Navtex...should I get it fixed?

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Matata

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With sorting out my wiring and instruments Im left with the final piece of the todo list. Our Navtec screen has gone blank and reading on the net I think its £50 to have it fixed. I'm going on an imaginary circumnavigation next year Ireland. And maybe up to Scotland but at the moment we are still at the pub planning stage! With other modern technology would you get it repaired. Most of the time we never use it. ThoughtS Ta Nik
 
I'm just sending mine off to be repaired. I suppose if I could guarantee never being anywhere there was no phone signal I wouldn't.
 
You obviously wouldn’t do anything as stupid as me, but are you aware that there is a brightness adjustment on the back of the machine? It’s very easy to turn it to black.
 
Matata said:
With sorting out my wiring and instruments Im left with the final piece of the todo list. Our Navtec screen has gone blank and reading on the net I think its £50 to have it fixed. Nik
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Before sending it off check that you haven't "Done something" while sorting out your wiring. It may even have a fuse somewhere, possibly internally.
 
Which Navtex is it? Mine's an 'ICS Navtex McMurdo Nav 6 Plus' and I had a similar fault, sent it off for repair, and they sent it back saying there was nothing wrong. IIRC if it's not getting reception it doesn't turn on, so simply reinstalling it worked.
 
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Matata said:
With sorting out my wiring and instruments Im left with the final piece of the todo list. Our Navtec screen has gone blank and reading on the net I think its £50 to have it fixed. I'm going on an imaginary circumnavigation next year Ireland. And maybe up to Scotland but at the moment we are still at the pub planning stage! With other modern technology would you get it repaired. Most of the time we never use it. ThoughtS Ta Nik
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I no longer use mine as I am never more than 12 hours from a mobile signal so haven't had the need for many years. Friends circumnavigated Ireland recently and they were surprised by such good strong mobile signal all the way even in the remotest areas. Obviously if going further offshore for longer then NAVTEX is useful.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I travelled from Glasson Dock to Malta and back between 2006 and 2010. Navtex worked fine, but I never understood what it was telling me. I was never more than 1 day from a detailed weather report, either in a port, or over the internet. If it were me I wouldnt bother and use the space freed up for something more useful.
 
Richard10002 said:
I travelled from Glasson Dock to Malta and back between 2006 and 2010. Navtex worked fine, but I never understood what it was telling me. I was never more than 1 day from a detailed weather report, either in a port, or over the internet. If it were me I wouldnt bother and use the space freed up for something more useful.
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But what would one do of an evening, if it wasn't scrolling down and trying to decipher the messages, and reprogramming the thing to a more promising set of stations and message types? ;)
 
It's not so much weather I use navtex for but having nav warnings /sub & gunfacts already at hand when planning the next days passage is really useful.
 
"With other modern technology would you get it repaired."


Yes, I probably would.

I always find it useful to have a run of shipping forecasts to hand in a convenient format, as well as it being a handy long stop.
After the 50 quid it will "eat nowt", as my Grandmother used to say.
 
I rely on Navtex for the Inshore Forecast on the West Coast of Scotland. Yes, the CG usually broadcast it, if they're not busy, but often it's not at a convenient time, or I'm not aboard at the time.
 
NormanS said:
I rely on Navtex for the Inshore Forecast on the West Coast of Scotland. Yes, the CG usually broadcast it, if they're not busy, but often it's not at a convenient time, or I'm not aboard at the time.
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+1 I don't have to wait up for it- or rely on unpredictable VHF (up some remote loch). Phone signals are better that 5 years ago but still quite flaky in a lot of places. It's not the Solent up here... there not enough customers to build decent phone masts for!
 
As I said before I really would try disconnecting it completely and wiring it back up, especially since you’ve had work on the wiring done (as I had). There’s a good chance it’ll just work again :)
 
Matata said:
With sorting out my wiring and instruments Im left with the final piece of the todo list. Our Navtec screen has gone blank and reading on the net I think its £50 to have it fixed. I'm going on an imaginary circumnavigation next year Ireland. And maybe up to Scotland but at the moment we are still at the pub planning stage! With other modern technology would you get it repaired. Most of the time we never use it. ThoughtS Ta Nik
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Mine went on the blink and I had it repaired a few years ago, firmware upgrade and new antenna. I must admit that I use it a lot for weather forecasting because it is convenient i.e. the forecast is there in the memory for me to look at when I want. The VHF forecast is just listening to validate what I have gained from the Navtex. As others have said, mobile coverage is significant and if mine goes on the blink again, it won't get fixed as I have other priorities for the cash,
 
I would check if there really is something wrong with its screen or whether it's not getting 12V up the back.

You're going to be close enough to land for occasional forecasts via mobile signal, which will tell you all you need to know for the short durations you'll be out of signal. Any shorter range than that, and you'll either already know the risk or shouldn't be putting to sea anyway!
 
After the batteries have been off for
> a week my Navtex takes 2 to 3 days for the display to come on. I assume there is some sort of internal battery that is knackered and very slow to accept charge. Once on it is fine.
 
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