KVH Industries TracVision G8 User manual

owner’s
manual
•Guide to Operation
•Guide to Technical Information
A Guide to TracVision
®
G8
TVG8_OM_BinderCover_11.05

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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.
**
2005, KVH Industries, Inc.

TracVision G8
Owner’s Manual
This manual provides detailed instructions on the proper
operation, installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and
maintenance of the KVH TracVision G8 satellite TV 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 Kokkedal Industripark 2B
Middletown, RI 02842-5279 USA 2980 Kokkedal, 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
Please e-mail your comments about this manual to
[email protected]. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
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. D
© 2005 KVH Industries, Inc., All rights reserved.
TracVision G8 Serial Number
This serial number will be required
for all troubleshooting or service
calls made regarding this product.
Welcome to TracVision G8

TracVision®and KVH®are trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc.
DVB®(Digital Video Broadcasting) is a registered trademark of the DVB Project.
DIRECTV®is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc.
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
1 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 Receiving Satellite Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
3 Turning On the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
4 Changing Channels and Switching to the Second Satellite . . . . .6
5 Watching Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
6 Using the MCU Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Guide to Technical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
1.1 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
1.2 System Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
1.3 Materials Provided with the TracVision G8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
2 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
2.1 Planning the Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
2.2 Mounting the TracVision Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
2.3 Connecting the Receiver(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
2.4 Wiring the MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
2.5 Mounting the MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
2.6 Activating/Programming the Receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
2.7 Installing Satellites Using the MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
2.8 Checking Out the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
2.9 Changing Geographic Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
3 Using the MCU Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
3.1 Startup and Self-test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
3.2 Main Display and Accessing the Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
3.3 Installing Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
3.4 Restarting the Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
3.5 Operations Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

54-0198
ii
TracVision G8 Owner’s Manual
4 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
4.1 Troubleshooting Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
4.2 Causes and Remedies for Common
Operational Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
4.3 Receiver Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
4.4 Antenna Gyro and LNB Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
4.5 Computer Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
4.6 Maintenance Port Antenna Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
5 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
5.1 Warranty/Service Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
5.2 Preventive Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95
5.3 TracVision G8 Field Replaceable Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
5.4 Accessing Antenna Components Through the Hatch . . . . . . .98
5.5 Replacing the PCB Module Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
5.6 Replacing the PCB Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
5.7 Replacing the RF PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
5.8 Replacing the Internal Sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
5.9 Replacing the Azimuth Gyro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
5.10 Replacing the Elevation Gyro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
5.11 Replacing the Azimuth Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
5.12 Replacing the Azimuth Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
5.13 Replacing the Elevation Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
5.14 Replacing the Elevation Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
5.15 Replacing the Skew Motor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
5.16 Replacing the Skew Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
5.17 Replacing the LNB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
5.18 Replacing the LNB/Feed Tube Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
5.19 Preparing for Shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120

Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
A System Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
B MCU Flush Mount Panel Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
C Startup Data Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
D Maintenance Port Antenna Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Index
54-0198
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Table of Contents

Guide to Operation
54-0198 1
Contents
1 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 Receiving Satellite Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
3 Turning On the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
4 Changing Channels and Switching to the Second Satellite . . . . . . . . . .6
5 Watching Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
6 Using the MCU Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
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
beginning on page 11.

Guide to Operation
54-0198 3
1 System Overview
A complete satellite TV system, illustrated in Figure 1, includes
the TracVision G8 antenna unit connected to the Master Control
Unit (MCU), a satellite TV receiver (integrated receiver/decoder,
or IRD), and a television set.
Figure 1 TracVision G8 System Diagram
Satellite Compatibility
The TracVision G8 is fully compatible with Digital Video
Broadcasting (DVB®) satellites, as well as DIRECTV®‘s Digital
Satellite Service (DSS) satellites.
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 direction 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 motion of your
vessel and send commands to the antenna motors to keep the
antenna pointed at the satellite at all times.
Receiver 2
Receiver 1
Options Purchased Separately
Master Control
Unit (MCU)
TracVision G8 Antenna
PC Diagnostics
9-36 VDC
90 Watts
RF
TV 1
TV 2
RF
Power/Data
TracVision
TracVision G8 systems equipped
with linear quad LNBs (used in
Mexico and Europe) can be
connected to four receivers using
four RF cables.

54-0198
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TracVision G8 Owner’s Manual - Guide to Operation
Satellite Library
Your TracVision G8 includes a pre-programmed library of TV
satellites from around the world. 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 converter (LNB), GPS, and three-axis sensor within a
molded ABS radome. Systems equipped with a linear quad LNB
(used in Europe, Australia, and Mexico) include a skew control
mechanism that automatically adjusts the LNB’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 (MCU)
The MCU is the user interface, providing access to the system
and its functions through an LCD and three buttons. 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.
Satellite TV Receiver (IRD) – Sold Separately
The receiver (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 receiver for complete
operating instructions.