Weather receiver

Especially when sailing close to shore, but also offshore, the water sports enthusiast needs reliable weather information - at any time and any place. Weather receivers are the solution. For on-board purposes, they are available as fixed-mounted devices or for charterers in mobile operation with or without display. With devices like the Weather Infobox, you can receive the latest weather data at any time.

The German Weather Service (DWD) broadcasts the following messages in German from Pinneberg on the long-wave frequency 14 kHz with a reception range of approximately 300 nautical miles:

- Marine weather reports for the next 24 hours

- 2- and 5-day forecasts

- Station reports with wind strength, wind direction and wave height

The synop messages are received, decoded and stored by weather receivers such as the various Weather InfoboxesThe WIB1 receives 14 kHz on longwave. The WIB3 receives 14 kHz and the two NAVTEX frequencies 518 kHz and 490 kHz. The synop data is displayed as text and additionally shown as wind arrows in a pixel map on the PC, which then allows accurate weather routing.

The DWD's shortwave broadcasts can be received over 5 frequencies in northern and southern Europe and the Mediterranean. The weather broadcasts are in plain text in English or German, additionally weather maps (facsimile) as well as synop messages are sent. These are received by the WIB-Europe and reproduced for example on the PC or plotter.

For shortwave reception an active antenna (150 kHz to 30 MHz) is required. However, the installation effort is low, especially since this antenna does not have to be mounted in the mast at all.

NAVTEX - (Navigational Warnings by Telex)

Navtex is an international and almost worldwide weather and warning radio service. Nautical warnings, storm warnings, initial information on marine emergencies, ice reports, information from pilotage services, etc.

are transmitted.

NAVTEX is an important component of the GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) as a preventive safety instrument and is therefore also part of the mandatory equipment in shipping requiring equipment. However, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) recommends that recreational shipping also be equipped with a NAVTEX receiver.

The essence of Navtex traffic is not only the routine weather and warning broadcasts, but the current and sudden weather and warning messages are disseminated immediately without delay after the situation is recognized by the stations. No other system offers this.

NAVTEX is broadcast worldwide on the medium-wave frequency 518 kHz in English and partly on 490 kHz in the respective national language as well as on the short-wave frequency 420 kHz. The German Weather Service broadcasts from Pinneberg in both English and German.

The range of NAVTEX stations is 200 to 300 nm, depending on radio propagation conditions and local conditions. Some stations transmit up to 750 nm.

NAVTEX is not transmitted in voice, but in RTTY radio teletype. It is received either by a NAVTEX-only receiver or received and decoded by combination devices such as the weather receivers described above.