SSB weatherfax question

[Stevie_T]

I have my SSB external speaker connected to to my laptop via serial port / USB adaptor. I have weatherfax 2000 software operating.
However I cannot get a signal showing on weatherfax.
So dumb question? Do I need a decoder as well, I was under the impression I had all that was necessary?
Thanks

 

[jerryat]

Hi Hannabella,

As I recall you need a 'dongle' to use Wefax 2000 though they may have changed that now. Certainly it is required with mine. Unless you have this bit of kit, I wouldn't bother at all, and instead go for one of the free sofeware progs, like JVComm32 that are readily available on the Web.

All this type use the computers sound card and just need a 3.5mm to 3.5mm plugged lead from the speaker output from your radio to the microphone socket on the computer.

We never bother with the 2000 stuff now, but keep it as a back-up.

The freeware s/w is excellent.

Cheers Jerry

 

[Stevie_T]

Thanks Jerry
I shall give JVComm32 a try

 

[Deleted member 478]

You also need to tune the radio 1.9Khz lower than the published frequency - see page 5, 3rd paragraph of this Weatherfax Schedule (takes a while to load)

 

[Stevie_T]

Thanks Stingo

 

[ColinR]

I use the NASA SW reciever and MetioScan (?) software that came with it. It works well at sea eg in the middle of Biscay a few weeks ago I got prefect reception from both Northwood and the German station with but is imposible to get a decent signal in harbour or when I set it up at home to to try and figure out how it works.

 

[snowleopard]

Most w/fax stations transmit on 4 or 5 frequencies and not all are in use at any one time. The signals are synchronised so you can switch part way through a transmission. It's very useful to have a signal strength indicator in the s/w. Mine shows the signal as a graph and you can see at a glance whether you have a proper fax signal.

Have you tried checking that the external speaker socket is switched on? (You don't say what set you are using - some are permanently on).