KVH TracVision Local TV Channel Issue
Problems Changing Local TV Channels & Location Codes
Watching my favorite television stations while at anchor has been a goal of mine for many
years. The two main obstacles were cost and size. I have a Tartan-37 sailboat
named Challenger. As you know there just isn't much space for a bulky TV
antenna dome anywhere on the boat. I already had a radar dome on a 10-foot pole
mounted on the stern rail. You may find the same space limitation on your
motor boat.
In the
spring of 2009 the stars aligned with the following events -
KVH now had a small (13.5-inch) dome antenna setup with single-wire
installation - the TracVision M1. The price was at least 33% cheaper than the
previous cheapest model.
At the
same time my pole-mounted radar unit finally broke for the last time. It was a
1991 Apelco that served us for 17 years, with only a few refurbishments. So
there was a decision to be made: replace the radar unit or consider buying a KVH
TracVision M1 - I decided to get the M1.
I did a
lot of searches on the Internet for discussions and installation notes on the
Marine Satellite TVs and the TracVision M1 in particular. I couldn't find any negative information
about the M1 and installation seemed pretty
easy with a single thin cable for power and signal.
After
searching for the best price I settled on purchasing the marine satellite TV system from
http://www.anchorexpress.com. The cost was $2,186.99, including
shipping (May 2009).
The system
arrived the next week. However it was missing one of the little rubber feet. I
called Anchor Express and they were very helpful and sent the part out that day.
The big
day - installation time! I had a skinny friend help me with the installation
because of the possible need to crawl behind the engine to grab the cable coming
through the stern. Anyway, I lowered the old radar pole down and removed the
four bolts. Then I taped the TracVision M1 installation template to the
aluminum base and drilled the four holes being careful to have the back edge of
the dome antenna set just right so the cable just passed the edge of the
aluminum plate. Four bolts tightened and up goes the pole to vertical position.
We attached the TracVision signal/power cable to the old radar cable and gently
pushed/pulled through the existing hole. Luckily we retrieved the cable in the
back of the quarterberth. Then fed the cable forward to the outside of the
chart table and down in the cabinet and through to the bilge. We snaked the
cable forward through the bilge and finally up into the closet just forward of
the pilot berth. Then drilled a hole and pulled the cable into the pilot berth
area where there is a double shelf with VCR and now a new TracVision M1
receiver.
Years ago
we had run 12-volt cables to that area to power a little 12-volt black and white
TV. The cables were tied to the Accessory switch on the 12-volt panel back at
the chart table. I put the connectors on the 12-volt cables and plugged it into
the receiver. Plugged the antenna cable into the receiver and ran the coax from
the receiver to the Samsung 37" LCD TV. Double-checked all the cables and
turned on the TV. Then I flipped the accessory switch to turn on the receiver.
I started reading the setup instructions preparing for a complicated setup
procedure. Within a minute I look up and see the DirecTV channel 100
advertisements.
Now the
fun begins. I called DirecTV in an attempt to activate the receiver.
DirecTV wanted to know the serial number, access card number, and
address/location of the satellite. I told
them the whole story about being on the boat and buying a TracVision M1 system.
They responded as though I were speaking an unknown language. They were
not able to conceive of a satellite receiver on a boat and had no choice in
their computer program to select anything other than a room in a house for a
location. Ok, the end result is that my boat receiver is now the 'porch'
receiver. Also note there are at
least six numbers that KVH or DirecTV will ask you about at some point, so make sure
you have them written down and handy at all times - you'll need them
periodically to reactivate the system.
Here is a
list of numbers you'll need (numbers have been changed to protect me).
Receiver
Serial: 093400412
Antenna Serial: 095405498
Access Card: 004560246489
Receiver ID: 000541184219
DirecTV Serial: F05BC8LA09001
Model Number: M10
It took me three times over several days to get the receiver
activated by DirecTV. Several calls to KVH support seeing if they could help - not much
help. I also had a 60Hz hum coming out of the television and I wondered if
this might cause a problem with the receiver or connection to the TV. In
the end the hum was not much of a problem and was an issue with the wiring
(ground) on the dock. After leaving the dock the hum went away.
Like many
support conversations I have had with companies it seemed as though I was the first
person in the world to attempt such a setup. Well, as I mentioned, on the
third call to DirecTV
support and after many requests to SEND THE ACTIVATION SIGNAL AGAIN PLEASE.
Suddenly Fox TV was on - life is good... so I thought.
At the
time I didn't think to tune in a local channel. Days later I switched to watch
a football game while cleaning and fixing stuff on the boat. No local channels.
I forget
whom I called first, KVH or DirecTV but the end result is that obtaining local
channels on a sailboat satellite system is one of the most frustrating
experiences I've ever encountered.
In the
beginning activation of the local channels seemed easy enough. I called KVH and
they told me my local channels would come out of Baltimore and the Local Channel
Code is 008 which I entered into the receiver. Side note: I already have
DirecTV in the house and was adding the boat receiver as a 2nd receiver ($5 per
month). I checked this out with DirecTV months earlier since I didn't want to
pay $65 per month for occasional six-month usage. I gave DirecTV the address of the
house and they said I would receive the Baltimore channels. The Baltimore
channels eventually came up.
Unbeknownst to me KVH and DirecTV assumed the porch receiver would never move!
In July of
2009 I decided to take the boat from Maryland up to Toms River, NJ where I grew
up and my mother lives. We got to Cape May and couldn't receive local
channels. So I called DirecTV and they weren't sure from which market I should
receive channels and also mentioned that I would be unable to change local
channels. What? They (DirecTV) tried to activate the Philadelphia channels - no
luck.
At about
the same time I came to understand that I needed to change the Location Code for
local channels within the setup of the KVH receiver. I called KVH and they kind
of said 'why would you want to change local channels'? So I explained to them
the concept of a cruising sailboat and mentioned that the boat moves from one
port to another occasionally and that is why I bought the TracVision M1. They
informed me that it is illegal for me to change local channels! I know I'm not
supposed to curse while talking to a support person but I couldn't help it.
Note that there is no mention of this on their website or anywhere else. I also
tried to find Location Code info on the Internet and at that time there were
zero references in Google.
Is there a
good solution to this? No! But here's the finish (so far) to the story:
Ok
(thinking as fast as I could on my feet) I said, I have relocated to NJ for an
'extended' period of time. I have a new address for the boat (my mother's
house). As in the Wizard of Oz they said something to the effect that that is a
horse of a different color. Toms River is about equidistant from NYC and
Philadelphia so they gave me Location Code Numbers for both markets (after much
yelling and screaming). Note that when talking to DirecTV about Location Codes
the phone went silent. Also note that location codes are TOP SECRET to KVH. At
the time they would not give me a list of location codes for my area since as
far as KVH is concerned there is no need to change them since you aren't allowed
to move your boat from place to place and receive local channels where ever you
go.
I called
DirecTV and explained that the 'porch' receiver has moved to my mother's
address. They said ok. That is the NYC market. I entered the 3-digit code
(088) for NYC into the receiver and after a few minutes the NYC local channels
came up.
A funny
thing happened when I drove back to Maryland for a weekend. I was receiving NYC
local channels rather than my Baltimore channels on the house TV. I called
DirecTV and they said that that was not possible because the receiver in NJ was
receiving a 'spot beam' out of NY and the signals would not reach Baltimore and
that they only reset the porch receiver.
Knowing that any attempt to change my current setup would likely mess up the
local channels on the boat I said: ok, I guess you are right and 'thank you'
and hung up.
I still
received NYC local channels on the boat even after taking the boat back to
Maryland. I'm curious how far south they would work and was thinking
that they possibly set me up with what are called National Channels. However,
DirecTV said I was definitely not set up for National Channels since that was
for RVs only! I looked into declaring the boat as an RV but the FCC makes you
sign in blood and provide a notarized copy of the RV registration in order to
get the certificate to send to DirecTV.
During
this saga I did some research and found out that marine-based satellite TVs are
not allowed to switch local channels -- by law. However, recreational vehicles
(RVs) are allowed to switch local channels anytime they like and RVs are also
able to receive what are called National Channels that come either out of NYC or
Los Angeles. This might exemplify corruption in Congress if some
Congressman made the RVs exempt from the law. (And maybe, I wonder, he got a
donation from the RV industry?)
I expect the FCC to be knocking at my door for posting these channel codes:
Local Channel
Location
Codes for Designated Market Area (DMA):
| Albany, NY |
001 |
| Atlanta, GA |
004 |
| Baltimore, MD |
008 |
| Birmingham, AL |
010 |
| Charleston, SC |
017 |
| Detroit, MI |
036 |
| Fort Myers, FL |
044 |
| Hartford, CT |
055 |
| Jacksonville, FL |
061 |
| Mobile, AL |
083 |
| New York City, NY |
088 |
| Norfolk, VA |
089 |
| Philiadelphia, PA |
095 |
| Tampa, FL |
126 |
| Traverse City, MI |
129 |
| West Palm Beach, FL |
137 |
If you
have location codes for your local channels please go to the
Contact page on the website and email them to me and I'll add them to
the list. I believe this local channel problem exists for all the
TracVision Models working in North
America. Dish Network and other mobile satellite TV servers are also under the
FCC regulations. See the FCC�s
Service Operations for Satellite
Television Subscribers publication for further information.
In
conclusion: Congress is inept - not taking care of the situation for the
boating industry. KVH - you should be ashamed for hiding this Location
Code fiasco from your customers and adding to the frustration of changing local tv channels.
Update August 1, 2010: Moved the boat from Maryland to
Toms River, NJ for a visit and was surprised to find that I am receiving
Baltimore local channels here in NJ. I guess DirecTV must have expanded
the spot beam for Baltimore.
Update November 12, 2010: Traveled from Maryland to
Stuart, FL. Hooked up Charleston, SC local channels (satellite 72, local
channel code 017) after entering S. Carolina and am still receiving local
channels for Charleston here in Stuart, FL. I think you only need to
figure out the 4 or so local channel cities that would cover from Block Island
all the way to Miami. Baltimore and Charleston cover 1/2 of the east
coast.
Update for April 20th, 2011: Traveled to Marsh Harbor
Abaco Bahamas. KVH told me that the TracVision M1 would not received
signals this far out. They were wrong - signal is great even when sailing
and in light rain. Also getting local channels from West Palm Beach all
perfectly.
