KVH Providers?

[Ctsearay]

Hi guys,

I have searched all over but am coming up with nothing great. Do I use Dish or Direct TV? I have a KVH4 and need the box and the service. What is everyone's input? Thanks in advance.

 

[bahamabreisus]

We have Direct, love it

 

[vandal]

Did you just buy boat or is it a new install. I have a KVH m3dx and can use direct or dish i have direct for 7 years and fight with them a lot when you turn off in fall it can be off for 180 days and they turn it back on with you telling them to got a credit back for 2 weeks. Dish charges 5.00 per month when off. Pay 59.00 per month if you have direct at home extra box is 7.00 for boat and dont mention boat. A 110 volt box on Ebay 120.00 12 volt if you can find 450.00. ^They give local service where your bill is sent to have NY 2,4,5,7,9 and 11 included dish charges extra for local.

 

[WDCboater]

KVH dishes work with Dish Network and DirecTV in the U.S.
http://www.kvh.com/Leisure/Marine-Systems/Television.aspx

You'll need a receiver. You can find them online. If you already have DirecTV at home you can add the receiver to your home account.

I'm not familiar with a KVH4. The TV series is usually M1, M3, M5, TV1, TV3, TV5.

 

[BigBoysToys]

I just installed the KVH TV1 and I'm a half step ahead of you on the programming. So far, I have gone with Dish Network. Everything has been going well but the boat is still on the hard and signal is blocked by a large flybridge boat and a building so I can't really speak to the functionality of the dish network system. I should be in the water within the next week so I can provide an update then.

 

[WDCboater]

I will say my KVH system is the one thing on the boat I always know will work. Go figure it's the most reliable piece of equipment. Turn it on and done.

 

[PMC]

I have a m3dx, and went with Dish. I don't have any satellite services at home, and use this exclusively on the boat, during te season. I basically run 6 months on /off. Cutomer service is great, allowing me to turn on and suspend my service in one phone call. One of the reasons I went with Dish over Direct TV was the High Def Option. I did purchase the tuner boxs (2x), which was 110 volt, that is not a big deal to me, but should be noted if your trying to run off the batteries.

 

[BigBoysToys]

PMC, which receivers do you have? I just set up the VIP211z, added the hard drive for DVR, and was pretty unhappy to find that there is no UHF remote option.

 

[PMC]

PMC, which receivers do you have? I just set up the VIP211z, added the hard drive for DVR, and was pretty unhappy to find that there is no UHF remote option.

Dish Network ViP211z HD Receiver

I have no issues with the remotes, as i have direct line of sight. I have a IR repeater, for if / when I hide the receiver

 

[The Bill Collector]

We have Direct on the boat, in the motorhome and at the house.... Works great & the RV & boat are just extra bedrooms as far as the billing goes.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Paul do you buy a box, Then call for service? I also do not have satellite at home. What does a decent plan cost?
Ps i also have a KVH4


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[PMC]

Paul do you buy a box, Then call for service? I also do not have satellite at home. What does a decent plan cost?
Ps i also have a KVH4


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Yes, that is what I did.....I bought the boxes, and started a NON-Contract plan. I forget the plan name; bunch of channels along with the locals. its something like $65/mo. So $400 a season gives me clear HD digital TV. In 2 weeks or so (Just in time for memorial), I'll call and re-activate my account. As I'm on the phone, they send a signal to my receiver (each box is serialized). Service is restored immediately.

On the M3Dx, it has a control box specific for the dish. I needed to do some minor programming (KVH tech support really helped me), where I defined the provider and satellite coordinates. With this I was able to buy any box, the same as a home system. With your M4, you *may* need a KVH compatible receiver in order to control the dish. Give KVH a call, their customer service and tech support is really good. You'll need a Serial Number off the device.

 

[h_gerry]

I have a Sea-King dome on my boat and Direct TV service.I do not have satellite in the house, we have Fios.I just changed my Direct TV package because the 2 year agreement just ended.The bill started at about $40 per month in 2013.This last bill was $84.25 for the month.It was their Choice package with no premium channels, but it does have the local broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.).Since we are going to spend some nights on the boat, hopefully quite a few, including the Northeast Flotilla in August, I just changed my package to the Premium package which has basically everything, including all the premium movie channels and the broadcast networks.The bill will be $101.13 per month for the next 6 months.No contract or agreement.I can change the package at any time after 30 days.So when the discounts end in November, I can switch “down” to the bare minimum plan until next boating season and shop for a new deal then.I think this will work for me.

By the way, I have two boxes so I can watch two different programs at once on two different TVs. My Sea-King can be used with Direct TV or Dish Network. The only controller for the dome is the Sea-King controller that turns it on and off and does the programming for the dome. The boxes are standard Direct/Dish TV boxes. Also, I do not have HD service, but don't really need it for my 13" tube-TVs anyway.

 

[Irie308]

I too am in the middle of setting up direct tv on the boat. I have the KVH M1 which came with a receiver. Its non HD but I don't mind as its mostly for the kids. I'm planning on going with Directv as the the 12v receiver is branded direct tv and if I want to go with dish I would need to change receivers. From what I've read Dish makes it easier to suspend service as they have packages that don't require contracts. From what I was told by direct tv they have $19.95 basic package that includes hbo with a 2 year contract. You could then suspend for 6 months at a time. I plan on adding another receiver so I purchased dc splitter and a "destacker" which should allow me to add another receiver. This can be a typical directv receiver which I see being sold on ebay for as little as $20. I will say however the kvh install was way easier than I thought would be after I mounted everything and powered up the receiver, everything just worked.

 

[Ctsearay]

Yeah the only thing I have is the antenna that's mounted and the coax coming into the cabin so I will have to grab a receiver and get things rolling. I only need one box and will only use it in season on the boat so..... I guess I'll call KVH first and start there. Thanks in advance for all the help guys.

 

[PMC]

Yeah the only thing I have is the antenna that's mounted and the coax coming into the cabin so I will have to grab a receiver and get things rolling. I only need one box and will only use it in season on the boat so..... I guess I'll call KVH first and start there. Thanks in advance for all the help guys.

Does the unit spin and lock on a satellite without a receiver connected? Either way, you in good hands with KVH tech support. They will suggest all the parts you need to get your system up and running.

 

[Ctsearay]

No I can't tell it has the covered dome over it. I dont feel it vibrating though.

 

[Irie308]

I would pop the cover off before you add the receiver and power it up just to make sure the array is not zipped tied. They are zipped tied during shipping but its worth taking a peek just in case it was secured since it wasn't in use.

 

[Ctsearay]

Sounds like a plan, the PO couldn't do much to keep things in line as he had filing health and left it to his son who was a non-boater. So the son had it the last two years of the ownership and it sat on the hard and was never touched. Before that the father had used it as a floating condo / bar and it never left the slip from what I was told. But we have the first year shake down behind us and all is full steam ahead!