jimi
Well-known member
What's the simplest way of getting weather charts onto a laptop when on board?
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Weather Faxes to Laptop
- Thread starter jimi
- Start date
Robin
Well-known member
A NASA or similar (Sony & others) SSB capable receiver, SeaTTY or JVComms or similar software and a double ended lead with suitable sized phono plugs from extension speaker out on the radio to mike in on the laptop. The software is free in Demo mode (quite uesable), the receivers will cost from £150 up.
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
MainlySteam
New member
Or if you do not have a ssb receiver already but are at least a moderate GPRS user then download off internet if normally in GPRS coverage at non international roaming rates.
If using a ssb receiver the cheapest software (like it is free to non commerial users and has no demo mode crippling) and in my opinion the best is WXSat which a google turns up. Hooks up as Robin says but will add to what he says by pointing out that the laptop must have a microphone or other audio line input to poke the audio from the ssb into.
John
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If using a ssb receiver the cheapest software (like it is free to non commerial users and has no demo mode crippling) and in my opinion the best is WXSat which a google turns up. Hooks up as Robin says but will add to what he says by pointing out that the laptop must have a microphone or other audio line input to poke the audio from the ssb into.
John
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pandroid
Active member
Apart from an SSB set (which, personally I find is much more useful as a boat anchor), the way most people go is via a mobile phone and the Internet. Connecting it up is described on our own site Frank Singletons site is the best source on all this stuff.
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longjohnsadler
New member
Blue-tack
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LadyInBed
Well-known member
Re: WXsat
A WX Sat download link that works took some finding but found one <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.david-taylor.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/software/wxtrack.htm#DownloadWXtrack> here </A>
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A WX Sat download link that works took some finding but found one <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.david-taylor.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/software/wxtrack.htm#DownloadWXtrack> here </A>
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MainlySteam
New member
Re: WXsat
Whoops - no, unless it is buried on the page somewhere and I cannot see it, that is the wrong application Nigel.
I should not have been so lazy in my post - here is the correct link <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hffax.de/html/hauptteil_wxsat.htm>http://www.hffax.de/html/hauptteil_wxsat.htm</A>.
For anyone trying it the only tricks are that for selection of the mode (it does direct satillite as well) use FM120 (from memory) and if it comes out like random black and white over the screen then it is because you have not set it up for the correct monitor screen pixels width and depth (it does not do that automatically but tells you how in the help).
It remains unchanged in versions since 1999 (good sign perhaps) and despite that runs under all versions of Windows from 3.1 through to Windows XP (I have run it under all except for Win 2000 I believe) so it is solid in respect to the Windows API. It also means that it can be run on an old machine.
There are commercial programs which are better to use, but if looking for one that is free and has no demo crippling at all then it is worth a look.
John
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Whoops - no, unless it is buried on the page somewhere and I cannot see it, that is the wrong application Nigel.
I should not have been so lazy in my post - here is the correct link <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hffax.de/html/hauptteil_wxsat.htm>http://www.hffax.de/html/hauptteil_wxsat.htm</A>.
For anyone trying it the only tricks are that for selection of the mode (it does direct satillite as well) use FM120 (from memory) and if it comes out like random black and white over the screen then it is because you have not set it up for the correct monitor screen pixels width and depth (it does not do that automatically but tells you how in the help).
It remains unchanged in versions since 1999 (good sign perhaps) and despite that runs under all versions of Windows from 3.1 through to Windows XP (I have run it under all except for Win 2000 I believe) so it is solid in respect to the Windows API. It also means that it can be run on an old machine.
There are commercial programs which are better to use, but if looking for one that is free and has no demo crippling at all then it is worth a look.
John
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Robin
Well-known member
Re: WXsat
I will add that one to our collection too John!
The 'demo' mode in JVComms32 isn't intrusive by the way, it overwrites 'demo' in small print on either side of the chart. Registration is about £40 I believe which will remove all the demo bits. In RTTY form it also prints demo but doesn't skip lines.
Mscan demo is dreadful, you get a quick chance to view before the chart is almost obliterated, and in RTTY form it skips lines of text which is dangerous unless you realise it has done it. There is no way I would pay the registration for this with no real means to test it first.
SeaTTY is excellent, originally RTTY only it now does HF Fax as well. Simple and pretty idiot proof to use (so it suits me!). I was impressed enough in the original RTTY form to register it, then updated to the newer version (free) with Fax. The registration fee is very low <£20 if I remember correctly and it enables some extra bits of the program to work, but in Demo form it is clear anyway.
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
I will add that one to our collection too John!
The 'demo' mode in JVComms32 isn't intrusive by the way, it overwrites 'demo' in small print on either side of the chart. Registration is about £40 I believe which will remove all the demo bits. In RTTY form it also prints demo but doesn't skip lines.
Mscan demo is dreadful, you get a quick chance to view before the chart is almost obliterated, and in RTTY form it skips lines of text which is dangerous unless you realise it has done it. There is no way I would pay the registration for this with no real means to test it first.
SeaTTY is excellent, originally RTTY only it now does HF Fax as well. Simple and pretty idiot proof to use (so it suits me!). I was impressed enough in the original RTTY form to register it, then updated to the newer version (free) with Fax. The registration fee is very low <£20 if I remember correctly and it enables some extra bits of the program to work, but in Demo form it is clear anyway.
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
Benbow
New member
Re: WXsat
I too love seaTTY, I have compared it quite carefully with (demo versions) of JVCcomm and mscan meteo, and definitely prefer it to both. Simple and effective. Registration allows you to save some auto freq control settings, but you can do a proper evaluation and I certainly would not begrudge the price.
I agree that mscan meteo is infuriating. I found JVCcomm had some nice features (it manages messages and allows searching of navtex and TTY messages quite nicely and can decode synops) but on 2 machines I tried it with, it actually did not seem to perform as well as seaTTY with weak HF-FAX signals and I found the interface less obvious.
HTH
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I too love seaTTY, I have compared it quite carefully with (demo versions) of JVCcomm and mscan meteo, and definitely prefer it to both. Simple and effective. Registration allows you to save some auto freq control settings, but you can do a proper evaluation and I certainly would not begrudge the price.
I agree that mscan meteo is infuriating. I found JVCcomm had some nice features (it manages messages and allows searching of navtex and TTY messages quite nicely and can decode synops) but on 2 machines I tried it with, it actually did not seem to perform as well as seaTTY with weak HF-FAX signals and I found the interface less obvious.
HTH
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MainlySteam
New member
Re: WXsat
Hi Robin
Yes I have used all of those but I find WxSat the best for myself finding it pretty bulletproof. If one is looking for an application that includes Navtex, RTTY, etc integrated in with the weather fax capabilities then clearly WxSat is unsuitable. I have dedicated software for SiTor, RTTY, etc so do not have that need myself.
John
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Hi Robin
Yes I have used all of those but I find WxSat the best for myself finding it pretty bulletproof. If one is looking for an application that includes Navtex, RTTY, etc integrated in with the weather fax capabilities then clearly WxSat is unsuitable. I have dedicated software for SiTor, RTTY, etc so do not have that need myself.
John
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Robin
Well-known member
Re: WXsat
Hi John
I've downloaded WxSat now so I'll give it a try, so far I just looked at the 'help' file and have a glazed look but hopefully it will fade! Occasionally I have run SeaTTY and JVComms together to see if one is better the other but it seems like they are pretty well matched.
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
Hi John
I've downloaded WxSat now so I'll give it a try, so far I just looked at the 'help' file and have a glazed look but hopefully it will fade! Occasionally I have run SeaTTY and JVComms together to see if one is better the other but it seems like they are pretty well matched.
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
MainlySteam
New member
Re: WXsat
Robin
As it seems you are trying it, I have loaded it up here at home so as to pass on the trickier bits.
On the Parameters Menu select "FM120" (there is a way to make that default to the top of the drop down list but won't bore you with that). You have to select this at the beginning of each session using the application.
After following the menu Parameters>Decoding>FM120 button where it has "y compr" in bottom right hand corner of the window, then adjust the default "1.00" for the compression so that the "Pixels/line" matches what you have your monitior set at (800, 1280, or whatever). You will see there is a note there that says that for 576 IOC you can have a screen up to 8000 pixels wide, if you are lucky enough to have such a classy display /forums/images/icons/smile.gif. Make sure when doing these that you did click the "FM120" button beforehand and not one of the satellite modes.
While it has alot of other tweaks one can adjust, apart from the two things above it should work straight out of the box.
As I said before, it does not have RTTY, Navtex or anything else in it and if one uses a program that does then that is probably the most convenient solution.
John
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Robin
As it seems you are trying it, I have loaded it up here at home so as to pass on the trickier bits.
On the Parameters Menu select "FM120" (there is a way to make that default to the top of the drop down list but won't bore you with that). You have to select this at the beginning of each session using the application.
After following the menu Parameters>Decoding>FM120 button where it has "y compr" in bottom right hand corner of the window, then adjust the default "1.00" for the compression so that the "Pixels/line" matches what you have your monitior set at (800, 1280, or whatever). You will see there is a note there that says that for 576 IOC you can have a screen up to 8000 pixels wide, if you are lucky enough to have such a classy display /forums/images/icons/smile.gif. Make sure when doing these that you did click the "FM120" button beforehand and not one of the satellite modes.
While it has alot of other tweaks one can adjust, apart from the two things above it should work straight out of the box.
As I said before, it does not have RTTY, Navtex or anything else in it and if one uses a program that does then that is probably the most convenient solution.
John
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Robin
Well-known member
Re: WXsat
Thanks John, noted!
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
Thanks John, noted!
Robin
<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>
tome
New member
Re: WXsat
John
I've been following this post with interest also. As a result, I bough a NASA HF3/P receiver yesterday and am making up a lead to go to the mic input of my laptop so that I can try it. If all else fails, I can listen to the cricket on 198kHz! I already have an insulated back-stay and earth plate so hope this will work well on the boat.
I've also download WXsat. One thing that doesn't seem to work is I've tried altering the y compr ratio from 1.00 downwards to get my screen (1024 x 768) setting. This alters the IOC setting, but not the pixels per line. Am I doing something wrong???
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John
I've been following this post with interest also. As a result, I bough a NASA HF3/P receiver yesterday and am making up a lead to go to the mic input of my laptop so that I can try it. If all else fails, I can listen to the cricket on 198kHz! I already have an insulated back-stay and earth plate so hope this will work well on the boat.
I've also download WXsat. One thing that doesn't seem to work is I've tried altering the y compr ratio from 1.00 downwards to get my screen (1024 x 768) setting. This alters the IOC setting, but not the pixels per line. Am I doing something wrong???
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MainlySteam
New member
Re: WXsat
Errr umm, of course you are not doing anything wrong Tom. Sorry folks I stuffed it up a bit /forums/images/icons/blush.gif - apologies for any wasted time.
What you do is you first type in the number of pixels wide your screen is (eg 1024) then you adjust the y compr until the IOC changes to 576.
As penance I did it and can say that if 1024 pixels wide then setting y compr to 1.77 sets the IOC to 576.
Well I did say it was a tricky bit, obviously even too tricky for me.
Regards
John
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Errr umm, of course you are not doing anything wrong Tom. Sorry folks I stuffed it up a bit /forums/images/icons/blush.gif - apologies for any wasted time.
What you do is you first type in the number of pixels wide your screen is (eg 1024) then you adjust the y compr until the IOC changes to 576.
As penance I did it and can say that if 1024 pixels wide then setting y compr to 1.77 sets the IOC to 576.
Well I did say it was a tricky bit, obviously even too tricky for me.
Regards
John
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tome
New member
Re: WXsat
Screen is now 1024, y compr 1.77 and IOC 576.
All is forgiven, thanks John!
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Screen is now 1024, y compr 1.77 and IOC 576.
All is forgiven, thanks John!
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MainlySteam
New member
Re: WXsat
What a relief, I am off to bed now (1am here) with a clear conscience.
John
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What a relief, I am off to bed now (1am here) with a clear conscience.
John
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