Silva S15 - Navtex problems.

[kds]

I post more in sadness than in anger, but wonder if anyone has had success with getting the Navtex function in the S15 working ?
I have had 2 replacement radios and one replacement arial so far and don't want to be without the radio again during this season. All now functioning well, except for the Navtex.
They are always charming and helpful when I phone Silva - but still no Navtex.
Comments welcome. Thank you.
Ken

 

[Hoolie]

Haven't used it for extended period but it picks up NAVTEX messages OK with the antenna horizontal high in the fore-cabin. Rather to my surprise it works well with the antenna directly coupled to the radio without all the frequency selection/12v connectors etc. I haven't used the PC connection yet as the software seems v primitive.

 

[Gothik29]

bought one a few years ago and it worked immediately. Another boat nearby me in the same marina also bought one but couldn't get the Navtex working. He contacted the supplier who discovered that there had been some change in the specification and somehow he'd ended up with the wrong (old) navtex aerial. This was changed and messages started coming in immediately.

Mine has worked okay (touch wood). However I'm not far away from a Navtex station (Cullercoats). I stop receiving messages around about 100 to 150 miles away from home.

 

[RichardTaylor]

Ours works fine, aerial is in the aft locker strapped at a sill angle to the cockpit drain tube.

I vaguely remember a comment about not running it close to the GPS aerial lead as this can cause problems?

 

[Largslout]

I had problems with this set never worked as navtex, best chucked over the side I would say. Nav 6 plus works like a dream.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Agree 100% with largslout. Bought one, Navtex worked ok on test bench, fitted it to boat, discovered what a horrible VHF radio the set is and found the Navtex reception around the south and west coast of Ireland was poor compared to other navtex systems. I junked it and wish I had stayed with ICOM which is now being fitted as the S15 is being binned. The only reason I didn't fit ICOM was the so called 'wonder' navtex integrated with the S15. Big mistake, imho the S15 was the Lada of marine VHF's, awful software menu's, poor ergonomics, and I hated their implementation of dual watch, and no tri-watch which is essential for CIC leaders. Also imho, Navtex is now totally obsolete with mobile broadband and low cost marine web access to high quality and detailed weather information 24x7. Navtex is finished.

My Advice

1. for marine VHF there are 3 recommended manufacturers, Icom, Icom and Icom
2. Naxtex is an obsolete and cumbersome technology given modern mobile access to high quality weather information 24x7 in colour with synoptic charts, wind animations, wave animations. Naxtex is a waste of space.

PS: I've no connection whatsoever with Icom, just a happy customer who has used a lot of manufacturers sets and have through experience discovered the best of the best.