Nasa navtex vurses Nasa ssb reciever

[simon_sluggett]

looking to have some way to recieve weather info whilst out to sea and was looking at a nasa clipper navtex unit. But I am also interested in the Nasa target HF3W unit which connects to a pc and also recieves weatherfax and other interesting data . The costs are about the same, as I already have a laptop, so what are the pros and cons of each system.
Thanks

 

[BruceDanforth]

Well weatherfax gives you more opportunity to make your own decisions and gives a longer term forecast but it is slow and relies on you spending quite a long time with the laptop powered up hence there is an energy consideration. The SSB and the laptop will also allow you to recieve navtex but again you will need to have the laptop on for longer. The range of cruising waters covered by weatherfax is greater than navtex so it will depend where you are cruising whether you need it or not. Both routes provide a good solution. Power consumption wil be more for the laptop route and it will require more intervention by you to operate. With the navtex reciever you more or less switch it on and forget about it.

 

[Talbot]

Also the NASA Weatherman for the long distance stuff.

 

[KellysEye]

>The SSB and the laptop will also allow you to recieve navtex

Are you sure, I didn't think SSB's go down to such low frequencies (navtex is short range)? Maybe the new ones do.

 

[BruceDanforth]

I'm not sure if the Nasa will tune to 518khz or 490khz which are the navtex frequencies. My Sony ICF-SW100 will do it. I'm sure someone will be along who knows.

 

[BruceDanforth]

I just checked the specs of the Nasa and it will tune 30Khz - 30Mhz.

 

[ParaHandy]

i use the nasa hf receiver for navtex and w/fax. i think the hf set is of better quality than the nasa navtex. However, the problem with using the hf is that a) you need to remember to turn it on at the correct time (both w/fax & navtex broadcast at specific times so that isn't difficult); b) you can not receive both at the same time and sod's law has it that one of the navtex transmissions falls right in the middle of, eg, the w/fax 24hr forecast.

you can preprogram the frequencies so you switch quickly from navtex to w/fax frequencies without having to fiddle. There are german stations transmitting data at 50 baud which are useful if your s/w can interpret the data.

I've had the set for several years and I use it less because with french and other wifi links I can pick up weather data whenever I want and at a time to suit me. But, a pal used it throughout the azores arc and was very happy with it ... and, you can pick up R4 longwave shipping f/c when all else has failed ...