Gale Warnings

[NormanS]

A subject that seems quite appropriate for today.

When the two CG Stations (Belfast and Stornoway) that I normally hear on the VHF, broadcast their gale warnings, they mostly give the time of issue first. It would seem to make so much more sense to give the Sea Area first, and then the time of issue, and then the actual warning.
The time of issue is important, taken in conjunction with "Imminent ", 'Soon", "Later", but not as important as the Sea Area.

What do other CG Stations do?

 

[oldvarnish]

That makes sense. As it costs nothing to repeat it, why not give the sea area twice? Anyone who has listened to the shipping forecast knows that no matter how much attention you are paying, it's very easy to miss the forecast you want.

Also very annoying - the CG give a long and important navigation warning, which you scribble down as best you can, to find it then followed by '...CANCEL this warning'.

 

[Tam Lin]

Listening to the shipping forecast just before 6pm tonight several areas in the north west were "possibly hurricane force 12"
Not too often you hear that!
Sorry about the slight thread drift.

 

[Sybarite]

That makes sense. As it costs nothing to repeat it, why not give the sea area twice? Anyone who has listened to the shipping forecast knows that no matter how much attention you are paying, it's very easy to miss the forecast you want.

Also very annoying - the CG give a long and important navigation warning, which you scribble down as best you can, to find it then followed by '...CANCEL this warning'.

You can record with most smartphones. Then listen at your leisure.

 

[awol]

Navtex could be your answer.

 

[NormanS]

Navtex could be your answer.

I installed Navtex a few years ago, when the CG were playing silly buggers. It's great.

 

[sailorman]

Listening to the shipping forecast just before 6pm tonight several areas in the north west were "possibly hurricane force 12"
Not too often you hear that!
Sorry about the slight thread drift.

I have just closed the trickle vents in the kitchen window, the wind is very noisy here in Sth Cambs

 

[WestWittering]

The heavy (Adirondack) chairs are skating around the decking at the moment. Not nice out there at the moment

Di

 

[1bobt]

Listening to the shipping forecast just before 6pm tonight several areas in the north west were "possibly hurricane force 12"
Not too often you hear that!
Sorry about the slight thread drift.

Yes it is a bit draughty on the Menai straits to night

 

[[70521]]

You can record with most smartphones. Then listen at your leisure.

I do wish my Smartphone had LW.

 

[Lodesman77]

You can record with most smartphones. Then listen at your leisure.

I do wish my Smartphone had LW.

If you have a smart phone you can listen to the latest forecast anytime you like from the R4 website, and it has a pause button...

 

[[70521]]

If you have a smart phone you can listen to the latest forecast anytime you like from the R4 website, and it has a pause button...

Can you let me know how? I have a Samsung Galaxy III

 

[Lodesman77]

Can you let me know how? I have a Samsung Galaxy III

My phone is an android too; just use your browser to go to the radio 4 website; http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qfvv (you will need a flash player plugin)

It should be accessible through iPlayer radio too but I haven't installed it yet - will let you know...

EDIT: yes, works better through iPlayer radio, no need for flash plugin.

 

[FishyInverness]

I use the "TuneIn Radio" (free) app on Samsung Galaxy- Really easy to select all the radio stations you want to stream and have them in a library, you can listen and pause at will

 

[dutyhog]

hold the smart phone next to the LW radio

If you have a smart phone you can listen to the latest forecast anytime you like from the R4 website, and it has a pause button...

I would need to hold the smart phone, set to record, next to the LW radio - there's seldom an internet or mobile phone signal around here to find a website. Even where there is a mobile phone signal, 2G is too slow for radio stations.

Gordon (beside the Sound of Jura)

PS the gale sounds loud enough outside at the moment, and has broken our Sky dish mounting (so no TV this Christmas - perhaps a good thing) but XC are forecasting 58 - 72mph (F10 - F11) here for Tuesday.

 

[[70521]]

My phone is an android too; just use your browser to go to the radio 4 website; http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qfvv (you will need a flash player plugin)

It should be accessible through iPlayer radio too but I haven't installed it yet - will let you know...

EDIT: yes, works better through iPlayer radio, no need for flash plugin.

Thanks for the tip. I take this does not work offshore.

 

[[70521]]

I would need to hold the smart phone, set to record, next to the LW radio - there's seldom an internet or mobile phone signal around here to find a website. Even where there is a mobile phone signal, 2G is too slow for radio stations.

Thanks Dutyhog - that should help

 

[JumbleDuck]

I would need to hold the smart phone, set to record, next to the LW radio - there's seldom an internet or mobile phone signal around here to find a website. Even where there is a mobile phone signal, 2G is too slow for radio stations.

Gordon (beside the Sound of Jura)

There is surprisingly good mobile broadband available for about ten miles off the south coast of Mull.

 

[scottie]

There is an app called Boatie which gives both coastal and area weather forecasts along with other usefull information don't know if it is IOS only though

 

[DJE]

My phone is an android too; just use your browser to go to the radio 4 website; http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qfvv (you will need a flash player plugin)

It should be accessible through iPlayer radio too but I haven't installed it yet - will let you know...

EDIT: yes, works better through iPlayer radio, no need for flash plugin.

But if you've got an internet connection you would need much less bandwidth to download the text of the forecast from here:-

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/shipping_printable.html