KVH wiring

[Russ Calasant]

I have an M1, one 12v receiver and three 110v, I used a splitter, destacker and a multi switch. The 12v receiver is in the cockpit where the signal from the sat is split and run back up the arch with RG6 where I cut the Glomex coax and connected my RG6. At the other end of that factory coax run is a Glomex control box and splitter that has OEM cable runs to the three tvs down below. I mounted the destacker and multi switch here and connected to the factory coax runs, to each of the tvs, to the multiswitch. I then went to the salon tv, removed it and wired in the 110v receiver and mounted a flat screen. It works great. So now the cockpit and main salon TVs are up and running. I move to the forward berth and wire in the second 110 receiver and it's searching for sat signal, box is good, went through it with tech support and have determined that it's not getting a signal. Now what? I don't want to have to run new coax. I am using OEM coax runs and no issue. I have also used SR OEM coax runs in my 370 without issue with an M3, it was a bit different because I have all 12v receivers in that boat so splitters no destacker or multiswitch that I recall. Anyone have any ideas? Any experience with sat and using factory coax?

 

[alnav]

Russ, I use the OEM coax for the same set-up with no issues. Did you try swapping out the destacked signal from the multiswitch going to the box that is working in the salon for the one that is not? If that works you would know it's not the coax and was something else, otherwise it's likely the coax run.

 

[cod]

I have an M1, one 12v receiver and three 110v, I used a splitter, destacker and a multi switch. The 12v receiver is in the cockpit where the signal from the sat is split and run back up the arch with RG6 where I cut the Glomex coax and connected my RG6. At the other end of that factory coax run is a Glomex control box and splitter that has OEM cable runs to the three tvs down below. I mounted the destacker and multi switch here and connected to the factory coax runs, to each of the tvs, to the multiswitch. I then went to the salon tv, removed it and wired in the 110v receiver and mounted a flat screen. It works great. So now the cockpit and main salon TVs are up and running. I move to the forward berth and wire in the second 110 receiver and it's searching for sat signal, box is good, went through it with tech support and have determined that it's not getting a signal. Now what? I don't want to have to run new coax. I am using OEM coax runs and no issue. I have also used SR OEM coax runs in my 370 without issue with an M3, it was a bit different because I have all 12v receivers in that boat so splitters no destacker or multiswitch that I recall. Anyone have any ideas? Any experience with sat and using factory coax?

Russ,

A couple of things.... Are there any splitters in the cable going to the forward berth? If so you may need to change it out to a splitter for sat splitter. Temporarily disconnect the salon and cockpit boxes and see if the forward berth works. That will tell you the cable is good.

Second, do you have one cable going to the dish? I needed to run a second wire from the dish to the multi switch in order to get 4 tvs to work simultaneously.....

 

[Russ Calasant]

Russ, I use the OEM coax for the same set-up with no issues. Did you try swapping out the destacked signal from the multiswitch going to the box that is working in the salon for the one that is not? If that works you would know it's not the coax and was something else, otherwise it's likely the coax run.

Thanks Al, I will try that

 

[Russ Calasant]

Russ,

A couple of things.... Are there any splitters in the cable going to the forward berth? If so you may need to change it out to a splitter for sat splitter. Temporarily disconnect the salon and cockpit boxes and see if the forward berth works. That will tell you the cable is good.

Second, do you have one cable going to the dish? I needed to run a second wire from the dish to the multi switch in order to get 4 tvs to work simultaneously.....

i can't imagine why there would be another splitter in line but who knows. It is a process of elimination until the problem presents itself, this all helps.
I do only have one coax coming out of the M1- how do you run another? Didn't think you could, do you have an M1? I followed the KVH diagram from the on line tool for a 4 tv configuration, non HD and no DVR, 1 12v and 3 110v receivers.
Thanks for your insight, I hope to get back to it tonight.

 

[Alex F]

Russ,

I run only one box, but my system is setup with multiswitch to handle multiple boxes (PO had 2 12v boxes). I know that it can get confusing or simply something is wrong, this is where, as you said, process of elimination is your best approach. You have number of splitters and other components involved here. I would focus on forgetting about multiswitch and provide as much as direct connection to the non-working TV as possible. KVH tech support will tell you the same thing, like connect the cable right from the dish to your cable box. This step will confirm whether your cable is in good condition. If it works, then you can move on and add the multiswitch and see if it's properly splitting the signal between two boxes....and so on.

I had somewhat similar issue with bridge TV. Unlike in your case, my boat has two set of cables (OEM and custom KVH installation). So, I found a OEM cable that goes to the bridge and I thought I hit the home run. But, soon enough I got stuck with a problem of not getting a signal on the bridge. The direct connection method proved that somehow the cable is not delivering the signal form salon to the bridge. I've tried few things and searched hard for loose ends, but didn't find them. So, I just decided that it's going to be much "easier" to just run the cable between the salon and the bridge.

BTW, the KVH installers completely disconnected Glomax switch, in my setup. I'm it's not necessary, in case if you wish to have an option of using it. But, I guess if one has KVH dish why would they need the crappy Glomax?

Let us know if direct connections delivered the signal.

 

[cod]

I do not have an M1 so I'm not sure if its possible with your unit.. Mine had a second input connection at the dome. My problem was when I had all 4 tv's on I would loose the signal on one or 2 of the tv's.. after reading the installation book, mine showed another input connection in the dome. Opened it up and there it was. I needed to unbolt it from the mount to feed the wire thru. The toughest part was snaking the wire from the dome on the hardtop down to the salon. It solved my problem. Why searay doesn't run the second cable along with prewiring all the Tv's for Satelite is beyond me. Glomex is a waste of time (IMO) when a boat comes equiped with a sattelite dish.......

 

[Russ Calasant]

I got it! Finally. It was the Glomax cable in the arch, that I spliced into, that was causing the problem. I ran new RG6 from the splitter in the cockpit through the arch and up the port side into the salon - PIA but not too bad. All is functioning as it should.
Thanks all for your help

 

[Russ Calasant]

Well surprise! It was not fixed, the RG6 did not solve the proble. I went back to the boat, turned on the TVs and no go. To make a longer story shorter it comes to a bad splitter and a bad 110v receiver, most likely due to the splitter being connected backwards. Sounds like a rookie mistake but I actually have wired several boats for sat. In this case the splitter was not well marked compared to the others marked primary this one was marked pass. And if you follow the on line instructions from KVH it is misleading. With the label side up you have one input on top and two outputs on the bottom, the diagram on line is opposite- it's the other side that goes to the primary and passes 48 volts through so beware. Dealers are selling different splitters so make sure you are clear which side goes where if you venture to install yourself before you connect them. The good news here is that KVH has awesome support and service- they are sending replacement. Direct was pretty good too but a PIA to communicate with at times.

 

[vandal]

Russ how is the M1 comparied to your old M3 any diference in proformance or tracking.

 

[Russ Calasant]

None that I can tell, seems to be the same, just a smaller and lighter antenna. Kind of funny to look at the small antenna on a bigger boat after being used to the larger M3 on the smaller 370. Both are on Seaview dual mounts, the 460 being a bigger open array mount as opposed to the radome on the 370 does not help but that's it.