Furuno Navtex

[alex_rogers]

I have a Furuno Naxtev NX300 receiver which fails to pick up signals from Niton whilst happily receiving them from much further afield ( the boat is in Southampton ). Furuno claim this is down Niton transmitting a noisey signal and don't seem willing or able to do anything about it.

I am alone in having trouble with a Furuno Naxtev on the South Coast?

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex Rogers
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.YachtsAtSea.com> www.YachtsAtSea.com </A>

 

[Oldhand]

Alex,

I have no problem at all receiving both 490kHZ and 518kHz transmissions from Niton any where in the Solent or the English Channel for that matter. My receiver is an ICS NAV6A but I can also observe the signals on a PC via an ICOM PCR-1000 Coms. Rx. and Radiocom software.

There is a a strong interfering signal on the "local" frequency, 490kHZ but it is just far enough off frequency not to be a problem with both the ICS and Icom receivers. If the badwidth is too high or the filters not sharp enough on the Furuno then the 490 kHz transmission could be a problem but one would expect it to be worse on distant stations, not better!

I noticed there was also an interfering signal on 518kHz yesterday (Saturday) for a time but it ceased just before Niton's late afternoon trasmission.

I would suggest you advise Furuno that they are talking b......t" and that you want your money back. Get an ICS.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Koeketiene]

Hi,

I'm considering buying this particular Furuno Navtex in the near future, and some feedback would be appreciated.
- How long have you had it?
- Any particular problems? (apart from this one)
- Would you recommend it?

Thanks

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

 

[alex_rogers]

I certainly wouldn't buy one if you want to receive Niton! The guy at the boat show seemed to think there was a general problem receiving Niton but the dealers are much less forthcoming about it.

In general the reception is very good, it has received broadcasts from stations several hundred miles away and regularly receives everything from Belgium and Holland. It interfaces with the GPS to automatically select stations and also to act as a repeater display.

I bought it as I already had the Furuno GPS fitted but wish I'd bought something else as without Niton it is pretty near useless.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex Rogers
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.YachtsAtSea.com> www.YachtsAtSea.com </A>

 

[tillergirl]

I have the NX300 and sail on the East Coast. My reception of Niton is poor - no very poor but I have always assumed it had something to do with all the land in the way - but then it gets Cullercoats which is further and completely overland as the bird flies. I like the machine especially has it is wired up to the GPS so I can have a different GPS screen up on one and a second on the other.

But how can a receiver pick up one station's transmission fine and then fails to pick up another on the same frequency when the signal strength ought to be fine?

If it's a duff machine we ought to badger the manufacturers, duff transmissions we ought to badger those responsible.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Gunfleet]

Niton's not in a great place to broadcast to the east coast - ostend is better! I have a NASA with the same problem, but it improves as soon as you get a few miles out into the (Thames) estuary. I'm not sure any of them are much cop in port on the east coast

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[marki]

I called Furuno re exactly the same problem. It is pretty annoying being based in the Solent! I can almost never get the weather forecast from Niton which is the most interesting transmission for me. Furuno gave me the same answer as others - weak signal etc - but other sets receive Niton just fine. Personally I think there might be some sort of a software glitch. On my set if one sets the stations received to automatic it works better than if one manually selects them!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tillergirl]

Yes I accept what you say but even in Calais I couldn't get Niton nor whilst going round the Estuary.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[alex_rogers]

I spoke to the dealer who I bought it from and they suggested a software upgrade as apparently my unit was an 'early version'. They did this but it seems to have made no difference.

They also seem quite vague about the problem so Furuno clearly haven't informed dealers about this problem. This is what particularly annoys me as whenever I've contact Furuno they seem to be very familiar with the problem but offer no solutions.

When I installed it, I tested the position and set-up and it seemed to be working perfectly as it received Holland and France - I wish I'd waited until I had checked Niton as well! I'll badger Furuno again today and let you know of any progress.


<hr width=100% size=1>Alex Rogers
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.YachtsAtSea.com> www.YachtsAtSea.com </A>

 

[billmacfarlane]

Alex, does your receiver give you problems all over the Solent or just in Southampton ? I've got the same set, my boat's in Chichester and I have no problems receiving Niton on 518.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[alex_rogers]

I spoke to Greenham Regis ( the original supplier of the radio ) and apparently there is a software upgrade which reduces the receivers sensitivity to frequency fluctuations in the signal transmitted from Niton. These guys were aware of the problem and have fixed a number of receivers with this problem.

Furuno who I called earlier were less than helpful and seemed to suggest that there was nothing that can be done. I like the set but the technical support from Furuno is awful.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex Rogers
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.YachtsAtSea.com> www.YachtsAtSea.com </A>

 

[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[alex_rogers]

I agree that there is (or was) a problem with the Niton transmitter and that interference and the antenna installation are critical. However Furuno acknowledge that the NX300 has a particular problem with Niton. My set receives signals from hundreds of miles away but refuses to pick up anything from Niton no matter where I am in the channel.

Having discussed it further with the dealer, they have a software upgrade from Furuno which makes the receiver less sensitive to a poor quality signal and have fixed other Furuno sets with the same problem.

I agree that Furuno equipment is very good - that's why I bought it in the first place - but I've been a bit disappointed by their technical support. I only found out about the software upgrade through the dealer, Furuno were aware of the problem but couldn't suggest any solutions.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex Rogers
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.YachtsAtSea.com> www.YachtsAtSea.com </A>

 

[Oldhand]

What frequency fluctuations from Niton? I repeat, I have never observed a problem with Niton reception, firstly on a Target Navtex, then on 2 types of ICS Navtex and latterly also on an ICOM PCR-1000 coms. receiver. It looks very much like a Furuno problem to me so don't let people feed you with the proverbial ......

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ParaHandy]

Alex

Knowing the discussions we had a year or so back about Northwood, I'm reluctant to ask this but .... you do know UK 518khz changed its station identifier and transmission slots? I'm sure you do and humble apologies.

Did wonder whether your set picks up the ground wave and then receives the phase shifted reflected wave and gets confused. Are you using your masthead aerial? Navtex transmissions are effectively duplicated so that a receiver has two chances of picking up each character .. it's really very robust. That isn't too helpful to you but its got to be something stoopid that's at the bottom of this ...

Douglas


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[alex_rogers]

Yep, I've checked most of these things. I originally put the problem down to the boat being moored in a reception blackspot but unforetunately that blackspot followed me down to Cornwall last year.

The receiver is using its own mushroom shaped antenna on the pushpit but if I connect my lap top to the shortwave receiver (which uses an active masthead antenna) I can receive Niton navtex perfectly.

I tried the set again yesterday after its software upgrade and there is a definate improvement. I can see the messages arriving in realtime and the reception seems to go in cycles - receives perfectly for a while, then the error rate increases and it drops the message and then picks it up again. Listening on the shortwave radio, I can't discern any difference - unlike weatherfax when you can generally hear the interference. I now receive about half of the short messages but still lose the weather forecasts.

Greenham Regis are currently testing the set alongside another identical unit so hopefully that'll give a clear answer as to whether or not the receiver has a problem.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex Rogers
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.YachtsAtSea.com> www.YachtsAtSea.com </A>