The Coolest new trick from KVH!
Now we can watch Digital and HDTV on our existing multifunction screens!
What does this mean? The fish finder, chartplotter, and navigation screens already onboard. Now we can watch the “Big Game”, news, weather and all our favorite entertainment while running, fishing or just relaxing on the screens we already use. Interphase technology can make it even easier to enjoy TV programming on the water thanks to an ultra-compact, in-motion TracVision® M1 or M3 satellite TV antenna from KVH Industries and a display from leaders like Furuno and Standard Horizon.
I had not seen this done and was quite interested in the application details. So I enquired at KVH about this. The application is simple. The box’s for M-1’s and M-3’s have AV jacks on the back, and you can simply run a Video (Yellow) jack from the box to your Nav. Display. However this only works if your Nav. Unit has a Video input jack. Assuming it does, then the only remaining issue is the audio. Since Nav. Units do not have regular audio components, you will need an audio source that will accept AV input. So if you have all of these or upgrade to Nav. And Audio units that accept AV input, you can run a set of AV jacks to your units from the M-1 or M-3 box.
This I’m interested in adding this to the fly bridge, since there is a new audio system up there and the Nav. Unit accepts Video in. This will allow for monitoring “The Game” while running without having a TV setup on the bridge. As for other applications, my mind goes wild. Smaller, center console, fishing boats come to mind. Why worry about not having a TV on your 20+ foot, center console, you can use a Nav. Unit with an Audio system. For sailing where you have a Nav. Unit set up at the helm, now you can sail and stay current on media events. The possibilities seem endless, and with new Nav. Screens being larger and several in 640x480 resolution or better the picture quality is good.
This might take some research into the display and type of connections it will take. For example with Furuno their MU an MFD units have “3 ports RCA”, that will allow for connecting “Multimedia”. This is similar to having a remote camera set up to your display. Similar research into an Audio system is necessary, anything with RCA jacks for Audio in R & L will do.
So take a look at what you have and imagine the possibilities! With a little research and set up, you can have Digital TV on your Nav. Unit with the sound playing through your onboard stereo system. I can see myself listening to “The Game” live while fishing and then jumping to the Nav. Screen to catch the play, or the replay.
Sincerely, Robert Hessler for recreationhdgps.com
