Release Details

Middletown, RI, February 17, 2000 — KVH Industries, Inc., (NASDAQ:KVHI) has combined new Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) technology with its proven television antenna system to create TracVision® 4, the most recent advance in the company’s line of award-winning marine products. TracVision 4, the first self-contained, in-motion marine satellite TV system that uses DVB technology to identify and lock onto satellite signals, is being introduced on February 17 at the Miami International Boat Show in Florida.

TracVision 4 receives and decodes signals from a range of DVB-compatible and DSS satellites and transponders in North America and Canada, automatically identifying, acquiring and tracking the one selected by a mobile user. Users can select the DISH™ Network, DIRECTV® or Expressvu to access high-quality, digital news, entertainment, music and internet data as far as 100 miles offshore. With no external control boxes or sensors, the TracVision 4 is fully self-contained, easy to install, and available at a list price of $4,995.

"Mariners now have the best of all worlds with our TracVision systems," said Martin Kits van Heyningen, president and CEO. "In addition to delivering digital television and internet access in North America, TracVision 4 can be easily upgraded to a KVH global system that also encompasses European and other world territories. This is an important step towards our ultimate goal of providing comprehensive global television and internet access for a range of mobile applications."

After DVB technology positively identifies a satellite, the fully stabilized system tracking keeps the antenna precisely pointed. By combining dynamic and digital tracking, TracVision 4 maintains a continuous lock on the correct satellite, regardless of vessel motion and speed or changes in satellite signal strength in different geographic locations.

"As new satellites are launched and activated for local programming, internet access and HDTV, it is becoming more difficult for antenna systems to identify and lock onto the right satellite," said Jim Dodez, vice president of marketing. "Older antenna designs can become confused and lock onto a different satellite than the one that has been selected. With TracVision 4, no matter what programming you select, acquisition is extremely quick, totally automatic, and foolproof."

This latest generation of marine satellite television systems from KVH features the same rugged design, leading-edge technology and reliability found in previous TracVision systems, which have earned "Best Product" awards for the past two years from the National Marine Electronics Association. KVH makes more in-motion satellite television systems than any other company in the world, and the only company that also offers mobile satellite communications systems. The TracVision 4 radome is 19.6 inches high and 19.3 inches in diameter (50 cm x 49 cm), the same size as the KVH Tracphone® 50 mini-M satellite telephone system. A dual-output LNB can provide signals to multiple receivers, allowing users to watch different programming on multiple television sets.

For users whose needs change in the future, TracVision 4 can be easily upgraded to a global TracVision G4 by simply plugging in the award-winning KVH GyroTrac™. This would upgrade TracVision 4 for complete access to multiple DVB satellites. The GyroTrac’s earth-referenced heading data provides faster satellite acquisition and reacquisition. GyroTrac’s patented three-axis gyro sensor delivers stabilized heading output that can be integrated with all onboard electronics to enhance autopilot and radar performance.

KVH Industries utilizes its proprietary fiber optic, auto calibration and sensor technologies to produce navigation and mobile satellite communications systems for commercial, military, and marine applications. The company was founded in 1982 and has headquarters in Middletown, RI, USA, with offices in Illinois, Florida, and Hoersholm, Denmark.

Contact:
Jim Dodez
Vice President, Marketing
tel: 401-847-3327
fax: 401-849-0045