Is Navtex worth having?

[DaveS]

I've used a Navtex for a number of years - cheap Nasa unit, but does the job. Only single channel 518 kHz unfortunately, but still useful. Greatly improved where I am by also selecting Malin Head which gives Met Office shipping forecast, Met Eirean Irish coast forecast and the Atlantic actuals / forecast - very useful for 2 or 3 day ahead predictions. (Portpatrick reception is poor unless well away from the mainland coast)

To set this in context, the CG broadcasts are fine, but not always receivable, and mobile phone reception is "patchy" to put it charitably.

 

[franksingleton]

NAVTEX

I have had a love hate relationship with NAVTEX. Maybe not adding anything to the discussion is my page http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Navtex-Reception-Problems-And-Cures and a fuller version at http://weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Navtex-Reception-Problems-And-Cures-Detailed.

 

[crossbones]

Navtex

Navtex provides a lot of information for relatively little outlay. On some receivers the display is very small and hard to read. The Furuno unit does not suffer this problem nor does this less expensive one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNn1uKazkEw

 

[vyv_cox]

Navtex provides a lot of information for relatively little outlay. On some receivers the display is very small and hard to read. The Furuno unit does not suffer this problem nor does this less expensive one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNn1uKazkEw

Nasa Clipper. Pretty easy to read but I don't fancy the forecast.

 

[franksingleton]

Nasa navtex

Nasa Clipper. Pretty easy to read but I don't fancy the forecast.
]

I do not know about the newer NASA sets, but the older ones had some software advantages over Furuno (that I have now.)

First, you could see what was being received so that if the header got missed or was corrupt, you could make it start to record. With Furuno, that is not possible.

Also, the Furuno software seemed to be more sensitive to minor formatting errors so that the NASA might receive a message that the Furuno would not decode.


The Furuno seems to be less dependent upon the earthing. Both sets can receive stations at the limit of ground wave reception.

I always thought that the weakness in the NASA sets was the screen quality. Mine packed although the receiver was still working OK. I guess they have improved over the past 14 years.

 

[smartcom]

Navtex pros and cons

In my opinion, the quality of the radio receiver and the reliability of the kit is crucial, and for these reasons I would prefer Furuno or McMurdo over NASA any day - if your receiver hooks in to our PC Navtex software the user interface is much better than any dedicated electronic device.
Regarding the usefulness of NAVTEX, this depends on your sailing. If you are just doing short day trips in your local area, it is probably of little benefit, as you can get the weather data whilst in the marina or afloat using your phone or computer. If you are actually going cruising, especially going foreign and don't speak the language, you know you will always get an English language weather forecast, and unlike using a PC for weather you don't need to worry about a WiFi or mobile phone signal, or power consumption.
But don't forget that Navtex was designed just as much for navigation and safety warnings as it was for weather, and downloading GRIB files won't tell you that a buoy has moved or a gunnery range is live.
Of course the futurologists will say that all of this will change as e-navigation is rolled out, but the IMO have just postponed this piece of vapuurware to 2014.
Tim

 

[franksingleton]

As usual, Tim talks sense. One important use of NAVTEX is receipt of Nav warnings when abroad with Nav warnings broadcast in heavily accented English, sometimes repeateed in two other languages, NAVTEX can be a real boon.

Note that the four high priority items (letters A, B, C, D) are Nav warnings, weather warnings, ice warnings, distress messages - eg repeats of MAYDAYs etc. Weather forecasts (E) come next in order of importance but are not priority messages.