Ah, good going canadaeh !

[wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by canadaeh?

Corridors
1. Hwy 99 Vancouver to Whistler
2. Hwy 2 Calgary to Edmonton
3. Hwy 401 Windsor to Toronto
4. Hwy 400 Toronto to Barrie
5. Hwy 401/20 Toronto to Montreal
6. Hwy 417/40 Ottawa to Montreal
7. Hwy 15/117 Montreal to Saint-Jovite
8. Hwy 20 Montreal to Quebec City

I understand the need for repeaters in large cities (due to buildings blocking the line of sight with the sky... But why is there a need for them on the highways?? The whole purpose of satellite radio is that you pick it up via satellite almost anywhere in the country.

[Kieran]

I agree...I have driven
Corridors
Hwy 2 Calgary to Edmonton
Hwy 401/20 Toronto to Montreal
Hwy 417/40 Ottawa to Montreal

and had 100% (with XM) satellite signal with no drop outs. I even drove through the mountains from Banff to Lake Louise with almost no drop outs. A few weeks ago I was up in Whitehorse and XM worked great with my Myfi in the car with a mobile antenna. Repeaters sure are required in a downtown urban jungle but not out in the country