I'm wondering if someone with experience with the satellite link weather overlays available on the newer Garmin GPS units and other GPS receivers can tell me how well and how far north they work up the west coast? I'm planning a flight to Ketchikan next May and am wondering if they provide service that far north? I do know that the Sirrus satellite radio works at least as far north as Juneau but the weather overlays are through XM satellites.

Neither XM or Garmin are able to answer the question so I'm hoping someone with the system in their plane and who has flown in SE Alaska or coastal BC can help.

Thanks.

Mr. Helix

If you don't get an answer by tomorrow I'll let you know, we just installed an avidyne 500EX and I need to test that sucker out....will check out Alaska for yah.

mr.helix wrote:I'm wondering if someone with experience with the satellite link weather overlays available on the newer Garmin GPS units and other GPS receivers can tell me how well and how far north they work up the west coast? I'm planning a flight to Ketchikan next May and am wondering if they provide service that far north? I do know that the Sirrus satellite radio works at least as far north as Juneau but the weather overlays are through XM satellites.

Neither XM or Garmin are able to answer the question so I'm hoping someone with the system in their plane and who has flown in SE Alaska or coastal BC can help.

Thanks.

Mr. Helix

Howdy...

The XM weather is for the Lower 48 only. No Canadian, and no Alaska weather. But, the XM radio works great all the way up. At about Kluane Lake some of the transponders (channels) go away on the top end, but most of the others work just fine. From Fairbanks up, you need to have a good southern view for the antenna to get a signal. This was with a Garmin 396, and ant. was in the upper left corner of the windshield. An external mount for the XM would improve things greatly.

Gump

Been there tried that - as Gumpair says above you will likely receive the signal just fine - problem is there will be no weather products available for you to use outside of the CONUS (and the "CONUS" specifically does not include Alaska or western Canada either ) But you can listen to your music at least - assuming you have that in your subscription

anyone know of a phone number or email to someone who could change this someday? everytime i call XM i get some young female that didn't even know they had aviation weather services and before i bought my 396 she assured me the weather would work in alaska and 100 miles into canada on both ends. it obviously does not.
just thinking if the chairman of XM (or maybe garmin?) gets 300 emails about lack of weather service in AK, maybe the wheels will start turning

Last I heard, David Bowie was the only authority figure for XM. At least on the commercials.

I actually know the chairman of XM, but they are just a conduit for the service.

OOOOOOO perhaps he could have a discussion with the weather service providers... or give you a contact???

in the meantime, i'll try to get ahold of david bowie