Navtex or Weatherman?

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brownsox

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Which do people generally think is more useful?
How often is the non-weather nav info on Navtex really relevant to a small yacht? And does the Weatherman give you significantly more/better wether forecasting info?
We've no expperience of either, to date.
Cheers
 
It depends on where and how you sail. The Navtex gives you a more detailed forecast by sea area plus inshore weather if it is a dual band unit, but for only 24 hours (plus maybe an outlook for another 24 hours).
The Weatherman can give you a forecast for up to 6 days but is limited in so far as the forecast is only for specific points (you have to interpret the data for your specific location). This information is excellent for planning longer passages but doesn't attempt to take local coastal affects into account.
If your cruising is coastal then you will probably find Navtex more useful.
All IMHO
 
Weatherman in my experience is very clear with its standard format and reliably easy to access. I've had problems with Navtex being cluttered and hard to read and difficult to get in some areas/circumstances. I'd go for weatherman.
 
Do you know where I could read up all this in more detail? Also do you, or anyone else out there, have experience with Furuno' Navtex? If so, what do you think of it? is it worth the extra compared to NASA' product?
 
Dont forget the ICS Navtex 6 plus....now sold by McMurdo. It will repeat all your instrument data, which I find useful. Also keeps a position log.
 
Weatherman stops before the Azores.
Navtex is broadcast on F from Horta for another 300/400 miles westward.
Look at the coverage charts. It depends where you will do your sailing:
Med and Europe = Weatherman (and Navtex )
Med, E and W Europe, Eastern and Central Atlantic = Navtex.
Navtex works best outside the marina away from all the masts.
£150 or less.
Just do it!
 
The Weatherman displays the forecasts produced by DWD (German Weather Centre). Some of these are also shown on their web site. These forecasts are transmitted in English and German, the web site just shows the German version, see here:

http://www.dwd.de/de/WundK/W_aktuell/Seewetter/Streckenwetter.htm

There are forecasts for up to 6 days for some sea areas - e.g. the Med.

I don't know of a source of Navtex forecasts on the net but here is a typical one from 5 years ago in Greece

ZCZC HE33
021400 UTC JUN 01
IRAKLEIO RADIO/WEATHER FORECAST

PART 1
NO GALE

PART 2
SYNOPSIS OF SURFACE WEATHER CHART 020900
UTC LOW PRESSURES 1008 COVER THE NORTH
HELLAS AND THE NORTH BLACK SEA AND HIGH
PRESSURES 1015 5_ NORTHWEST BALKANS

PART 3
FORECAST FOR 24 HOURS
FROM 021600 UP TO 031600 UTC
KITHIRA SEA
WEST 5 LOCALLY 6. MODERATE.
SOUTHWEST KRITIKO
NORTHWEST 4 TO 5 LOCALLY OVER NORTH WEST
5 TO 6. MODERATE.
SOUTHEAST KRITIKO IERAPETRA
WEST NORTHWEST 4 TO 5. MODERATE.
KASTELLORIZO SEA
WEST SOUTHWEST 4 . MODERATE IN THE
MORNING LOCALLY POOR.
RODOS SEA
WEST NORTHWEST 5 TO 6 LATER 4 TO 5 .
MODERATE.
KARPATHIO
WEST NORTHWEST 5 TO 6. MODERATE.
WEST KRITIKO
WEST 5 LOCALLY 6. MODERATE .
EAST KRITIKO
WEST 5 LOCALLY 6. MODERATE.
SOUTHWEST AEGEAN
WEST SOUTHWEST 5 OVER SOUTH LOCALLY 6.
MODERATE.
SOUTHEAST AEGEAN ikario
WEST SOUTHWEST 5 OVER SOUTH LOCALLY 6.
MODERATE .
SAMOS SEA
WEST SOUTHWEST 5. MODERATE IN THE
MORNING LOCALLY POOR.
SARONIKOS
WEST SOUTHWEST 4 TO 5. MODERATE.
SOUTH EVVOIKOS
WEST SOUTHWEST 4 TO 5. MODERATE.
KAFIREAS STRAIT
WEST NORTHWEST 5 TO 6 LATER SOUTH. GOOD
LATER MODERATE.

OUTLOOK FOR 12 HOURS
FROM 031600 UP TO 040400 UTC
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
NNNN

As you can see, the DWD forecast is for specific lat/lon points and this particular one is every 6 hours for 3 days. They transmit 2 forecasts for the Med, one for every 6 hours for 3 days, the other for every 12 hours for 5 days starting the day following the issue date.
I use the basic NASA Navtex and have found it to be excellent. I receive the DWD forecast via SSB and laptop computer.
With a dual frequency Navtex you can also receive inshore water forecasts in the UK (I believe).
The Navtex doesn't actually give you anything that can't be got from VHF, but it is much more convenient. Note also that the DWD forecast doesn't include the details for the period immediately after it is issued, but starts 12 or more hours later (normally 24 hours later for 5 day forecasts).
I consider that each has its own use.
 
In my opinion there is no comparison between the Furuno and the NASA. Both work well as regards reception sensitivity/quality, but the software on the NASA set is "schoolboyish", the biggest complaint I have with the NASA is that you have to scroll through all the messages (all the data!!) to find the one you are interested in. The Furuno has a page where it lists the message headers and from there you can select to view the data in that message. I owned a NASA for 4 years and now have upgraded to Furuno after seeing one on another boat. So, in my opinion I would (and have) payed the extra.

Alan.
 
It's worth looking at nasa's new pc navtex engine if you have a pc on board. The set receives navtex from all stations and stores it in its memory. When you connect your pc you can download the messages and sort them by type. It's a neat presentation and at just over £100 is great value.
 
Thanks for all replies. Must admit to still being undecided. Coverage not a problem as Med would be furthest afield. We mostly want reliable weather info for 'tomorrow' so if eg at anchor, know whether to stay or go ... Good advance warning of any nasty weather. Small boat, cautious, wrinkly not very experienced sailors (couple).
 
Don't discount the navigation info that Navtex provides....

Today there were several transmissions about sunk containers, cable laying operations and a salvage operation, plus a temporary cardinal mark, all off the Belgian/Dutch coast.....

Very useful if you were about to make that crossing.....
 
Thanks to RMA for the webpage link to the live NAVTEX information. Its a very useful website and the link wap.frisnit.com enables WAP enabled mobile phones to download the messages.
 
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