A Re-cap of the Navigation Telex (Navtex) System

NAVTEX (NAVigational TEleX) is an internationally accepted, automated, medium and high frequency, radio telex broadcast (also known as Narrow Band Direct Printing or NBDP) system.

The purpose of NAVTEX is to broadcast localized Marine Weather forecasts and warnings as well as urgent and routine Maritime Safety Information (MSI) on a common frequency using the English language. Provisions for (2) other frequencies, used for national or special broadcasts, most often in the host nation’s language dependent on where the transmitter is located.

The NAVTEX system was developed to offer a low-cost, simple, and automated means of receiving this information aboard vessels at sea from the sea buoy out to 200 to 300 and often as much as 400 nautical miles offshore using a low-cost dedicated receiver and no user fees to use the system.

NAVTEX (Navigation Telex)- A Brief History

The inauspicious beginnings of NAVTEX was started by our cousins on the other side of the pond. During the 1970’s, the Post Office Coastal Radio Station in Cullercoats, United Kingdom began broadcasting weather forecasts and warnings for the North Sea and the English Channel using radio teletype. The favorable response was such that by 1983 this system became operational and the service extended to include the western sea areas. In 1985 the U.K. sea areas to the east became part of the system.

By 1987 NAVTEX was being adopted by other countries around the world and Marine Safety Information was included in the broadcasts and the frequency 518.0 kHz was formalized.

The NAVTEX system was incorporated into the regulations for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and introduced with a phase in period from 1992 to 1999.

A Closer Look at the NAVTEX Receiver

For simplicity sake, there are only (2) types of NAVTEX receivers – SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and Non-SOLAS. The differences between the two while not great on paper, are pretty significant on the wallet.

The primary difference between the two is: A SOLAS vessel, by regulation, must keep a watch on the “International Broadcast” frequency 24/7 when underway with no exceptions. If they wish to also receive NAVTEX data over the “National Broadcast” frequency, it can only be done simultaneously. Many of the newer SOLAS units can actually provide simultaneous reception on a 3rd frequency as well.

Non-SOLAS vessels are not required to have this simultaneous frequency reception as they may switch between the frequencies at their discretion. The benefit here is the reduced cost of the NAVTEX unit.

Since our focus is primarily on non-SOLAS vessels and recreational boaters and not VLCC Tankers; we are going to concentrate on non-SOLAS NAVTEX systems. Keep in mind though that with the continued advancements in electronics; crossovers of capabilities can and often do, exist.

The NAVTEX receiver is completely different from most other radios typically seen or used on board a boat or ship:

• It does not transmit (so there is no microphone);
• it does not receive voice signals (so there is no speaker) and;
• it only listens on a small number of pre-programmed frequencies, (so there are no tuning knobs in the figurative sense of the word).

The NAVTEX receiver is basically a programmable pre-tuned MF/HF-SSB radio most often incorporating signal processing software.

They are typically small, being about the size of a marine VHF radio and use very little power, usually around 250 milliamps. The low electrical draw of these units is another benefit as there is little likelihood of depleting your house batteries if left on overnight.

In their simplest form, the NAVTEX receiver directs its encoded data output to a PC device. The PC then decodes the signal and can display it on the PC screen or send it to a printer for a hard copy.

The lower level of standalone NAVTEX Receivers have built-in decoders and a display unit where the NAVTEX data is read directly on the built-in screen. In addition most have the ability to send the decoded data output to either a PC or directly connected printer.

The top of the line NAVTEX Receivers typically incorporate both a display unit and a built-in printer for hard copies.

All stand-alone NAVTEX Receivers come with ample storage memory in order to save large numbers of previous messages for review when and if required.

Frequencies and Stations

What Frequencies Should I Guard?

By international agreement :

1. (3) Frequencies have been assigned to the NAVTEX System and these frequencies do not change.

2. The primary “International Broadcast” frequency is 518.0 kHz. NAVTEX broadcasts on this frequency are in the English language worldwide.

3. The “National Broadcast” frequency is 490.0 kHz. Broadcasts on this frequency are typically in the host nation states language in which the NAVTEX transmitter is located.

4. A third frequency 4209.5 kHz has been set aside as a special purpose frequency for use in the world’s tropical areas and is rarely used at this time.

What Type of Information is Received?

Primarily, the information received with a NAVTEX receiver is safety related. It includes :

• Navigational Warnings.
• Meteorological Warnings.
• Ice Reports.
• Search & Rescue Information, piracy warnings, tsunami warnings, etc.
• Meteorological Forecasts.
• Pilot & Vessel Traffic Service messages.
• Automatic Identification Service messages.
• LORAN messages.
• Global Satellite Navigation messages.
• Other Electronic Navigational aid messages.
• Other Navigational warnings.
• Other country or area specific warnings that may be of use to the mariner.

Another great feature of the NAVTEX System, is that with few exceptions, you can filter out much of this information.

If you are cruising the Caribbean, you have little need for “Ice Reports.” Likewise, for most boaters, safety information messages concerning LORAN outages are likely not needed when most everyone is making use of GPS.

This means that you can tailor the types of information that you receive based on cruising areas, your own vessel’s equipment requirements, your vessel’s size, or simply your personal preferences.

Read more :

• Navigation Telex System
• The Use of Navigation Telex
• Raymarine i60 Wind Instrument Displays For Sailboaters
• Raymarine i60 Wind Instrument Displays
• i40 Instrument Displays, Big Displays For Smaller Powerboats, Yachts And RIBs