Navtex reception

[MM5AHO]

Someone recently asked (in another thread) about reception of Navtex stations.
I thought to test this out, and here's the result.
Using a NASA Target Pro plus v2 receiver and their H Vector antenna, all indoors (probably worse that at sea), and located in central Scotland, I received transmission without garbling or signal loss from the list below.
Given that list, I'd say that Navtex covers a good area, and that transmissions are widely receivable. In fact there's so much information overload that the filtering of messages (programmable) is necessary to avoid that which is of no immediate use.

U Tallin (Estonia)
V Vardo (Norway)
W Valentia (Ireland)
X Grindavik (Iceland)
B Bodo (Norway)
K Niton (UK)
D Torshavn (Faeroes)
Q Malin Head (Ireland)
P Netherlands Coastguard
J Givslovshammar (Norway)
G Cullercoats (UK)
E Niton (UK)
T Oostende (Belgium)
S Pinneberg (Germany)
R Saudenes (Iceland)

 

[Hoolie]

That's impressive. You must have a very quiet signal environment where you are. Our Navtex doesn't work at all in the marina and I've tried monitoring the frequency(ies) with a Sony portable SSB but all I get is noisy mush.

 

[yotter]

I find that reception in Kip and Craobh marinas is poor. I believe that I get the best reception when at anchor with many electronic systems shut down. The poor reception in the marinas I put down to other masts in close vicinity and also the other electronics on-board (doth navigation and domestic) including the mains battery charger. I am minded to take the NASA receiver home and attach an aerial and see what I get.
Angus

 

[MM5AHO]

It could well be the quiet (RF) area I live. But I've listened on a receiver (Icom 756Pro3) while the Taget receiver is running, and I hear mostly mush except when the close stations are transmitting.
Nearby there's plenty of electronics stuff, solar panels, inverter, broadband devices, VHF transceiver, computers and all the normal household stuff too.
It would be interesting yotter, to see what you get at home.
On other bands I have noticed that marinas seem very RF noisy.

 

[cpedw]

Interesting and startling that the nearest station to you (I think), Portpatrick, doesn't show up.

It's lucky that the National service from Portpatrick is repeated from Malin nowadays. I find reception from there is pretty reliable on most of the West Scottish coast.

Derek

 

[MM5AHO]

Yes, Portpatrick if not the closest would be about that, so interesting that nothing heard from it in 24 hours listening.
I've left the unit running, so see what else shows up, and if PP makes an appearance.

 

[yotter]

It could well be the quiet (RF) area I live. But I've listened on a receiver (Icom 756Pro3) while the Taget receiver is running, and I hear mostly mush except when the close stations are transmitting.
Nearby there's plenty of electronics stuff, solar panels, inverter, broadband devices, VHF transceiver, computers and all the normal household stuff too.
It would be interesting yotter, to see what you get at home.
On other bands I have noticed that marinas seem very RF noisy.

Geoff,
I shall remove the receiver and take it home when down on Saturday (if I remember). The Aerial will be more tricky, any suggestions of a Heath Robinson set-up, a long wire perhaps, is length important?

I wonder if Frank Singleton will be here soon

Angus

 

[MM5AHO]

At that low frequency its not too critical, but a long wire would do, as long as possible. Using the H Vector antenna that NASA have now is an advantage in only considering the magnetic field component of the signal as opposed to the electric field as well. Most take in both, but most interference is largely in the electric field, so that might be why this combination seems to work so well. Older antennnas, even NASA's older one are not discriminatory in that respect.

 

[Plum]

That's impressive. You must have a very quiet signal environment where you are. Our Navtex doesn't work at all in the marina and I've tried monitoring the frequency(ies) with a Sony portable SSB but all I get is noisy mush.

+1 Mine never picks up anything in a marina.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[yotter]

At that low frequency its not too critical, but a long wire would do, as long as possible. Using the H Vector antenna that NASA have now is an advantage in only considering the magnetic field component of the signal as opposed to the electric field as well. Most take in both, but most interference is largely in the electric field, so that might be why this combination seems to work so well. Older antennnas, even NASA's older one are not discriminatory in that respect.

Geoff,
Many thanks for that explanation, I might be looking for a H Vector Aerial. Will post my results in due course.
Angus