G
Guest
Guest
Anyone have any opinions on Navtext. We will be cruising Norway & Ireland - should we get one or not????
Liz & Laurence
Tidos
Warrior 35
Liz & Laurence
Tidos
Warrior 35
Jacket
New member
Yes! Its the best toy I ever brought for my boat.
Sure, there are some harbours where because of nearby buildings or whatever you can't get a signal, but it probably works 95% of the time, and saves a huge amount of running around looking for forecasts. Also invaluable when visiting countries where you don't speak the local language particularly well. Another bonus is that as it saves the messages, you don't have to wake up at unsociable hours of the night to get the forecast, as you often have to do if relying on radio or VHF forecasts.
Sure, there are some harbours where because of nearby buildings or whatever you can't get a signal, but it probably works 95% of the time, and saves a huge amount of running around looking for forecasts. Also invaluable when visiting countries where you don't speak the local language particularly well. Another bonus is that as it saves the messages, you don't have to wake up at unsociable hours of the night to get the forecast, as you often have to do if relying on radio or VHF forecasts.
Gerry
Well-known member
Marvellous, put one in at the start of our aunumn cruise and can't think how we lived without it.Weather, navigation etc we even got notice of a swarm of locusts heading our way! Do it!
davidbains
New member
Norway and Ireland are rather exposed to Atlantic weather and you should follow
the forecasts. Navtex is the simplest way of keeping up to date on board.
the forecasts. Navtex is the simplest way of keeping up to date on board.
Secret Smile
New member
Which Navtex
Which Navtex will give best world coverage.
We are currently in the Mewd but going to the Canaries then Cape Verdes and then Caribbean.
Been told NASA no good out of Med
Mucmurdo Nav7 looks good - but expensive
Furuno NX300 also a contender
Anyone got any advice?
Which Navtex will give best world coverage.
We are currently in the Mewd but going to the Canaries then Cape Verdes and then Caribbean.
Been told NASA no good out of Med
Mucmurdo Nav7 looks good - but expensive
Furuno NX300 also a contender
Anyone got any advice?
Conachair
Guest
To be honest when you get down there I found it not that great. Swarm of locusts off mauritania or wooden boat adrift off el hierro is about it. Weatherfax better for weather away from wifi and lights are not to be relied on anymore either. Don't spend the money, just accept you're on your own and look after yourself. Good habit and no different from before really. Enjoy.
Koeketiene
Well-known member
;139788 said:
Yes - Furuno NX300
heimdal
New member
Another vote for the Furuno NX300.
Before installation in the boat, I had it switched on by my office window (S-facing and about 40m above sea level) from where it was getting transmissions from Greenland to Alexandria, and I'm in Shetland, 60°N.
They are a standard fitment in all the local pelagic trawlers.
Before installation in the boat, I had it switched on by my office window (S-facing and about 40m above sea level) from where it was getting transmissions from Greenland to Alexandria, and I'm in Shetland, 60°N.
They are a standard fitment in all the local pelagic trawlers.
grumpygit
Well-known member
Another vote for the Furuno NX300
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Conachair
Guest
Re secret smile leaving the med - Has anyone had much useful stuff out of navtex after leaving europe? Istm the 400 odd quid for a nx300 could be much better spend elsewhere. Decent system to recieve weatherfax for starters.
AliM
New member
We had a NASA on the last boat - very cheap, worked fine, but there are no line-feeds displayed, so it could be hard to read long messages (eg weather forecasts covering many sea areas) and it was a pain to scroll between messages. Also the aerial bracket is very fragile, and it's very temperamental if you have other aerials too close to it.
This boat, Furuno, as others have recommended. Much better bit of kit, and the display is easier to read. More expensive, but worth it.
We used it a lot in Germany, Denmark (using local Hamburg transmissions in German for the Baltic areas), then German Bight, Netherlands (international, comparing GB, D, NL and B all for the North Sea and German Bight sea areas) and back home (Niton and Cullercoats, local). I don't know about coverage elsewhere.
This boat, Furuno, as others have recommended. Much better bit of kit, and the display is easier to read. More expensive, but worth it.
We used it a lot in Germany, Denmark (using local Hamburg transmissions in German for the Baltic areas), then German Bight, Netherlands (international, comparing GB, D, NL and B all for the North Sea and German Bight sea areas) and back home (Niton and Cullercoats, local). I don't know about coverage elsewhere.
earlybird
Well-known member
That advice might have applied to the NASA Weatherman, I think that's the name.
This uses a different radio system, (German ??, ), which doesn't have such wide coverage as Navtex.
Within it's limitations, a NASA Navtex receiver works Europe -wide, and presumably anywhere else in the world with coverage
I've owned both NASA and Furuno, the Furuno is more sensitive and easier to operate IMHO.
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Secret Smile
New member
Weather information outside Med
OK
If Navtex is not best for Canaries, Cape Verdes and Caribbean
What would be an alternative?
SSB fitted in Gibraltar means lifting the boat and having the ariel fitted in to the keel (I have just coppercoated and not keen on the extra expense and worried they will damage the coppercoat)
I just want to be able to get some idea of weather - especially if I am at anchor and do not have wifi.
OK
If Navtex is not best for Canaries, Cape Verdes and Caribbean
What would be an alternative?
SSB fitted in Gibraltar means lifting the boat and having the ariel fitted in to the keel (I have just coppercoated and not keen on the extra expense and worried they will damage the coppercoat)
I just want to be able to get some idea of weather - especially if I am at anchor and do not have wifi.
rickym
Member
What about this?
http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/marine-vhf-radio-equipment/nasa/target-hf3-ssb-receiver55.bhtml
This is my preferred route for weather info.
http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/marine-vhf-radio-equipment/nasa/target-hf3-ssb-receiver55.bhtml
This is my preferred route for weather info.
Conachair
Guest
Much as I like cheap and cheerful nasa, that's an awful radio.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=degen+1103
Much better ssb reciever. Weatherfax is great
Koeketiene
Well-known member
Aerial, grounding, etc... slightly more complicated setup than just fitting a Navtex
GrahamM376
New member
We have the old single channel ICS 4 printing navtex and it works well around Gib, Portugal etc. No reason why it won't work worldwide. I find it invaluable for forecasts in English when out of range of shore broadcasts.
Joker
Active member
Depends where you are, but you can get internet via pay as you go mobile phone dongle almost anywhere. I'm in Germany and have the Vodaphone pay as you go. I can log on anywhere there's a mobile phone signal.
BruceDanforth
Well-known member
;139788 said:
There's no 't' on the end and there often won't be.
joha
New member
Navtex
Have a navtex pro plus works fine picks up stations from Norway to Algeria! I'm based on the South Coast. Dont have a problem with reading the nessages as each has its own lines / paragraph. Quite pleased with it really.
John
Voyager 35
Have a navtex pro plus works fine picks up stations from Norway to Algeria! I'm based on the South Coast. Dont have a problem with reading the nessages as each has its own lines / paragraph. Quite pleased with it really.
John
Voyager 35
