My receiver (and dish) on board is KVH and came with the boat, but I couldn't activate because the previous owner stiffed them on the bill. I finally got a rep. to give me a dollar number and I paid it. My motorhome has a DTV box connected to a KING unit that I just installed and it was plug & play... The RV & boat are just additional bedrooms in the house as far as DTV is concerned. and no matter what you have to get the activation card from DTV.

 

Just tell DTV it's for another room or for an RV. Don't tell them it's for a boat or their little support heads will explode.

 

We have a TV3. The KVH guys are very helpful with blueprinting of the system. Yes, the DTV fee is like $6/mo to have on the boat. I told them it was a boat when I activated and they didn’t care. The h24 or 25 sounds right, but I can’t recall. I do remember that the Genie setup does not work on the boat. Call KVH though and chat, they’ll hook u up

 

The H24 is the correct box. Get it from DTV, though they will likely require you to have continuous service for 24 months. I agree with not telling them the additional receivers are for a boat, their customer service agents work from scripts and most don’t know how to handle boats. DTV required me to return the boxes from my 52 and get new ones for my 58. Never got an answer why. Oh and you won’t have true HD reception regardless which box you use. That model KVH antenna is no longer HD capable.

 

Thanks!
I've been with DTV for 20+ years. I'll try to get one from DTV but as my home is Genie SWM they may go into autoshake and balk at the request. Hodges has certified DTV/KVH receivers that I can buy outright as another choice.

 

I am going through it now - again. Always changes with time and the experience with DTV is horrible, been a Cust for 25 yrs. I have a TV 5 and am using the wireless genie. I first bought my own and was told it’s not in my account and couldn’t use. Finally they agreed to send me a new acces card, got it and then they refused to activate my equipment. So I ordered it from them and insisted on coming to install - I didn’t need them to but they would not ship. Due to a software issue the genie will occasionally show a message on the one tv with the dvr that there is no satellite signal but there is - it does go away but it’s on and off. All the wireless clients work fine. KVH states it’s a glitch they are trying to resolve but dtv is not very cooperative. Now dtv is trying to charge me $600 for the equipment “lease” and a two year commitment. I told them to come and get it, I will go to Dish and get HD the same equipment and best channel package for $125 a month - pay $250 now. They said the dept I need to talk to is not available and they will call me within 72 hours to a week. It’s been a week and have not heard from them - they must be very busy. Not too busy tho - they are hounding me for the money. Total time on phone - 5.7 hrs- oh and the folks that you deal with to save/disconnect speak perfect English, what a surprise!

 

So, I learned a little today regarding DVR - For the Trackvision systems pre HD7 simultaneous tracking of more than the two satellites (the two allowed in the KVH tech manual) will not happen; consequently should you have your DVR attempting to record on one satellite not in the pair (record off the DTV programming menu) and watching programming from another satellite then an error will come up. It's a hit and miss thing. the newer HD7 generation can simultaneously look at multiple signal sources, consequently obtain the additional HD signals and host seamless DVR in both the Ka and Ku bands. I understand Directv migrated all of their HD programming to a specific satellite. The default Trackvision 4 (for example) programming is satellites DSS101 and DSS119 of which the HD programming is not on. Now, you can obtain the coordinates and technical data of other DSS satellite pairs then program into the Trackvision, however they need to be pairs within the field of common view of the antenna.

 

When we were purchasing our boat, we knew we were redoing the Satellite system. It was an old Seatel SD system.

Had a local company do the switch out to new HD KVH. That part was great.

Dealing with the DTV activation during this process was one of the top "Bad Customer Service" events I ever experienced.

But then I previously was Dish on another boat. Dish is right up there as a headache.

Mark

 

DirecTv customer since 1995. Their support is typically marginal when talking to the initial contact. They can transfer to a more knowledgeable person but often need to work up to that first.

In the old days you bought and therefore owned the receiver. About 10 years ago DirecTv changed their terms of service to lease only. In general when boats are sold then just like a house DirecTv says to take your receivers with you.

If going through DirecTv to get a new receiver, it typically requires a service contract for 24 months. I believe you can still purchase from solidsignal.com or some other Satellite equipment websites at full price but no contract.

I initially had the Trackvision 4 which as stated above is no longer HD. This changed when DirecTv needed more programming bandwidth and reorganized their programming, now supplied from three separate Satellites at the same time.

I have a Genie system at home and non-Genie system on the boat. DirecTv is fully advised that one of my receivers (sometimes two) are on the boat. Never had a problem related to this.

You can set up to get HD at the dock and SD while away but you have to change the antenna selection when switching back and forth. Also will need to have channel preferences set to see both if intending to use both. I think by default new boxes are set to HD so with Trackvision 4 you will get an error.

The only way to get HD while away from the dock with DirecTv is to get the KVH HD7 which I did about two years ago. I got lucky and found an installer that was upgrading a new large yacht to the HD11 for use in South America.

Occasionally I forget to swap the AB switch to Dock. This means the receivers are no longer getting programming. Over time this can become a problem. Sometimes a reset (red button) will fix. Other times I have had to call DirecTv in order to Resend Authorizations (basically the receiver needs to be reminded that your subscription is current). If you need to do this call 877-235-6139. It's quick, just follow prompts, and no need for talking to operator.

I also have an antenna mounted to the dock (covered) with an AB switch between the two. By having HD at dock and a KVH HD7 then no requirement for reconfiguration. Same can be said for setting both up for SD with a Trackvision 4.

I have called KVH on several occasions (for my boat and helping friends set up new to them boats) and they have been great.

 

Brett, so your getting HD on the dock by switching to a dock mounted antenna? Is there another way - I’m confused. I feel so what settings would I need to change with a TV5? Thanks

 

I have the same home setup as you. I bought 4 additional H25's (smaller and DC capable if you like) from solid signal. Have to activate them at your home on your home account, then plug in on the boat and you are good to go.

 

Thanks All! I think I have a path; I'll give an "out-brief" when it's all said and done.....
BTW - Does anyone have the HR24 (receiver with DVR integrated)?

 

I have the HR24 w/DVR in my motorhome...

 

Yes. Initially on Track 4. Later on HD7.

 

Update - I received the HR24-500 receiver from Solid Signal who is a Directv supplier. Hooked up the receiver and started the KVH system then called Solid Signal to activate per the directions. Solid Signal transferred me to AT&T/Directv who then spent the time and took me through the entire setup and activation as well as gave me the technical explanation why certain things were configured they way they were. Selecting the correct antenna type was the most time consuming (no KVH antenna type was available so we had to go through all 24 selections for the best) but they hung with me through it all; over an hour. So, now I have all of the channels that I have at home albeit not in HD but the picture is great regardless. I ended up making some changes to the audio video system on the boat so the recording features on the HR24 could be used, pipe the Sirius feed from the helm to the Bose system (eliminating one of the Sirius receivers), and adding a Blu Ray player. Only one thing left and that is reducing the number of remote controls... The previous owners had a Universal Remote system installed but it seems a certified technician needs to program it..
Oh, and I worked with ATT/Directv with them knowing this was a marine system on a boat; they said this is a typical authorized installation that is an extension of my home's system and will be treated simply as an additional receiver at home.

 

Oh the whoa's I went through setting mine up for years. Piece by piece then finally broke down and bought a whole new system and the shrink wrap guys did a horrible job and destroyed my new $2500 unit and it went deep six over the winter! So Here I go again!!!

 

Fellas, I have a MD3 and didn’t set this up last year. I’m being “pressured” from my kids to hook it up.. Anyways, I’m a novice to the KVH / directtv world. I have a directtv and KVH box in the cabin.
What’s my first step?

 

I'm a novice also but got through it. I'm not familiar with a MD3 but assume the process to get it operational is similar:
First contact KVH (in your case) and give them the model number, access card number, and Serial number of the receiver and your satellite antenna system. They will then provide you directions on how to set up the antenna system. They will also provide you or connect you to the AT&T/Directv representative that will help you activate the receiver. As you are a Directv customer at home this will be considered an extension of your home service and a monthly charge of $7 to have your boat system operational. Should you desire to travel outside of your local channel feed area and want the local feeds where you are going, that is a new contract and the costs go up quite a bit. Regardless, and contrary to others, I found the process simple and friendly. As a note - if there are issues with the receiver or existing access cart (like unpaid bills, a serial number not in Directv's inventory, or other anomalies as Directv sees them, simply trash it and obtain a new one from Solid Signal or other Directv authorized outlet; not worth trying to make it legal.....
Tom

 

model number, access card number, and Serial number of the receiver and your satellite antenna system.

So I assume the model number is M3, correct? I don’t have an access card number that I know of. What info does that include? Thx Tom
-Rich

 

I bought my KVH new a few years ago. Once I installed it I had the same easy activation experience as Tom. Although I never called KVH. I called DirectTV, gave them the serial number of the box and then they walked me through setup including selecting the antenna type. They were great and didn't care whether it was on a boat or wherever. Not sure where all "don't tell them it's a boat" fear has come from. Now mine is piggybacking on my home Direct TV plan. So this is also just another receiver added to that plan at only $7 per month fee. As Tom mentioned, if you don't have an existing plan you will have to sign up for a new plan and are looking at the $50-$100 per month cost.

 

In 13/14 years a lot has changed. I experienced many issues over the years including the fact that DTV wanted to charge a separate and individual plan charge if you were adding a receiver on a boat or anywhere else other than your primary residence. I have been a DTV customer for 23 years and service had been great right up to about 2015/16 when ATT took over, service was and has been horrible in my experience since. On rare occasion I get a knowledgeable well spoken rep that I can understand. Mind you I worked for AT&T for more than a decade. Seems all too familiar that we are looking at what appears to be a monopoly again when it comes to equipment bar the one authorized supplier that I am aware of. One would certainly hope that after 3 years following the acquisition that customer service and support will eventually get better and maybe it’s starting to - I can only hope.