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SV Demeter · 27-10-2011, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hud3

You're right on the UTC calculation--EST is UTC - 5.

It's been a while since I did this, but I believe that I had trouble getting it to work with a stereo patch cord. It worked fine with a mono cord.

This is the sort of thing I have been useing to connect mp3 player to my stereo on the boat

6-Ft. Shielded Cable, 1/8" Plug to 1/8" Plug - RadioShack.com#

barnakiel · 27-10-2011, 10:33

Read well into the station specifics. Some send out at all frequencies at once and you pick up the best signal (e.g. by the ear). Others, as far as I remember, go from one fqency to another depending on UTC.

b.

sabray · 27-10-2011, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

This is the sort of thing I have been useing to connect mp3 player to my stereo on the boat

6-Ft. Shielded Cable, 1/8" Plug to 1/8" Plug - RadioShack.com#

Mine needs a mono cord. Your add picture shows a mono cord but if it is just similar it may be you have a stereo. The add shows a y splitter that has a stereo 1/8" the patch cord looks to be mono slight difference.

SV Demeter · 27-10-2011, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabray

Mine needs a mono cord. Your add picture shows a mono cord but if it is just similar it may be you have a stereo. The add shows a y splitter that has a stereo 1/8" the patch cord looks to be mono slight difference.

Thanks Im pretty sure my cord is stereo not mono. I'll give it a go with the cord I have but it sounds like I need to get a mono cord. Are they hard to find in say a Radioshack or best buy?

barnakiel · 27-10-2011, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

(...) I run a stereo cord from the line out on my radio to the microphone in on my laptop, fire up the JVComm32 software and I should be able to view the surface analysis map like this one:

http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/pyaa02.gif

Sometimes it is line-in on the laptop, depending on age and make. If both present, use line-in.

The software has a neat signal monitoring screen and the help file says how to use it for tuning. Tuning by pre-tones is very easy. It also says how to correct slant in early transmissions.

When tuning into the station you will hear, very distinctively, a series of pre-tones (beeps) that and later long chirps just as if you picked up a phone and someone tried to send you a fax.

The set up can be tested with pre-recorded fax chirps from any source.
e.g.:
JVComm32 - sound samples

Listen to the HF fax sample, that's what you want to hear tuning into any wefax station.

PS Now you can receive NAVTEX transmissions too.

b.

SV Demeter · 27-10-2011, 18:19

Not sure if I need the mono cord or not. Will have to wait till 1030 tonight EST to try and pick up a broadcast from boston. Im hopeful but so far this is not very intuitive.

teejayevans · 27-10-2011, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Not sure if I need the mono cord or not. Will have to wait till 1030 tonight EST to try and pick up a broadcast from boston. Im hopeful but so far this is not very intuitive.

Stereo cord works for me...you might also find that the computer itself interferes with the reception.
Tom

SV Demeter · 27-10-2011, 19:50

Well I guess something worked. I tried tuning in and couldn't get a clear signal on any of the stations but the software did start downloading something. Just looked like snow all over the screen. Not sure what to look for on the spectrum analyzer screen either. Maybe will have better luck using on boat with antenna up in rig instead of hanging out the second story window of my house.

**Paul Elliott** · 27-10-2011, 19:55

I put a low-frequency ferrite core (*) on the patchcord, as close to the computer as possible. Looping the cable several times through the ferrite can significantly reduce the interference put out by the computer. While you're at it, but some ferrites on the power cable, mouse cable, etc.

* Most ferrite cores are optimized for VHF frequencies, although they do help at the lower (HF) frequencies used for WFAX broadcasts. Here's an example of a ferrite designed to work well at these lower frequencies: 0431164181 Fair-Rite EMI/RFI Suppressors & Ferrites

teejayevans · 28-10-2011, 05:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Well I guess something worked. I tried tuning in and couldn't get a clear signal on any of the stations but the software did start downloading something. Just looked like snow all over the screen. Not sure what to look for on the spectrum analyzer screen either. Maybe will have better luck using on boat with antenna up in rig instead of hanging out the second story window of my house.

I would try first trying to get the time signal (5000, 10000), available 24 hrs/day.
Second, I would then try to listen to the offshore/high seas voice forecasts. IF you cannot pick these up fairly clearly, you can forget the radio faxes.
Plus you'll know your radio if close to being properly adjusted. Adjust so the voice has normal tone.
Tom

**Hud3** · 28-10-2011, 05:59

Here's a pretty good article about the topic...

Receiving Weather Fax and Weather Satellite Images With Your Macintosh

Auspicious · 28-10-2011, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Well I guess something worked. I tried tuning in and couldn't get a clear signal on any of the stations but the software did start downloading something. Just looked like snow all over the screen. Not sure what to look for on the spectrum analyzer screen either. Maybe will have better luck using on boat with antenna up in rig instead of hanging out the second story window of my house.

You're in Annapolis right? If you want to come by my boat on Back Creek in Eastport I can show you how my system works (GetFax through a Pactor modem and JVCOMM over an audio cable). It's really easy.

SV Demeter · 28-10-2011, 10:04

Hey Auspicious that sounds like a great idea. I keep my boat over at Chesapeake harbor and live in hillsmere. Why don't pm me a time say this weekend you are free? I'm planning to work on my boat all weekend but tomorrows forecast looks like it will be below decks work.

Auspicious · 28-10-2011, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Hey Auspicious that sounds like a great idea. I keep my boat over at Chesapeake harbor and live in hillsmere. Why don't pm me a time say this weekend you are free? I'm planning to work on my boat all weekend but tomorrows forecast looks like it will be below decks work.

Sending PM.