Mine is Direct TV. Called and ordered a box for spare bedroom then take it to boat initial cost about 120 bucks then like 7 bucks a month don't say anything about a boat or it will cost you 70 a month........

 

Doesn't the $ 7.00 rate depend on you already having a Direct TV account back at home? Correct me if I'm wrong but, it's NOT that your putting service on a boat that makes it $ 70.00/mo but that you don't have an account already? Therefore it's stand alone service on your boat?

 

By the way it's a stand alone H24 box.

 

Buy your box on Amazon(Direct or Dish), then just have it activated by Direct or Dish. Which ever is your provider.

 

The antenna system has been programmed for either DTV or Dish; Almost all are set to the DTV satellites. There are some great threads throughout this Forum on setting up the system and yet there is a lot of wrong information also.
First - all receivers (like the H24 or HR24 box) are owned by AT&T many are a one time charge lease and no return requirement. A part of what that means is the tuner is registered to an account / location and it's a violation of the agreement and contract for service to change without approval. In other words you can't give it to uncle Vinny so his family has service.
Second - if you activate with AT&T for a boat or RV and you have an active DTV account then it is only an additional receiver charge of $7.
Regarding obtaining a receiver - The receiver and card needs to be obtained through an AT&T authorized retailer. It would be bad for you if you got one through Ebay and tried to register it only to find out AT&T will not accept the S/N or card. I obtained mine through Solid Signal https://www.solidsignal.com/ who are an authorized DTV retailer and followed their detailed directions; I had no issues other than programming an antenna type in the receiver to one that will work with the KVH antenna. I think I used "Slimline" but it has been around 4 years ago.... There are many possible selections; it simply takes time.
You must first get the receiver and antenna working together and get your system talking to the satellite before you contact AT&T to register. Your TV will get the DTV splash page when it is communicating.
Then contact AT&T to activate the receiver; you will need the number on the card and Serial Number of the receiver so make sure to write those down first when you get the equipment and your account number. AT&T activates the receiver through a signal downloaded through the satellite system; that is why you need to first get things communicating.
AT&T didn't ask where the receiver was located other than we discussed a mobile application - They charge my account only for an additional receiver which is $7.
The down side - your system will not communicate with satellite 103 which in our area is the HD feeds so you will only receive the SD channels but there are a lot of those still.

 

Question for ttmott.... My goal is basic traditional SD television on my boat already outfitted and wired with KVH M3 satellite antenna. I've just ordered and received an H24 receiver from Direct TV ($ 99.00). Installer is coming to the boat next week. Obviously I don't want to replace the KVH satellite antenna on my boat. Will the M3 antenna work properly with the H24 receiver box to provide me the basic standard definition signal to my TV's?

 

Yes it will. Hopefully the installer is familiar with the KVH equipment and knows to ensure communications between the satellite, KVH antenna, and H24 is up and operational before contacting AT&T to activate. Oh, and did they send the card with the H24? You can't do anything without the card.

 

Thank you....Installer is a certified local marine installer.....the H24 is still in the box unopened but ordered and received from DirectTV themselves. I will check inside the box for the card. Thanks again.

 

I think you will be good to go.
There is a chance the antenna was programmed to receive other satellites like Dish and if so will need to be reprogrammed to lock onto the DTV satellites which is a laptop and data link to the antenna. That is another level of experience that will be required. So if you can't lock onto the DTV satellites and get the splash page on your TV then either the M3 isn't functional or it needs to be reprogrammed.

 

I will add that KVH has a excellent tech support on the phone.

 

I will add KVH got my service switched from Dish to Direct via phone (me following instructions) and you can get HD with the right antenna. I have the TV5. Upgrading to the HD7 is around $10K

 

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is Dish or Direct TV better? Which is more 'cost effective' (cheaper)?

 

I prefer the guides and programming of DirecTV, but their customer service was lousy before AT&T, and now it's even worse.

Dish has a special division that understands outdoor/mobile/recreational installations.

 

Can you get data from the kmh too...mine is a 2007 model

 

Depends on which antenna is installed but I highly doubt they would have put a data antenna on a 48DA in 2007. Even if they did expect to pay hundreds of dollars per month for not much more than old dial up speeds, and thousands if you want faster.

For data you are best off with a cell repeater/cell gateway and/or a wifi extender.

 

What does the "destacker" do?

 

I think it allows the H24 to tell the KVH reciever what to do...

 

So, I've just had a month of hell with some of the worst customer service from Direct TV and Dish! After MANY long phone calls, several H24 box purchases and an expensive installer on my boat.....the conclusion is the M3 dish on my boat is not compatible (even though all I want is standard definition) with today's satellites. This information was finally told to me by KVH technical support. "The M3 is obsolete and incompatible except in the narrowest of circumstances: if you have an M3 digital control box you may get a single satellite 119." I'm absolutely DONE with this crap. Exhausted and frustrated by the process! Firestick for me.

 

See my post above, I was watching my TV last night on the boat. I have a KVH M3 from 2006 and it's working great with add ons posted in my earlier message.

 

my boat came with sea king trac vision??

the PO had past away so the wife sent the box back to stop paying the monthly rate.
i been using the fire stick and hot spot. wondering if its just worth removing. I cant see spending over $100 a month for it since is don't have an account.

 

So, I've just had a month of hell with some of the worst customer service from Direct TV and Dish! After MANY long phone calls, several H24 box purchases and an expensive installer on my boat.....the conclusion is the M3 dish on my boat is not compatible (even though all I want is standard definition) with today's satellites. This information was finally told to me by KVH technical support. "The M3 is obsolete and incompatible except in the narrowest of circumstances: if you have an M3 digital control box you may get a single satellite 119." I'm absolutely DONE with this crap. Exhausted and frustrated by the process! Firestick for me.

Did you follow the sequence and recommendations above?
Did your service person know that the M3 system uses the receiver to not only receive the satellite signal through a single coaxial cable but also inject power and data on that same coax? If you or the service person attempted to connect a DTV receiver in that feed cable via a simple splitter the DTV receiver would assuredly be damaged. The destacker removes the non LNB signals and power from the system so the DTV receiver only gets the sat signal; yet the LNB still gets the SWM data and power.

 

John Karin at Solid Signal figured out my system on my 2005 390MY. 877-312-4547 or 248-893-3310. Direct TV was worthless, said they no longer supported the older systems. True to a point, but a new receiver and a couple of small items and it works fine.

 

+1 on Solid Signal. Do not let a regular Direct TV installer touch your system.