ICS NAV6 Plus queries

[syvictoria]

Hi. We bought an ICS NAV6 Plus navtex from a boat jumble some time back and it has sat in it's box ever since. We've now decided not to fit it (we're having a mega clear out and for us for the time being, and once we're finally afloat, internet based weather services will suffice) and so I've just fired it up with a mind to putting it up for sale on here, and I have a couple of queries.

1. How long should I expect to wait before receiving messages? I have powered the navtex up, done a factory reset and changed to navtex mode, but nothing appears to happen after. The display shows both frequencies in the top status bar and no errors. The antenna is outside in the garden!

2. The screen has what I can only describe as tiny blue 'squiggles' on the far right hand side of the screen (the bottom edge on the photo below). Are these a concern?

View attachment 37715

TIA!

 

[sailor211]

Has it got its active aerial? and is it working My Aerial give up the ghost, i think due to water ingress ? display excellent as a repeater

 

[prv]

Each station only broadcasts for a few minutes, a few times a day. Look up the schedule and make sure you have it listening when a station near you is due to transmit.

You will also need to check that it's not filtering out either the message type or the station that you're receiving - although the benefit of this model is that it receives everything and filters the display, so that when you remove the filtering the messages reappear. Most Navtexes apply the filtering at receive time, so if the filters are set up wrong then you miss the message and can never get it back.

I seem to remember that it has a "show me everything" mode to help with troubleshooting, but you'd have to check the manual (available online) for how to access this.

Plus, as Sailor211 says, the old ICS "shark's fin" aerial was notorious for leaking; they've changed the design now to a below-decks box and a "dumb" aerial.

Pete

 

[syvictoria]

The aerial is the 'shark finl' shaped Mcmurdo one. It shows no signs of any water ingress. I've just turned the unit on again and this time I got an alarm and 'Sig' beside 518, so perhaps all is not lost.

Of course they only transmit at certain times... doh!!!!

 

[Storyline]

Echo what Pete says, the broadcasts are timed and it can take quite a long time before you pick anything up. For some reason ours can take up to 24 hours when first switched on but then updates regularly. I suspect this is because of poor reception where we are in Scotland. Although not far from the transmitter at Portpatrick I think there must be a hill/mountain in the way !

I think the squiggles are a fault on the display because we have not got them. The instructions say be careful not to overtightened the mounting screws so maybe that is what has happened and the screen has become distorted. No idea if this will effect performance.

 

[syvictoria]

Echo what Pete says, the broadcasts are timed and it can take quite a long time before you pick anything up. For some reason ours can take up to 24 hours when first switched on but then updates regularly. I suspect this is because of poor reception where we are in Scotland. Although not far from the transmitter at Portpatrick I think there must be a hill/mountain in the way !

I think the squiggles are a fault on the display because we have not got them. The instructions say be careful not to overtightened the mounting screws so maybe that is what has happened and the screen has become distorted. No idea if this will effect performance.

I shall just have to be more patient... as well as tuning in at the correct time of course o again)!!!

Thanks for the comment re: the squiggles. That would seem like a likely explanation. They certainly don't affect the readability of the screen, and so it would seem that they are more of an inconvenience than a problem.