Another SSB question..calling Jerry or Henry!

[DavidJ]

Jerry or Henry or others in the know
I'm really interested in downloading the isobar weather charts but in all the stuff I'm reading it's not clear (to me!) if this is available using JVComm32 software or do I have to use one of the quite expensive packages to get it.
Also
In my search for an SSB receiver I see things advertised as SSB scanners is this something the same/better/not needed

Can you recommend some makes and models.
ta
David

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[jerryat]

Hi David,

JVComm32 will provide all you need for weatherfax and RTTY in one package. It also does other clever things like downloading satellite pictures, but I've personally wanted or bothered to try these.

As I mentioned in my previous post, IMHO the MTTY software is better (just) for RTTY. If you type in RTTY in Google you'll have several sites to download from. Again it's free, so I reckon it's worth downloading it to check out. If you don't like it, ditch it.

You do not want an SSB scanner! What you need is a good quality HF (high frequency) receiver that can tune down to 1 Hz for preference. I know that Nasa's Target (I think its called) SSB receiver is used by many and it's cheap, but I've a couple of friends with this unit who can often not get a picture (fax) when I'm receiving great ones. It's not just a question of the aerial either.

I have an Icon 706Mk2 transceiver, but also carry a Lowe HF150 receiver, (the marine version) which is generally accepted as among the best made and neatest sets available. They're not cheap new (circa £400) but are superb and can be fitted with a narrow filter (for weatherfax) for around £25.00. They will work with a simple, uninsulated backstay aerial too.

There are, of course, other makes, but I do advise you not to cut quality in favour of price. There seems little point to me in buying a set that will only give mediocre pictures in good conditions, with the risk of getting unreadable ones just when you need them!

Hope this helps,

Cheers

Jerry

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[Phoenix of Hamble]

David,

Don't forget that if you buy a transceiver rather than a receiver, you'll need a license... not sure what the Spanish authorities require, but the relevant UK license is the LRC.... which I think is a 3 day course and exam (tho' no doubt I'll be corrected if wrong!)

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[DavidJ]

Jerry
Another great reply....which always leads to another (not great!) question.
Filters?? what are they? are they essential? do you buy one for a particular frequency? do they plug in somewhere
ta
David

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[HenryB]

David,

I agree with all that Jerry stated and just add that you will find it a lot easier to receive good RTTY than clear weather fax. (Well, I do!)
Often the lines and text on the FAX appear with a shadow which I believe is due to receiving both a ground wave signal (direct from the transmitter) and a sky wave signal shortly afterwards (arrives later because it travelled further). If both are about the same signal strength then I haven't found a way of getting rid of one. If one is much stronger then reducing the signal (shorter aerial or less volume) can greatly improve the image.
Jerry - do you get this or have an answer to it?
Give yourself plenty of time to get used to the system.
In the med I find the charts most useful to look out for passing fronts which can give quite violent winds for short periods, and to work out what is happening if the RTTY forecaster gets it all wrong! I guess that if you are mid ocean then the FAX chart will be your only means of long range forecasting.

Good sailing,

Henry


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[DavidJ]

NAS
I'm just taking one step at a time so transmitting is not on the agenda as yet ....but it could be yet another expensive hobby to get into.

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[jerryat]

Hi Henry and David!

David, to answer your question first. I was advised, when I first bought the Lowe receiver, to install a 'narrow' filter. Why? Well it would, I was told, eliminate the 'noise' on either side of the selected frequency and therefore allow a much clearer signal to be received and (in our cases) processed by the computer to produce our weatherfaxes.

Filters are available for different 'ranges' of freqencies, and if you explain that you are after weatherfaxes/RTTY, the supplier will be able to supply the one (in this case narrow) best suited to achieve this.

I had mine installed by the supplier, but you can buy them separately and just plug them into the board inside the radio (in the case of the Lowe) yourself. The cost was £25 at the time. The filter can be switched on or off as required and it is quite amazing, when listening to the fax signal through the loudspeaker, just how much electronic noise is cut out when the filter is switched on.

Henry, the above filter will also substantially reduce (or even eliminate) your out of phase signal. I don't know what radio you use, so am sticking my neck out to some extent in making this statement, but I'm fairly confident it's correct, assuming you are not affected by loads of adjacent masts or hills!

May I suggest you check to see if you already have a narrow filter installed (some sets do from new I'm told) but if not, have a word with a reputable radio supplier for their advice. I have a couple of ham radio friends who are always willing to answer my mumblings, and you may get similar help if you contact your local radio club. Certainly, it is money well spent, as I virtually always get crystal clear faxes, usually far better than those shown in the 'How to... ' books I've seen!

Hope this helps,

Cheers

Jerry





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[DavidJ]

Jerry
Thanks for the reply and information on filters.
I note you have the marine version of the HF150 (HF150M?)
I'm looking around for 150's, does it have to be the M version for my weatherfax/RTTY requirement.
regards
David


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[jerryat]

Hi David,

No. You don't need to buy the 'marine' version, in fact I'm not sure what the difference is (except for external colour) between the two. Probably better moisture protection for electronics I'd guess.

The two versions are identical otherwise and will provide worldwide reception for the Beeb World Service, wefaxes, RTTY, the marine nets and a whole host of other goodies. Small, beautifully engineered, reliable and (thank God) just the tuning knob and four buttons, so you don't need a pilot's licence and a degree in electronics to operate it!!! Fabulous value IMHO.

Cheers

Jerry



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[jerryat]

Hi David,

Sorry, just realised I said type in 'rtty' in Google to get the Mmtty software! Should have been MMTTY instead! This will give you several sources for the software. If you get stuck or need more help either post here or PM me.

Cheers

Jerry

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[DavidJ]

Thanks Jerry

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[Oldhand]

Fax skywave interference tends to be worse on low frequencies, i.e 2 Mhz band, have you tried changing frequency to 4 or 8Mhz bands? Skywave interference is normally not a problem during daytime, so another cure is to try and get your faxes during the day rather in the evening /night.

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[Oldhand]

One solution is to use an ICOM PCR1000 black-box receiver which when combined with Bonito RadioCom software (around £120) gives a very simple to use Fax, SYNOP, Navtex and RTTY solution. You just chose your station/frequency from a database and the receiver is automatically setup correctly to recieve that station's output. It is thus very quick to change station if schedules are tight. RadioCom has its own fax viewer/printer and automatically boots MS Word to display all text information. I have tried other software but haven't found anything as good.

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[DavidJ]

Thanks for that Oldhand. I've consequently done a bit of searching and come across http://www.johntsmith.com/pcr1000.htm
which you may already know but he makes reference to a software update and a modification to the ICOM which I can't figure out to what benefit, but it may be of some interest to you.
regards
David

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[jerryat]

Hi Old hand

Yep, agree about getting your faxes during the day. I find it almost impossible to obtain anything sensible at night, and in any case, our watch system changes to allow more sleep then! We generally download about 4-5 faxes a day when planning, or on, long passages. Conveniently, these are almost all consecutive, so we switch on the gear a few minutes beforehand, then each is started, downloaded, and saved automatically with the JVComm32 software. Once all is done, we can relax at our good fortune, or clutch hands and gibber if something nasty is heading our way!!!

Interesting suggestion and bit of kit you use though, and I suppose if you need to receive faxes from a host of different stations on different frequencies it's the bee's knees. From our experience though, the 24, 48, 72, 96 hour and general synopsis, gives us ample info, particularly if we're chatting to Herb or David Jones on the usual dailly basis.

Fortunately, the RTTY info we tend to use doesn't seem to clash with the fax transmissions, so again we don't have a problem with priorities.

When we started cruising in '96, we used to get literally tens of faxes and RTTY a day, before realising that much of it was duplicated and we were really suffering from a surfeit of information!!!! Ah well, wiser heads smiled understandingly, and we gradually refined our 'needs' to our current level. Guess it just depends on each individual - and long may that last!

Cheers

Jerry

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[HenryB]

Oldhand and Jerry,
Thanks for the tips, I'll try them out when I get back to the boat next week.
I have a Yeasu 737 transceiver, modded for all bands transmission. It has a narrow band filter which doesn't help my problem with the FAX "echo" because it seems that the echo signal is at the correct frequency, hence my assumption that its all to do with ground and sky waves.
I use the 8 MHz frequencies but will try daytime reception as it is normally at night when I try to sort out the longer term planning.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Jerry, but, sadly, David Jones died a few months ago.

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[Sea Devil]

Do you mean David Jones of Carib weather net? I interviewed him a couple of years ago - nice guy - Is there only herb now or what has happened?

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[HenryB]

Unfortunately so, see their web site www.caribwx.com, it seems that the site and services are still in operation.


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[jerryat]

Hi Henry,

That's very sad news about David Jones. When we were last in the Caribbean, about 15 months ago, his wife was/had been very ill. Then, he was 'off air' for quite a long period in hospital, though he'd let evryone know, and that it wouldn't be long before he was back. What a great shame, such a nice man and a super service. Met him briefly in Roadtown (I think was) about three years previously.

He was 'advertising' for someone to take over the spot while he was in hospital, so it sounds as if someone has stepped into his shoes. Hard act to follow though.

Thanks for letting us know Henry.

Cheers

Jerry

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[Oldhand]

The ICOM softwareis more suited for broadcast/ham/other voice station reception rather than weather fax/SYNOP data. I only use it for receiving MF marine broadcasts when out of VHF range, broadcast stations when reception on the "car stereo" receiver is poor and checking dGPS gound station signals. The main web-site for the PCR1000 is http://www.icomamerica/receivers/pc/icpcr1000main.html, change the "main" in this to "software" and you get the dowloads page. Another great web site is http://www.qsy.to/pcr/index.html.

I believe for a time and possibly still true is that somee retailers of the PCR1000 bundled the previous version of Boniot RadioCom (version 4) with the receiver. If you did think of getting a PCR1000, then RadioCom 4 is worth having. The Bonito English language web site is http://www.bonito.net/frames/en_ham_index.htm



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