Nutty Navtex

[PAPERBACK WRITER]

We've installed a Navtex programme and although it seems to be receiving general stuff it's not receiving any weather information. Is this because we're berthed in a commercial harbour and surrounded by buildings? Or is this Navtex faulty?

[redbopeep]

What exactly did you have in way of hardware and what did you install?

Navtex - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[svReboot]

And where are you? NAVTEX is pretty short range. Weather is in text, not graphics - hence navTEX(T)

[Aquaria]

Originally Posted by PAPERBACK WRITER

We've installed a Navtex programme and although it seems to be receiving general stuff it's not receiving any weather information. Is this because we're berthed in a commercial harbour and surrounded by buildings? Or is this Navtex faulty?

NAVTEX does not necessarily put out general weatherforecasts - it depends on country and sea area: As for example Norway issues general synopsises even for the North Atlantic, Germany does not at all issue weather forecasts for the Baltic Sea. Just warnings for high winds are issued, if they are out. Otherwise no weather information at all.
Just check via Internet, what is issued for your sea areas - some examples for the greater European area that could be received for example in Northern Germany is found here: Worldwide NAVTEX messages . And a list of world wide NAVTEX-Stations is found here http://www.yachtcom.info/worldNAVTEXfrequencyorder.pdf .

So, for us NAVTEX is not a source for the actual weather forecats, a better source for actual weatherdata and -forecasts are found here YachtCom - WeatherFax | RTTY weather | Mscan meteo | Navtex | Weather via SSB radio | weather decoding software | Weatherfax receivers | Eton G3 , and for this there are special receivers (FAX and RTTY) available.

Hope, this helps a little to have the actual weather on board!

Uwe
SY Aquaria

[svReboot]

I would also point out that you can receive NAVTEX and RFAX (radio facsimile) without anything but a receiver, computer and a sound card. The software is free - try MMTTY (g00ge it)

[redbopeep]

We've done the receiver/computer soundcard way and I can tell you it's a slow go to actually get the full weatherfax transmission. Surprisingly slow.

[Aquaria]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

We've done the receiver/computer soundcard way and I can tell you it's a slow go to actually get the full weatherfax transmission. Surprisingly slow.

... yes, and you dont't have you computer running the whole time, which on most small to mid sized sailing yachts is not done, you have to turn it on any time you want to receive fax or weather data, and this can happen 10 times a day or more depending on what you want to know: rtty weather forecasts 4 times a day, fax on actual weather, outlook for 12 hrs, 24 hrs, 48 hrs, significant wind areas, significant sea state, etc, etc. Here is an example of what amount of data you possibly can receive by fax just from NOAA: Boston Radiofax Schedule with Links . We found that not practicable in harbour and not even at sea to turn on the computer several times a day. It is much more convinient to have a stand alone receiver which can be programmed to the times needed and any time later you can read out the data with your note book.
Or you choose a stand alone unit with own display and print out. Here is just one example: Navtex / Weather Fax Receivers - VHF/SSB Radios - Boatersland Marine .

Uwe
SY Aquaria

[svReboot]

Originally Posted by redbopeep

We've done the receiver/computer soundcard way and I can tell you it's a slow go to actually get the full weatherfax transmission. Surprisingly slow.

Slow compared to what? Yes, the entire cycle takes about 4 hours. If you can download from the internet or get a compressed email it could be faster. But either solution offshore takes more and expensive equipment.

[redbopeep]

Reboot, you answered your own question

If one is a licensed HAM (as you are) one can use airmail and Winmore. I know it is not as fast as the lastest-greatest of Pactor modems but it does provide the ability to get email and thus weatherfax--right?

[redbopeep]

Reboot, you answered your own question

If one is a licensed HAM (as you are) one can use airmail and Winmore. I know the use of this software is not as fast as the lastest-greatest of Pactor modems but it does provide the ability to get email and thus weatherfax--right?

[svReboot]

Yes, I agree that WINMORE works. But world cruising I don't know (perhaps because I am ignorant) if you can get the global (ASIA, AFRICA, S America) RFax broadcasts over the internet. Nor do I know if WINMORE stations have been distributed around the world the way that Pactor 2 & 3 stations have been.

[redbopeep]

The stations are indeed few and far between. My hubby recently noted that getting the base stations out there is the lag, indeed, but that the open source development (linux versioning of Winmore) seems to be well focused on base stations.

I'm not sure if our member Trim50 ever got Winmore running smoothly. He was working with it in late 2008 and then took off from the US for cruising in 2009. He's presently in Australia--we'll have to ask him to weigh in.

Fair winds,