Silva S15 & Navtex

[Swiftsailandski]

About 18 months ago I fitted the Silva S15 VHF and the Silva Navtex active antenna to our yacht. When switching on the VHF set I get the double bleep and messages from the antenna as the self checking confirms all is working. I have the stations and areas set to receive all and the frequency set to International (have also tried "Local"). So in theory I should receive any weather forecast being broadcast for the south coast UK and northern France. Well in the 18 months I have probably managed to pick up at most about 5 or 6 weather and nav broadcasts.
The antenna is mounted on the pushpit and I have tried to keep the coax away from other cables.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[peteandthira]

I have had very little in the way of Navtext messages from my S15 at Kip Marina. I have read that marinas are very dodgy places for Navtex anyway, so I am not surprised. However, we don't seem to get much outside either. We then "heard" that the Western Isles of Scotland are not a "good area" either!

So all rather inconclusive, I'm afraid. I suspect the kit is OK but the area isn't.

 

[Amari]

See article in this month's PBO. Poor reception in marinas seems to be common

 

[KREW2]

HI
I was receiving no messages on my nav tex as it was quite an old machine I took it out, when I bought my boat batteries home for the winter I rigged it up on our landing it now spews out info. I now have the hastle of running the cables thru to put it back but at least I know when its safe to walk downstairs

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I have mounted my navtex aerial at the masthead. Not the regular position for these things, accepted. I receive ridiculous amounts of information if I do not filter messages. It is the nasa unit, so a much small antenna than yours, as you have the navtex engine.

Basically walk your aerial around the boat, hoist it up the mast a bit, try to find a premium location.

Good luck

 

[Oldhand]

Navtex frequencies are very subject to interference which can often be generated by other onboard equipment. I use a masthead antenna and don't have any problem in marinas with an ICS receiver. However, after connecting my Raymarine GPS receiver to my Seatalk bus, 490kHz Navtex reception is frequently wiped out and I have been waiting over 6 months for Raymarine to fix the unacceptable EMI thier equipment generates. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Did you fit the Ferrite for SeaTalk/NMEA cable?

That is supposed to suppress noise on the interface cables?

 

[Swiftsailandski]

Thanks to everyone who answered my problem and providing valuable input.
Shipswoofy could have a point and I will check the ferrite suppressor, but I believe it's on there. Elevation could be another possible area to explore. Marinas aren't generally the problem though as we are on a swing mooring and sail Solent, channel and south coast.
I feel a follow up article in PBO coming on if I ever get it resolved.

Thanks again to everyone.