Who still has NAVTEX on their boat?

[franksingleton]

As a number of posters mention French navtex, I think one should not rely too much upon it in the future.
La Garde transmitter in the Mediterranean has been silent for years now, Corsen (Channel/North sea) is periodically stopped, Corsen Atlantic uses Niton transmitter and for some reason has been silent during roughly the past year.
I sent an email to CROSS, the reply was "stations under repair, no service resuming expected soon", as the Atlantic area was covered by Niton on behalf of France and Niton UK service is active, station under repair does not seem to explain it.
I asked the Affaires Maritimes (+-MCGA) at the last Boatshow and they just talked about shift to NavDat (service which in he next few years should take over Navtex on the same frequencies).

Roberto, could you pass your comments on Toulon and Corsen to ncsr@imo.org (in subject line add: for Chair, IMO NAVTEX Coordinating Panel). NavDat is new to me.

 

[Roberto]

NavDat is new to me.

I think it's new to 99% of people. It is one of the discussion subjects at the World Radio Conference 23, see for example here, footnotes page 44, by reading here and there on the internet there is a wide consensus
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/239407/WRC-23_Call_for_Input.pdf
IMO description
M.2010 : Characteristics of a digital system, referred to as navigational data for broadcasting maritime safety and security related information from shore-to-ship in the 500 kHz band
it's a new service that will eventually replace Navtex, shore stations will broadcast text, images etc so it will be excellent, it's a pity that will take a few years before it is done and in the meantime some Navtex stations have already stopped broadcasting.

 

[LadyInBed]

it's a new service that will eventually replace Navtex, shore stations will broadcast text, images etc so it will be excellent, it's a pity that will take a few years before it is done and in the meantime some Navtex stations have already stopped broadcasting

I assume that a current NAVTEX Rx won't decode the new service!

 

[franksingleton]

I think it's new to 99% of people. It is one of the discussion subjects at the World Radio Conference 23, see for example here, footnotes page 44, by reading here and there on the internet there is a wide consensus
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/239407/WRC-23_Call_for_Input.pdf
IMO description
M.2010 : Characteristics of a digital system, referred to as navigational data for broadcasting maritime safety and security related information from shore-to-ship in the 500 kHz band
it's a new service that will eventually replace Navtex, shore stations will broadcast text, images etc so it will be excellent, it's a pity that will take a few years before it is done and in the meantime some Navtex stations have already stopped broadcasting.

Thanks, Roberto. New to me.

 

[jefflukowski]

We have Nav6+ but I have never used yet. It turns on and works fine. I learned a lot from this thread.

 

[franksingleton]

For those going beyond VHF range, NAVTEX really becomes more relevant following the demise of R4 LW. It provides weather and Nav information out to 200+ miles out to sea. How can you do that without a satellite connection? And, it is free!

 

[jbweston]

I found my Navtex invaluable on my previous boat, sold early this year. Useful when no wifi or mobile data connection and when sailing alone as it received the weather and 'wrote it down' for my future reference without my having to sail with two hands, hold a bit of paper with a third and write down dictation from the VHF with the fourth, even if I could remember at the right time to listen to it on the VHF.

It's also it's in English in parts of the world where the person on the VHF is struggling manfully/womanfully with English, but failing.

I haven't installed navtex on my new one, partly because of lack of space and partly because I'm going to be coastal cruisng in the UK and N Ireland with excellent VHF coverage and often mobile data and wifi too.

 

[jim5099]

We fitted a Furuno Navtex before setting off on an extended Med cruise and have found it invaluable. Since 2017 we cruised from Ireland, across Biscay and along the costs of Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, before our current location in Greece. We would not be without it and list the benefits as follows;

1) Forecasts at least twice a day for your area, especially when outside VHF and phone range.
2) written / moderated / interpreted by the relevant national met office (not a model), adjusted for local conditions.
3) in English language
4) written for boats in familiar nautical language
5) can be retrieved at any time without needing to access a server.
6) gale and small craft warnings arrive in a timely manner
7) safety and emergency warnings as they arise.
8) free after initial install.
9) robust, simple technology that is always on.

 

[franksingleton]

We fitted a Furuno Navtex before setting off on an extended Med cruise and have found it invaluable. Since 2017 we cruised from Ireland, across Biscay and along the costs of Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, before our current location in Greece. We would not be without it and list the benefits as follows;

1) Forecasts at least twice a day for your area, especially when outside VHF and phone range.
2) written / moderated / interpreted by the relevant national met office (not a model), adjusted for local conditions.
3) in English language
4) written for boats in familiar nautical language
5) can be retrieved at any time without needing to access a server.
6) gale and small craft warnings arrive in a timely manner
7) safety and emergency warnings as they arise.
8) free after initial install.
9) robust, simple technology that is always on.

Totally agree.