KVH, TracPhone, IP-MobileCast, CommBox, NEWSlink, SPORTSlink, MOVIElink, TVlink, MUSIClink, and TRAININGlink are trademarks,
and mini-VSAT Broadband is a service mark, of KVH Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
Protected by U.S. patents #9,838,749 B2 and #10,349,145. The information in this document is subject to change without notice. No company
shall be liable for errors contained herein. © 2020 KVH Industries, Inc., All rights reserved. 54-1336 Rev. B
1
KVH Link
User’s Guide
Technical Support
If you need technical assistance, please contact KVH Technical Support:
North/South America, Australasia:
Phone: 1 866 701-7103 (U.S. only)
Phone: +1 401 851-3806
Email: [email protected]
Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific:
Phone: +45 45 160 180
Email: [email protected]
This guide explains how to access the KVH Link
entertainment content that is delivered to your
vessel by the IP-MobileCast™ content delivery
service. This content may include movies, TV
shows, daily print and video news, sports
highlights, music, karaoke, podcasts, and/or
training videos, depending on your vessel’s
subscription.
Your vessel will receive new content over its mini-
VSAT Broadband satellite connection without using
your vessel’s monthly data plan or slowing down
onboard connections to the Internet.
Contents
Viewing KVH Link on Your Device ...................2
Loading Initial Content to the ICM..................... 3
Using the KVH Link Set-top Box.........................4
Updating the Set-top Box ..................................... 4
Set-top Box Troubleshooting................................ 5
General Troubleshooting...................................... 7
Figure 1: KVH Link App Icon and Home Page
2
Viewing KVH Link on Your Device
The TracPhone® system’s Integrated CommBox
Modem (ICM) stores all KVH Link content and
streams it locally to connected shipboard devices.
You can access KVH Link via one or more of the
following ways (see Figure 3 for compatible devices):
Option 1: Mobile App on Smartphone or Tablet
a. Install the KVH Link app on your Apple® iOS
or Android™ mobile device. Download the app
for free from the Apple App Store® or Google
Play™ Store (data fees may apply).
b. Connect your device via Wi-Fi to the vessel’s
network that is connected to the ICM.
c. Launch the KVH Link app.
Option 2: Web Browser on Computer or Android
Smartphone or Tablet
NOTE: Movies and TV shows cannot be viewed in a web
browser on an Apple iPhone® or iPad®. You need to use
the free KVH Link app for iOS.
a. Connect your Windows® or Mac® computer, or
your Android smartphone or tablet, to the
vessel’s network that is connected to the ICM.
b. Using a compatible browser (see Figure 3), go to
https://ipmobilecast.com.
Option 3: KVH Link Set-top Box Connected to TV
The optional KVH Link Set-top Box (KVH part no.
72-0876) (see Figure 4) allows you to view KVH
Link content on a 16:9 aspect ratio TV with an
HDMI input port. See “Using the KVH Link Set-top
Box” on page 4 for details.
Figure 2: Basic KVH Link Network Diagram
B2
TracPhone V7-HTS or V11-HTS ICM
Crew LAN
Switch
-+
KVH Link Set-top Box
WAP
HDMI TV (16:9)
LAN
AC Power
WAP
Android or iOS
Mobile Devices
Windows or Mac
Computers
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
OR
User Ethernet 2*
Wi-Fi
* In standard HTS network configurations, ICM User Ethernet
ports 2 and 3 provide the High-speed LAN that is commonly
designated for crew use. If your ICM has a custom configuration,
connect to the appropriate port/VLAN assigned to the crew LAN.
Remember – you and your crew can enjoy
KVH Link entertainment without worrying
about consuming airtime data. All the content
is hosted locally on the vessel.
IMPORTANT!
The TracPhone system must be continuously
powered on and connected to the mini-VSAT
Broadband network, both to receive the latest
content and to support user playback.
IMPORTANT!
Figure 3: Compatibility Matrix
Device App or Browser
Windows 7+ Chrome, Firefox
MacOS 10.10+ Chrome, Firefox
Android 6+ KVH Link App, Chrome
Apple iOS 10+ KVH Link App
Figure 4: KVH Link Set-top Box
3
Loading Initial Content to the ICM
If your vessel subscribed to the Entertainment
package, you may load an initial compilation of
movies, TV shows, and music to the TracPhone
system’s ICM for your crew’s enjoyment. This
initial content is delivered to your vessel on an
external hard drive. Follow the steps below to load
its content onto your ICM.
NOTE: The Entertainment package requires an ICM
equipped with a 1 TB internal hard drive, allowing it to
store numerous movies and TV shows. ICMs built since
May 2018 (serial number 180500001 or later) have a 1
TB hard drive. Earlier ICMs with a 500 GB hard drive
support NEWSlink and SPORTSlink only.
a. Make sure the ICM is powered on.
b. Connect the KVH Link Content Drive to the
USB port on the front of the ICM (see Figure 5).
c. Connect a computer or mobile device to the
vessel’s network that is connected to the ICM.
d. Using the Chrome or Firefox web browser, go to
https://ipmobilecast.com/info/loadmovies
e. At the Load Initial Content web page, select
Start Loading (see Figure 6). The content load
will take several hours to complete. You can
return to this web page at any time to check on
its progress.
f. When the content load is finished, disconnect
the KVH Link Content Drive and return it to
KVH as specified in the documentation
provided with the drive.
Figure 5: KVH Link Content Drive ICM Connection
ICM
KVH Link
Content Drive
USB Port
Figure 6: Load Initial Content Web Page
4
Using the KVH Link Set-top Box
Follow these steps to access KVH Link on a TV
using the optional KVH Link Set-top Box.
a. Turn on the TV and select the HDMI input that
is connected to the Set-top Box.
b. Press the power button on the Set-top Box
remote control (see Figure 7). The status light on
the front of the Set-top Box should be lit blue
(see Figure 8) and a splash screen should appear
on the TV.
c. Once the Set-top Box’s KVH Link app has
loaded, use the arrows, back, and OK buttons
on the remote control to navigate the onscreen
menus, browse titles, and play content.
d. When you are done using the Set-top Box, you
can set it to standby mode by pressing the
power button on the remote control.
Updating the Set-top Box
Whenever an update is available for the app
running on the KVH Link Set-top Box, an alert will
appear in the app’s header on the TV screen (see
Figure 9). To install the update, follow these steps:
a. Using the Set-top Box remote control, highlight
the “Set-top Box update available” message and
press OK.
b. In the pop-up dialog box, select Install Update.
c. When prompted to install the update, select
Install at the bottom of the screen.
d. When the installation is complete, select Open.
The KVH Link Set-top Box app should reappear
on your TV.
NOTE: Each Set-top Box on the vessel must be updated
separately.
To install the Set-top Box, refer to the detailed
installation instructions provided with the
Set-top Box.
IMPORTANT!
Figure 7: KVH Link Set-top Box Remote Control
On/Standby
Navigation
Home Screen
Back/Exit
Volume (keep set to high)
Mouse Mode (keep set to Off)
Select/Confirm
Not used in KVH app
Figure 8: Set-top Box Status Light
Set-top Box
Status Light
Figure 9: Set-top Box Update
5
Set-top Box Troubleshooting
This section covers basic issues related to the Set-
top Box unit’s operation.
WARNING
To avoid electric shock, do not open the Set-
top Box enclosure. If the unit becomes
damaged and/or no longer functions
normally, disconnect it from vessel power and
contact KVH Technical Support for a
replacement. Breaking the factory seal will
void the warranty.
Symptom Potential Solution(s)
The Set-top Box does not turn on. • Make sure the power supply is connected to the Set-
top Box rear panel and plugged into vessel AC power.
Check the cables for damage.
• Make sure power is applied to the outlet (the breaker
is on).
The remote control does not work. • Make sure you are pointing the remote directly at the
front of the Set-top Box.
• Make sure the IR receiver on the front of the Set-top
Box is not blocked.
• Check the batteries in the remote control. If installed
properly, try replacing them with fresh batteries.
• Make sure the Set-top Box is turned on (its blue status
light is lit).
The Set-top Box is turned on, but the KVH
Link app does not appear on the TV.
• Make sure the correct HDMI input is selected on the
TV. Using your TV’s remote control, change the input
source until the KVH Link app appears.
• Make sure the HDMI cable is connected properly
between the Set-top Box and TV.
• Check the HDMI cable for damage.
• Make sure you have installed the correct KVH Link
Set-top Box, and not the KVH linkHUB Set-top Box.
They host different apps and are not interchangeable.
6
No KVH media content appears in the app. • Check the Set-top Box connection to the vessel
network.
• If the Set-top Box is connected via Wi-Fi, make sure
the correct Wi-Fi password was entered.
• Make sure the ICM is powered on and the Set-top Box
is connected to its designated crew network.
Unable to play any media content. Check the current date and time reported by the Set-top
Box. Go to Menu > Android STB Settings then scroll
down to System: Date & Time. If the displayed date or
time are incorrect, contact KVH Technical Support. (The
NTP server needs to be configured on the ICM. KVH can
configure this for you over the air.)
Playback of KVH media content is poor. • Check the Set-top Box connection to the vessel
network.
• If the Set-top Box is connected via Wi-Fi, try switching
to a wired Ethernet connection.
• Try rebooting the ICM (turn it off then turn it back on).
The volume is low or muted. • Set the volume of the Set-top Box to its maximum
setting, so you can control the full audio range using
your TV’s remote control.
• Make sure your TV’s remote control is not set to Mute.
The TV does not display the entire picture. Set the screen ratio on your TV to automatic (or change
the screen size on the Set-top Box under its Android STB
Settings).
Symptom Potential Solution(s)
7
General Troubleshooting
This section covers general issues that could
interrupt KVH Link service.
Symptom Potential Solution(s)
The KVH Link web page does not appear
when browsing to ipmobilecast.com.
• Make sure your device is connected to the vessel
network that is connected to the ICM.
• Make sure you typed “ipmobilecast.com” correctly.
• Make sure the ICM is powered on.
No KVH media content appears in the KVH
Link app on my smartphone or tablet.
• Make sure your device is connected to the vessel
network that is connected to the ICM.
• Make sure the correct Wi-Fi password was entered.
• Make sure the ICM is powered on.
Movies and TV shows do not play on my
iPhone’s or iPad’s web browser.
You must use the KVH Link app to view subscribed
movies and TV shows on an iOS device. You can
download the app for free from the Apple App Store.
No videos play in my web browser. • Be sure you are using a compatible web browser. On
Android, you must use Chrome. On a computer, you
can use either Chrome or Firefox. On iOS, browsing is
not supported; you must download the KVH Link app
from the Apple App Store.
•Make sure your device is powered up and running a
recent version of its operating system. See Figure 3 on
page 2 for a compatibility matrix.
Playback of KVH media content freezes. If connected via Wi-Fi, signal strength may have
dropped too low. Make sure you’re connected to the
correct vessel network and that you have a strong
signal; moving closer to the nearest wireless access point
may help improve signal reception.
The new content I expected is not showing up
in the KVH Link app.
Make sure the TracPhone system is online. The ICM
receives new content via the mini-VSAT Broadband
satellite network.
The ICM does not recognize the KVH Link
Content Drive for initial content load.
Verify that the label on the drive’s packaging shows
your vessel’s name. If it shows a different vessel name,
or the drive’s serial number does not match the serial
number on the label, you received the wrong drive.
Contact your fleet manager or KVH Technical Support.
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