Headlights and DTV in Canada

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

We're planning on a southern Canada trip next summer. 2 questions;

1. Will we be able to receive Direct TV on our SD receiver? We're using a Trac Vision dome antenna.

2. Will Canada require the headlights to automatically be on any time the ignition is on or can I simply use the headlight switch?

Thx, Steve

[Jeff Watt]

Steve,

The following official link (you will need to scroll down a bit) discusses daytime running lamps in Canada. I believe you driving a U.S. registered vehicle are ok, with the possible exception of visiting Nova Scotia where you will have to use your lights or fog lights.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/roadsafety-1158.htm

No idea about your satellite; I use Shaw.

Jeff

[Bill Sprague]

1. Will we be able to receive Direct TV on our SD receiver? We're using a Trac Vision dome antenna.

Our's worked fine.  However, I couldn't phone them.  They only have 800 numbers and they are blocked from Canada.  If you need billing or tech support, you have to do it by email.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Bill, Jeff,
Thanks for the answers. DW will be happy and I don't have to install a mod.
Steve

[Gerald Farris]

Steve,
Your driving lights (fog lights) are wired through the switch, and they work for Canadian driving lights. I never turn them off(switch low on dash to left of steering wheel), because they come on with the ignition, and go off when the ignition is turned off.

You will probably be OK with the Trac Vision dome in southern Canada, but since the antenna dish is so small, you will probably have a weak signal problem if you travel very far north of the US border.

Gerald

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Gerald,
Good idea on the driving lights. I'll start doing same.
THX Steve

[Dwight Wilson]

Hi Steve,
Daytime driving lights are only a requirement for vehicles registered in Canada. The US exchange is in your favour but you will note that some things (like beer and wine) are more expensive here.
Dwight,

[Joel Ashley]

Because of reading beforehand the same thing Dwight mentions, I didn't use my headlights during daytime when there for a month in 2012, and no one, including Park Service personnel, ever questioned it.  There may have been a few times where conditions warranted driving or headlights to augment visibility, but I otherwise didn't worry about it.

Joel

[Les Brandt]

Can't answer on the Satelite reception, but I gotta say it's a good idea to put your lights on for day time travel. I'm not sure why it's not mandatory everywhere! It's proven to make you more visible at a distance.

Just my thoughts.

[Joel Weiss]

1. Will we be able to receive Direct TV on our SD receiver? We're using a Trac Vision dome antenna.

Our's worked fine.  However, I couldn't phone them.  They only have 800 numbers and they are blocked from Canada.  If you need billing or tech support, you have to do it by email.

We use Google Voice for making calls to the US when we are in Canada.  You can use it to make regular voice calls as well as video calls.  A Google Voice number is free and so are the calls. You can use your laptop's microphone and speakers.  With Google Voice you can call 800-numbers from Canada with no difficulty.