Navtex systems compared

[askrich]

Which Navtex set should I buy? Reading the recent PBO road test it seems the Furuno came out way ahead of the others in offering the most sensitive receiver but is this the right choice for me? My sailing consists of weekend cruising up and down from Poole to the IOW and Weymouth with the occasional long weekend over the ditch and a week or so cruising CIs and N Brittany coast each year. Do I need a sensitive set which can pick up distant stations? Does more sensitive mean better reception of local stations? A significant issue seems to be interference particularly in marinas and harbours, does the sensitivity of the Furuno mean that it will pick up more interference than with for example the NASA sets? Obviously there is a significant price difference, is it worth the extra?

 

[fireball]

Do you need Navtex?

 

[sailorman]

i have the nasa navtax pro
more than adequate & draws only 40 ma so its on all the time

 

[askrich]

Good question. I guess for me its more of a nice to have than a real need.

 

[jerryat]

Yep! I've got the 'old' Navtex Pro as well, and it does everything I need in the way of navtex info. Looks a bit dated compared to the latest stuff, but as you say, it can be left on all the time and the batteries don't notice! Super bit of kit IMHO.

Cheers Jerry

 

[fireball]

Just wondered, cos I don't have one (very basic kit on our boat atm!) but weekend sailing is easily prepared for -> online weather sites and updating over night if you stay in a marina is simple enough. Also possible to get weather updates via mobile phone either WAP or txt msg.
I had thought about navtex and wouldn't say no, but usually question what value I would get from it.

 

[Ric]

Furuno is great when you are in Greenland or mid Pacific but fairly OTT for channel hopping. Navtex Pro will be fine. But there are lots of other sources of info and maybe you don't even need Navtex just for channel.

 

[TigaWave]

Surely for the same money you can get an ssb receiver and laptop and have a selection of weather sites and faxes to choose from? and with channel hopping your only at sea for less than a day so you can get weather from internet cafes and marina offices.

What is the real advantage/value for money in a navtex?

I'm biased as I've never had one and never felt I needed one...

 

[sailorman]

4 200 squids free up to date weather, nav / safety info night n day or what ever one programmes into the set.

 

[fontmell]

Buy the Furono only 60 more and far better reception Ive had both and didnt realise with the Nasa there was more available even though happy at the time

 

[doug748]

I've had trouble with the NASA active ariel. Packed in once, mended last year, not working now. Brian.

 

[alex_rogers]

I have the Furuno set. It certainly looks and feels much more of a professional product than the NASA set. The antenna is much more compact, it is more sensitive and it also doubles as a GPS repeater. I find this last feature very useful as I also have a Furuno GPS can then effectively use two screens at once - basic lat/long on one and course/distance to waypoints on the other.