Nasa Clipper Navtex

[Johnboy2004]

hello i just purchased the nasa clipper navtex unit. i am testing it out at the moment, but the manual that came with it is a little sparce of information.

is it possible to receive messages from the two frequencies at the same time ie...

490khz and 518khz?

i have set to receive all stations and all messages, is there anything more i need to do?



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[Oldhand]

Sounds like you bought the basic model which only receives 518kHz.

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[Johnboy2004]

hi it receives 518khz and 490khz cause i can switch between the two. i have it wired up in the house running on 518khz, ocassionaly i see messages on the bottom right of the screen like

***P***S**

or ***S***T*

what does this mean? does it mean i am getting poor signal?
which is the most widely used frequency? 518khz or 490khz?

on the box it says dual frequency 490 and 518

cheers for the info

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[sailorman]

assume its the square bezel approx 120m/m x 120m/m with the white back light.
if so i belive u have to manually change it over.
i nearly bought one last w/e as an up-grade but swindlery would`nt match Pumpkin so didnt buy it.
i have the nasa navtex pro+.
it is very good & really quite adaquate but the sceen contrast changes in hot weather so as no hope of that changing yet, what!.

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[Johnboy2004]

yipee i just got a message from netherlands coast guard on 518khz.

im in dublin.

whats the difference between the clipper navtex and the pro plus model?

on the nasa website it says that the clipper navtex is a new model

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[sailorman]

if yours is as i discrebied its the new dual frequency model
nederlands c.g. transmit @ 20.00 hrs from memory + each 4 hrs.

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[Johnboy2004]

hi yep it is. where can i find a list of all broadcast stations for navtex with their name and broadcast time.

i am based in dublin , is it better to leave it on the 490khz setting to receive local info? or do the local stations broadcast on 518 as well?

J.

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[sailorman]

i will have to "pass" on that question BUT STAND-BY it wil be answered soon by others.
the more expensive sets r "duel watch" & sort the whole thing out automatically
there is a site
http://www.atlantis-sailing.org/Navtex/navtex
try this it may help

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[philip_stevens]

Have a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/navtex_2.html>http://www.franksingleton.clara.net/navtex_2.html</A> and look on there for a comprehensive listing - amongst other items.

You may be there for quite a while!

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Philip

 

[Johnboy2004]

hi thanks for the info.......im a little confused now , i thought local information on navtex was on the 490khz frequency?

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[colvic987]

go to www.nasamarine.com the answer to your question will be in the instruction manual the clipper navtex will receive 490 and 518 khz separately but not simultaneously, you need to program which one you require, i normally leave mine on the 490 for inshore and 3 day outlook, but if you need shipping forecast you would have to go to 518k , all is explained on the website once you have downloaded the instruction manual,,...

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

490 will only give uk weather forecast (local). In France for example it is standard navigation warnings but just in French. It is only the uk that uses 490 for local weather info. 518KHz is always in English.

Leaving it on 490 will mean you will not rx saftey info or navigation warnings.

Portpatrick Radio transmit local weather on 490 at 0820 and 2020 GMT. So it is an idea to have it on 490 overnight and turn to 518 in the morning.

This <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/tempusfugit/marine/navtex_notes.htm#stations>site</A> is pretty comprehensive on navtex.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[DEJAVU]

Had problems with my NAVTEX and rang NASA. SUPERB customer service and they soon sorted me out. For the basic model it seems you need a dual frequency aerial and a manual switchover in line to select the frequency you want (had wondered what the little box in the aerial line was for!!). However, give NASA a ring - they will help you.

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[Johnboy2004]

hi i had my navtex on last night round 1130... at about 12am it went mad receiving
lots of nessages ,,, received messages from Norway, Spain France, lots of data received....

some of the times were hard to make out, as the were eg 2412Z etc




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[salamicollie]

For the irish Sea you want to programme in to receive on 5218kHz O (Port Patrick), Q (Malin Head) and W (Valentia if its its back on air again). On 490kHz the only station is C (Port Patrick). I think you need to change to 490kHz by pressing Ctrl Enter

The NASA manual for the clipper explains the message formats

Hope this helps

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[chrisb]

either or. national useful in europe to receive for example local french forcasts.you need to display only the stations you require and the functions and delete the rest. this requires the hanbook-only 3-4 pages so you probably have it . read on. failure to prune results in pages of useless information

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[Oldhand]

Admiralty publication NP289

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[charles_reed]

Navtex Pro Screen in hot weather

I had exactly the same problem.
Found it easily resolved by adjusting the contrast (mostly) and the brightness (slightly). It then was OK in up to 42C for 2 years and still easily legible in colder weather.
I have found screen legibility on the Clipper navtex far better both in terms of the number of lines displayed and the backlight colour and clearness. It also has the advantage of signal strength monitoring.

Mine was the old single (490MHz) version and worked admirably for 5 years through NAVAREAS I, II & III.

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