[Kieran]

CSR Ottawa Repeater NOW(WAS) on

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]

repeater

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.

 

[qnx]

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

 

[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]

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]

Csr

just think of it as XM Canada

 

[Kieran]

repeater off

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.

 

[qnx]

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

 

[Kieran]

from CSR

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.

 

[qnx]

Ah, good going canadaeh !

 

[wysiwyg]

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]

true

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

 

[mcpish]

Is there a similar list of repeaters for Sirius-Canada?

In Winnipeg as many of you know, the reception of Sirius via the satellites is really good since its the ideal location in North America, but if I'm in an underpass (such as the one on McPhillips by the Train Tracks, or the Pembina/Jubilee one) for more than 4 seconds it cuts out. I'd imagine the repeaters would fix this? Other than that though, Winnipeg probably doesn't need repeaters for Sirius, the signal doesn't even cut out at Portage & Main or anywhere downtown where the tallest buildings are.

You know personally I think when Sirius and XM launch in Canada the grey market will increase. You know why? If my friends are interested in Satellite radio, I'll just tell them:
"Yeah go buy one at the local store, but whatever you do, don't register it. Call me instead on the phone and give me the ESN number on the radio. I'll register it under my name on my American account as another receiver. You'll get the full service, not the watered down Canadian version and I can give it to you for a discount."

 

[Kieran]

Sirius Canada repeater list

You might be able to find out what Sirius-Canada tentative repeater list is from their CRTC Application? I found the CSR-XM repeater list at the CRTC web site buried in their application.

 

[ai4i]

You know personally I think when Sirius and XM launch in Canada the grey market will increase. You know why? If my friends are interested in Satellite radio, I'll just tell them:
"Yeah go buy one at the local store, but whatever you do, don't register it. Call me instead on the phone and give me the ESN number on the radio. I'll register it under my name on my American account as another receiver. You'll get the full service, not the watered down Canadian version and I can give it to you for a discount."

You must have several million friends; nobody likes me

 

[Kieran]

more Ottawa repeater information

Using the Industry Canada database:
http://sd.ic.gc.ca/pls/eng_alpha/web_search.licensee_name_input

I was able to determine that at the moment CSR only has a licenced repeater in Canada on 2336.66mhz with a call sign of VX9CUS and located on the Canada Trust, BCE Place building. There are no futher listings for CSR and no listings for Sirius Canada.

 

[Kieran]

Repeater back on again

Looks like XM Canada's "show and tell" repeater was back on for a couple of days in Ottawa but is off today (Aug. 19th). There was even one report from a friend of mine that got XM one floor under in a parking garage. Sure will be nice when the repeater is on 24/7