KVH Satalite TV

J.Wilt

J.Wilt

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2010
1,083
W. Mich. / Lake Michigan
Boat Info
420 Sundancer 2005
Engines
Cumming 6cta V Drives
Highfield 310 , 20hp Suzuki
I have a KVH M2 Satalite antenna on my boat, the previous owner took the receiver with him, now I'm trying to get this working again. I e-mailed Tracvision customer service and they informed me the this antenna only works with Direct TV and I need to find a KVHM-10 Mobile receiver. Hard part is finding one of these receivers because they stopped making them 2 years ago.
Anyone know where I could find a receiver?
 
This doesn't answer your question, but our KVH M3 system was working with the DISH Network until about 3 weeks ago, then suddenly quit ("looking for satellites"). I was told by KVH technician that DISH upgraded their network protocols to allow for $K and super HD TVs, and my 2 year system was now obsolete for DISH network. I assume other with KVH / DISH combo had the same problem and I would be interested in their solutions. I was told that the only options are 1) but a new satellite system (not going to happen; or 2) switch to Direct TV, which I understand is only available in SD not HD. I tried to switch to Direct TV, waited at the boat for the installer to show up, and when he did he said they're not allowed to install on boats ! So I have to buy the receiver form an independent company, get it installed and then call Direct TV to start the service. What a PITA.
 
WE have a M2 and lost our local channels a few weeks ago also. They say we need a software upgrade, our local Tracvision rep says the upgrade may not work since ours is about 7 years old. What a bunch of crap. We still get all the other channels just fine. We have cable a our dock also, may just tell Direct they need to deep discount or loose us completely.
 
La Maddalena said:
This doesn't answer your question, but our KVH M3 system was working with the DISH Network until about 3 weeks ago, then suddenly quit ("looking for satellites"). I was told by KVH technician that DISH upgraded their network protocols to allow for $K and super HD TVs, and my 2 year system was now obsolete for DISH network. I assume other with KVH / DISH combo had the same problem and I would be interested in their solutions. I was told that the only options are 1) but a new satellite system (not going to happen; or 2) switch to Direct TV, which I understand is only available in SD not HD. I tried to switch to Direct TV, waited at the boat for the installer to show up, and when he did he said they're not allowed to install on boats ! So I have to buy the receiver form an independent company, get it installed and then call Direct TV to start the service. What a PITA.
Click to expand...

We use DirecTV with our M3. Correct, you only get SD. DirecTV used a different band satellite for HD that the M3 cannot get. The first KVH dish that works with it is the HD7, which is massive for any boat under 55-60'.

We have DirecTV at home, so adding the boat was only another $10/mo. Our receiver came with the system when we bought it from our dealer. I've been able to find them online if you do a search.
 
Thanks for your reply. I have a couple of local sources to buy a receiver directly and have it installed. I posted my note to see if others have any other solutions. We have had our boat for only a few months and finally got the satellite system with DISH working - it was quite a surprise to have it suddenly go offline. I simply can't understand why DISH would perform an upgrade that wasn't backwardly compatible with existing customers, so was checking to make sure my information is correct. It seems like our only option now is to get a DirecTV account with our KVH M3 system and then only get SD reception. Seems like a giant step backward!
 
I'm not having any luck finding a receiver for my M2 antenna and all the technicians I've talk to said it would do much good anyway because Direct TV an Dish will be eliminating the old signals to these older model KVH units by 2018.:smt021
Now I have to find out what to do with the big ugly antenna? Maybe paint it to look like a Minion:huh:
image.jpg
 
So if I understand from these comments that our fancy KVH satellite systems may be obsolete in a year or two. We were excited to buy our 2004 420 with a relatively new KVH M3 Tracvision system (installed in Dec 2013) and are disappointed to find that DirecTV is now the only option, we are limited to SD only, and the whole system may be worthless in 2018.

Any clarifications or comments are welecome.
 
La Maddalena said:
So if I understand from these comments that our fancy KVH satellite systems may be obsolete in a year or two. We were excited to buy our 2004 420 with a relatively new KVH M3 Tracvision system (installed in Dec 2013) and are disappointed to find that DirecTV is now the only option, we are limited to SD only, and the whole system may be worthless in 2018.

Any clarifications or comments are welecome.
Click to expand...
The best thing would be to call Tracvision Suport and pin them down on what specific unit you have and what signals it is capable to receiving. I spoke with two different technicians who sell and service KVH systems and both told me that service will be more than likely be obsolete in two years on my M2 and most of the older models. When I purchased our 420 last year I also saw value in the satellite TV, but like most electronics now days after a few years they are obsolete. Time to hook up the Glomax antenna back up !
 
As far as I knew, Direct TV was the only service available when we bought these systems, now the new units will receive both Direct and Dish plus a 3rd one that I cant remember. But to make these @2000.00 plus systems obsolete is as dumb as it gets. The problem is we represent only 2 or 3% of their customer base. RV customers are having the same problems. I dont understand, why simple software wont correct this issue.
 
I am with DIRECT.... Our house 2 receivers, the RV is a bedroom and the boat is another bedroom with the 4th receiver. All for 1 low price !!
 
bahamabreisus said:
WE have a M2 and lost our local channels a few weeks ago also. They say we need a software upgrade, our local Tracvision rep says the upgrade may not work since ours is about 7 years old. What a bunch of crap. We still get all the other channels just fine. We have cable a our dock also, may just tell Direct they need to deep discount or loose us completely.
Click to expand...

Usually when you lose your local channels it's due to being "outside your home area" as I was told. Maybe you can go back & check the settings for your area? It's been a while but I seem to remember having to enter my zip code in the settings on my M1.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Todd
 
tdschafer said:
Usually when you lose your local channels it's due to being "outside your home area" as I was told. Maybe you can go back & check the settings for your area? It's been a while but I seem to remember having to enter my zip code in the settings on my M1.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Todd
Click to expand...
We are still in same location, this happened about 6 months ago first, they did reprogram at a cost of $200 and we were good to go. Now it has happened again, they say reprogram may not work this time. We have other boats in our marina having the same problem.
 
So I was able to contact the previous owner of our 420DA and asked him if he was using the KVH M-10 Mobile receiver that he took after we purchased the boat, he said he wasn't using it and said he would send it to me no charge. NICE :thumbsup: Looks like we will be able to enjoy Direct TV for a couple years at least. Will have to start saving for an upgrade.
 
A quick update to this thread and my original question. I received an answer from a person on the Club Sea Ray owners forum that the KVH will still work with DISH Network if the KVH system is re-programmed to find satellite 119W. Can anyone here verify that they have a KVH satellite system (mine is the M3 DX antenna) that is working with DISH? I haven't had the time or inclination to convert to DirecTV yet and am hoping there is still a path to get our existing DISH receiver to work again.
 
Ha, I'm sure that most people on the new SR Site originated from CSR ;)


KVH sent me instructions after explaining that I CAN connect with a PC. For those of interest, I'm using a Belkin USB to Serial adapter:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MU7QUG/ref=twister_B0184Y06S4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


<snip>
Here's the instructions for Dish300 use (119W ONLY), once a PC is connected:



Use the interface box to reset to factory, then choose Service=Manual, select 119W for satellite 1 of 5, then NONE for satellite 2 of 5. After it reboots (i.e. wait 2 minutes), enter command set. My recommendations are subject to change, pending official KVH documentation.



HALT

DEBUGON

SATINSTALL,119W

SAT,119W

@DEBUGON

@SATCONFIG,119W,12603,20000,67,0X0003,R,U,2

ZAP



Once the system is tracking, you should set up the Dish receivers for Dish 300. In the point dish screen, choose Dish System 300, then select check switch, then select test. It will take a while to complete, and will warn you about fewer satellites. You’ll need to proceed and select ‘SAVE’ anyway, then once saved for 119W only, just press the ‘View Live TV’ button on the remote, let the guide load, then they should be watching Dish 300 channels.

</snip>
 
I have a M2 on mine and the receiver went dead. I tried everything... searched online, talked to KVH tech 5 different times, scoured ebay... nothing. You cannot get these receivers, but you can get an additional box that will tell the satellite to find the signal. That's what I did, box was about $400 and I have to get a D12 box from Directv and plug that into the separate box. The D12 box is simply a standard receiver you use at home. I'll be trying it next trip to the boat Memorial Day weekend.

For where I boat, the upgrade to a TV1 is all I would need and it is around $2000. I would have done that but I have a bottom paint haul out coming.
 
Paul: this is great info - thanks. I'll be giving it a try soon.
 
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