KVH Industries TracVision M3 User Manual

TracVision M3 Installation Guide

These instructions explain how to install the TracVision M3 satellite TV antenna system on a vessel. Complete instructions on how to use the system are provided in the Quick Start Guide and Receiver User’s Guide.

TracVision®M3 Installation Guide

Who Should Install the System?

To ensure a safe and effective installation, KVH recommends that a KVH-authorized marine technician install the TracVision M3 system. To find a technician near you, go to www.kvh.com/wheretogetservice. If you purchased the product and decide to install it yourself, please see the enclosed warranty statement for warranty implications.

Technical Support

If you need technical assistance, please contact KVH Technical Support:

Phone: 1-401-847-3327

E-mail: techs@kvh.com

Internet: www.kvh.com/help

Receiver Activation

Once the system is fully installed, the owner needs to call KVH’s Activation Department to activate the receiver for DIRECTV®service:

Toll-free at 1-866-551-8004

The owner will need the red Activation Card when calling to activate. In addition, the antenna will need to be turned on and locked onto the satellite. See page v of the Receiver User’s Guide for details.

KVH and TracVision are registered trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc.; DIRECTV is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc. The information in this document is subject to change without notice. No company shall be liable for errors contained herein.

051099999

051077777

Important Safety Precaution

DO NOT apply power to the TracVision antenna with the radome removed because the antenna has moving parts that can cause injury.

CAUTION

1. Unpack the box and ensure it contains

everything shown on the Contents List. Save

the packaging in case you need to reship the system.

2. Carefully examine all of the supplied parts to ensure nothing was damaged in shipment.

3. Gather all of the tools and materials listed below. You will need these items to complete the installation.

4. Peel off the extra serial number label (taped to the antenna) and affix it in the appropriate box on the red Activation Card.

Inspect Parts and Get Tools

Always lift the antenna by the silver base and never by the radome or any portion of the internal antenna assembly.

• #2 Phillips screwdriver

•7⁄16" open-end wrench

•7⁄16" socket wrench

•1⁄2" socket or open-end wrench

• Electric drill

•5⁄16" (8 mm) drill bit

• Silicone sealant or equivalent

• Hole saw of desired diameter

(for cable access hole, see page 4)

• Adhesive tape

• Light hammer

• Center punch

• Four 1⁄4" fasteners

(optional for mounting the receiver, see page 10)

Affix Serial Number

051099999

Receiver

Antenna

Radome

Base

Connector

Cover

Before you begin, consider the following installation guidelines:

Plan the Installation

• Minimize blockage. The antenna requires a clear view of the sky to receive satellite TV. The fewer obstructions above decks, the better the system will perform.

• When choosing a mounting surface, ensure it is wide enough to accommodate the antenna’s base. See illustrations for antenna

dimensions.

• Ensure the mounting surface is flat, level (within ±2º), and strong enough to support the 18-pound antenna. Use a separate mounting plate, if necessary.

• Custom mounting solutions, including struts and masts, are available from several third-party manufacturers. Contact your local KVH dealer for details.

• KVH recommends that you do not mount the antenna on the same level as the radar, because the radar’s energy might overload the antenna.

• Be sure to mount the antenna near enough to the supplied belowdecks receiver to allow you to connect the 50-ft. (15 m) coax cable between the antenna and the receiver, while still maintaining sufficient slack in the cable. The antenna cable CANNOT be

extended.

• When choosing a location for the receiver, find a dry, well-ventilated area belowdecks away from any heat sources. Also be sure the receiver’s front panel will be easily accessible to the user and the three lights on the top of the receiver will be visible.

Blocked!

Antenna

Radar

Vessel Platform

17.32"

(44 cm)

15.5"

(39.37 cm)

9.2"

(23.37 cm)

(11.68 cm)

FWD

4.6"

4 x 0.31" ( 0.79 cm)

2.8"

(7.11 cm)

5.6"

(14.22 cm)

1. Unfold the supplied template and place it onto the mounting surface. Make sure the “FWD” (forward) arrow points toward the bow and is parallel to the vessel’s centerline. You do not

need to mount the antenna exactly on the vessel’s centerline, but the antenna’s forward arrow must be parallel to it.

2. Use the template to mark the four hole locations on the mounting surface.

3. Drill a 5⁄16" (8 mm) hole at the four locations you marked in Step 2. Later, you will insert four

⁄4"-20 bolts from above to secure the

antenna to the mounting surface.

4. Mark a location for the cable access hole, either in the center of the antenna mounting hole pattern or in an area aft of the antenna. Later, you

will route the antenna cable through this hole and into the vessel.

5. Drill the cable access hole in the location you marked in Step 4. Be sure to size the hole appropriately to maintain a cable bend radius of at least 3" (75 mm). If the hole location

is in the center of the antenna mounting hole pattern, the diameter of the cable access hole must not exceed

3.5" (88 mm). Smooth the edges of

the hole to protect the cable.

Prepare the Mounting Site

)

Be sure the mounting surface is flat and level. Use a separate mounting plate, if necessary.

Drilling Antenna

Mounting Holes

Antenna Base

15.5"

(39.4 cm)

9.2"

(23.4 cm)

4.6"

(11.7 cm)

2.8"

(7.1 cm)

5.6"

(14.2 cm)

4 x 0.31" ( 0.8 cm) Mounting Holes

Cable Access Hole

(Suggested Location

1. Clean and dry the antenna mounting surface.

2. Peel off the paper backing from the donutshaped foam seal to expose the adhesive. Then press the foam seal down firmly onto the mounting surface, centered between the antenna mounting holes.

3. Using the supplied 3 mm Allen hex key, remove the connector cover from the antenna’s base. Save the cover and the four M4 cap screws for later use.

4. Route either end of the antenna cable into the vessel. Later, you will connect this end of

the cable to the belowdecks receiver. You will connect the other end to the antenna.

5. If you wish to route the cable beneath the antenna, attach the right-angle connector to the end of the cable. Hand-tighten, then tighten with a 7⁄16" wrench for 1⁄4 turn to ensure an electrical and weather-proof connection

6. Connect the cable to the antenna. Handtighten, then tighten with a 7⁄16" wrench for

⁄4 turn. Rigging tape is recommended to protect

the connector.

7. Reattach the cover over the connector. Secure in place with the M4 cap screws you removed in Step 3. The cover must be attached before you mount the antenna.

8. Leave an adequate service loop, approximately 8" (20 cm) of slack, in the antenna cable for easy serviceability.

9. Seal the cable access hole with silicone sealant or equivalent.

Wire the Antenna

Foam Seal

Antenna Cable

Connector Cover

Right-angle

Connector

Wire the Antenna

1. Remove the three #10-32 screws securing the radome to the antenna. Carefully remove the radome and set it aside in a safe place. Due to the snug fit, some contact

between the radome’s sealing gasket and the antenna mechanism is normal.

2. Position the antenna onto the mounting surface. The antenna’s base should rest squarely atop the foam seal.

3. Align the four holes in the antenna’s base with the four holes in the mounting surface.

Be sure the antenna’s “Forward” arrow points toward the bow.

4. Secure the antenna’s base to the mounting surface using four 1⁄4"-20 bolts, 5⁄8" washers, 1" washers, and lock nuts, as shown in the illustration. Be sure to insert the bolts from above and use the supplied hardware for a secure installation.

5. Tighten the bolts until the foam seal is fully compressed and the antenna’s four rubber feet are bottomed against the mounting surface.

Mount the Antenna

“Forward” Arrow

Insert the mounting bolts into the antenna’s base from above, not below.

Tighten Bolts

from Above

1/4"-20 x 3" Bolt

1/4" Flat Washer

(5/8" diameter)

Antenna Base

Foam Seal

Mounting Surface

1/4" Flat Washer

(1" diameter)

1/4"-20 Lock Nut

1. Using a 7⁄16" socket wrench, remove the two bolts securing the antenna assembly to the base. Be sure to remove both of these shipping restraints, along with the washers and spacers. Save the restraints for future use.

Remove the Restraints

Shipping Restraints

Antenna

Radome

2. Reinstall the antenna radome. While pressing the radome down onto the base, secure the radome to the base using the three #10-32 screws you removed earlier. The

radome’s “TracVision” labels should face fore and aft.

3. Install a protective plastic screw cap (supplied in the kit) over each radome screw.

Antenna Mounted

Be sure to remove both shipping restraint bolts, washers, and spacers. The antenna will not work with these restraints still installed.

Bolt

Washer

Spacer

1. Connect the antenna cable (A) to the “To KVH Antenna” jack. Do not kink/stress the cable.

2. Connect the RF converter cable (B) to the “RF Remote Input” jack.

3. Connect the receiver to the vessel’s entertainment system (TV). Choose one of the following options:

Option 1 - RCA-type A/V jacks (use bottom row) Option 2 - S-Video jack (provides best picture quality) Option 3 - RF coaxial connector

Cables for option 1 are included in the kit.

4. (Optional) If you have a VHF TV antenna onboard, you can connect it to the “VHF Antenna In” jack on the receiver. If you connect a VHF antenna to the

receiver, you need to use the receiver’s RF coaxial connector (option 3) to supply VHF video to the TV.

5. Be sure to tighten all connections. Also be sure to leave enough slack in the cables (service loop) for easy serviceability, allowing you to access the receiver’s rear panel with the cables connected.

For details on connecting an additional receiver, please see Appendix A in the Receiver User’s Guide.

Wire the Receiver

Do not shorten or extend the antenna cable. Since the antenna cable carries data, power, and communications, the integrity of this cable and its connections is very important.

Antenna

RF Converter

Receiver

Deck

Service/

Maintenance

Only

To Audio

To Video (Option 1)

To Video

(Option 3)

To Video (Option 2)

To VHF Antenna

(Optional)

POWER

VEHICLE POWER

(10-16 VDC)

VHF ANTENNA

AUDIO R AUDIO L VIDEO

S – VIDEO

PHONE JACK

RF REMOTE INPUT

OUT TO TV

TUNER

SATELLITE IN

CAUTION

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device must not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Tested to comply with FCC Standards

TO SATELLITE

TO KVH

ANTENNA

DIAGNOSTICS

PORT 1

DIAGNOSTICS

PORT 2

(A)

(B)

Do not disconnect the short cable on the back of the receiver.

Be sure to route cables within the vessel appropriately to avoid damage. For example, do not route any cables through wet areas (bilges) or near hot exhaust pipes.

Connect Power

The receiver requires a 10-16 volts DC (VDC) power input supporting 50 watts (4.2 amps @ 12 VDC).

1. Before you connect the receiver’s power wires, turn off vessel power and test the circuit to ensure no power is present.

2. Connect the receiver’s individual power wires to a dedicated 10-amp or 15-amp circuit breaker. Connect the negative (black) wire to ground (power return), and connect the positive (red) wire to +12 VDC vessel power.

3. Plug the other end of the power wires into the “Vehicle Power” jack on the receiver’s rear panel.

Do not remove the small ferrite coil that is clamped onto the power wires. This coil suppresses EMI (electromagnetic interference) from the receiver.

For your own safety, shut down vessel power before you connect the wires.

Fuse (6 amp)

Vessel Power

(10-16 VDC)

DC Power

Ground

SATELLITE IN

Receiver

POWER

VEHICLE POWER

(10-16 VDC)

RF REMOTE INPUT

Ferrite Coil

VHF ANTENNA

OUT TO TV

TUNER

CAUTION

AUDIO R AUDIO L VIDEO

S – VIDEO

TO SATELLITE

TO KVH

ANTENNA

DIAGNOSTICS

PORT 1

PHONE JACK

DIAGNOSTICS

PORT 2

Tested to comply with FCC Standards

Once all cables are connected, install the receiver inside the vessel.

1. If you wish to mount the receiver, attach the two mounting brackets to the sides of the receiver using three #2-56 screws. Simply screw these fasteners into the receiver’s vent slots.

2. If you are using the mounting brackets, secure the brackets to the mounting surface using appropriate

⁄4" fasteners (not supplied).

3. Place the RF converter at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from the receiver. If it is too close to the receiver, the remote control might not operate properly. Also avoid placing the RF converter behind a metal surface or in an area surrounded by metal.

4. If desired, mount the RF converter using the supplied Velcro fasteners.

Install the Receiver

To avoid overheating, do not block the receiver’s vents.

1. Remove the battery compartment cover from the back of the remote control.

2. Insert two AAA batteries (supplied in the kit). Be sure to observe the correct polarity.

3. Replace the battery compartment cover.

RF Converter

Receiver Mounted

Plug into Receiver (see page 8)

Install Batteries in Remote

1⁄4" Fasteners (x4)

(not supplied)

Bracket

#2-56 x 1⁄4" Screws (x3)

AAA Batteries

Now all you need to do is turn the system ON and ensure everything works properly.

1. Ensure the antenna has a clear view of the southern sky.

2. Apply power to the TV and the TracVision system.

3. Turn on the power switch on the receiver’s rear panel.

4. Wait while the antenna searches the sky for the DIRECTV satellite. Once the antenna finds the satellite, the receiver downloads the program guide. A progress bar should display on your TV. (It could take 60 seconds to load the program

guide, once it begins loading.)

If the system shuts off after 30 seconds, simply press the “Antenna Power” button on the receiver’s front panel.

5. Once a DIRECTV picture appears on the TV, verify that the 3 status lights on top of the receiver are lit green.

A - VOLTAGE Light

B - RECEIVER Light

C - ANTENNA Light

Refer to the Quick Start Guide and Receiver User’s Guide for complete operation instructions and troubleshooting information.

Test the System

Only the DIRECTV preview channel (channel 100) is viewable until the owner activates the receiver.

Status Lights

Antenna Power

Button

Power Switch

VEHICLE POWER

(10-16 VDC)

POWER

SATELLITE IN

RF REMOTE INPUT

VHF ANTENNA

OUT TO TV

TUNER

If your satellite dish is ready for DIRECTV service, please wait until your Advanced Program Guide

Installation

Acquiring guide data...

™

is prepared.

• Keep the radome installed on the antenna at all times. The radome

protects the antenna’s internal moving parts from wind, rain, and debris.

• The receiver must be activated before it can receive DIRECTV programming.

• The antenna tracks the DIRECTV 101W satellite only. It cannot receive programming from other satellite TV service providers and it cannot receive channels broadcast on other satellites.

• The antenna must have a clear view of the southern sky to receive satellite TV. Common causes of blockage include trees, building, bridges, and equipment on the vessel itself.

• Heavy rain may temporarily interrupt reception.

Things the User Needs to Know

• The antenna should be cleaned regularly. Dirt buildup on the radome can affect satellite TV reception.

• The owner needs to register the system for product warranty validation. Refer to the Product Registration Form for details or visit: www.kvh.com/register.

• It is dangerous to watch TV while piloting a vessel.

• The vessel must be located within the DIRECTV satellite’s coverage area in order to receive satellite TV. To view a satellite coverage map, visit: www.kvh.com/footprint.

• The receiver beeps to indicate the status of the antenna:

Two beeps = Antenna is powering on One beep = Antenna is powering off

• Refer to the Quick Start Guide and the Receiver User’s Guide for complete

operation instructions.

051099999 051077777

The owner needs the red Activation Card to activate the receiver.

CAUTION: In the unlikely event that you need to remove the radome, remove power from the antenna first because the antenna’s moving parts can cause injury.

rac

ision

Blocked!

Trac

Vision

KVH Industries, Inc. • 50 Enterprise Center • Middletown, RI 02842-5279 U.S.A . • Phone: (401) 847-3327 • Fax: (401) 849-0045 • E-mail: info@kvh.com

www.kvh.com

KVH Industries TracVision M3 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Who Should Install the System?

Technical Support

Receiver Activation

Important Safety Precaution

Things the User Needs to Know