Great Machines: Enjoy the Road Again
June 2, 2004
KVH TracVision A5
What if sitting in traffic weren’t such a bad
thing? Better yet, imagine being relaxed and content with the whole family in
the car. Hard to imagine? Well, not anymore. Rhode Island–based KVH Industries
has developed a way of replacing the usual road rage and refrain of “are we
there yet?” with serenity and smiles through its TracVision A5 low-profile
satellite TV antenna.
Taking its cue from the recent demand for in-vehicle
video screens, KVH has turned its attention to the automobile market after nine
years of creating mobile satellite TV products for boats and RVs and receiving
the National Marine Electronics Association’s award for “Best Satellite TV
Products” six years running. It has created unfettered live satellite TV
broadcasting for autos and nonstop entertainment for the entire family.
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Forgot to hit Record? It does not matter when you can catch the rest of the
game, keep an eye on the market, or stay updated with live news coverage en
route. Designed to work with either DirecTV or the Dish Network (ExpressVu in
Canada), TracVision receives all the 300-plus channels you get at home. It also
allows each monitor to receive a different channel—whether it is MSNBC or the
Disney Channel—and is compatible with common game systems. Add to that 50-plus
digital music channels, and on-the-go entertainment options abound. (Click image to enlarge)
With a
magnetic lens that directs satellite signals to the antenna, the system uses a
hybrid phased-array antenna which houses 260 smaller antennae on a flat surface,
resulting in a practical package that gets better reception than most cell
phones and radio stations and is comparable to (or even better than) an 18-inch
parabolic satellite TV antenna. It is impact-, weather-, dirt-, and
bug-resistant, providing static-free reception, regardless of vehicle speed or
location.
Less than 5 inches tall, the TracVision A5 antenna has a sleek,
low-profile design that does not detract from a vehicle’s appearance and easily
mounts to most standard roof racks. It comes complete with tamperproof mounting
hardware and cables, a backlit remote control, and the nonintrusive in-vehicle
12-volt integrated receiver/decoder unit stowed out of sight under a seat or
in the trunk. Retailing at $3,495, not including installation costs, TracVision
A5 is compatible with virtually all factory-installed and aftermarket in-vehicle
video screens.
KVH Industries
888.584.4163
www.kvh.com
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