The Beaconworld Navtex Section - http://www.beaconworld.org.uk/navtex.htm

THE BEACONWORLD NAVTEX SECTION:

In this section you will find information and links about NAVTEX Stations, which are becoming an increasingly popular DX target by many NDB and LF enthusiasts.

You will find details about a number of useful programmes for Navtex monitoring, including my own personal NAVTEX database, which is included here for the benefit of anyone who might like a copy, and also a number of links, which will take you to websites giving lots of additionally useful information as well. If you have, or know about a link which is not shown here, and which you think ought to be, please do send me the details and I'll be more than happy to include them. Please e-mail any updates to:

webmaster at beaconworld.org.uk (you'll need to replace the 'at' with an @ symbol)

USEFUL NAVTEX RELATED ARTICLES AND INFORMATION FILES:

	RECEIVING NAVTEX - A SIMPLE INTRODUCTION: If you are thinking about giving this mode a try, this simple introduction by Brian Keyte, G3SIA should help you to get started. (20.0kb)
	A GUIDE TO NAVTEX DXING v1.5 : This guide gives a little more information about the mode of Navtex, the equipment used to receive it, and some information about how to understand the various messages that you will receive. (last updated 11th September 2007 - 160.0kb)
	CONNECTING YOUR RADIO TO YOUR COMPUTER: If you are wondering how to connect your receiver to your PC this new "interfacing" guide will help you to get started. (754.0kb)
	NAVTEX DECODER COMPARISONS: W. Curt Deegan takes a lot at how some of the more popular Navtex Decoding programmes compare in actual use, and reviews their performance. (28.0kb)
	NAVTEX STATIONS OF THE WORLD IN FREQUENCY ORDER v5.4 (.pdf version): Sorted by frequency, this .pdf version prints out as a 12 page list in five sections, and includes a list of known QSL Addresses as well (Address list updated thanks to Patrick Robic of Austria!). (this edition created 9th of June 2008 - 116.0kb)
	NAVTEX STATIONS OF THE WORLD IN COUNTRY ORDER v5.4 (.pdf version): Sorted by country, this .pdf version prints out as a 13 page list in five sections, and includes a list of known QSL Addresses as well (address list updated thanks to Patrick Robic of Austria!). (this edition created 9th of June 2008 - 116.0kb)
	NAVTEX SCHEDULED BROADCAST DATABASE v3.4 (.pdf version): This new document lists hour by hour Scheduled Navtex Broadcasts, and comes in a printable 32 page .pdf file. Covers 424, 490, 518 and 4209.5 kHz Schedules. (this edition created 9th of June 2008 - 234.0kb)
	NAVTEX MESSAGE TYPES: This simple guide gives a quick run down of the various message types that can be heard, e.g. 'A' Nav Warnings, 'E' Meteo Forecasts etc. (15kb)
	NAVTEX - WHAT IS A GOOD LOGGING?: Now that you've received a navtex signal are you sure it's what you think it is? This guide by Brian Keyte, G3SIA will help you to be sure that your logging is a good one. (16.0kb)
	NAVTEX TIME SLOTS: Brian Keyte, G3SIA produced this simple, but very useful guide to the Time Slots used by Navtex Stations. (28.2kb)
	RNA/REU/RWW NAVTEX LOGGING GUIDE: RNA/REU/RWW Guide on how to report your loggings. (65.6kb)

LINKS TO USEFUL NAVTEX RELATED SOFTWARE:

	DSC DECODER: - This comprehensive decoding software, produced by COAA, the creators of the popular 'Shipplotter' and Planeplotter' software, will also decode Navtex signals, as well as DGPS and DSC (MF/HF/VHF).
	MixW HAM DECODING SOFTWARE: - A popular program with many Radio Amateurs due to the number of modes it can receive (and transmit), this will also decode Navtex signals with its 'AMTOR' mode.
	MSCAN METEO PRO: - A well established decoding program, which will decode Navtex, RTTY and WeatherFax signals.
	MULTIMODE: - This program is designed especially for Mac users, and may well be the only Ma decoder that will handle this mode. It also handles lots of other data modes too, including DGPS. Produced by Black Cat Systems, more infor can be found on their website.
	MULTIPSK HAM DECODING SOFTWARE: - This excellent 'freeware' program by Patrick, F6CTE, covers many popular Amateur modes, including AMTOR, this can be used for decoding Navtex signals too.
	MULTIMODE: - This program will decode numerous data modes, inlcuding Navtex, but is designed especially for Mac users, and is produced by Black Cat Systems.
	NAVTEX DECODER: - A new 'freeware' program from Mark Longstaff-Tyrrell, this is an ideal starting point for the newcomer to the hobby.
	NAVTEXview: - NEW VERSION 1.5 NOW AVAILABLE This is a wonderful little freeware utility program, developed and kindly supplied to us by Tobias Taufer (T2) from Germany, and designed to utilise the data in the Navtex Schedules database. This program allows the user to create a window on their desktop which will show stations which are active 'real time', and also those that are coming up next. I love this program and run it all the time now whenever I have NAVTEX decoder open. I would definitely recommend it to all Navtex fans! My thanks to Tobias for creating, developing and sharing this impressive program with us. (208kb - zipped - new version December 15th 2007)
	NAVTEXview RE-PLAYER/FOOBAR2000: - Tobias also came up with a very interesting method of re-playing pre-recorded NAVTEX signals using the Foobar 2000 player, and this creates a handy feature which can be used when the NAVTEX sound is not real-time but comes from a recorded soundfile. This will work in combination with NAVTEXview. The relative playback duration is then displayed in the titlebar (caption) of Foobar2000, making it possible for NAVTEXvw to read it and continuously calculate the true recording time, provided you remember at what time you have started your recording. Tobias says that this method may sound a bit difficult, but it's real simple in use and makes offline nighttime DX'ing possible at any time. (3.47MB - zipped)
	RADIO RAFT - VERSION 3.21: - A DOS based data decoding program by François Guillet F6FLT, this decodes many different modes such as ACARS, SITOR, ARQ, CW, Packet, PACTOR etc. but more importantly, it also decodes DGPS Beacon signals!
	SEATTY: - An excellent NAVTEX & RTTY decoding program by DX Soft, this decoder "time stamps" your catches, and is ideal for monitoring NAVTEX channels over long periods.
	SKYSWEEPER: - A multi mode data decoding program by Skysweep Technology, this sophisticated programme will decode a wide variety of different modes, including DGPS, but unlike RadioRaft, it can be run in a Windows Environment.
	TRUETTY: - From the same stable as SeaTTY, this programme will decode a number of other data modes as well as Navtex, but doesn't time stamp them.

LINKS TO USEFUL NAVTEX RELATED WEBSITES AND SOURCES:

	ICS ELECTRONICS GMDSS PAGE: Direct link to the website of ICS Electronics, a UK company specialising in Navtex Equipment.
	MARIUS RENSEN'S NAVTEX BEGINNERS GUIDE: Direct link to the website of Marius Rensen of Germany, who has a very useful beginners guide to this mode.
	MARK HATTAM'S NAVTEX RECEPTION PAGE: Direct link to the website of Mark Hattam of the UK, who has plenty of useful information for Navtex Dxers.
	RNA-REU-RWW ONLINE DATABASE: You can download a list of the NAVTEX stations heard worldwide from this site.
	US COAST GUARD NAV CENTER: Direct link to a the US Coast Guard's Nav Center, a top resource for information about US Navtex Stations and changes.
	US NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: Direct link to the website of NOAA, the US National Weather Service.
	WILLIAM HEPBURN'S NAVTEX BROADCAST PAGE: Direct link to William Hepburn's TV & Radio Information Centre, which has a very impressive Navtex page there.

** NOTE **

Information given in this page may be freely re-produced by any 'NON-COMMERCIAL' sources (hobbyists, DX Clubs etc.) provided that due credit is given to the 'Beaconworld' website as the source, and files are not altered in any way without the prior permission of the copyright holder.

Last updated 21st of June 2008.

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