Local Navtex - the plot thickens

[smb]

Further to my post a few days ago (thanks for all the replies) I have concluded that it is indeed me, or more specifically my receiver. The question is what to do about it.

I have contacted Nasa. Apparently their key engineers are on holiday at present but they offered to have a look at it if I return the complete setup. I am grateful for that but a) have an imminent 2 week break and b) I am reluctant to remove the headlining etc neccessary to extricate the antenna lead, so I have monitored the performance and done some rudimentary fault finding but quickly come to the limit of my knowledge.

The story so far:-

Nasa Target Pro Plus, the model with the inline switch for local/international frequency, approx 3 years old.
About 6 weeks ago stopped receiving local forecasts.
Check with forumites confirmed signals are still active in the Solent.
Programmed to receive all stations and all reports.
When switched to local, still receive international signals but not Local.
Checked all connections and all seem OK, both physically and continuity.

Looking at the circuit board in the switch box the red and shield from the antenna are wired direct to the core and the shield of the coax respectively, while using a circuit tester I found that the blue wire from the antenna is linked to the shield of the coax when the switch is in the local position. None of this wiring (apart from the shield to shield connection) was what I expected, but then I have almost no knowledge of radio signals and how they work so would welcome any advice.

Steve






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[celandine]

Was down in the CI's a couple of weeks ago and getting very poor reception from Niton on my Nasa Navtex Pro , receiving about half of the transmissions, whilst all of the transmissions from Belgian coast (T.E) were coming through. If you have the older style whip ariel, have a look inside the little black box at its base. I have known two incidents where this was completely full of rain water.

Mick

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[milltech]

I'm not suggesting you shouldn't get it fixed, but your profile suggests you have a large-ish boat for which the sea area forecasts would be the most appropriate anyway, so it shouldn't inhibit your holiday plans.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[smb]

Quite so, but even large-ish boats like to bimble along the coast now and then. And if that coast happens to be French it's nice to know in advance that the mer might be agite.

I have a pet dislike of things that do not perform their designed range of functions, even if I never use most of them. On that basis growing older is not going to be easy, but at least it will be preferable to the only alternative currently available.

Steve

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[SpottedBlue]

Best thing is to ditch the Nasa and all other cheap and nasty marine electronic devices, pay a little more and buy some quality kit. Then you won't have problems like this.

I can strongly recomend the ICS Navtex - it works and is reliable - what more could you ask?

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[milltech]

Oui, mais le "inshore forecast" is purely a UK invention, in France and other countries not so enlightened as to speak-a de English, the 490 transmission is the same as 518, only in the "local language".

The Inshore Forecast was because, short of doing it in Welsh or the Gaelic, we had no local language use for it, and as you know there's nothing quite like a bureaucrat to find a good reason to spend your money, so they decided to broadcast the inshore forecast.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[smb]

Cunning buggers, relying I suppose on my long forgotten schoolboy grasp of french meaning I would never notice.

It dont change the fact that it did work, it dont know and I would like it too out of pure bloodymindedness if nothing else.

Steve

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[smb]

I did ask a salesman why I should consider paying nearly half as much again, but for all the sense I got I might as well have asked my mother. So I did. She said 'buy cheap buy twice' in the way of a wise old woman.

Now normally that would be a good philosphy, but in the rapidly changing world of marine (or any) electronics buying cheap makes it so much easier to justify the upgrade to the next 'latest thing'. I also hope it means there is less chance of some toerag trying to get hold of it to stock his stall at the next boat jumble.

Anyway, the ICS would not fit the nice letterbox shaped hole I had in mind for it, whereas the Nasa could have been designed for it.

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