Sat Tv & Radar

M

mawyatt

New Member
Dec 13, 2007
1,001
Clearwater, Fl
Boat Info
2008 Sundancer 38DA
Engines
8.1L Mercruisers
Now the wife wants Sat TV. I've been researching the radar with everyone's help and Jim's....so I've got a good understanding of what I need to do here...even the platform which I must get from the dealer (MM)...so thanks to all. I may attempt the install myself in which case I will get the RM radar and necessary parts from Jim.

Now comes the Sat TV issue. My dock mate has the KVH and RM 4' array on his SR 38 with a platform that has the KVH sitting above and rear to the radar. I did a brief search on this type of platform and the cost was $1100...ouch!!

Any advice on the Sat Tv, I know the KVH is the way to go. Is this easy to install, and how do you connect to TVs? Can you mount KVH to the side of radar, or anyone know of less expensive platforms that can hold radar and KVH. What is the best low cost service, noticed Jim has Direct TV box with KVH M3 that's lower cost than KVH M3 alone?? Sorry for all the question, just trying to learn and not waste any $.

With the SR 38 and all this extra stuff, maintance, gas, insurance, and dock fees I'm going to be eating rice and drinking really lite beer (read colored tap water) for a long time!!

Thanks for the help,

Mike
 
Mike- ideally the KVH would be above the radar, but I've done several installs with it to the side or behind the radar (SR even mount mine in FRONT of my radar, but we won't go there). I use my radar for navigation and traffic and I'm at 1.5m range or less 98% of the time. At that range, I see no degradation of radar signal. I know that some people use their radars to spot birds for fishing. I can't speak to the effect of the KVH being in the way for finding targets like that.

Both the RM and the KVH are simple installs. The M3DX is a big step up with the controller box. Acquisition and holding are much better with the controller and you get feedback from the LCD regarding what the antenna is doing. It's pretty frustrating with the lesser models to hear the unit searching, but have no picture and wonder what's going on. I would assume a 38DA would have a hard top. No?
 
Mike...here are a few pics from the web from boat that are for sale...

200738DA-KVH.jpg


38DA-withKVH.jpg
 
Mike:
I have the KVH M3- it's on the right side of my arch, next to my 2kw Raymarine dome. The M3ST is the non high-def antenna (HD was not an issue for me on the boat). It is very easy to install, a single coax cable runs from the receiver to the dome and carries current and signal. The receiver (one) is INCLUDED with the M3, it is for DirecTV only. If you subscribe to dish network you need a different dish than the M3.
The receiver is 12v, and compact. It can be mounted anywhere (out of sight if you like) and includes a RF remote that also mounts out of the way. The RF remote is nice because-working by radio frequency and not the usual infrared- you don't need to "point" the remote at it. Just push the buttons...

You can run multiple TV's off the one receiver (all on the same program). You can add other receivers for multiple TV's/different programming. If you're already a DirecTV subscriber it's only a $5/month charge for the extra receiver. The mount you've pictured is the ideal way to go, and would be necessary with a 4kw or more radar. KVH told me that the dome can be mounted in the same plane as the radar in the case of my 2kw dome. It has been so for nearly a year and there have been no issues.
Good luck.

Mike
 
I'd probably go with Sea Tel vs KVH because of the switching of the HD channels that Direct TV is going to be doing in the next year, and the KVH won't be able to get them with their current line of dishes. With Sea Tel you can use the Dish network and get the HD channels from them. But if you don't care about HD, then KVH is the way to go IMOA..
 
Pirate said:
Mike- ideally the KVH would be above the radar, but I've done several installs with it to the side or behind the radar (SR even mount mine in FRONT of my radar, but we won't go there). I use my radar for navigation and traffic and I'm at 1.5m range or less 98% of the time. At that range, I see no degradation of radar signal. I know that some people use their radars to spot birds for fishing. I can't speak to the effect of the KVH being in the way for finding targets like that.

Both the RM and the KVH are simple installs. The M3DX is a big step up with the controller box. Acquisition and holding are much better with the controller and you get feedback from the LCD regarding what the antenna is doing. It's pretty frustrating with the lesser models to hear the unit searching, but have no picture and wonder what's going on. I would assume a 38DA would have a hard top. No?
Click to expand...

Thanks, and yes the 38 has a large area hard top. I noticed the M3DX indicates it's HD ready while the M3 does not. Also I would have to get a sat "box" with the M3DX while the M3 includes the Direct TV "box". Are the "boxes" expensive?

Mike
 
barryg said:
I'd probably go with Sea Tel vs KVH because of the switching of the HD channels that Direct TV is going to be doing in the next year, and the KVH won't be able to get them with their current line of dishes. With Sea Tel you can use the Dish network and get the HD channels from them. But if you don't care about HD, then KVH is the way to go IMOA..
Click to expand...


Barry,

Thanks. I noticed the KVH M3DX indicates HD compatibility? The Sea Tel price is better than the KVH, are they as good?

Mike
 
Don't tell Direct TV the word "boat".......use "RV" instead and its just another receiver on your home account.

I think the form they use must not have a check box for boats but does have one for RV's. My experience with those folks is that if there ain't a box for it, they can't handle it. Truthfully, I don't think it is as important to DirecTV now since their receivers no longer require phone connections. They down load programing and software via satellite now and receiver location just hasn't been an issue the last 2-3 times I've talked to them. They've pretty much just accepted what we told them.
 
I have directv in my spare bedroom. Of course, that *could* be a boat, but it still wouldn't be untrue :)

Also, I have heard that dish does phone checks. Essentially, when you call you have to be able to access all the receivers from the location where your home/billing phone is and confirm something on the screen.... I don't know if thats true, but I did read a bunch of posts talking about that on another boating forum. Would be problematic on a boat.

-Dave
 
barryg said:
I'd probably go with Sea Tel vs KVH because of the switching of the HD channels that Direct TV is going to be doing in the next year, and the KVH won't be able to get them with their current line of dishes. With Sea Tel you can use the Dish network and get the HD channels from them. But if you don't care about HD, then KVH is the way to go IMOA..
Click to expand...

KVH and Sea Tel and ALL of the gyroscopically stabilized satellite antennas are effected equally by the Ka band satellites. The base M3 model by KVH is DirecTV only, but all other models can choose service from any of the other providers.
 
mawyatt said:
Thanks, and yes the 38 has a large area hard top. I noticed the M3DX indicates it's HD ready while the M3 does not. Also I would have to get a sat "box" with the M3DX while the M3 includes the Direct TV "box". Are the "boxes" expensive?

Mike
Click to expand...

You might get away with no mount at all or, at least, a short pedestal mount like tobnpr's. With the hard top, there's plenty of room to move things around.

HD is not really doable with any of the satellite systems. KVH and some others will tell you that it is, but DirecTV has 99% of its HD programming on a Ka band satellite that none of the gyro stabilized antennas will track. Dish may have their HD available on Ku, but their new sat that went up last month is also Ka. The attraction to the 'DX' model is for the control box, feedback, and NOT having to use the KVH 12v receiver. DirecTV's receivers are $50-$100... in boat dollars, that's free.
 
mawyatt said:
Thanks Jeff. These are the mounts that I think cost $1100!!

Mike
Click to expand...

Yes. Those mounts are made by Edson and by the time you get the anchor light, etc., they're $1100. Great quality, but frustrating. Trust me, if you try to make your own, by the time you have the engineering done, the unit fabricated, and the powder coating done, you'll have..... $1100 in it. Don't ask me how I know. :smt001
 
I used these guys for the mast on my hardtop:

http://www.pyiinc.com/index.php?section=seaview&action=custom-masts&sn=7

They also have standard mounts. Mine was custom and came in about $1500 but it was very well made with much thought given to making sure the steel screws/bolts never touched the powder coated aluminum.

You may want to read the directions on the mounting of radar with respect to all your antenna systems. Read both the KVH manual AND the radar manual. They tell you the "no-no's". Once you start getting up in the 4 kw, you can damage the LNB's on the sat dishes, the GPS antennas, etc. if you are not carefull. Where I am, the sport fish boats have 6+ kw open array antennas and they can be deadly with regards to other electronics.

The Sea Ray design of putting my TV dish smack dab in front of the 4 kw radar was STUPID!.. YOU LISTENING SEA RAY?! IT WAS STUPID!!!! It did interfere with my radar... but only when I needed it.
 
Four Suns said:
The Sea Ray design of putting my TV dish smack dab in front of the 4 kw radar was STUPID!.. YOU LISTENING SEA RAY?! IT WAS STUPID!!!! It did interfere with my radar... but only when I needed it.
Click to expand...

I can see it now. Sea Ray HQ... The guys are sitting around and all of a sudden... Gary's post! One guy covers his eyes! The other covers his ears! The last one covers his mouth! They start humming and making noises. One is saying 'la la la la" over and over. It's the see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil monkeys.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Yeah well... I'm still waiting to hear from them about why the hydraulic lines on my boat "exploded" when the boat was only 4 years old and why the lines didn't match the spec to the steering install guide that WAS INCLUDED in my black bag...
 
The boat we just purchased has a Sat unit and I talked with Direct TV - they suggested that adding another receiver was the way to go rather than transferring it to the one on the boat. However, the one on the boat has an RF/IR remote link, so swapping them out might be a challenge. In that case, there is a $25 fee to register an existing box on a new account.

My dealer told me NOT to mention that it was for a boat. If you do, you may lose local programming and get a hard time.
 
I have been following the Satellite TV discussion for a while and find it very enlightening. I have been planning on getting a bigger boat with a Satellite TV system, but recently learned that the DoD has done away with my job, so I will be retiring in a few weeks; therefore,the bigger boat is no longer in my plans:smt089

The Admiral decided she wants a Satellite TV system to use at the slip and while anchored/docked elsewhere, so after researching what is available, and not needing HD coverage, I ordered a new KVH M2 system, which is scheduled to be delivered today.

Hopefully, we will get it installed in the next week or so and the Admiral will be pleased with it. We don't have radar so we will mount the KVH where the existing GLOMEX TV antenna is mounted on a rigid platform in the center of the heavy duty aluminum arch that came with our Amberjack. We will relocate the existing anchor/running light onto a curved mount to clear the KVH dome. We also plan on running a seperate TV connection to the cockpit, near the bait prep station for a second TV if/when we want to watch football while fishing.

I liked the extra income, but after 20 years in the Navy and 30 years in DoD engineering support, am really looking forward to retirement :smt038
 
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