Navtex 490 reception on Niton - an update

Chris_Robb

Chris_Robb

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2 weeks ago I posted a problem that I could not receive Navtex 490 in Portsmouth but that 518 was perfect. Only one other person appreared to have a problem, and he said that by remaking the arial connections the problem went away.

At the time - following enquiries with the MCA (Falmouth) they said that they would investigate. Today, I received this reply,

My name is James Instance, the Rescue centre manager at Falmouth Coastguard station, it is us who are responsible for the transmission of NAVTEX broadcasts nationally.

Firstly, I must thank you for drawing to our attention the problem that exists with the inshore waters forecasts on the NITON aerial, we have investigated the issue since receiving your e-mail and have discovered that there is a technical problem with the system on 490Khz. Our computer shows that the signal has been sent and indeed indicates that it has been received at our 'test' aerial site at Dover, however on checking our own NAVTEX receiver at Falmouth it transpires that there is no signal received.

Initially like yourself we believed this to be a fault with our receiver however we have now raised the issue with British Telecom who maintain the aerial site and the situation is being investigated and will shortly be resolved.

When there are known faults or technical problems with the NAVTEX system or any other communications problems within the MCA (DSC/ VHF radio) we do inform the mariner through our MSI broadcasts and in the form of WZ information via VHF, MF and NAVTEX. So I don't feel it is necessary to inform mariners within individual forums although our communications policy is always open to change.

Again my thanks for informing us of this situation which I will ensure will be resolved soon, communication from the maritime community which helps us to improve our service is always appreciated.

Regards

James Instance
Rescue Centre Manager
MRCC Falmouth
01326 310802

Since my original post, I found that the boatyard had bust my arial, and stuck it together again - however I think it is still ok as their repair was "water tight" (barstewards for not owning up). I was going to replace the arial anyway, as I assumed in the absence of others having problems, that it was my arial at fault.

I am now confused as to whether there really is a problem or not!!!!
 
Chris, there were also problems with the Portpatrick 490kHz, and not just to to do with the well known problem of "dead areas" in the west of Scotland.

We haven't been out over the past week, but in the days following my last post referring to Portpatrick on 1st May we were pleasantly surprised to be receiving the normal scheduled broadcasts.

I don't have our radio log in front of me, but, from memory, this was the first time in about two years that we received the correct broadcasts at the correct times.

There have been many threads about the poor service over that period, and it is now beginning to look as though something has been done about it. Incidentally, according to this website, Portpatrick 490 kHz is remotely controlled from MRCC Falmouth. I wonder, if by any chance, our problems were related.
 
I have emailed the contact at MCA back again, as he had not confirmed that Portsmouth area was a problem.... I will call him later.

However - with my last post No one else reported having a problem, so I just assumed it was me. Now I am totally confused!!!!
 
However - with my last post No one else reported having a problem, so I just assumed it was me. Now I am totally confused!!!!

*************************************************

I could not receive Niton up here in Edinburgh however be interesting to see if it is now received however I do receive Cullercoats and Portpatrick and agreed with other posters that the bulletins were not being transmitted as advertised.

I will have to set up my tranny and puter and see how things are now.
 
I just had an email back from the MCA on my query for clarification on the 490 in Portsmouth area, and whether to get a new arial.

FROM THE MCA
I would save your money, we are responsible for the broadcast of NAVTEX Nationwide, from all aerial sites. As I stated there has been an issue identified with 490 which thanks to your observation we have now taken forward with BT, it should be resolved soon.

James Instance
MRCC Falmouth

SO it looks like No-one could have been receiving the signals!!! It is a shame that no-one else either confirmed or denied receiving, or perhaps not many people use Navtex at all.

Ah well....
 
Chris, I did respond I think about two weeks ago that I was getting both Niton and Portpatrick 490 forecasts in Milford Haven, but I'm not quite sure exactly when that was. My problem was I thought the receiver automatically received both frequencies, but in fact I needed to manually switch them. I'll try again later this week.
 
There was one other person who received 490 (Goldie) having repaired his arial. So if MCA say that broadcasts are not being made then how come you have recieved them?!!!!

Confused of Haslemere....
 
I was out on the west coast of Scotland for the last two weeks, and made a point of recording every Navtex message received from Portpatrick on 490 over that period.
Many, many forecasts were missed, and many weather reports (actuals) were repeated. Some days there were more than 24 hours between forecasts, but plenty of actuals. There were even some "E" messages, which should be forecasts, but which came as actuals. Pathetic.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was out on the west coast of Scotland for the last two weeks, and made a point of recording every Navtex message received from Portpatrick on 490 over that period.
Many, many forecasts were missed, and many weather reports (actuals) were repeated. Some days there were more than 24 hours between forecasts, but plenty of actuals. There were even some "E" messages, which should be forecasts, but which came as actuals. Pathetic.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps we should let them get the current problem sorted, which they think is a BT problem, and then several of us have a concerted effort to record what is happening and contact James at the MCA - James.Instance@mcga.gov.uk
 
Where did the MCA say the transmissions weren't made? I thought they said 'an issue has been identified', which could be all manner of things - eg. reduced power, or an aerial efficiency problem...
 
Hmm, so it's back to normal then?

Certainly, for a few days, we actually had proper inshore forecasts at the proper times - for the first time in a couple of years.

By "actuals", am I correct in assuming that, when you actually received them, they are once again broadcasting coastal station reports in the time slots for the inshore forecasts? If so, it is pathetic.

This is just becoming a complete farce. I had some lengthy email correspondence with the MCA, RYA, and Met Office, when the broadcast and forecast changes were first brought in, but frankly gave up in the end. Life is just too short.

I believe that maritime leisure safety interests have been quite seriously undermined by bureaucratic indifference.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Where did the MCA say the transmissions weren't made? I thought they said 'an issue has been identified', which could be all manner of things - eg. reduced power, or an aerial efficiency problem...

[/ QUOTE ]

I have cut and pasted the bit which implies that no broadcasts are being made

however on checking our own NAVTEX receiver at Falmouth it transpires that there is no signal received.

Initially like yourself we believed this to be a fault with our receiver however we have now raised the issue with British Telecom who maintain the aerial site and the situation is being investigated and will shortly be resolved.

In the later email - he specifically says - save my money - don't buy a new arial.
 
Good idea! Add me to the circle. I'm likely to be on board in West Wales over the next few days and will tune to 490. We get both Niton and Port P. Even though there may still be a problem, it'll be interesting to see what we get.
 
Hi,
Thanks for referring to our website www.pcnavtex.com - this NAVTEX schedule data comes from the MCA (and other sources worldwide) so is correct for all unannounced changes.
I'm just setting up our office test NAVTEX receiver to see if Niton is transmitting on 490kHz, and will get back to you all later (FYI I'm using the Furuno NX-700, a commercial receiver that has much better reception than leisure models, but the office is well inland, west of Winchester)
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi,
Thanks for referring to our website www.pcnavtex.com - this NAVTEX schedule data comes from the MCA (and other sources worldwide) so is correct for all unannounced changes.
I'm just setting up our office test NAVTEX receiver to see if Niton is transmitting on 490kHz, and will get back to you all later (FYI I'm using the Furuno NX-700, a commercial receiver that has much better reception than leisure models, but the office is well inland, west of Winchester)

[/ QUOTE ]

Tim - thanks, at last we will know conclusively whether they are transmitting on 490. I get 518 quite happily but not a peep on 490, so I was suspecting my arial. I will look forward to the results - of course BT - who the MCA are blaming may have fixed it by then - here's hoping......
 
Hi all, Niton is working properly on 490. I've been listening in using PC Navtex on my PC since this morning, and there were a couple of test messages at unscheduled times, and I've just received the scheduled transmission for Niton I.
 
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