Decca

[daveking]

I have bought a new boat part of the equipment are two old decca units one is a Kelvin Hughes the other is a Phillips AP501. I seem to remember in the back of my mind that these type of units now defunked may have another use anyone through any light on it or is my mind playing tricks again.

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[freebird]

no you are right dave some guy put some diodes in an ap 50 i think it was in pbo about 5 years ago was it for some type of navtex

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[rich]

B,I,N.

<hr width=100% size=1>rich )

 

[rickwat]

Paperweights? NM

NM = No Message

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[steve_cronin]

Since it is possible to enter tidal stream(direction and speed) into these units, it should be possible to use them as EP calculators even though they aren't receiving any positional data from the old ground stations. As I remember, so long as you told it where it was(lat/long), where you wanted to go and entered the tidal info., it gave you a course to steer. mine was a Navstar.

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[Koeketiene]

I seem to remember the could be used as some sort of "battery reader" - amps & stuff left. Don't know how it's done - just stuck in the back of my mind as Yanita came with a Philips Navigator when we got her.

<hr width=100% size=1>Fair winds.
If not... reef early!

 

[heerenleed]

true

There is a piece of kit called something like Decca Survival Kit, it has been designed for some Deccas only, don't know if yours is among them. It is a receiver that makes tha Decca receiver work as a GPS.

With the actual prices of GPS units I wonder whether it's worth the hassle and the money.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbergen, Netherlands

 

[Gordonmc]

This was for a conversion of the Decca aerial only. It was suggested as a method of converting the impedence to provide a spare. The actual unit remains redundant.
The other suggested use was as a voltage checker using the "batt state" function on the unit. Same can be done with a coupla-quid Woolies circuit tester.

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[daveking]

Thanks all for the input, the navtex sounds interesting as do the others.
More info needed on the antenna subject and the navtex please, all other ideas will be tried before making the decision to bin them or save and alter them
Kind regards
Dave

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[Guest]

They can be converted cheaply by DIY enthusiast, or expensively by prof. to read from GPS etc.

Personally the cost / trouble is not worth it. Unless they occupy a neat hole in the bulkhead that doesn't fit anything else ..... then leave'em switched off and bullshit about what they really do !!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[Guest]

No GPS .....

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
/forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Re: Decca battery reader

The philips decca units all had a diagnostics aid including supply voltage.

This makes them rather usefull for measuring voltage of your battery, to two decimals I think, I still have mine, but I finally took it off the boat last year, tis a shame as it took us everywhere. I almost miss those times when the signal strength light went red and the position became erratic, kept my navigation on its toes.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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