Can't Get VueCube Flex to Work in Canada

[hhornig]

I have the VueCube Flex automatic dish, but it will not work in Canada. The scanner locks on Satellites, but the reciever says it can't find signal. It worked OK in the states and when we were only a few miles in Canada, but now it won't work. Is this a short coming of the system or am I doing something wrong??

[wmoses]

As an adjunct to my previous message above, this is what I found from the Industry Canada (government) website -

5. Why does Canada have rules making the reception of American DTH programming illegal?
There are a number of reasons why Canada prohibits unauthorized decoding of encrypted subscription programming signals. A Canadian broadcaster who has purchased distribution rights for programs suffers financial loss if the same program provided on a U.S. satellite signal is decoded in Canada. Also, the subscriber base for Canadian DTH distribution undertakings is significantly diminished if Canadians subscribe to unauthorized American DTH services. The importation of American DTH equipment and the purchase of American subscriptions ultimately threatens jobs and growth in the Canadian broadcasting industry.

The link is here for those interested in reading the legal reasons why the signal may not be received.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is a public organisation in Canada with mandate as a regulatory agency for broadcasting and telecommunications. It was created in 1976 when it took over responsibility for regulating telecommunication carriers.

[Bill_Satellite]

chiefneon wrote:
Howdy!

I was told by a campground owner last year that the automatic satellite dish have a hard time locking onto a satellite because they move to fast. He stated that the manuel dish work much better locking onto the satellite. I did not get a chance to find out as I contacted DirecTv for help and they discontuined our service until which time we returned to the US.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

Now that's funny!!!!:@ The satellites DO NOT MOVE AT ALL in relation to the Earth. That's why you can mount an antenna on the side of a house and point it to one fixed point in the sky.

[Bill_Satellite]

hhornig wrote:
I have the VueCube Flex automatic dish, but it will not work in Canada. The scanner locks on Satellites, but the reciever says it can't find signal. It worked OK in the states and when we were only a few miles in Canada, but now it won't work. Is this a short coming of the system or am I doing something wrong??

Just because the antenna stopped moving does not mean it is locked onto the required satellite. If your receiver is showing no signal, the signal is either too weak or the antenna is NOT locked to your satellite. No one has any way of knowing where you are and it is impossible for the signal to be blocked. Yes, I have been in Canada and yes I have received a signal. However, I was not using a VueCube.
The Dish Network service is not available as far into Canada as DirecTV so the service you are using is also important to know.

[hhornig]

If it locks on that should discount satellites being too fast or too low. How would DirecTV know I am in Canada. Just doesn't make sense to me, although I did get TV closer to the border.

[wmoses]

Bobbo wrote:
I don't know, but the "antenna is too small and doesn't pull in enough signal strength" sounds like a real possibility.

This is what I use and it works great:



Pretty small and unsophisticated.

[Bobbo]

I don't know, but the "antenna is too small and doesn't pull in enough signal strength" sounds like a real possibility.

[wmoses]

SCVJeff wrote:
So there is now an RF fence along the border to prevent reception on the other side? Geeze, you learn something new every day.

Jeff - is it not possible that the satellite could be locked on but the signal is being blocked by the service provider? I thought the same way you did that's why I brought my receiver and antenna for the trip, not for extra ballast in the RV that's for sure.

The fact that I got the satellite but got no signal suggested something else was at play. The OP seems to have the same experience.

Maybe we should hear from someone who actually went to Canada and had success before dismissing the stated possibility?!

[Bumpyroad]

chiefneon wrote:
Howdy!

I was told by a campground owner last year that the automatic satellite dish have a hard time locking onto a satellite because they move to fast. He stated that the manuel dish work much better locking onto the satellite. I did not get a chance to find out as I contacted DirecTv for help and they discontuined our service until which time we returned to the US.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

so sats move too fast for the auto dishes to lock on but one can manually do it faster? and don't ask, don't tell seems to be the answer here.
bumpy

[SCVJeff]

So there is now an RF fence along the border to prevent reception on the other side? Geeze, you learn something new every day.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

I was told by a campground owner last year that the automatic satellite dish have a hard time locking onto a satellite because they move to fast. He stated that the manuel dish work much better locking onto the satellite. I did not get a chance to find out as I contacted DirecTv for help and they discontuined our service until which time we returned to the US.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[Ivylog]

Your receiver does not know which side of the border you are on. This map might help for SATs 99, 101, 103.

Key Antenna Size Products EIRP
Orange 1 m (41.5")
TracVision HD11- Ka-band Coverage 45 dBW
red 1 m (41.5") TracVision HD11 - Ku-band Coverage 42 dBW
purple 60 cm (24")
TracVision HD7 - Ka-band Coverage 47 dBW
light purple 60 cm (24") TracVision HD7 - Ku-band Coverage
NOTE: it takes a 24" antenna to get a good signal in much of Canada

[wmoses]

hhornig wrote:
I have the VueCube Flex automatic dish, but it will not work in Canada. The scanner locks on Satellites, but the reciever says it can't find signal. It worked OK in the states and when we were only a few miles in Canada, but now it won't work. Is this a short coming of the system or am I doing something wrong??

I have a DirecTV system in my RV and the last time I went to Canada it would not work. Contacted support and they said that due to broadcast licensing agreements between satellite service providers in the US and Canada they are not legally allowed to transmit to receivers when in Canada. That is the reason.

[Ivylog]

The further north you go the bigger the antenna you need. Even my larger dome dish would not get a strong enough signal in Jasper, but it did just barely work in
Baniff. Even a 18" oval dish is border line in Jasper. There is a reason those Canadians have 3' ones.