NAVTEX on Garmin Inreach

[Biscayan]

I would like to receive weather information offshore (Atlantic crossing) and, although I understand the benefits of receiving GRIB files, I am happy with no more than NAVTEX messages.

Any experiences using Garmin Inreach to receive NAVTEX, straightaway or being forwarded by a friend ashore?

I do not know if this is a sensible option so, I would really appreciate your comments.

Thanks.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

You can't receive NAVTEX on an in reach directly. You would have to have someone texting you. If you have someone competent enough to edit and forward it would be fine but a large commitment from the friend.

 

[Roberto]

I would like to receive weather information offshore (Atlantic crossing)

Hello
there are two problems, one is the InReach does not allow to receive email/Navtex directly, except if someone ashore sends you SMS as Buck said, second what kind of Atlantic crossing are you planning; E-Atl Navtex goes from UK to Canaries, a couple of hundred miles from S-W from Canaries there are no more broadcasts.
Similar bulletins would be Metarea 2, say Canaries to 35W, then Metarea 4 under US responsibility; both would need email capability (or HF voice for the US, subject to propagation); Metarea 5 if going towards South America.

 

[geem]

Get somebody to send you weather info on the Inreach. I have done it for several friends both .Atlantic and Pacific crossings. They do it for me in return

 

[Biscayan]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, text bulletins issued for different Metareas would be right for me as well but, possibly, too large to be forwarded by SMS.

A friend 'working' as a weather router could be the best option.

 

[geem]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, text bulletins issued for different Metareas would be right for me as well but, possibly, too large to be forwarded by SMS.

A friend 'working' as a weather router could be the best option.

We use the Windy Premium. It gives 1 hour weather intervals updated every 6 hours. Really like it with access to ECMWF and GFS plus others. Some many layers of useful info when weather routing

 

[Biscayan]

I already own an Iridium 9575, which is usually activated (postpaid plan) for safety calls when sailing long passages offshore. As SMS can be received on this device, is there any significant advantage using the Inreach? Or can I ask a friend to text me weather information on the Iridium mobile?

 

[geem]

I already own an Iridium 9575, which is usually activated (postpaid plan) for safety calls when sailing long passages offshore. As SMS can be received on this device, is there any significant advantage using the Inreach? Or can I ask a friend to text me weather information on the Iridium mobile?

The inreach does excellent tracking. Its very easy for your weather router to track you knowing your speed and course every 10 mins plus your lat/long. If you pay for the unlimited tariff for a month at £65 you can send and receive as many texts as you like. Friends and family can track you easily. In addition, there is weather available on the Inreach for free plus a marine weather option that cost $1US per forecast. Its an emergency device as well with an emergency button. 100hr battery life when new. We love ours and find we have no need for any other satellite device when sailing long passages. Friends who had both the Inreach and sat phone went on to sell the sat phone.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

The inreach does excellent tracking. Its very easy for your weather router to track you knowing your speed and course every 10 mins plus your lat/long. If you pay for the unlimited tariff for a month at £65 you can send and receive as many texts as you like. Friends and family can track you easily. In addition, there is weather available on the Inreach for free plus a marine weather option that cost $1US per forecast. Its an emergency device as well with an emergency button. 100hr battery life when new. We love ours and find we have no need for any other satellite device when sailing long passages. Friends who had both the Inreach and sat phone went on to sell the sat phone.

Agree with this. I don't envisage needing any other long range device. However, If you already have a sat phone I'm not sure there is a case for up/downgrading to an Inreach. The wether service isn't great as you get spot weather only so you need to choose a few point's down track and amalgamate the results to get any kind of overview. I use weather fax on an iPad for this instead as it gives more usable info.

 

[geem]

Agree with this. I don't envisage needing any other long range device. However, If you already have a sat phone I'm not sure there is a case for up/downgrading to an Inreach. The wether service isn't great as you get spot weather only so you need to choose a few point's down track and amalgamate the results to get any kind of overview. I use weather fax on an iPad for this instead as it gives more usable info.

I have done this in years gone by but much prefer a pal looking at the wealth of weather models online.

 

[Pye_End]

you used to be able to get a 5 day (think) SMS through the Inreach by sending an SMS somewhere which automatically had your position on it. Think an App does it nowadays, but maybe the original method still works - suspect it was rather cheaper.

 

[Laser310]

I already own an Iridium 9575, which is usually activated (postpaid plan) for safety calls when sailing long passages offshore. As SMS can be received on this device, is there any significant advantage using the Inreach? Or can I ask a friend to text me weather information on the Iridium mobile?

I understand that you said in the first post that you believe you will be fine with only NAVTEX.., and don't need GRIB's, but you are aware that the 9575 can easily get GRIB's; right?

I have done this trip several times, and i like having both GRIB's and surface forecasts (aka weatherfax).

the 9575 can also get surface forecasts.

 

[Laser310]

Also, while the InReach is limited to 160 character SMS messages. I think that if the message that is sent is longer than that, the Garmin exchange server just breaks the message up into multiple SMS messages.

This will make it easier on the person sending the texts.

I don't know if that will work the same way when sending texts to the 9575 - it might truncate them.

 

[Biscayan]

Thanks for your replies.

I would like to keep the Iridium mobile onboard for safety calls, so makes sense upgrading system to download GRIB files. But I am not really techie, and installing a router and a laptop, with subsequent problems and connection expenses. I do not know...

Although SMS information is limited, I like its simplicity and think that could be more than enough with support ashore. But, again, I do not know...

Any experience with both systems very welcome.