Old Inmarsat C Transceiver - keep or junk?

[Tim Good]

Ok I'm going through a new boat getting shot of all the rubbish. This I found under the chart table and wired up to a series cable. Assuming it used to receive via a laptop.

Anyway does anyone know much about it and whether I'm better off getting shot or is it worth using?

It says Magnavox MagnaPhone C - Inmarsat C Transceiver - MX 14000

View attachment 46311

 

[ghostlymoron]

Stick it on ebay. You'll get a few quid towards something useful. Put low start price and put words like retro,traditional in the description.

 

[prv]

It's the kind of thing that's worth either hundreds (if it can be still be used with the current Inmarsat system) or pennies (if it can't). Unfortunately I don't know enough about these systems to know which.

Any sign of an aerial with it?

Pete

 

[AntarcticPilot]

As far as I can see, Inmarsat C is still available - see http://www.inmarsat.com/services/safety/inmarsat-c/, straight from the horse's mouth!

It is a data only service intended for safety and distress messages, which explains the laptop connection. I don't think the antenna is anything special; it says it is omnidirectional.

In today’s world it is a bit obsolete, but the kit should still work and be of value to someone!

 

[Tim Good]

As far as I can see, Inmarsat C is still available - see http://www.inmarsat.com/services/safety/inmarsat-c/, straight from the horse's mouth!

It is a data only service intended for safety and distress messages, which explains the laptop connection. I don't think the antenna is anything special; it says it is omnidirectional.

In today’s world it is a bit obsolete, but the kit should still work and be of value to someone!

Thanks.

Ill remove it then. I haven't fully explored the option yet but I'm hoping the replacement will be a simple satphone and wireless router setup with minimal wires and using tablet / laptop in normal way receiving data.

 

[brokethebox]

Any commercial boat under 24m (ie complying with the MGN280 code) operating at cat 0 must either have one of those or a DSC MF/HF so someone somewhere will probably have a need for it.