KVH Industries which claims to be the leading manufacturer of marine satellite TV antennas, introduced the newest member of its TracVision product line -- the TracVision G8 -- at the 2003 London International Boat Show a couple of dsays ago. TracVision G8's breakthrough mechanical design permits KVH to house a next-generation, 82 cm antenna within a dome more than 35% smaller than other competing satellite TV antennas of similar reception strength.

Equipped with automatic skew control, a carbon fiber antenna, fiber optic gyro (FOG) stabilization, a user- friendly interface, high-speed Internet compatibility, and integrated Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) tracking, TracVision G8 is the world's most advanced marine satellite TV antenna in its size.

TracVision G8 incorporates a number of major advances in marine satellite antenna design, including a remarkable new mechanical design and carbon fiber antenna reflector. The result is an antenna that is lightweight, extremely robust, and has an even more efficient reflector. Greater efficiency translates into higher signal strength and increased coverage range. While offering greater efficiency, TracVision G8's 82 cm antenna is also contained in a substantially smaller dome -- 87 cm -- while competing 80 cm antennas require a 100 cm dome to contain the system.

TracVision G8 also uses KVH's own precision fiber optic gyros to provide outstanding open-loop tracking, which will provide superior pointing accuracy and faster reacquisition of the satellite should the signal be lost. The precision open-loop tracking also enables TracVision G8 to remain locked onto the satellite while downloading revised satellite data, such as transponder codes and frequencies. TracVision G8 can then dynamically update its own antenna software with this data to ensure that the antenna is always using current information. This valuable feature will eliminate the need for a qualified technician to update satellite data manually every time a satellite service provider adjusts its satellite codes.

Due to its 82 cm antenna and fully automatic skew control design, TracVision G8 is ideal for vessels cruising offshore as well as in geographic regions with weaker satellite TV signals. The antenna's integrated DVB technology allows it to positively identify and be compatible with all modern digital TV satellites. These include European services, such as Astra, Hotbird, Hispasat, Nilesat, Arabsat, Sirius, and Thor, as well as the DIRECTV, DISH Network, and ExpressVu services in North and Latin America. Comprehensive control of the system is made possible through an easy- to-use plain language control unit.