Sat Tv & Radar

[mawyatt]

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

Congrats on your service to our country and your retirement

Mike

 

[mawyatt]

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.

Matt,

Thanks. Is there a problem with the KVH 12v Rx? I thought this 12v box supplied power to the dish and you only needed to route 1 cable to the dish. I'm thinking of doing the install myself so anything that makes this easier is a plus!

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Pirate]

Matt,

Thanks. Is there a problem with the KVH 12v Rx? I thought this 12v box supplied power to the dish and you only needed to route 1 cable to the dish. I'm thinking of doing the install myself so anything that makes this easier is a plus!

Thanks,

Mike

I commented on your other thread. The KVH 12V receivers suck. I went into more detail on your other thread.

 

[fc3]

What more is there to say, when you said it all!

 

[ANYTIME]

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

Well, the Weather Gods were kind to us yesterday and we (almost) completed the installation of our KVH M2 on little Moondancer.

I sam "almost" because we still need to replace the light standoff on the arch. It was previously 12" high and the KVH is 18" high. The new light pole is on order and hopefully it will be installed in a few days. I don't plan any evening or nighttime boating, so I guess we will be okay.

As for the installation, we removed the GLOMEX TV antenna and its controller in the cabin, leaving the coax just in case we might want to use it for something else. The cable runs were uneventful and I am happy to report perfect reception of two different TVs (which can only view the same channel). One of the TVs was factory mounted in the cabin, we added a portable LCD TV that we can place on the Bait Prep Station when we are in port or fishing on a CLOUDY day. The portable connects to the CABLE TV inlet in the tramsom.

I changed the photo in my signature to show Moondancer with her new KVH Antenna system.


Even if I can't pay for the gas to go out on the river, we can at least enjoy the gentle rocking while at the marina:smt043

 

[mawyatt]

Well, the Weather Gods were kind to us yesterday and we (almost) completed the installation of our KVH M2 on little Moondancer.

I sam "almost" because we still need to replace the light standoff on the arch. It was previously 12" high and the KVH is 18" high. The new light pole is on order and hopefully it will be installed in a few days. I don't plan any evening or nighttime boating, so I guess we will be okay.

As for the installation, we removed the GLOMEX TV antenna and its controller in the cabin, leaving the coax just in case we might want to use it for something else. The cable runs were uneventful and I am happy to report perfect reception of two different TVs (which can only view the same channel). One of the TVs was factory mounted in the cabin, we added a portable LCD TV that we can place on the Bait Prep Station when we are in port or fishing on a CLOUDY day. The portable connects to the CABLE TV inlet in the tramsom.

Here is a photo I took with my iPhone: http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee163/k4kai/MoondancerTV.jpg


Even if I can't pay for the gas to go out on the river, we can at least enjoy the gentle rocking while at the marina:smt043

Nice job!!!!