Navtex

[Guest]

Can someone please give a brief explanation of what Navtex is and how it works?

 

[iangrant]

A small box similar frontal area to a car radio. LCD that churns out free weather/shipping/range firing info/etcc..

Useful little number

 

[Boatman]

Navtex is a free information service which transmits weather and other maritime information originally for commercial shipping. There are two transmitting frequencies 1 for English and a second in certain places in the local language. Transmissions available up to approx 300nm. Units vary in terms of having LCD displays or paper print-outs of information received. The service is designed for commercial use so there is lots of information not required by yachtsmen but is an extremely useful bit of kit for trip planning and weather analysis.

 

[chrisc]

while we are the subject .
Can you tell me the advantage of a dual channel set over a single channel ?

 

[Boatman]

The second channel (I can't remember the frequency) gives out more localized information, depending on which model you are looking at the Navtex Target Pro (NASA) gives both channels now (but check) there are still some old models around.

 

[Guest]

I agree with everything that Boatman says. The second frequency is 490 kHz and is the local language channel since the primary frequency 518 kHz, is in English. Since we don't need the local language use its is being used for inshore forecasts. These are transmitted at different times to the primary frequency. The NASA Pro (which I have and love.) has a new aerial for sale whic can be switched from one frequency to the other. Which means you need to make up your mind which transmission you are going to listen for. A short coming of the system. ICS sell a paper readout system ( as opposed to LCD ) which is great until you forget to switch it to standby when you leave the boat one weekend. It looks rather pretty on the cabin sole. They (ICS) have recently put on the market an LCD version which can receive both channels without any switching on your behalf. Its your monry, you decide. Navtex gives a lot of information that may not interest you. Its just a matter of setting the switches to ignore the info you dont want. eg ice reports etc. It means you dont have to set the alarm clock to listen for the shipping forecast.