KVH Industries TracVision G8 User manual

owner’s
manual
•Guide to Operation
•Guide to Technical Information
A Guide to TracVision
®
G8
TVG8_OM_BinderCover_9.03
KVH
®
TracVision
G8
Satellite Television

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Notes
* Press any button to return.
** If GPS is providing valid position
data to the antenna, manual entry
of latitude/longitude is not available.
**

TracVision G8
Owner’s Manual
This manual provides detailed instructions on the proper
operation, installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and
maintenance of the KVH TracVision G8 system. For operation
instructions, refer to the Guide to Operation. For installation,
configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance instructions,
refer to the Guide to Technical Information.
Throughout this manual, important information is marked for
your attention by these icons:
Direct questions, comments, or suggestions to:
KVH Industries, Inc. KVH Europe A/S
50 Enterprise Center Ved Klaedebo 12
Middletown, RI 02842-5279 USA 2970 Hoersholm Denmark
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.kvh.com Internet: www.kvh.com
A helpful tip that either directs you to
a related area within the manual or
offers suggestions on getting the
best performance from your system.
An alert to important information
regarding procedures, product
specifications, or product use.
An electrical safety warning to help
identify electrical issues that can be a
hazard to either this KVH product or
a user.
Information about installation,
maintenance, troubleshooting, or
other mechanical issues.
KVH Part # 54-0198 Rev. C
© 2003 KVH Industries, Inc., All rights reserved.
Fiber optic gyros protected by U.S. and foreign patents
TracVision G8 Serial Number
This serial number will be required
for all troubleshooting or service
calls made regarding this product.
Welcome to TracVision G8
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TracVision®, TracNet™, and KVH®are trademarks
of KVH Industries, Inc.
DVB®(Digital Video Broadcasting) is a registered trademark of the DVB Project.
DIRECTV®is an official trademark of DIRECTV, Inc.,
a unit of GM Hughes Electronics.
DISH™Network is an official trademark of
EchoStar Communications Corporation.
ExpressVu is a property of Bell ExpressVu, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Bell Satellite Services.

54-0198 i
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Guide to Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2Receiving Satellite Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
3Turning On the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
4Changing Channels and Switching to the Second Satellite . . . . .7
5WatchingTelevision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
6Internet Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
7Using the MCU Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Guide to Technical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
1Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
1.1 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
1.2 System Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
1.3 Materials Provided with the TracVision G8 . . . . . . . . . . . .18
2Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
2.1 Planning the Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
2.2 Mounting the TracVision Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
2.3 Connecting the IRD(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
2.4 Wiring the MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
2.5 Mounting the MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
2.6 Activating/Programming the IRD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
2.7 Installing Satellites Using the MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
2.8 Checking Out the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
2.9 Changing Geographic Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
3Using the MCU Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
3.1 Startup and Self-test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
3.2 Main Display and Accessing the Main Menu . . . . . . . . . .60

54-0198
ii
TracVision G8 Owner’s Manual
3.3 Installing Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
3.4 Restarting the Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
3.5 Operations Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
4Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
4.1 Troubleshooting Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
4.2 Causes and Remedies for Common
Operational Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
4.3 IRD Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
4.4 Antenna Gyro and LNB Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
4.5 Computer Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
4.6 Maintenance Port Parser Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
5Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
5.1 Warranty/Service Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
5.2 Preventive Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
5.3 TracVision G8 Field Replaceable Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
5.4 Accessing Antenna Components Through the Hatch . . . .96
5.5 Replacing the PCB Module Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
5.6 Replacing the Main PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
5.7 Replacing the RF PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
5.8 Replacing the Internal Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
5.9 Replacing the Azimuth FOG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
5.10 Replacing the Elevation Gyro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
5.11 Replacing the Roll Gyro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
5.12 Replacing the Azimuth Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
5.13 Replacing the Elevation Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
5.14 Replacing the Elevation Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
5.15 Replacing the Skew Motor (European Systems Only) . .113
5.16 Replacing the Skew Belt (European Systems Only) . . . .117
5.17 Replacing the LNB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
5.18 Replacing the LNB/Feed Tube Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . .121
5.19 Preparing for Shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123

Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
ASystem Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
BMCU Flush Mount Panel Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
CComprehensive System Wiring Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
DStartup Data Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
EMaintenance Port Parser Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
FPatent Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Index
54-0198 iii
Table of Contents

Guide to Operation
54-0198 1
Contents
1System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2Receiving Satellite Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
3Turning On the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
4Changing Channels and Switching to the Second Satellite . . . . . . . . .7
5Watching Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
6Internet Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
7Using the MCU Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Guide to Operation
This guide explains everything you need to know to operate your
TracVision G8 system. For detailed installation, configuration,
troubleshooting, and maintenance information, please refer to the Guide
to Technical Information.

Guide to Operation
54-0198 3
1System Overview
Acomplete satellite TV system, illustrated in Figure 1, includes
the TracVision G8 antenna unit connected to the Master Control
Unit (MCU), an IRD (satellite TV receiver), and a television set.
System Compatibility
The TracVision G8 is fully compatible with Digital Video
Broadcasting (DVB®)satellites, as well as DIRECTV®‘s Digital
Satellite Service (DSS) satellites. The system is also fully
compatible with KVH’s TracNet™2.0 Mobile High-speed Internet
System (for more information about TracNet 2.0, please visit our
web site at www.kvh.com).
In-motion Tracking
The TracVision G8 uses a state-of-the-art actively stabilized
antenna system. The antenna’s built-in global positioning system
(GPS) allows the system to calculate the precise azimuth and
elevation to the satellite from your vessel’s current location,
ensuring the shortest possible satellite acquisition time. Once the
satellite is acquired, the antenna gyros continuously measure the
heading, pitch, and roll of your vessel and send commands to the
antenna motors to keep the antenna pointed at the satellite at all
times.
Satellite Receiver 2
Satellite Receiver 1
Options Purchased Separately
Master Control
Unit (MCU)
TracVision G8 Antenna
PC Diagnostics
9-36 VDC
120 Watts
RF
TV 1
TV 2
RF
Power/Data
Figure 1
TracVision G8 System Diagram
TracVision
Figure 2
TracVision Identifies and
Compensates for Vessel Motion
European TracVision G8 systems
can be connected to four satellite
receivers via four RF cables.

54-0198
4
TracVision G8 Owner’s Manual - Guide to Operation
Satellite Library
Your TracVision G8 includes a pre-programmed satellite library
of North American, European, and Latin American satellite
services. If the satellite service you wish to receive is not already
in the satellite library, an authorized technician can add two
additional satellites of your choice to the library.
System Components
Your TracVision G8 system includes the following components:
Antenna Unit
The antenna unit houses the antenna positioning mechanism, low
noise block (LNB), GPS, and three-axis sensor within a molded
ABS radome. The European version includes a skew control
mechanism that automatically adjusts the antenna’s skew to
account for regional changes and different satellite services.
Power, signal, and control cabling from belowdecks units are
connected to the antenna at the rear of the baseplate.
Master Control Unit
The MCU is the user interface, providing access to the system
and its functions through an LCD and three soft keys. The MCU
also serves as the system’s junction box, allowing the system to
use ship’s power and supply and receive data to/from the
TracVision G8. The MCU can accept any power input between 9
and 36 volts DC; its power supply provides power to the antenna
and galvanically isolates the TracVision G8 system.
Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD)
The IRD (purchased separately) receives satellite signals from the
antenna unit for signal processing and channel selection, and
sends the signals to the TV set for viewing. Please refer to the
user’s manual provided with your selected IRD for complete
operating instructions.