KVH Industries TracVisionM7 User Manual

TracVision M7 Installation Guide

TracVision M7

Switchplate Configuration

TracVision M7 Installation Guide

Switchplate Configuration

These instructions explain how to install the TracVision M7 satellite TV antenna system on a
vessel. Complete instructions on how to use the system are provided in the User’s Guide.

Installation Steps

1. Inspect Parts and Get Tools, 3

2. Plan the Antenna Installation, 4

3. Plan the Switchplate Installation, 5

4. Prepare the Antenna Site, 6

5. Remove the Restraint, 7

6. Wire the Antenna, 8

7. Mount the Antenna, 9

8. Wire the Switchplate, 10

9. Wire the Receiver(s), 11

10. Connect Power, 12

11. Mount the Switchplate, 13

12. Enter Your Latitude & Longitude, 14

13. Select Satellites, 16

14. Set the LNB Skew Angle (Linear only), 17

15. Educate the Customer, 18

Who Should Install the System?

To ensure a safe and effective installation, KVH recommends that a KVH-authorized marine
technician install the TracVision antenna. KVH-authorized technicians have the tools and
electronics expertise necessary to install the system. To find a technician near you, visit

www.kvh.com/wheretogetservice.

Linear vs. Circular Systems

The installation process differs slightly depending on the type of LNB (low noise block) that is
installed in the antenna (linear or circular). These differences are noted throughout this manual.
Appendix B on page 23 notes the type of LNB required for each region and satellite.

Technical Support

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

North/South America, Australia:

Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

KVH, TracVision, and the unique light-colored dome with contrasting baseplate are registered trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc.

All other trademarks are property of their respective companies. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.

No company shall be liable for errors contained herein. © 2007 KVH Industries, Inc., All rights reserved. 54-0417 Rev. A

Europe, Middle East, Asia:

Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

1

1

Inspect Parts and Get Tools

Before you begin, follow these steps to make sure
you have everything you need to complete the
installation.

a. Unpack the box and ensure it contains

everything shown on the Kitpack Contents
List. Save the packaging for future use.

IMPORTANT!

Always lift the antenna by the baseplate and
never by the radome or any portion of the
internal antenna assembly (see Figure 1).

b. Carefully examine all of the supplied parts to

ensure nothing was damaged in shipment.

c. Gather all of the tools and materials listed

below. You will need these items to complete
the installation.

• Flat-head and Phillips-head screwdrivers

• Electric drill and 1/2" (13 mm), 5/32"
(4 mm), and 3/32" (2.25 mm) drill bits

Figure 1: TracVision M7 System Components

Antenna

Radome

Baseplate

Switchplate

• 3" (80 mm) hole saw

• Socket wrenches

• 7/16" open-end wrench

• Light hammer and center punch

• Adhesive tape and scriber or pencil

• Wire strippers and terminal lug crimper

• RG-6 or RG-11 RF coax cable(s) with
Snap-N-Seal® F-connectors (see Figure 2);
see Step 6a on page 8 to determine the
number of cables required

• Connector installation tool (Augat IT1000

- KVH part #19-0242)

• Power cable (see Figure 3)

• Satellite TV receiver and TV

• Windows® laptop PC with Windows
HyperTerminal or KVH Flash Update
Wizard installed

Figure 2: RF Cable Guidelines

Cable Length Use Cable Type

<= 75 ft (23 m) RG-6

> 75 ft (23 m) RG-11

Figure 3: Power Cable Guidelines

Cable Length Use Cable Gauge

< 40 ft (12 m)

40-70 ft (12-21 m)

14AWG (2.5mm

12AWG (4mm

2

)

2

)

3

2

Plan the Antenna Installation

Before you begin, consider the following antenna
installation guidelines:

• Minimize blockage. The antenna requires a
clear view of the sky to receive satellite TV
(see Figure 4). The fewer obstructions, the
better the system will perform.

• Make sure the mounting surface is wide
enough to accommodate the antenna’s base
(see Figure 5). Also make sure it is flat, level,
strong enough to support the antenna’s
weight (55 lbs, 25 kg), and rigid enough to
withstand vibration.

• Select a location that is as close as possible to
the intersection of the vessel’s fore-and-aft
centerline and midships.

• Do not mount the antenna at the same level
as the radar because the radar’s energy might
overload the antenna. Ideally, you should
mount the antenna 4 ft (1.2 m) above and 4 ft
(1.2 m) away from the radar.

Figure 4: Blockage from Obstruction

Blocked!

Look Angle

Mast

Vessel Platform

Figure 5: Antenna Dimensions

TracVision Antenna

Side View

(69.5 cm)

27.36"

26.2"

(66.5 cm)

12"

(30.5 cm)

6"

(15.2 cm)

Bottom View

6"

(15.2 cm)

12"

(30.5 cm)

4 x 1/2"

26.2"

(66.5 cm)

4

( 13 mm)

3

Plan the Switchplate Installation

Before you begin, consider the following
switchplate installation guidelines:

• Select a switchplate mounting location in a
dry, well-ventilated area belowdecks away
from any heat sources or salt spray.

• Be sure to leave enough room at the
switchplate’s rear panel for connecting the
cables (see Figure 6 for switchplate
dimensions).

• Since the supplied data cable is 50 ft (15 m)
long, the switchplate must be located within
50 ft (15 m) of the antenna.

Prepare the Switchplate Mounting Site

Once you have identified a suitable switchplate
mounting site, follow these steps to prepare the
site for installation.

a. Using the switchplate mounting template

provided at the end of this manual, mark and
cut out a hole in the mounting surface to
accommodate the switchplate (see Figure 7).

Figure 6: Switchplate Dimensions

4.39"

(111.5 mm)

Figure 7: Switchplate Mounting Holes Layout

3.82"

(97 mm)

.32" (8 mm)

3/32" ( 2.25 mm)
Mounting Hole (x4)

2.96"

(75.2 mm)

b. Using the same template, mark the locations

for the four switchplate mounting holes.

c. Drill a 3/32" (2.25 mm) hole at the four

mounting hole locations. Later, you will
mount the switchplate using four #6 screws.

2.36"

(60 mm)

.16" (4 mm)

Panel Cutout

3.19"

(81 mm)

2.05"

(52 mm)

5

4

Prepare the Antenna Site

Once you have identified a suitable antenna
mounting site, according to the guidelines
provided in Step 2, follow these steps to drill the
mounting holes and cable access hole to prepare
the site for installation.

a. Unfold the antenna mounting template

(supplied in the Customer Welcome Kit) 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 (see Figure 8).

NOTE: You don’t need to mount the antenna
exactly on the vessel’s centerline, but the
antenna’s forward arrow must be parallel to it.

b. Use the template to mark the locations for the

four mounting holes and cable access hole on
the mounting surface.

c. Drill a 1/2" (13 mm) hole at the four

mounting hole locations you marked in
Step 4b. Later, you will insert four 3/8"-16
bolts through these holes to secure the
antenna to the mounting surface.

d. Cut out the 3" (80 mm) cable access hole in

the location you marked in Step 4b. Smooth
the edges of the hole to protect the cables.
Later, you will route the data, power, and RF
cables through this hole and into the vessel.

Figure 8: Antenna Mounting Holes Layout

FWD

3" ( 80 mm)

Cable Access Hole

12"

(305 mm)

1/2" ( 13 mm)

Mounting Hole (x4)

Figure 9: Foam Seal

Align with

Cable Access

Hole

(305 mm)

12"

e. Clean and dry the antenna mounting surface.

f. Peel off the paper backing from the supplied

foam seal to expose the adhesive. Then press
the foam seal down firmly onto the mounting
surface, ensuring the hole in the foam seal
aligns with the cable access hole in the
mounting surface (see Figure 9).

6

5

Remove the Restraint

Inside the antenna, a foam block prevents the
antenna assembly from moving during
shipment. Follow these steps to remove this
shipping restraint.

a. Remove the six #10-32 Phillips screws

securing the radome to the baseplate (see
Figure 10). Carefully lift the radome straight
up until clear of the antenna assembly and set
it aside in a safe place.

TIP: If you keep the radome topside, secure it with
a lanyard to prevent it from falling overboard.

b. Remove the foam block that is wedged

beneath the antenna’s reflector (see
Figure 11). Save this restraint for future use;
the customer will need to reinstall it if he/she
needs to relocate or reship the antenna.

IMPORTANT!

Once you have removed the restraint, handle
the antenna very carefully. With the restraint
removed, the internal antenna assembly
rotates freely and, if not handled properly,
can damage the limit switch.

Figure 10: Removing the Radome

#10-32 Screw (x6)

Figure 11: Foam Block Shipping Restraint

Shipping Restraint

7

6

Wire the Antenna

Follow these steps to connect the data, power,
and RF cables to the antenna.

a. First determine the number of RF coax cables

required for your particular installation (see
Figure 12). (See Figure 13 to determine the
type of cable required.)

b. Route the data, power, and RF cables

belowdecks through the 3" (80 mm) cable
access hole. Leave an adequate service loop,
approximately 8" (20 cm) of slack, in the
cables for easy serviceability. Later, you will
connect the data and power cables to the
switchplate and the RF cable(s) to the
receiver(s).

c. Connect the data cable to the “Data” jack on

the bottom of the antenna (see Figure 14).
Hand-tighten until the connector locks in
place; do not use excessive force.

d. Connect the power cable to the “Power” jack

on the bottom of the antenna. Hand-tighten
until the connector locks in place; do not use
excessive force.

Figure 12: Number of RF Coax Cables Required

Connecting to: # RF Cables

System with Dual LNB

1 receiver 1

2 or more receivers 2*

System with Quad LNB (Europe Only)

1 receiver 1

2 receivers 2

3 receivers 3

4 or more receivers 4**

* Multiswitch required for 3 or more receivers.
** Multiswitch required for 5 or more receivers.
See Appendix A on page 21 for details.

Figure 13: RF Cable Guidelines

Cable Length Use Cable Type

<= 75 ft (23 m) RG-6

e. Connect the RF coax cable(s) to the antenna.

If you need to connect just one RF cable,
connect the cable to the “RF1” jack on the
bottom of the antenna. Hand-tighten, then
tighten with a 7/16" wrench for 1/4 turn to
ensure an electrical and weather-proof
connection. Connect any additional RF coax
cables to the antenna’s RF2, RF3, and RF4
jacks, in that order.

TIP: If you connect two or more RF cables, label
both ends of each cable to match the connector.
This will make it easier to identify the cables later.

> 75 ft (23 m) RG-11

Figure 14: Connectors on Bottom of Antenna

DataPower

8

7

Mount the Antenna

Follow these steps to mount the antenna to the
mounting surface.

a. Place the antenna baseplate over the holes

drilled in the mounting surface.

b. Make sure the forward arrow inside the

baseplate points toward the bow and is
parallel to the vessel’s centerline (see
Figure 15).

c. Make sure the four holes in the baseplate line

up with the four holes in the mounting
surface.

IMPORTANT!

You will need to rotate the antenna assembly
by hand to see all four mounting holes. Rotate
the antenna assembly slowly. If it hits a
mechanical stop with excessive force, the
limit switch might become damaged.

d. At each of the four baseplate mounting holes,

place a 3/8" flat washer on a 3/8"-16 bolt and
insert the bolt into the hole from above (see
Figure 16).

Figure 15: Forward Arrow in Antenna Baseplate

Figure 16: Mounting the Antenna (Side View)

e. Secure each mounting bolt to the mounting

surface using a 3/8" shoulder washer, a
3/8" flat washer, and a 3/8"-16 lock nut from
below. Tighten all four bolts until the four
rubber feet are bottomed against the
mounting surface and the foam seal is fully
compressed.

TIP: If you are installing a linear system, you may
wish to keep the radome off for now. Later, you will
need to adjust the skew angle of the antenna’s LNB.

f. Reinstall the radome onto the antenna. Secure

in place with the six #10-32 screws you
removed in Step 5a.

g. Install a protective plastic screw cap

(supplied in the kitpack) over each radome
screw.

3/8"-16 Bolt (x4)

3/8" Flat Washer (x4)

Antenna Base

Foam Seal

Mounting Surface

3/8" Shoulder Washer (x4)

3/8" Flat Washer (x4)

3/8"-16 Lock Nut (x4)

9

8

Wire the Switchplate

Follow these steps to connect the switchplate to
the antenna.

NOTE: System wiring diagrams are provided in
Appendix D on page 27.

a. First dress the data and power cables from

the antenna. Strip back the insulation of each
wire approximately 1/4" (6 mm) and gently
twist each wire to ensure a good electrical
connection.

b. Connect the data cable from the antenna to

the terminal board on the back of the
switchplate (see Figure 17). Be sure to match
the wire colors with the terminal board label.
Tighten the terminal screws to secure all
wires in place.

IMPORTANT!

The diagram refers to wires by body color/
stripe color. For example, “Blue/White”

means the blue wire with the white stripe.

IMPORTANT!

Do not connect the data cable’s drain wire
(shield) to anything. You can simply snip it
from the cable.

Figure 17: Switchplate Wiring - Antenna Data Cable

BLU/WHT Not Used

WHT/BLU Not Used

BRN/WHT PC GND

WHT/BRN PC TXD

ORG/WHT PC RXD

WHT/ORG RF GND

GRY/WHT RF RXD

WHT/GRY RF TXD

GRN/WHT Not Used

WHT/GRN Not Used

Data Cable
to Antenna

c. Connect the power cable from the antenna to

the switchplate’s power output terminals (see
Figure 18).

10

Figure 18: Switchplate Wiring - Antenna Power Cable

To Antenna

Ground (Black)

+12 VDC (Red)

–

+