American satellite recievers will not work in Canada
To ensure that Canadians pay as much as possible, both XM and Sirius have added locks to their radio devices. Canadian radios can only receive Canadian channels, U.S. radios can only receive U.S. channels. What this means is that Canadians cannot buy radios in the U.S. and then use them at home.
For example, one radio the XM2go is being advertised in Canada for $399 Canadian. The same model on Amazon.com can be purchased for $199 U.S. ($236 CDN) after rebates.
This move may lead more Canadians to continue getting their radio through the Gray Market instead, where they will ultimately pay much less and receive 20 additional channels.
December 11th, 2005 at 9:22 am
Please consider answering the following:
If i drive from Florida, U.S. to Ottawa, Canada with a U.S. satellite radio, will i hear my U.S. satellite while in Canada? or is Canada blocking the U.S. signal altogether?
Many thanks in advance.
December 16th, 2005 at 4:14 pm
Jennifer,
You could drive anywhere in North America with an American Satellite Radio receiver and still hear the American chanals. The Canadian recievers are blocked to not recieve the American broadcasts, not the country itself. Conversely, you could use a Canadian radio to get Canadian channels in the northern U.S.