Navtex and weatherfax

K

Ken O

New member
Has anyone been using Navtex/weatherfax? My specific interest is in regard to SE Alaska. My experience in SE Alaska is that VHF weather is very spotty due to the topography (and Internet is even more scarce, as is cell coverage). I've seen Navtex recommended in some older forums, but I've also seen that the the Coast Guard is considering ending this service in favor of satellite sources (probably Sirius, etc.). I'm considering buying a Navtex receiver, but it would be a waste of money if they are dropping service soon.

Does anybody know anything in regard to the coverage in SEAK and/or the future for this service? Thanks a bunch.
 
CG has been considering dropping both NAVTEX (Text Long wave @ 518kHz and Weather Fax (GRIB files on HF SSB) for a number of years. I believe the most recent call of comments was in 2019. They have continued mainly for the fishing fleet in AK. There were calls to Discontinue the service since about 2000, but they have kept it going.

We had a Furuno Weather Fax receiver, with paper print out which was fully automatic (you set the station, it had the schedule and found the best frequency for reception. ), and then you viewed the files.

The material in Navtex is fairly limited. We certainly used the GRIB files for long range planing, and consideration of where we were going to go: ie open channels vs staying close to coves. But in the C Dory we just never found this necessary. Furano for $700 is pretty much the game in town. There are few places which sell the paper fax machines (Furuno 408). There are Ads which work with any SSB receiver and a I pad to give a weather fax picture. I am not aware of any which do the 518 mHz text.
 
Thanks Bob. I found a used Furuno NX300 in good condition, with antenna, cable, and manual, for $190, so I figured it was worth taking a chance. I read more since I made this post and I see that the coverage is limited, but knowing what's going on in the Gulf and Hecate Strait helps to predict the inside waters, so I think it will be worth it. As usual, thanks for your thoughts.
 
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