Tracvision Satellite Help

Magic34

Magic34

Member
Jul 7, 2015
149
Live in AZ, Boat in San Diego
Boat Info
Former 44 Sundancer Owner
Engines
Currently Self Powered
I think I have the M2 or M3 on the boat and I cannot get a picture to the TV. I don't even get a screen telling me to contact Directv for service. I assume I need a new card, but even with the old card installed, it should at least give me something on the picture, right?

When I turn the power to the satellite on via panel switch, I can hear the satellite in the dome start up, and I think it spins a couple times then just stops. The lights on the top of the receiver light up green, then after about 20 seconds.

Of the 3 lights on the top of the box:
a. Voltage stays green
b. Receiver status goes orange
c. Antenna doesn't light anything

Any ideas?

Thank you.
 
Have you called direct tv customer support.

I have dish with kvh, so no directTV tips.

Biggest breakkthrough with me was when someone told me to escalate to the RV/Boat team at dish. They understand the tracvision/kvh world.

Maybe that helps,

Mark
 
FootballFan said:
Have you called direct tv customer support.

I have dish with kvh, so no directTV tips.

Biggest breakkthrough with me was when someone told me to escalate to the RV/Boat team at dish. They understand the tracvision/kvh world.

Maybe that helps,

Mark
Click to expand...

Tried once but wasn't on boat. Trying them again now, thanks for the tip on the dept.
 
Couple of thoughts and questions:

1. Do you have DirecTV account activated?
2. If you don't see "floating" DirecTV icon on the screen, this means that most likely there's a connection issue between cable box and TV unit.
3. It sounds like you have different control/switch panel than mine. I have only switch and green light with service port.
4. When dish is turned on, there are few things that take place:

a) She does 370 degrees test cycle.
b) Then, she tries the last position to find a signal.
c) If no signal found, she'll be spinning until new signal is descovered. This can take upto 20min.
d) Unitl the signal is found, you should see code 771 (lost signal....) on the screen. If you don't see it, see item #2 above.

5. Lastly, assuming you have DirecTV service at home, whatever chanels you see at home, the same (except international chanels) will be available at the boat.

I think this should get you started and get more info, if further troubleshooting is needed.
 
Thanks Alex. I have the KVH system on my Formula as well and never had an issue. I agree that I should see some sort of error message but I do not. I called and ordered a new card, I don't think that's the only issue but I'll start there with a new activated card to eliminate 1 potential issue.

When I first turn the system on/power from my panel, I can hear the dish spin for about 10 seconds, then it goes quiet and I cannot hear it searching anymore.

I've determined that all 4 TVs on board have a coax cable going into them telling me that there's a splitter somewhere between the box and TVs, however I cannot find it anywhere. I took interior panels apart following wires and keep hitting dead ends.
 
First things first, you have to simplify troubleshooting steps. Forget all 4 TVs. Focus on one, if you could make one work, you'll make all of them work.

Pick a TV that's closes to the cable box. Make sure you find a coax between cable box and the TV. When the box is turned on, regardless if the dish is working or not, you should see something on the screen showing the status. If you don't, it's the problem between direcTV box and your TV. Is the TV channel matching cable box transmitting channel? It's usually Ch 3 or 4.

Leave the dish alone until you start seeing something on the screen. If you can't find any wires, go buy 10'-15' coax and hook it up just for testing purpose.

Since the dish only spins for short time frame, it's very possible that she finds the signal fast and stops. I assume the boat didn't move from its slip.
 
Just read through this. With the information provided I noticed two things. One is that the third (antenna) light is not lit. When the boot up process is complete all lights need to be green. But then like others have posted there should be something showing on the screen. At least an antenna error banner across the bottom. So as posted above just hook up one tv. Find which connection you are using, line in, HDMA, etc. and switch the tv to that input.
 
Since you guys are talking tracvision I have a question. while traveling we overnight-ed in a marina with cable on the dock. So I hooked up to the dock cable via coax but I did not know how to set the tv to switch from Direct TV. Any help?
 
A satellite dish is usually custom installation, so every boat is done slightly different. In my case, the installers totally disconnected the shore Cable Service capability. In order for me to restore it, I had to install an A/B switch, which takes two inputs (Satellite or dock side dish) and one output to the receiver box. Just to clarify, I only did it at my home port where I had fixed Dish, which received international channels. Onboard satellite dish only gets domestic.

I’m not sure if the same approach will work for you. Probably you’ll have to bypass the receiver and connect the coax directly to a TV or multi-switch.

Anytime we’re transieting, we only use our satellite dish.


 
gbeato said:
Since you guys are talking tracvision I have a question. while traveling we overnight-ed in a marina with cable on the dock. So I hooked up to the dock cable via coax but I did not know how to set the tv to switch from Direct TV. Any help?
Click to expand...

If you have the Glomex antenna system that Sea Ray typically uses for stock installations, there should be a line amplifier, mine is located at the main switchboard. The rheostat should be marked "Max Gain" at the full clockwise position; this is used to adjust the over-the-air TV signal. Fully counter-clockwise should be marked "Shore" and enables the cable signal. But, Alex is correct in that the SatTV installation might well have gooned this up. I was able to put things back so that all three signals are available through the Glomex wiring.
 
OK, I have on occasion bump the input switch on my remote and got nothing but snow on the screen.... Panicked, called DTV they were no help so I started fiddling with the remote and went through the input options... TV on & picture back up !!
 
Gary Hill said:
Just read through this. With the information provided I noticed two things. One is that the third (antenna) light is not lit. When the boot up process is complete all lights need to be green. But then like others have posted there should be something showing on the screen. At least an antenna error banner across the bottom. So as posted above just hook up one tv. Find which connection you are using, line in, HDMA, etc. and switch the tv to that input.
Click to expand...


Thank you, I've been on the other side of the world for the last 2 weeks and will be back at the boat this weekend. With new card in hand, I'll try a different TV wired directly to the box. I'll report back, hoping for success.
 
Tried a different TV wired directly to box, new Directv card. No picture. No change in the lights. Have a call into KVH tech support. So now it has to be the dish or receiver. Nothing left.
 
Just got a call from KVH. They say that the system is in standby mode and to "wake" it up, I simply need to press Satellite then Power from the remote a couple times. I wont be back to the boat for 3 weeks so it'll be a bit before I can try again.
 
Well... that didn't work. Had a tech from KVH on the line last Friday for 15 minutes or so. Guy had worked there for the last 14 years. Basically, we tried every trick that we could. Tried 2 different RF boxes. 2 different remote controls. His guess is that my receiver is bad and it's discontinued so I cannot purchase a new one.

I'll be watching eBay and try to get a hold of Hughes (receiver mfg) to see if they can offer any help. Otherwise, it's $3000 for a new system.
 
I hear ya Magic, my total was 9 hrs and 38 min on tech support between, Direct TV, KVH and Winegard over two months. And then STILL had a tech come out to the tune of $175 for 45 min and then it didn't work 30 min after he left.


Also check a site called GPS guys the seem to have great deals at times also. But I did find this new state of the art unit. It's still not cheap but cheaper than $3000 http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|344|2028698|2029210&id=2518236


 
Ctsearay said:
I hear ya Magic, my total was 9 hrs and 38 min on tech support between, Direct TV, KVH and Winegard over two months. And then STILL had a tech come out to the tune of $175 for 45 min and then it didn't work 30 min after he left.


Also check a site called GPS guys the seem to have great deals at times also. But I did find this new state of the art unit. It's still not cheap but cheaper than $3000 http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|344|2028698|2029210&id=2518236


Click to expand...


Thanks, there's some TV1 systems on EBay for $2100 also. May try that if I keep running into dead ends.

For the coastal waters of Southern CA, within 30 miles of shore, is the TV1 good enough? The only reason I say 30 miles is because of Catalina Island but that is no more than 1 trip every other year, so that isn't even that important.
 
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