*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: Dad, is there a depth finder on this boat? Why is the water tan?
nope, but i hope to in the future. the system that can track all 5 directv satellites using 2 seperate domes with 1 controller/multiswitch looks very cool. that thing would solve alot of the installation issues i have with other systems if it works as advertised.
New Intellian available now is called d4. 18inch diameter dome. Receives all possible DirecTV channels on Ku and Ka. HighDef and Standard Def. One dome, no longer two required.
No fragile compass or rate sensors inside, so it holds up better in a tuna tower than old fashioned designs. Developed in Irvine California, where Intellian has five R&D guys. Patented LNB with radical new design.
New Intellian available now is called d4. 18inch diameter dome. Receives all possible DirecTV channels on Ku and Ka. HighDef and Standard Def. One dome, no longer two required.
No fragile compass or rate sensors inside, so it holds up better in a tuna tower than old fashioned designs. Developed in Irvine California, where Intellian has five R&D guys. Patented LNB with radical new design.
as i understand it the k4 (18" dish)is a dual dome system (one dome for ku signal and and one dome for ka signal ).now jump forward one year... as usual technology advances and now Intellian has this dseries i heard my dealer talk about that will do both ka and ku with just a SINGLE 18" dome.
Yep, that's right. The new d-Series (d4 is 18inch diameter, and d6 is 24inch) is available after July 6 09. It has a unique ability to receive Ka and Ku through a patented LNB and by way of Intellian's advanced satellite tracking algorithms. (solid-state instead of noisy-motor hunting and compasses and rate sensors...)
K-series is cool on a large boat, where two TV's want to watch programming on two satellites at once. The d-Series can see one satellite at a time, but jumps to another bird as fast as you switch channels, if the channel selected requires a different sat.
In practice with the d-Series antenna, you will get all your HD programs on two Ka satellites, and your SD programming will be on one of the Ku satellites. With old Ku-only antennas, you will get all your SD programing on two of the three available Ku satellites. (This is DirecTV we're talking about now.)
Ask if that's not clear, of course.)
Perhaps if we had lawyers, instead of engineers, who could wiggle around the laws of physics...
In some limited areas, the signal from the satellites is strong enough to use very small antennae. However, the boats are never in the middle of cities, except maybe the swan boats in Boston...
Seriously, the satellites direct their power in spotbeams that are aimed at metropolitan areas. To work on boats who may wander off into the Bahamas or into fishing canyons off New York, we have to use a larger dish. There are also problems of rain fade, just like you see at home with sat TV.
This sounds like exactly what I have been holding out for. Duct I called AME earlier this week and it sounds like you guys are still using the KVH kh band for most boats. I have been wanting to install a sat dome but have been waiting for the technology to take a step forward. I know that KVH is working on things but it sounds like they are a ways out and they only want to do it when it is one dome. If intellian has a launch in July that might be just the ticket. What is the expected cost of the d4. Also that should be about the right size for a 40ft convertible right?
Very cool. So is Intellian Korean garbage? I posted a Q about Intellian just a week ago and that was what I was told. They looked nice to me but I know sh*t about this Sat TV stuff and am just learning as we speak.
After much research I purchased the Intellian I2 it works great and I am very satisfied with the antena I use it with direct tv and it works great also there customer service is very good I had some install questions and the person I spoke with took the time to answer all my questions he even provided me with his cell phone # to me thats great customer service.
When the Intellian rep came a knockin at our door a few months ago looking for a new dealer in our area I JUMPED on it. I see Intellian as the Garmin of the Sat TV world. Very progressive, blowing away the competition with new products with great prices, and customer service that is second to none. We've had only good experiences with them this year with the units we have sold.
Hey did you here that Consumer's closed their showroom in NJ.
I had purchased quite a bit of gear through Annette and she was the reason I used them for all my stuff. Now with her gone I may be calling you for a price on some future purchases.
Perhaps if we had lawyers, instead of engineers, who could wiggle around the laws of physics...
LOL!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnminet
In some limited areas, the signal from the satellites is strong enough to use very small antennae. However, the boats are never in the middle of cities, except maybe the swan boats in Boston...
Seriously, the satellites direct their power in spotbeams that are aimed at metropolitan areas. To work on boats who may wander off into the Bahamas or into fishing canyons off New York, we have to use a larger dish. There are also problems of rain fade, just like you see at home with sat TV.
Understood. However, I'd bet ya 95% or more, of the Sat TV boating customer base (and/or prospective base!) are smaller/medium size cruisers (in the 26' to 35' range) that do not venture beyond a couple miles from the beach, and are mostly situated in big city areas (Long Island, Boston, Miami, Tampa, San Diego, LA...). You know, the Searays, they Regals,... they are all weekenders staying overnight on the weekends..., and would LOVE to have a dish. They would really only need to work at the dock in calm waters. There are 100's of thousands of these size / type boats out there, a big market if you ask me.
This would NOT replace or compete with the dishes the guys above are looking for, dual stations, HD, offshore... in 40+ boats. These would be for guys like me, border line wanting a sat unit on my boat. Would be nice, but how much would I really use it? I only have a little 15" monitor in the v-birth, and would use it to pop on the news or blow some time on a slow day at the dock. The wife would enjoy having it.
At $2,100 for the new KVH M1, it's in reasonable reach, but the question is, do I want another dome on my roof when I'm getting thrown around offshore fishing? another piece of electonics to worry about breaking... If it were 6" or 8", and only worked at the dock in decent conditions, I'd do it yeterday. With a 13" dish, I'm borderline.
If it is physically possible to do it, you guys should do it, you'll thank me later when you sell a 100,000 units.
At $2,100 for the new KVH M1, it's in reasonable reach, but the question is, do I want another dome on my roof when I'm getting thrown around offshore fishing? another piece of electonics to worry about breaking... If it were 6" or 8", and only worked at the dock in decent conditions, I'd do it yeterday. With a 13" dish, I'm borderline.
Birdman,
Take a look at Sea-King VQ-1000 or VQ4000 both portable units.
Spoke with Intellian today on the phone. The gentleman I spoke with told me the D4 would be out July 6th. They are on the boat en route now. I think this is going to be a winner. They know their stuff and I have called 2x now in the past month and they answered each time so I think the customer service will also be good.
He did say the D4 is as small as it will get and it uses the same housing as the i4 k4. The size has to do with the technology and he said it won't go smaller than that. He was very honest about the performance and how far I can expect to go before I have issue. North end of Vancouver island is plenty good for me. They have been testing since last May.
MSRP is $5995
There is room for the dealers to discount if they choose to do so.
I really like this new item but will need to closely compare to i3 and KVH M1 too figure out if I really need the HD and added range. Pretty big price difference. At 40 ft antenna size needs to be considered.
__________________
PSW
Ocean 40 SuperSport
Grady White 180
Last edited by PSW; 06-19-2009 at 05:50 PM.
Reason: Reality
Last year the same conversation went on, and I complained the 18" dishes (smallest avail. last year) were to big and heavy for small boats. They said on here, and at boat shows "Oh Birdman, we will NEVER see smaller than 18", we are at the end of the technology, it's just not possible in the physics of it all....". [insert time travel here!] Fastforward to now: We now have 12.5" dishes, at 1/2 the cost.
Next year?? I bet we get a 6" or 8" dish!! SOMEBODY, will figure it out, trust. me.