Silva S15 DSC VHF problems

[gravygraham]

Anybody know how I can get the gps and navtex part of my radio to work. Might I have a dodgy navtex antenna?

Graham

 

[oceanfroggie]

You haven't specified the problem. The navtex connections are totally separate and independant of NMEA connection to a GPS (ie for DSC long/lat).

Connecting S15 to GPS

1. use NMEA cable wires from your GPS (only 2 needed TX and GND)
2. ensure GPS output configured to NMEA (for example garmin units by default may be configure to a native garmin output on COM1 instead of NMEA)
3. ensure voltage from GPS is high enough (ie 5.1v). Older raymarine integrated systems some times suffered a volatge drop on their NMEA output depending on where you connected the NMEA (ie serial cable connected to auto pilot control head, or course computer, plotter output, or direct from Raystar Gps antenna. S15 will not take an NMEA sentance if the voltage is lower than 4v on the serial TX/RX/GND cable

Navtex is dead easy, just connect the antenna directly to the S15 using the supplied DIN plug/socket. If you suspect the navtex antenna is faulty, then you can test it by connecting it via the 9 pin RS232 cable directly to a PC at home and using a terminal emulation program to monitor the COM port and you should see navtex messages at their scheduled transmission times from you nearest station, assuming you can site the antenna near an upstairs window for reception.

Anyway IMHO, In the era of GPRS/3G and WIFI boardband navtex is of limited use for coastal leisure boating as much better and more upto date weather information is available over the internet for various web sites. Navtex is like telex was 25 years ago - jurassic!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Ocean Froggie is right in what he has told you - although you can also get a dedicated GPS receiver the S15.

The main trouble is that the S15 isn't really up to the job anyway, IMO. I took mine out after six months and invested in proper Navtex - its still buried in the loft somewhere - best place for it.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Yes, I also removed the navtex from our boat , a waste of space on the mast and quite dated in the format and info it gave - imho useless given how easy it is to access the internet from a boat nowdays. Web based weather with synoptic charts and sat images are far superior. IMHO navtex is a bygone technology and has had it's day. But DSC is useful for instant distress calls when it transmits long/lat from an NMEA source(ie. gps)

 

[BlueSkyNick]

you're right, but what I meant to say is that the S15 is a lump of doo-doo in total, not just the Navtex bit - I invested in proper Navtex (ICS Nav6) AND a new VHF/DSC (Standard Horizon) which is the mutt's nuts.