Best Navtex receiver to interface with Raymarine MFDs?

[Ric]

Does anybody have any recommendations for a suitable Navtex receiver to interface with Raymarine MFDs?

Ideal requirements would be that it would automatically connect to nearest transmitter, have the ability to store messages in its own memory, and have ability to filter out unwanted message groups.

I have read about Nasa Navtex engine - but as far as I can see this does not have NMEA output and can only be connected to a PC.

 

[earlybird]

If you wish to display text, I don't think that's possible over NMEA.
My Furuno, and probably the NASA, outputs on RS232, so your MFD would require a serial port, AFAIK this is not the case.
The Furuno takes NMEA input, but this is to tell it which stations to listen for.

 

[prv]

It would be useful to know which Raymarine plotter you want it to work with.

For what it's worth I'm happy with my ICS Nav6 and find a standalone unit much more convenient than having to turn on the plotter and shuffle through the menus. But I suppose the plotter approach is needed if you don't have the space for another display.

Pete

 

[Ric]

It would be useful to know which Raymarine plotter you want it to work with.

For what it's worth I'm happy with my ICS Nav6 and find a standalone unit much more convenient than having to turn on the plotter and shuffle through the menus. But I suppose the plotter approach is needed if you don't have the space for another display.

Pete

I have Raymarine E8d (new series) which can take Navtex via NMEA. Trouble is I can't find any Navtex units that can output in NMEA!

I have found historic references to NASA Navtex engine for Raymarine - but this was for the old E series and (I think) it has now been discontinued as it no longer features on NASA website. In any case, as far as I could learn, it required a PC connection to configure it which is not ideal.

I do have a NASA Navtex but it is fourteen years old and so clunky I don't use it often. I would replace it with one of the newer NASA Navtex's but they don't appear to have NMEA connections - either in or out. Would much prefer NMEA in so that it automatically connects to the nearest receiver, and NMEA out so that I can also read it on my Raymarine MFDs (I have two).

 

[pvb]

I have Raymarine E8d (new series) which can take Navtex via NMEA.

I'm a bit confused by this. The Raymarine website doesn't list an E8d. The newer MFDs use Lighthouse 15, but there's no mention of Navtex in their manuals.

 

[DipperToo]

For what it's worth I'm happy with my ICS Nav6 and find a standalone unit much more convenient than having to turn on the plotter and shuffle through the menus. But I suppose the plotter approach is needed if you don't have the space for another display.

Pete

and the ICS Nav6+ also doubles up as an instrument repeater and position log.

 

[Ric]

I'm a bit confused by this. The Raymarine website doesn't list an E8d. The newer MFDs use Lighthouse 15, but there's no mention of Navtex in their manuals.

Sorry E7d. I was absolutely sure that I had seen Navtex NMEA input in the menu - but having checked the manual you are correct. I must have had a very convincing dream!

 

[prv]

and the ICS Nav6+ also doubles up as an instrument repeater and position log.

Indeed - I used it for this alone for a year after buying the display unit cheap second-hand and before stumping up for the receiver box. I have it attached to the Seatalk bus via an NMEA converter, and have set up several customised screens for different purposes. It's quite an old product now (I first encountered one on an Army yacht in the Baltic in 2001) but still good kit.

Pete

 

[NPMR]

and the ICS Nav6+ also doubles up as an instrument repeater and position log.

We have a full set Raymarine stuff and the 'Nav6' Navtex. Works a treat and on a passage I set it to be a repeater of the readouts in front of the helmsman for plotting and writing up the log. I didn't find it difficult to set up (or blindingly easy either, to be fair) but have learnt to like it a lot.

 

[MikeCC]

I don't think any except original C- and E-series will do Navtex. The NASA unit in Raymarine compatible guise does not store messages, so you would only get current broadcasts. There is NMEA support for Navtex; the problem is finding MFDs that can do anything with it unless it's a large bridge system. Equally, the receivers that can output NMEA Navtex are high end (expensive) devices intended for such systems.

 

[NPMR]

Nav 6 stores messages but only until brain is full. You can delete messages earlier

 

[DipperToo]

Nav 6 stores messages but only until brain is full. You can delete messages earlier

Sure? Nav6+ which I have seems to run the memory of a First In First Out basis when the memory fills up for both the Navtex messages and Log functions.