Are you having problems with your KVH dome losing signal? Are satellites not acquiring? Here's how to fix the signal loss satellite issues with your KVH HD7 dome.
If you are the slightest bit tech savvy then this should be a pretty quick fix for the everyday boater. If you do not feel technically inclined to perform this software change, reach out to us or your local KVH dealer for support.
Step 1: Turn off Starlink if you have it, reboot the HD7 and see if the problem is still there. The Starlink antenna should be mounted 12' away from the KVH dome. Starlink signals can interfere with satellite TV reception when mounted too close to the HD7 dome. If you are still experiencing signal loss, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Connect the serial port on the back of the KVH ACU (black box computer) to a Microsoft laptop using a RS232 to USB cable. Download the Putty terminal program on laptop.
KVH ACU Unit
Putty Terminal Program
Step 3: Once the Putty terminal is installed and the ACU is hooked to the laptop, open Putty and select "Serial" under connection type. Under speed, enter 38400. Press the "open" button on putty.
Step 4: A programming page will appear with script running in the background. Type the following words into the Putty software and hit enter at the end of every line.
Halt
Sidelobe,on
ZAP
Step 5: The ACU will reboot and acquire satellites. This should fix the problem and you can disconnect the computer from the ACU. If you are still having problems, contact KVH tech support at 401-847-3327.
