testmonkey
Well-Known Member
how about these units? Seems less stuck in the eighties than some of the other alternatives mentioned above...
http://www.wetterinfobox.com/english/index.htm
http://www.wetterinfobox.com/english/index.htm
NASA Navtex Engine
- Thread starter duncan99210
- Start date
franksingleton
Well-Known Member
I have watched this develop over several years. Initially, the followed the NAVTEX engine idea of requiring a PC. Then the added a screen like NASA Weatherman. I have not looked recently so was unaware of their WeatherFax facility.
The RTTY data are the same as on Weatherman is those
received the DWD RTTY broadcasts – see http://www.seewetter-info.de/sendeplan_rtty_1prog.pdf and http://www.seewetter-info.de/sendeplan_rtty_2prog.pdf.
Like NAVTEX, the value to coastal sailors nowadays is really mainly as a back for when the Internet is not available. All the data are on-line. For those making extended offshore passages they would be useful. However, the underlying transmission technology is 1950s and incredibly slow. A synoptic chart takes about 20 minutes. Data are broadcast at 50 or 100 bauds.
NoHorizons
New Member
To avoid confusion, there are different types of Nasa Navtex boxes, all-in-one types with screen, and a receiver "engine" with software to run on a pc. The early software programme was very poor to use, but the current one at version 4 is robust and easy to use provided you understand what Navtex does and how the transmissions are organised. I have a Nasa Navtex engine working into an Android tablet via bluetooth (no cable-yeah!!). I find Android programming a challenge, but I can connect, download and display messages, switch receiver channel, and providing you are patient, filter by station and message type. Java data-handling is truly abysmal, but one of these days I might have this "app" slick enough to publish. Has anyone an opinion on what minimum facilities are acceptable for the convenience of using your smartphone/tablet istead of a laptop?
