I'm considering setting up a satellite tv reciever on my hunter 42. I'm considering "track it tv" (900$) and king dome satellite dome (2800$) anyone have any experience with these ? how are they when sailing ? at anchor etc
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Boob Tube
Frank, I can see you now. Underway, and at the same time, watching the shopping channels and buying more and more useful stuff. Huge amount of money to view the horrors of the modern world.
Frank, I can see you now. Underway, and at the same time, watching the shopping channels and buying more and more useful stuff. Huge amount of money to view the horrors of the modern world.
KVH Tracvision 4
I have the KVH Trackvision 4 system and highly recommend it. Under most conditions it works fine - better signal than I get at home on my Dish fixed antenna. It will break lock in 4 foot pounding waves, but wll reaquire the signal. Without the tv, my wife would not spend the amount of time we do on the boat. We spend about 80 days a year and watch a lot of tv at night and all the major Tennessee football and basketball games. I am on the boat as I write this in 25 knot winds whipping through our marina and watching Ben Hur on Dish Network.
I have the KVH Trackvision 4 system and highly recommend it. Under most conditions it works fine - better signal than I get at home on my Dish fixed antenna. It will break lock in 4 foot pounding waves, but wll reaquire the signal. Without the tv, my wife would not spend the amount of time we do on the boat. We spend about 80 days a year and watch a lot of tv at night and all the major Tennessee football and basketball games. I am on the boat as I write this in 25 knot winds whipping through our marina and watching Ben Hur on Dish Network.
Fred - Look on KVH's Site THEN GO FOR IT!!!!!!!
Fred: My system with the pole did cost about $5,000 in 2003. My antenna was about $4,200 - Trackvision 4 (18" comparable to M5 today). It has two leads from the antenna and works for both Direct and Dish - we use Dish. I looked at the M3 on West Marine's site and if it is the DX then go for it - it may be ST and only good for Dirct so be sure which one. There are two versions on KVH's website. One DX verion and an ST version. The DX gets both Dish and Direct while the ST gets only Dirct. Also there is only one antenna lead from the antenna, but I only use one lead anyway. Run the power from a constant 12 volt system by transforming down with your invertor. We went through 3 cards in the beginning. If the voltage gets below 10.8 for a milisecond, the card programming is GONE! After we installed a transformer and came off the 110V system it has worked fine. I did have a problem with my dish box and it send some voltage the wrong way and got my card again, but changed the box and had the card reprogrammed and it is fine. If I am away from the boat like this winter for a couple of months, I have to call Dish and have them ping the box. When Dish upgrades programming and my unit is not on, it gets lost and the re-pinging is needed. Takes about 5 to 10 minutes and it is good to go. That 32" TV sounds wonderful - Go for it!!!!!!! Jerry
Fred: My system with the pole did cost about $5,000 in 2003. My antenna was about $4,200 - Trackvision 4 (18" comparable to M5 today). It has two leads from the antenna and works for both Direct and Dish - we use Dish. I looked at the M3 on West Marine's site and if it is the DX then go for it - it may be ST and only good for Dirct so be sure which one. There are two versions on KVH's website. One DX verion and an ST version. The DX gets both Dish and Direct while the ST gets only Dirct. Also there is only one antenna lead from the antenna, but I only use one lead anyway. Run the power from a constant 12 volt system by transforming down with your invertor. We went through 3 cards in the beginning. If the voltage gets below 10.8 for a milisecond, the card programming is GONE! After we installed a transformer and came off the 110V system it has worked fine. I did have a problem with my dish box and it send some voltage the wrong way and got my card again, but changed the box and had the card reprogrammed and it is fine. If I am away from the boat like this winter for a couple of months, I have to call Dish and have them ping the box. When Dish upgrades programming and my unit is not on, it gets lost and the re-pinging is needed. Takes about 5 to 10 minutes and it is good to go. That 32" TV sounds wonderful - Go for it!!!!!!! Jerry
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