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View Full Version : Broken KVH Tracphone.


BrianW
02-25-2005, 11:11 PM
Folks,

We are getting geared up to go fishing next week, and the satphone decided to quit working. The local electronics guy doesn't seem to think he has the parts to fix it here. KVH (the manufacture) is talking about a couple grand to fix it, and I have to send the antenna unit to them. Here's a couple pictures of the antenna...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/PB280003.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/PB280006.jpg

and the actual phone...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/BrianW/FV%20Ginny%20C/FV%20Ginny%20C%20Small%20Pics/P6220123.jpg

The last owner told me he had to have it repaired last year too. I starting to wonder if these things are tough enough for a commercial fishing boat.

I was wondering what kind of satphones you guys are running, and if your happy with them. Also, if anyone has some good info on getting these antenna units repaired reasonably, I'd like to hear it.
BrianW
02-27-2005, 05:07 PM
Guess this was the wrong forum for this topic. smile.gif

I would like to thank the one person who e-mailed me a possible solution. Thanks!

If anyone is curious, it appear KVH is a bit quirky and that Globastar may be a better route to go.

I now return you to your scheduled epoxy on teak disussion...

:D
mmd
02-27-2005, 05:21 PM
Brian, you may be speaking to the wrong audience. Why not try posting your question over on BoatDesign.net (http://boatdesign.net/forums/) ? They have a section dedicated to electrical/electronics, I believe.
RonW
02-27-2005, 06:07 PM
I now return you to your scheduled epoxy on teak disussion... Couldn't agree with you more Brian. And I sure don't know anything about your problem.
But I will state that the wooden boat board has went downhill a lot in the last few years.
Maybe the so-called bilge has added to that.

Anyhow there are alot of hardcore posts(that could be very informative) that goes unanswered like the guy last summer who asked about life expectancy of galvanized bolts in salt water.
But you can have pages of post on how high to build a pair of sawhorses.Think the board has been derailed.Hope things get better.
JimD
02-27-2005, 06:21 PM
Anyhow there are alot of hardcore posts(that could be very informative) that goes unanswered like the guy last summer who asked about life expectancy of galvanized bolts in salt water.
So how long do they last, Ron?
RonW
02-27-2005, 06:28 PM
Beats me...I live in fresh water, but would like to know in case I decide to retire and move to florida.
BrianW
02-27-2005, 08:01 PM
mmd,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have that site bookmarked, but failed to post my question over there. But, since you mentioned it, I copied the post from here over to there.

We'll see what happens.

Oh, I was just attempting a little humor with the 'epoxy on teak' quip.

Update!!!

I received a second offer of help via e-mail. You guys are coming through in fine fashion. Thanks!