Directv with Follow Along

waterworldly · 02-12-2007, 09:08

Does anyone have any firsthand experience with using this combo in the Gulf or Caribbean ? Thanks!

Chuck Baier · 02-12-2007, 16:43

If you are talking about the Follow Me they work great in anchorages where there is no wind on the beam or sloppy waves. They are one dimension tracking and will only rotate. DirecTV in the Caribbean is a different animal than Direct in the US. You need a different receiver and subscription. We generally loose most channels south of Georgetown Bahamas and the north coast of Cuba. No luck at all in Mexico. You will have to subscribe to the South American sats.

Latitude9.5 · 02-12-2007, 20:19

I've used/owned the aztrax, which is similar to the follow me tv, I now have a KVH C3, which is a night and day difference.

Biggest complaints with the 1D systems is, one we live on the ball and weekends there are some pretty good wakes, they constantly lose signal to the point you might as well not bother trying to watch tv. also, the aztrax holds a constant bearing, however from my experience the dish being exposed it was constantly moving the dish just enough to have to move it a degree or two, the kvh locks onto the signal and thats it, flip it on, yer done.

That said they are better then nothing, but with the cost of the follow me compared to the kvh c3 you don't save enough to make it worth it. When i bought the aztrax the cheapest kvh system was going to cost me 5k, however the new c3 was in and working for $1600 (aztrax was 1200)

Alan Wheeler · 02-12-2007, 20:43

In have just ordered this toy to play with. KVH is around NZ$9K here and the Track-it will cost me about NZ$2K including the dish and box etc.
Marine Satellite TV Tracking
I hope it works.

Latitude9.5 · 02-12-2007, 20:50

Follow-me-tv is now Track-it-tv.

Like I said I'm sure you'll be happy with it if you have nothing but rabbit ears right now. How much is the c3 in NZ?

Alan Wheeler · 03-12-2007, 11:14

Quote:

How much is the c3 in NZ?

What's a c3 ?????

**David M** · 03-12-2007, 11:32

C3

Alan Wheeler · 03-12-2007, 11:39

I re-read your post. I see, it is a KVH. Don't know the models, but I do know they cheapest starts at about $8K and they all go up from there. The cheapest mobile home one starts at $2.5K. It doesn't track.

Latitude9.5 · 05-12-2007, 20:52

lol, yea like i said when i bought the aztrax i was in the same "boat" here in the us, the cheapest system was $4500 and I had to buy a control box and everything else with it. West Marine just started carrying the new cheaper model (c3) which is much less expensive.

You'll be happy with the follow me tv, if we didn't live at a mooring field that gets nonstop wake traffic on the weekend I would still be using a 1d system.

Lancerbye · 06-12-2007, 05:37

I bought a KVH C3 from West Marine in Vancouver, B.C. Canada last summer for $1800 (CAD) and change. You can then get the service provider of your choice. I use Dish Network. I could also use DirectTV or Bellexpressvu. One can change the LNB(simple job) and get the european providers. The C3 is a low profile enclosed tracking Satellite receiving antenna. We use it while undersail or motoring. The admiral is much appreciative. That, a 20 in. LCD screen, a clothes washer dryer unit, a built in vacuum cleaner system plus a whole lot of other stuff and I can do no wrong. LOL

cal40john · 06-12-2007, 06:27

How much current does the c3 and the Track-it use. The Track-it claims 0.5 amps. I realize if you're stable it will use less.

John

Latitude9.5 · 06-12-2007, 08:25

Less than 2.5amps.

waterworldly · 24-12-2007, 05:21

I was on a friends motorboat in Fort Lauderdale last weekend. He had Trac Vision piped into all his chartplotters and flatscreens, perfect reception even when tooling along. Link: TracVision Marine Satellite TV

02-12-2007, 09:08	#1
waterworldly Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Miami Florida Boat: 52' Irwin Center Cockpit Posts: 257	Directv with Follow Along Does anyone have any firsthand experience with using this combo in the Gulf or Caribbean ? Thanks!

02-12-2007, 16:43	#2
Chuck Baier Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where ever the boat is. Boat: Marine Trader 34 "Beach House" Posts: 1,660 Images: 54	If you are talking about the Follow Me they work great in anchorages where there is no wind on the beam or sloppy waves. They are one dimension tracking and will only rotate. DirecTV in the Caribbean is a different animal than Direct in the US. You need a different receiver and subscription. We generally loose most channels south of Georgetown Bahamas and the north coast of Cuba. No luck at all in Mexico. You will have to subscribe to the South American sats. __________________ To boldly go!! Read about our past and current cruises, the boat, some projects and a whole lot more at Voyages of Sea Trek And Now Visit The New Boats Site At The Beach House

02-12-2007, 20:43	#4
Alan Wheeler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Marlborough Sounds. New Zealand Boat: Hartley Tahitian 45ft. Leisure Lady Posts: 8,044 Images: 102	In have just ordered this toy to play with. KVH is around NZ$9K here and the Track-it will cost me about NZ$2K including the dish and box etc. Marine Satellite TV Tracking I hope it works. __________________ Wheels For God so loved the world..........He didn't send a committee.

03-12-2007, 11:32	#7
David M Moderator Site Helper Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Posts: 2,706	C3 __________________ David Whenever I find myself growing grim...whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul...I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. -HERMAN MELVILLE, Moby Dick Last edited by David M; 03-12-2007 at 11:46.

03-12-2007, 11:39	#8
Alan Wheeler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Marlborough Sounds. New Zealand Boat: Hartley Tahitian 45ft. Leisure Lady Posts: 8,044 Images: 102	I re-read your post. I see, it is a KVH. Don't know the models, but I do know they cheapest starts at about $8K and they all go up from there. The cheapest mobile home one starts at $2.5K. It doesn't track. __________________ Wheels For God so loved the world..........He didn't send a committee.

06-12-2007, 05:37	#10
Lancerbye Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Middle East in the winter, West Coast of Canada in the summer for this year. Boat: Lancer 44 Motorsailer Posts: 594 Images: 27	I bought a KVH C3 from West Marine in Vancouver, B.C. Canada last summer for $1800 (CAD) and change. You can then get the service provider of your choice. I use Dish Network. I could also use DirectTV or Bellexpressvu. One can change the LNB(simple job) and get the european providers. The C3 is a low profile enclosed tracking Satellite receiving antenna. We use it while undersail or motoring. The admiral is much appreciative. That, a 20 in. LCD screen, a clothes washer dryer unit, a built in vacuum cleaner system plus a whole lot of other stuff and I can do no wrong. LOL __________________ The basis of accomplishment is in never quitting Mengzi Meng-tse

06-12-2007, 06:27	#11
cal40john Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Seattle Boat: Cal 40 Posts: 289 Images: 2	How much current does the c3 and the Track-it use. The Track-it claims 0.5 amps. I realize if you're stable it will use less. John

24-12-2007, 05:21	#13
waterworldly Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Miami Florida Boat: 52' Irwin Center Cockpit Posts: 257	I was on a friends motorboat in Fort Lauderdale last weekend. He had Trac Vision piped into all his chartplotters and flatscreens, perfect reception even when tooling along. Link: TracVision Marine Satellite TV

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Follow up regarding cruising cats...	Bruce, C&C 27 MKIII	Multihull Sailboats	17	29-09-2005 12:43
Follow us on our website	bruadair	Meets & Greets	0	20-01-2005 21:01
Follow The Boat	esper	Meets & Greets	0	20-01-2005 16:36