NASA SSB radio HF3/M

[timevans2000]

Anybody any experience of using this bit of kit for receiving weather charts? Are there any difficulties? Does it work? How reliable is it? What sort of range do you get?

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[AlanPound]

I've heard it suggested (no personal experience) that the internal 'Modem' is quite crude, and not very good. In addition, the data output uses the same socket as the external audio line out, so having the /M version leaves you with no external audio connection, should you ever need it...

In any event, if you want to use a laptop to receive weather charts, most programs (I use JVComm - highly recommended) will accept and demodulate an audio signal straight into the microphone input of the PC. ....

So maybe save yourself £50, keep the external audio socket, and get perfectly satisfactory operation via the mic input of your laptop...

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[oldsalt]

I have one, but am not happy with it at all:
I've never got it to download a wefax properly.
THe sound volume is very low and there is no external output.
DIsplay has no night lighting.
Buy a navtex, or get a "proper" ssb radio.

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[Heckler]

was talking with roy

about it, have got a v old compaq that will just abpout run dos, roy has some software that will take a short wave radio plug in into the sound input and will produce weather fax if you want to experiment
stu


<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I have one, but wish I had just got the /P version. If you intend to use a laptop to demodulate the signals most will use software, so you just plug the earphone jack into the laptop soundboard mic/line in. The internal modem as has been suggested is very poor seemingly only working with NASA's own primitive dos software.

That said, I am trying to resurect my old digital 12v notebook 486, where this software will be fine, does anyone have an old small HD for a laptop for sale?

I do not regret buying it, if I am not using it for SSB, it is also an excellent SW and LW reciever, best LW radio 4 reception I have ever heard, handy when out of FM range. Shame we have lost Atlantic 252 !

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/TC_IrishCruise_2003_00.html>Irish Cruise</A>

 

[timevans2000]

alternatives to NASA?

I have an old IBM thinkpad that I was thinking of tinkering with ssb. I will speak to Roy about software. Sounds like it will be worth a try.

Anybody got any other suggestions on alternatives to the NASA SSB, that is not silly money?







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[milltech]

Jools I'm sure Nasa will convert your "M" to a "P" for a few pounds. I've got too many "M" model in stock and am going to have to do that myself soon.



<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[coco]

Re: alternatives to NASA?

You might want to look here http://www.palstar.com/palmain.htm The R30 receiver has a very good reputation.

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[vyv_cox]

Re: alternatives to NASA?

I use an Icom PCR1000 but I guess you would call that silly money. I bought mine in USA where it was not so bad but still considerable. Works very well, though.

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[AlanPound]

IIRC, from postings elsewhere, the Modem board in this /M radio 'hijacks' the audio signal that is normally fed to the external speaker jack, and uses that for its input... then its ('demodulated') output is fed to the now unused external speaker jack.

It was also suggested that it was very very easy (as long as you are happy opening the set) to either revert to external speaker, or top fit another small jack socket and reinistate an external audio connection, whilst retaining the original data output.

... in any event, as alternatives, the Sangean ATS909, aka Roberts R861 (also badged at one time or another by Radio Shack and Siemens) is a superb world-band radio, with excellent sound, but does rather eat batteries (needs an AC power source really)...

Grundig YB400 also rated.

... I went for the Sony SW100E, which has a great battery life, is very small, but although adequate, produces a very 'small' sound by comparison with the Sangean (it is great on earphones though - more like a walkman than a hi-fi).... It works excellently for most SSB/USB/LSB purposes, and has MW/FM and all the 'normal' radio bands (as does the Sangean).

I am sure there are many other suitable (cheaper) sets...

Reviews of radios (including some 'proper' SSB sets) on http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/rx_index.html

I get great results with the Sony and JVComm http://www.jvcomm.de/index_e.html

I don't see why equally good results shouldn't be achievable with the Nasa set, provided you have a straight audio feed for the mic input of your laptop - ie save yourself £50 and buy the unit without the internal 'Modem'....

Frequencies at http://www.marineweather.com/FaxFreq.html (and lots of other places), I find Northwood (particularly) and Hamburg very useful sources.


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[Oldhand]

Re: alternatives to NASA?

I'll put in another vote for the Icom PCR-1000, you get what you pay for!

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[timevans2000]

HI Jools,

Have you ever used it for SSB? I fancied buying one to have a tinker with over the winter at home. link it up to my old laptop and see what happens. Lots of advice on alternatives for more than £1000. Dont really want to spend mega bucks on a bit of a toy/experiment. What do you think?

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[colvic]

Had ours demodulated and used the Weatherfax programme on the PC. OK, but for the money invested a mobile phone link to the Internet gives you much clearer charts which can be downloaded in under a minute.

The HFM3 does work better if you give it a seperate earth into the water. An annode works OK but a special plate would be even better, but again the costs keep mounting.

Which ever model you buy/use you are paying top dollar for some VERY old technology.


Phil

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[Bergman]

Re: alternatives to NASA?

You could try E-Bay.

Lots of communication receivers for sale at reasonable(ish) prices. Stick to the Japanese makes Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Trio

Most of these will be an improvement on the Nasa.

As for performance, range etc. depends far more on aerial and propogation conditions than on receiver so difficult to give meaningful answer to this.


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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Tim, I have emailed you some weather faxes that I received tonight, I am not sure if it is your home or work email, but they come to about 1MB, hope it doesn't hold your computer up for too long, don't know if you have broadband or not.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/TC_IrishCruise_2003_00.html>Irish Cruise</A>