TracVision C3 help

[Mikwallace]

I’m learning all the systems on our new”New to Me”, 1998 405 Aft Cabin. Now I’m working on the TV system. There’s a TracVision C3 satellite dish with DirecTV receivers connected on each TV. The TV in the salon has been upgraded to a Vizio 32”, but the TV in the Master Stateroom is OEM. Someone give me a “Primer” on these TracVision systems. I’ve had DirecTV at my house before, so I’m familiar with that setup. I currently have Dish Network at my house and in our RV. The house setup is (obviously) fixed dish. Our RV is not an in motion satellite, but a “ Traveler” satellite dish and works great.

So, I was told by someone the TracVision is too expensive to subscribe to and antiqueted. I Can’t get info from previous owner, but looks to me like it’s a similar setup as I have in the RV? From what I can surmise from KVH website, the C3 satellite is just an in-motion satellite dish that needs either DirecTV or Dish receiver to make a complete system?

Yes, I know I can use one of the connection devices (I.e. Roku, Firestick, Apple TV, etc, etc) to get programming if I have cellular internet. But if I can use the TracVision with my Dish Network receiver, that would be great. I’m aware also that the satellite will not get service under the metal roof of the slip and the satellite receiver/dish will only work on open sky.

Does anyone have experience with the TracVision C3 system?

Thanks!

[g36]

Hi i also use my dish with house and rv and use an intellion i2 dish with my dish network 211k receiver on the boat. I don't know about the Trac vision but at least you know theres at least one alternative that works. A few years ago dish made some changes to their system that caused all in motion/portable tracking dishes to not find the satellites and a software upgrade had to be downloaded to my intellion system (which was easy)but my king system dish could not be updated and now won't work with dish. I don't know the age of Trac vision but if old enough would have also been affected.

[Midnightsun]

I have an Intellian which is the same however another brand. You are correct, it's just an in motion dish that needs a receiver. There were changes made several years back which required some hardware changes so you may not be functional. I would get the serial number from the system and contact Tracvision just to be sure everything is compatible with Direct TV. I was lucky and Intellian worked fine with dish Network/Bell Expessvu. That being said I elected to install a Starlink RV unit last year which is far more practical than any satellite system as anything can be had via internet today.

[Mikwallace]

I’m wading through all the coax, switches, and controls of the TV, satellite, antenna system and have something I can’t conclude its purpose? The brand name is MaxView but there’s no part number on or in it.

Here’s a pic:

477773AF-D4FB-48DC-87F0-9981AC6B8868.jpeg

It appears to be a “Booster” maybe???

I removed it and opened it but there’s not a single part number on it. Tried Google but didn’t find anything there either.

Can someone ID this for me and if possible it’s purpose!

Thanks.

[km1125]

Could be a power supply (takes ~12V power and puts in on the Coax center conductor) for an amplifier in or at the antenna.

What kind of antenna do you have? Could also be a distribution amplifier (or 'booster') for the signals too.

https://maxview.co.uk/product/masthead-power-supply/

[Mikwallace]

Source of the post Could be a power supply (takes ~12V power and puts in on the Coax center conductor) for an amplifier in or at the antenna.

I’ll have to find the antenna. But this thing runs on 120vac.
What kind of antenna do you have? Could also be a distribution amplifier (or 'booster') for the signals too.

https://maxview.co.uk/product/masthead-power-supply/

[km1125]

I’ll have to find the antenna. But this thing runs on 120vac.

Yea, that's how those kind of power supplies work.

120 in, converts it to a lower DC voltage (or even a lower AC voltage in some cases, but that's more rare), then then puts that voltage on the Coax cable going up to where the amplifier is, which could be inside the actual antenna or right next to it. It is typically done when the antenna is high up in a tower, so you don't have to install a 120V outlet up on the tower and have that also exposed to the elements.

[Mikwallace]

I've been chasing this rabbit for a few days now and have finally determined my KVH TracVision C3 IS NOT compatible with dish Network. So, I'll figure out my next step in this process. Looks like either:
1 - stay with DirecTV SD version (of which DirecTV does not have an ON/OFF subscription like DISH Network and I have DISH at home and RV)
2- Buy a new In-Motion Satellite Dish which is $$$$ (Add this to Future Addition projects)
3- Use Cell Phone Personal Hotspot and WiFI to ROKU When on the Hook and Marina WiFI

[km1125]

As I just commented in another thread.... another option might be something like Starlink or one of their competitors (a new sat-based service just launch a bunch of satellites this week). Then you could stream anything worth watching and have Internet access at the same time.

[g36]

If you havent already located it. The over the air antenna that was oem on the 405 is located stbd side storage and fwd on the bridge in front of the bench seat behind the stbd sliding access door on the front wall