Has anyone managed to receive Navtex via PC

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Using a radio rcvr and PC ...

I have looked at the Nasa PC engine .... mmmmm 50 - 50 whether to or not ...
Have looked at various softwares ... but they seem clunky.

I have a Worldband Phillips radio that should do the job ... just need to see if anyone else has tried and succeeded ?
 
I fitted the NASA Navtex engine last summer in the Baltic, and it seems to work well. The main problem with the forecasts from Sweden is that they were only for 24 hours, and by the time they were broadcast, and I had received them, they were almost out of date.

Nicholas Hill

Baltic & Channel Pilot
 
What radio are you using?

You need a radio that will receive upper sideband USB on 490 kcs. Dunno if the Phillips will do this, suspect not. A good receiver is a worthwhile investment, receive not only navtex but all the other stuff - weather charts, forecasts etc.

There are a number of programmes to run on the computer I use JVCOM and it works well, and its free!.

Connect radio audio output to mike input of computer.

The software has a tuning guide to make sure the radio is spot on the right frequency.

Using the big antenna at home and a high quality receiver I have received navtex signals from almost every station in europe.
 
You can use a receiver and pc for navtex but it is not an ideal solution. You need a good stable receiver with usb facility and an audio output. (The nasa HF3 is a good bet ) You need to tune the radio very accurately as the frequency shift is only plus and minus 170Hz. There is plenty of software available the most popular being JV Fax. If you get all that right you can get navtex on both 518Khz and 490Khz.
The main problem is you need your computer on to receive messages. This is no problem on scheduled broadcasts but information such as gale warnings does not follow a schedule so to take full advantage of the service you would need your computer on all the time. Computers are notoriously power hungry which could be a concern. The nasa pc engine receives and stores all messages from all stations in range; it does this without the pc connected and you can download whatever you want when you want. It also has an internal clock which lets you change over frequency at whatever time you set. It does appear to work well.
 
Sorry correction .... not Phillips ... its a Sony !

Sorry about that ...

It's the ICF-7600D .... which will pick up most around the world ... and has ssb. It is the full range rcvr - not the clipped range one that French shops sold .... some reason France specs were limited on how wide the freq. range could be ?

Someone said JVCom was free ? I thought it was a register Shareware prog. ?

Second : > Freq. - 518 is surely better suited to general forecasts than 490 ?

My old Navtex Target job on 518 only is picking up well from the Swedish and Tallinn stations.
 
Re: Sorry correction .... not Phillips ... its a Sony !

Of course the final question is ... is it worth doing via pc or is it better to do it via dedicated rcvr.

I have the Target Nasa job ... only complaint I have is - the lines don't separate, at time of buying got a good deal on the base model ... should have gone for the pro with split lines.
I also quite like the Print out ones ... at least you get a permanent record .... instead of scrolling through ...

Mmmmmm will have to think on this one. Maybe get something for "office" ..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: Sorry correction .... not Phillips ... its a Sony !

Jv Comm is free, but untill you upgrade to the paid program the word demo will crop up in text and map. However not to affect safety JvComm insist that the programme runs as the paid version
 
Re: Sorry correction .... not Phillips ... its a Sony !

OK on frequency - if it receives one it will receive the other

SSB is the issue - if it has selectable upper or lower sideband it should be ok - you need to receive USB

I assume it has the facility to connect an external antenna. the little telescopic thing will not be much use. If not perhaps clip a length of wire to the telescopic thing.

Not an ideal receiver - limited selectivity which will spoil the signal/noise ratio but should do the job.

JVCOM is free to use - don't understand the distinctions of registration, shareware etc. It prints the occasional line on the output but nothing more - If you enjoy spending money then by all means pay some - me? - I'm a Yorkshireman!

PS

If you want a permanent record I think you can save stuff to a file that can be saved.
 
Nigel,
As others have said, the ideal combination for this is the NASA Target HF3/P Radio running into JVComm.de software.
You can either use one of the NASA active HF antennae, the little stubby white things, or as your a rag and stick, run a longwire up the backstay.
I use the HF3 with JVcomm and a both a specific NAVTEX active antenna and a broadband HF active antenna which I switch into the HF3 as required.
I can RX navtex, Weatherfax, satellite images etc, and the HF3 is also useful as a radio in its own right with coverage from 30kHz to 30Mhz ie all of Long medium and short wave bands.
All works well for me.
 
No problem doing it using a laptop and a ham transceiver. But even then, the £200 NASA navtex is better - uses much less power, never forgets to turn itself on since it never turns itself off, can select what type of message it receives and from where.

So I have a navtex receiver as well as pc/ ham set.
 
I had Software Systems Consulting version 7 a few years ago when I was on containerships - worked a treat all over the world with a Sangean receiver and an old laptop. I don't use it now as it has a dongle that won't go into this comp.

At one time, the ships JRC receiver system had gone down, and my comp/SSC was the only way that the arts department could get WEFAX pictures - and in colour sometimes.

The software would also decode Navtex and RTTY - when it was in use.
 
If you wish to receive Navtex on a PC then surely a software/receiver combination which can do automatic programming is the ideal? I suggest an Icom PCR1000 or 1500 or 2500 combined with Radiocom software is the ideal.
 
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