When Stanley and Frannie Hanin decided to start taking extended trips on their yacht, they needed to stay in touch with their business and personal contacts on shore, so they needed a reliable solution for onboard Internet and digital entertainment that they could rely on to work anywhere.

Like many yacht owners, the Hanins use their boat, the Altisa VII, as a second home and a mobile office. That's why they and other boat owners around the globe turn to TracVision and TracPhone systems from KVH Industries, Inc., to meet these needs in an affordable, reliable, and attractive way.

For the Hanins, their TracVision M7 brings crystal-clear satellite TV to the yacht, while the TracPhone V7 antenna and mini-VSAT Broadband service offer reliable Internet access and voice service.

As a result, they keep in touch with their business contacts and loved ones almost as if they never left dry land. Of course, there is plenty of room to "get away from it all" aboard the 96' Altisa VII, so the Hanins can enjoy the best of both worlds, managing their business anytime they want to, from wherever they may be.

"Using the TracPhone V7, Frannie and I have been on several conference calls, are constantly reading and sending e-mails, and simultaneously surf the Internet while very deep in the Southern Bahamas, like in the Exumas, with nary a cutoff," says Mr. Hanin. The Hanins also enjoy HDTV onboard via their 24-inch TracVision M7 satellite TV antenna from KVH, which is a perfect match for the TracPhone V7.

"Many of our customers prefer the dual-dome installation because of its beautiful appearance, and they like having KVH for 'one-stop shopping' when they want a satellite system, airtime, and support," says Jim George, KVH's director of satellite sales.

"Our products are the ideal solution for yacht owners who are enjoying their home away from home while also staying in touch with the office and loved ones onshore. TracVision and TracPhone antennas are the perfect fit for their lifestyle, and our goal is always to create convenient, useful solutions that are as reliable as anything you would use at home."

Clearly, KVH achieves that goal with the products and service that the Hanins are enjoying. "KVH understands people spend a lot of money on these systems, and the thing that impresses us the most is their outstanding service! If you want constant communications, KVH is the way to go," says Hanin.

"KVH's fixed rate mini-VSAT Broadband plan allows its airtime subscribers to use the system worry-free," he explains. "I take care of business or talk to friends and family for as long as I need to; I don't feel rushed or concerned about jacking up my bill. The TracPhone system is absolutely the finest, most trouble-free communications system that anyone could possibly want."

The mini-VSAT Broadband network was designed from the ground up to be the first next-generation maritime satellite communications solution. Offering service and performance superior to traditional maritime VSAT services through a global spread spectrum satellite network, it also includes the commercial-grade KVH TracPhone V7, the first FCC-approved 24" (60 cm) VSAT antenna.

The seamless worldwide network is delivered by 11 satellite transponders and 8 secure earth stations and offers voice service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) with significant cost savings compared to competing services.