We have all become accustomed to streaming our favorite entertainment at home. We expect to have that same at-home speed and experience on our boats as new low earth orbit (LEO) services like Starlink make streaming content on the water a reality for the first time. However, this convenience can come with unforeseen drawbacks. Ask any boater who rushed to remove their traditional satellite TV antenna the moment they installed Starlink, and many will tell you they wish they hadn’t. In fact, we receive daily requests to reactivate or install a new unit.
Why? After a few weekends of streaming movies, sports, and shows, boaters often realized they had burned through their data far faster than expected. We are used to unlimited streaming at home, where a terabyte of data might cost $100 per month and sufficient for an entire family. However, even as LEO services have brought satcom prices down dramatically, the cost is still significantly higher than home service (consider a terabyte of data on boats can cost upwards of $1,000 or more). This cost really becomes noticeable when most people aren’t aware of how much data is typically used when binge-watching a show.
An hour of full HD (1080 dpi) streaming equals 3 GB of data. Three people on board a boat streaming 1 hour a day each will consume more than 60 GB of data in only 7 days. That’s more than a 50 GB monthly plan and that’s with NO internet use, no social media, no video chats, no gaming, and no remote work. Okay, maybe that last one isn’t so bad!
The problem is that streaming can often consume your data before you get around to using your Internet when it is truly needed. When boaters rely on satcom for streaming, they may run out of data just when it’s most critical for navigation, work, or staying connected offshore. Conserving your available Starlink data for these moments is vital.
“I’m not dead yet!” says the TracVision antenna doing its best impression of a Monty Python scene.
Satellite TV still has a critical role onboard.
- It’s always available. You won’t have to worry about data caps, speeds, or outages. A single monthly subscription means you and everyone onboard can just turn on the TV and watch.
- It saves your satcom data. Keep your internet for what really matters while watching TV without using a single megabyte.
- It’s cost-effective. Internet at sea is far more affordable than a few years ago, but the economics still don’t add up for exclusively streaming content compa,red to satellite TV.
- It delivers the live sports, news, and local channels you enjoy. Watch your favorite programs and sports at the dock and offshore, at anchor, or on the move.
KVH TracVision Loves Bell Service in Canada!
While recent changes to Bell TV services have meant trouble for many satellite TV owners, KVH’s latest generation of award-winning TracVision systems are fully compatible with Bell and its 8PSK format with a simple setting change. Contact one of our outstanding sat TV technical partners and get the Canadian programming you want, all tariff-free.
The Bottom Line:
Your TracVision antenna isn’t obsolete. We believe it’s more valuable than ever.
Pairing Starlink with a TracVision satellite TV gives you the best of both worlds:
Fast, reliable internet, and endless entertainment when you need it.
Before you declare your Satellite TV antenna a relic of the past, remember:
It’s not dead yet!
