| To download any of the following, try 'right-clicking' on the link and select the 'Download' or 'Save Link As' option. Alternatively, you can click on the link, which should open the file in your browser. Then choose the menu option File -> Save As or similar. |
- Presentation in PDF format on WeatherFax and Shortwave Radio. These are the slides shown at the Weather Fax and Shortwave Radio seminar for the Bluewater Cruising Association Fleet and cooperating yacht club education program members. It contains details on setting up your own RadioFax receive capability on your boat, lists some software choices for viewing WeatherFaxes, and discusses some related computers and hardware. The PDF file may be freely copied, but please give credit to the source (this website).
|
- Feedback Rob Murray (AVANT) reports the following about his experiments with WeFAX.
I tested my Eton E3/ Grundig G3 with various antenna and was never really satisfied with the results, and bought a Sony ICF SW 7600GR from Amazon and found it was a better receiver in all conditions, really a step up. I will take both along so I have options should one develop personality issues in use.
I tried various antennas, and found that the "snake" antenna
[see e.g. http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/special/swlant.html for more info. Ed.]
worked best for me. It is 50-75' of coax, shorted core to cover at one end (ball of tin foil screwed into the end, sealed in with tape), with the other end led to the radio. Rather than using a direct connection, an inductive antenna coupling delivered better results due to lower noise. To inductively couple the antenna, just lay the business end (unshorted end) of the coax alongside the built in antenna while it is in its folded position, such that none of the metal on the coax touches the metal on the antenna. Attach with rubber bands or similar means. This gave much lower noise (static) than other antenna, and much better reception than a plain long wire antenna.
I bought the HF Fax program for the iPad, and made up the connector they show on the page at
http://www.blackcatsystems.com/ipad/iPad_iPhone_iPod_Touch_Microphone_Wiring.html (mine is slightly more elegant, with the components in a little plastic box in the middle of the wire). I found the iPad emits less RF noise than any PC I used, and gave clearer fax reception because of that. Any time i switched between the PC and the iPad the iPad showed better results. I can also use the same program on either iPad (we have two) or on the iPhone (we have two of those too), so we get lots of backup as a result. Thanks Rob!
|
- KVM70 (NOAA Hawaii) Schedule, downloaded Jan 2013.
|
- ZKLF (New Zealand Metservice) Schedule, downloaded Jan 2013.
|
- Sample WeatherFax transmission - MP3 format. 48 Hour Wind and Wave Forecast, valid 2013 Feb 01 1200Z. Received from NOAA Pt Reyes, 17151 kHz on 2013 Jan 30
|
- Sample WeatherFax transmission - WAV format. 48 Hour Wind and Wave Forecast, valid 2013 Feb 01 1200Z. Received from NOAA Pt Reyes, 17151 kHz on 2013 Jan 30
|
- Sample WeatherFax transmission - MP3 format. 48 Hour Surface Forecast, valid 2013 Feb 01 1200Z. Received from NOAA Pt Reyes, 17151 kHz on 2013 Jan 30
|
- Sample WeatherFax transmission - WAV format. 48 Hour Surface Forecast, valid 2013 Feb 01 1200Z. Received from NOAA Pt Reyes, 17151 kHz on 2013 Jan 30
|
