Nasa Clipper Navtex - reception problems

[beancounter]

Forgive my technical ignorance on this..

Our Nasa Navtex has been working fine (don't know how old it is - it came with the boat).

Lately though, reception has become increasingly patchy. (e.g. used to be fine in our marina, now not a sausage). So perhaps the aerial is on the way out. However, when we do get a signal, the screen display is sometimes faint, or with the characters partly formed. Hmm. Maybe there is a display problem ?

So, do I need a new aerial, or do I have to junk the whole thing and add something else to my SIBS shopping list....

thanks

John

 

[alldownwind]

I think you could test the aerial by substituting a long piece of electrical flex pushed into the centre hole of the aerial socket and draped up in the rigging.
But I've got through 2 aerials on mine, and now the display has gone faint. I too am tempted to bin it and get something else. Quite what, I don't know.

 

[TonyS]

Why don't you ring NASA and speak to an engineer? They are very helpful. Alternatively read the post by Starpilot. It worked for me.

 

[hubert]

The partly formed characters on the screen are not a sign of a display problem. They as a result of the internal memory battery going flat. The memory contents then degrade to a jumbled mess. The battery recharges from the boats supply and is ready for use in a few seconds. (Though it does take 40 hours to fully charge ) On the clipper navtex you can clear all the garbage from the screen. If you leave it then new messages will over write it.
You can use a long wire ( about 10 metres is best ) but be aware that there is static protection in the active antenna which is lost if you use a long wire. This means that a local lightning strike could damage the receiver. Nasa suggeted I fit protection diodes which they sent me f.o.c.
Re faint picture. There is a contrast control but check first that the supply voltage is ok before setting contrast.
Finally if you are operating in a marina you may get poor reception or no reception at all. This is caused by electrical interference from other boats, interference coming down the shore power line and interference from battery chargers.

 

[alldownwind]

[ QUOTE ]
.............There is a contrast control..........

[/ QUOTE ]
Is there?? I don't remember seeing it in the handbook?

 

[beancounter]

Thanks Hubert,

helpful info regarding the battery.

Marina reception shouldn't be an issue, as it did work previously in the same marina.

not sure about the contrast - I think it involves some combination of the up and down arrows - but I'd need to see the characters to do that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Most of the time they're invisible.

 

[hubert]

Just press all four keys together to get back to a screen you can see.

 

[beancounter]

only 3 keys on my model - but will try as suggested.

 

[hubert]

Clipper navtex has four keys. The target navtex has three keys. The reset is the same (ie press all keys together) but on the target the contrast is a small white knob on the back. (take care when adjusting, the adjustment is quite coarse and the direction is counter intuitive.
Best of luck.

 

[davidbains]

I replaced my Nasa with a Furuno and am very pleased with it, it's definitely worth the extra. A clearer screen and easier to control. Fantastic reception all the time via the supplied antenna which is just above the chart table!!

 

[phatcat1]

Would concur with the Furuno, got one last month, fantastic reception, and easy to use!