Click for Mulder Click for Mulder Click for Westport Click for YF Listing Service Click for Walker

Tracvision or Intellian - a little help please

Discussion in 'Electronics' started by Gratitude, Feb 17, 2020.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Gratitude

    Gratitude Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2019
    Messages:
    35
    Location:
    Boca Raton, FL
    I am looking to install one of these devices on my new boat and need some help from those with wisdom about these systems. Here is all I know and I'm not sure it's even true. To go HD I don't necessarily need an HD system as long as I go with DISH Network. Is this true? Also, my travel I will be traveling to the Bahamas and Bimini at most as far as off shore distance is concerned. Otherwise its the Keys and along the coastline of the U.S. Also, anything else you kind folks can educate me on please feel free to chime in.

    Thanking all of you in advance.......
  2. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    We replaced a failed KVH M7 with an Intelian i6 about 18 months ago

    works great. We now have reception just past Georgetown Exuma whereas before the KVH would loose signal around the north end of Great Exuma

    when deciding between a new KVH or Intelian the installer said the newer KVH control boxes run a lot hotter and need good ventilation. Not sure how true it is or if it has been corrected since
  3. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2007
    Messages:
    645
    Location:
    smithfield, VA
    I just had a KVH M3 replaced with an KVH M5. The M3 when working properly would work in the exumas atleast as far as Staniel. It worked in Eluethera as well as the Abacos. The M5 should be better. I cant answer the dish/HD question. I did not care for the channels and cost of Direct TV but did not hear great things about Dish either. So I went with what I knew. Also I decided to have a commercial account set up which enabled me to get NBC, CBS, ABC out of New York City. Before I wasn’t allowed to have those channels. With a commercial account I believe you have to buy your receivers ($200ea). I would be happy to give you my cost but it was tied in with a cellular antenna that served as a booster and separate cell system for the boat that required its own account and SIM card. Depending on installation I believe the M5 would have been $6-7000. I apologize that I am not more educated on this topic. My installer who I recommend was Electronics Plus out of Jupiter (252 207 4441). They did everything they said they would do and even came in under the estimate. Hope this helps you a little.
  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Actually I need to correct my post. The M7 worked all the way to GTOWN. It was an M5 on a previous boat that lost signal at Barraterre Great Exuma
  5. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2019
    Messages:
    1,578
    Location:
    Vero Beach
    M5 is presently limited to one set of channels in Eleuthera, DirecTV. Can only pick up news channels in the mid-high 300's. Most other typical channels I'd watch have poor signal strength. My understanding is that the M7 has greater range than this.
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I like tracvision. Yes, it is true, their is a chart out there of how far each dish size goes, but the larger the dish the further out you get service. I'd get TV as far as Staniel with an M5. Height above water is another small factor and it's easy for the islands to block the signal when you're at the outer edge of coverage area because the angle the dish has to be at is so close to the water . I ran a boat with Dish TV, avoid it at all costs, it was a **** nightmare. The recievers didn't have RF remotes so had to add eyes, and they never worked terrific. The customer service at DISH was a total nightmare, and had to call customer service often. Go with direct tv and you need an HD dish.
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I understood AT&T took over Dish and that is when customer service went from bad to worse.
    Can anybody confirm the AT&T purchase?
  8. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    ATT took over DirectTV a few years ago, I don’t think they purchased Dish.
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I knew it was one of them. I'm was told since, the service sux.
  10. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Not really. Honestly I rarely have to call customer service. Last time was at least 3 years ago
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Up to the mid of last year, lots of out customers were complaining.
    Sat t v is one of those things we do not have. Keep thinking about it but there we find nothing worth when in range.
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Problem is when you don't use the Direct tv for a month, they shut it off and you have to call customer service and have them send re-activation codes etc. which is the pain in the rear (customer service). If you use it often like Pascal, you don't have issues.
  13. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,118
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    The one thing I learned the hard way is not to the account under an LLC... if you do they put you as commercial account and you don’t get the free music channel and pay exhorbitant prices for PPV...
  14. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,647
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    This was one of our customers main issues. Away for a while, under a covered slip, the sat signal will drop then they had to have it turned back on. I was assured, a big pain.

    I remember one night delivery, off shore from Stuart to Jax, Josie reported over 1000 channels and nothing to watch.

    If there is really something we need to watch now, it's on the internet. Roku is our friend.
  15. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I agree, I have YouTube streaming TV and Netflix and couldn't be happier...….most times direct tv's customer service flat out sucks......first they don't understand it's on a yacht...….and down the 1 hour rabbit hole you go...…...The best is they want the boxes returned everytime you transfer service, of course, most of the time, they're not fun to get to.
  16. Gratitude

    Gratitude Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2019
    Messages:
    35
    Location:
    Boca Raton, FL
    Thanks all the experienced opinions. Just as confused as before LOL
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Stick with direct TV as a provider.

    Either dish/brand mentioned that you go with is a quality brand, stick with around a 20" dish (in size, i5 etc,) not smaller if you plan doing far Bahamas. Smaller dish is fine for Nassau or closer.
  18. WiserTime

    WiserTime New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2020
    Messages:
    14
    Location:
    Stuart, FL
    Customer service for Directv took a big dip with the ATT buyout, but it’s still ok. Think fine instead of really good. Personal opinion is Directv is superior to Dish in terms of total available content and the RF remotes are a bigger deal than you might think.