Good HF WeFax Reception, on-board at the dock, March 2021 (real world)

[ka4wja]

Hello to all,

1) I, and others, have written many times, how well HF Weather Fax works....and as these synoptic charts (WeFax charts) are drawn by seasoned maritime meteorologists (using both historical info/data, and the individual meteorologists' knowledge / expertise....multiple satellite images / satellite data....multiple ship reports.....multiple balloon / aircraft data reports.....multiple computer model runs...etc.), rather than the raw computer model data (that GRIB charts are made from)....so, these WeFax charts are considered by most offshore mariners to be the "Gold Standard" of offshore/hi-seas weather info and forecasts....

And, they are FREE....and no modem, no subscriptions, needed....

{and, an update, from the latest survey (2017) from WMO/Jcomm, of many 100's and 100's of (~ 1000) offshore vessels' captains/crew....NAVTEX [for coastal voyages]; and INMARSAT-C / SafetyNET text and HF WeFax [for offshore / ocean voyages]; are still the most used source of weather info!!!!....while "satellite internet" weather data is growing in usage, but still surprisingly low, there are many "comments" in the survey results stating poor sat comm reliability and many issues with any "satellite internet" service...}

FYI, my experience with HF WeFax goes way back to the 1970's (when we used US Navy WeFax on 8080 and 10865, out of Norfolk, VA and Rota, Spain, for our Caribbean and N. Atlantic weather charts), and on into the present day....ah, the good ole' days, when it was easier/quicker to make a phone call from your boat (via the $10/min AT&T Hi-Seas stations) in the eastern Med than it was to wait in a "telephone office" or hotel lobby for hours, waiting on an "overseas line" to be available to call the US...(heck, back then, even in some areas of the western Med, or Atlantic Europe, you'd still have to wait a while to get an overseas line), so I get it from a lot of folks...they say "technology has moved on", "don't live in the past", etc....and, to be clear, I do live in the present (and made a living in modern hi-tech / sat comm), but with the synoptic charts being so good, and being free....and with so many professional mariners (and navies) still relying on HF WeFax, it just seems prudent to use!

And, many (including me), have posted a few links to the schedules / sources....such as this one, the Worldwide HF WeFax Schedule / Guide, regularly updated by the US National Weather Service...

https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/rfax.pdf

As well as the detailed schedules and chart details of the N. Atl, Carib, E Pac, SE and Tropical Pac, etc., from the USCG WeFax transmissions (see links below)...

Last fall, right here on Cruiser's Forum the question was asked if WeFax was still usable / viable for offshore sailors and/or sailors on a budget... https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/is-weather-fax-via-hf-still-an-option-for-the-budget-minded-240672.html#post3245303
(hint: the answer is a big YES!)....
And I gave a great deal of detail on this....and even linked to the Youtube Playlist....https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2mPZAx2vWzdjTJjHlChruyY


But, for some reason, I never posted direct/real-world results for all of this.....other than including the basics (and USCG WeFax transmissions) in my "Offshore Weather" videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnN6ygtZ3h2mPZAx2vWzdjTJjHlChruyY


So, after talking with the USCG in Feb, regarding some of their transmitter remote control issues (now solved), I took a few hours and tuned in some stations, made some notes, etc....and thought maybe some would be interested in what is still easily / clearly received on-board?

So, here 'ya go:



2) Sitting at the dock, here in southern Florida, USA (a couple days, in late afternoon and early evening in March 2021), I get good signals and print out clean WeFax Charts, from the following stations, at these carrier frequencies (upper-side-band, carrier freqs):

[Please note, I'm not listing all the freqs from all the stations (see the links for all of those details, including detailed schedules), I'm only listing the stations' frequencies that I personally received wefax signals on, when at the dock here in Florida, on two late-afternoons and early evenings, now....and, the freqs in bold-type were the strongest....]


a) US Coast Guard Stations (WeFax and Multi-use):


NMF (Boston, Massachusetts): 9108.1khz, 12748.1khz, 4233.1khz (and 6338.6khz....but this freq was off-air for a while)
https://www.weather.gov/marine/marsh
https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/hfmarsh.txt

NMG (New Orleans, Louisiana): 8502khz, 4316khz, 12788khz (and, although weak for my "too close" location, also heard them on 17144.5khz)

https://www.weather.gov/marine/gulf
https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/hfgulf.txt


NMC (Pt. Reyes, California): 8680.1khz, 12784.1khz, 17149.3khz

https://www.weather.gov/marine/ptreyes
https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/hfreyes.txt


KVM70 (Honolulu, Hawaii): 11088.1khz, 9980.6khz
https://www.weather.gov/marine/hawaii
https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/hfhi.txt


{fyi, I didn't listen for NOJ, Kodiak...and, there were of course a few freqs that I didn't have good propagation for my distance and at that time of day....but, I received good quality WeFax charts on all these freqs, with the ones in bold type the strongest...}

https://www.weather.gov/marine/uscg_broadcasts (SSB Voice, WeFax, and SITOR/radio-tele-type)
https://www.weather.gov/marine/radiofax_charts
https://www.weather.gov/marine/hfvprod



b) UK Met Office / Royal Navy, HF WeFax Station...

GYA (Northwood, UK): 8038.1khz and 4608.1khz {those afternoons and evenings, I didn't try 11084.6khz....but, I did run down and try it mid-morning (US East Coast time), a couple days later, and had a decent signal....not too strong, but usable...}

http://www.jomoc.net/

{Fyi, to see how serious professional mariners / navies are about the high-quality of these WeFax charts, read this quote here from the UK Gov't / Royal Navy's JOINT OPERATIONAL METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE, regarding the website/internet forecasts, versus the HF WeFax charts, "The products published on this web site are provided as an extension to the HF Radiofax service supporting UK military customers. No guarantees are provided and no responsibility or liability borne concerning the accuracy or timeliness of the [web] published images."}

BTW, their actual broadcast schedule is different that the ones published here....and, I wasn't on-board listening at the right time to receive a chart of their schedule....so, unless you have a contact with the Royal Navy or someone high up at the UK Met office, I suggest receiving a whole days charts before you leave port, in order to get the actual schedule...

https://www.weathercharts.org/ukmomslp.htm#t0
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/tempusfugit/marine/fwoc.htm

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/




c) Australia Bureau of Meteorology HF Broadcasts...

VMC (Charleville, Australia [approx 9400 miles from me]): 11028.1khz, 13918.1khz, 5098.1khz

VMW (Wiluna, Australia [approx 11,000 miles from me]): 10553.1khz, 15613.1khz, 7533.1khz

http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/radio-fax-schedule.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/marine-weather-hf-radio.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/vmc-technical-guide.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/vmw-technical-guide.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/radio-sat/tech-voice-fax.shtml

{Fyi, I also hear the Australian Maritime SSB Voice Weather broadcasts, right here at the dock in Florida....daytime on 12362khz and 12365khz, and late afternoon/evening on 8133khz and 8176khz....}



d) New Zealand Meteorology Service, HF WeFax Broadcasts....

ZKLF: 9457.1khz and 13548.2khz

{I was not on-board listening early enough or late enough (from Florida) during their WeFax transmission schedule, to use all their freqs...but assume, in addition to excellent reception I got on 9457.1, I'd have good reception on 13548.2khz during daytime, and probably 5805.1khz late at night....but, they use one transmitter, 5mhz at top of the hour, 9mhz at - 15min, and 13mhz at the bottom of the hour....so, it takes some effort to hear all of their freqs from ~ 8000 miles away...}

https://www.metservice.com/marine/radio-schedule



e) Hamburg, Germany Met Office (DWD) HF WeFax Station....

DDK3: 7878.1khz (and late night, from DDH3 on 3853.1khz)

DDK6: 13880.6khz

Strong signals, but didn't print out any charts...
https://www.dwd.de/EN/specialusers/shipping/broadcast_en/broadcast_fax_112016.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v= 1



f) CBV (Chile): 8675.1khz and 17144.5khz

CBM (Chile): 8694.1khz and 4320.1khz

https://meteoarmada.directemar.cl/prontus_meteo/site/artic/20100817/pags/20100817162223.html
Also good signals, but I didn't print out any charts....




g) Cape Navel, South Africa Met Office station...

ZSJ: 7506.1khz and 13536.1khz...SITOR (radio-teletype) Bulletin....followed an hour and a half later by WeFax chart...(neither signal was strong, but very usable)

Here again, good signals, but I didn't print out any charts....



h) Greece (Olympia Radio ?) HF WeFax broadcasts....{I wasn't up listening late enough / early enough, (it would 4:45am to 5am, my time) to receive SVJ4 WeFax transmissions on 8105khz....and it's doubtful I'd never receive the 4481khz signal during their daylight hours, here in Florida...but assume I would receive them okay in the Med?}

i) PWZ-33 (Brazil): 12663.1khz and 16976.1khz
I wasn't on-board and listening at the right times to receive the limited scheduled WeFax broadcasts from Brazil.....but, assume I'd have good results on 12mhz from Brazil, and possibly 16mhz as well....Perhaps our friend "El Pingo" (?) there in S. America, can chime in with some observations from the southern hemisphere?






3) The reason I'm posting all of this, is just to show that it's not just the many cruisers out sailing the US, Caribbean, Mexico, etc....but, also those out in the Med, the North Atlantic, the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and S. Atlantic, etc....that should remember there are currently HF WeFax transmissions, broadcast for free, using fairly powerful transmitters, giving just about any offshore sailor / circumnavigator access to some of the best weather info/forecasts available, rain-or-shine, calm-or-Gale....no expensive special modem needed, no fees, no subscriptions, etc...

No worrying about "rain fade" or loss-of-signal from some sat comm services (Ka-band and Ku-band sat comm, like "StarLink", and VSAT's), nor "pointing issues" or connection issues in heavy weather with other sat comm services (like IridiumGO, and/or Iridium and INMARSAT handheld sat phones)....

Now, of course, if you're in port, at anchor, or a dock...or even in some quiet cove / bay....if you're near any population / civilization, then you'll likely have cellular/mobile service (and/or wi-fi service), with which you'll be able to access the internet and be able to see/download all the above charts/data/info quickly and seamlessly.....but, once you're offshore and/or in a remote locale, these above HF WeFax (and some HF-SSB Voice and HF-SITOR/tele-type) sources, are where you'll get some of the best weather info/forecasts available!

Heck, the above personal reception reports are what I get right here at the dock....so, most anchored out and/or offshore will have even better results!




4) BTW, In addition to the various HF maritime and ham comms (SSB Voice, WeFax, RTTY/SITOR, etc., as well as DSC) that I have no issue with here at the dock, I still get BBC on the shortwave, too....just like I have for years...

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/bbc-and-other-shortwave-braodcasts-still-on-the-air-and-stong-in-florida-184267.html



So, I do hope some find this useful...

Fair winds.
John, KA4WJA



P.S. In addition to the videos on these subjects:

Maritime HF Comms
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ZDo_Jk3NB_Bt1y


Offshore Weather
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...zdjTJjHlChruyY


HF-DSC Comms
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ga2zYuPozhUXZX


Icom M-802 Instruction
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...rC-8QKVyMb4tVr


You may want to have a look here, too:
HF comms to multiple stations within minutes of walking on-board!
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...rd-212861.html

And, for some fun sailing....
Offshore Sailing
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...KgTCj15iyl6qoY

[Joh.Ghurt]

Hello John,

what would you consider a good current starting equipment to someone not into SSB or HAM radio and is in this case weatherfax a worthwhile thing to spend time on?

I have an old boat which was equipped with ssb in the past, but I don't have the license for it and most of the gear is gone. I think there's still an antenna-tuner on the backstay I don't really know whether to keep or remove.

There's also a small SONY world receive ICF7600D which may or may not work. In the past there was - or perhaps even is somewhere - a thermo-paper printer, perhaps even some magic box in between. If the last two, only an industrial amount of paper-rolls are left.

I don't really fancy trying to make some old DOS-software from the 80ies to work on my computer.

What would you suggest in this situation?

I know you included a ton of links and some videos I can't watch at the moment because of transfer volume costs, but I haven't checked all of them if they answer my questions.

[ka4wja]

Joh,
I understand being bandwidth limited....but, since you can get to Cruiser's Forum, you should be fine....as the answers to your questions are right here in their Marine Electronics Forum, particularly the "stickies" up at the top of the pages....

In short....I'm not there (especially since I don't know where you are), nor do I know where you are sailing / cruising / voyaging....nor do I know how your boat is set-up / equipped...nor do I know what your desires / applications are....etc. etc...

Are you desiring good weather info / forecasts when offshore? If yes, then
yes WeFax is (in my opinion) an excellent choice, and one that is usually very affordable. (No modem to buy, no subscription fees to pay, etc....once you have a radio and computer, or a dedicated wefax unit, you're good...)

But, I'm not clear on what you are actual application is? You really need to share a lot more info...



But, until then....here are the "basics"....
The number one thing I always try to emphasize is FIRST get used to HF Voice communications, even if you're just listening! Before you attempt any "digital" or "data" communications via HF radio (whether marine HF "SSB" or ham HF)....

{For clarification here, unless someone is deaf (no offense to anyone hearing impaired), they can recognize human speech (even if another language), but unless they take the time to learn what all the beeps, chirps, tweets, swishes, buzzes, static, noises, etc. actually are that you receive on HF radio....which ones are "natural"/atmospheric noises, which ones are man-made noises (RFI), which ones are actually the digital data you wish to receive....unless you learn to distinguish between all of these, your success in HF comms, WeFax, etc. is a crap-shoot....and, one quick way to get the very basic understanding is, listening to HF Voice comms....any "noises", beeps, buzzes, chirps, etc. that you hear among the voices are generally NOT legitimate radio signals, but rather "noise" of some kind (and, in general, natural/atmospheric noise is almost flat/constant static, with occasional loud "crashes" of more static.....any other noises that you hear are man-made....and it is these man-made noises that you need to reduce/eliminate!!!

Now, yes, you could just plug in a cable from a Sony 7800, or Tecsum, Sangean, etc. portable radio, into the mic input of your laptop, running JVComm32 (free software), tune to a WeFax station frequency that has charts covering your area....and, you might get a signal...you might get a decent S/N, and you might print out some weather charts.....but, that's just gonna' be luck / happenstance...if you learn about HF comms and get used to HF Voice comms (spend a few hours), you'll have a much greater chance of success....bottom line there is NO quick substitute for knowledge / experience....this isn't like using a smart-phone, while on a subway train, while eating a breakfast on-the-go....this is long-range radio comms, using no infrastructure, just mother nature....so, you need to learn how this works...}

The number two thing is to understand that successful HF communications (voice or data/digital, marine, ham, aviation, shortwave broadcast, etc.), that is all about the received signal-to-noise ratio (S/N).....and you must reduce the noise part (RFI) as much as possible....

And, here when you look at these two "basic" rules, you'll quickly see why I always say, spend a few hours learning this, just like you did learning sail trim, navigation, anchoring, docking, diesel maintenance, etc.....spend the time and effort to actually learn how this works / learn what it sounds like / etc....and you'll be good-to-go!

If you choose to just get a shopping list of equipment and some cables to connect it all....well, chance are you'll not be successful....just like the first time you sailed a boat, or plotted a course, you must have learned how-to do it, to some extent, before you were good at it...yes?

So, many, many folks....many of them my fellow sailors, my fellow RF engineers, my fellow hams, etc....many of these folks will do exactly what you ask.....they'll tell you what to buy, and some might also tell you what station / frequency to tune to.....although most will just tell what THEY use, what station THEY tune to, etc....and, unless your boat is the same boat, set-up and equipped the same, and you're right there in the same locale and sailing the same waters, and looking for the same forecasts, etc. etc. etc.....most of that info will be useless to you....and what success you have will be happenstance / luck....

How many folks out there use "happenstance" and "luck" to sail across an unknown ocean, or setting their anchor in a unfamiliar harbor???

{hmm.....I do know one guy, once....they called him "crazy Jack", he sailed an old yawl.....this was mid-70's in Bahamas, Christmas time....he sailed in for Christmas Eve dinner at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, dropped the hook out by Big Majors, and rowed ashore....when someone said you left your sails up, he said: "just the mizzen and yankee, that way she just turn in circles, if she drags..."....well, she did drag....and on an outgoing tide, she sailed right out of the cut and into Exuma Sound....they found her washed up on a beach about half-dozen miles away, 2 days later....and I don't think he had even stopped drinking, except when passed out....so...so, where was I?}

Oh yeah....what do you "need"? I don't know....'cuz I don't know what you want to do...

But, here are a few generalities:
1) Learn HF Voice comms...(and how your radio works)


2) Learn HF Radiowave Propagation

3) Rid your boat of RFI producing devices (or at least reduce them)

4) For HF WeFax reception (or any HF radio reception) the antenna is NOT critical, any length from 15' to 60' is good....with 25' to 35' best...and NO antenna tuner...(do not use an antenna tuner with a simple receiver....only works if you have a matching transceiver to make a tuner work)

5) Use a decent receiver (Sony 7600 / 7800?, Tecsum, Sangean, Kaito, etc...)

6) Try JVComm32 software, its free and works well....(GetFax is also good....and if using a tablet or smartphone for this, you can try "BlackCat" software/app) This is all easy-peasy, windows-based, point-n-click, software that is about as easy to use as a web browser....

7) Use a cable from the radio's audio output (headphone jack or line out) to the mic input of your computer....note that many laptops use a "4-conductor, mini jack....a so-called TRRS plug, which allows a headset/mic to be connected....so you will


8) Tune in to the station whose charts you desire, at the scheduled time, using the best frequency for the distance from the station and time-of-day (if multiple frequencies work, start with the highest frequency that is usable, as this will usually have the least noise....)



So....use the radio, computer and software, tune-in to the WeFax station(s) you desire, at the scheduled times of the charts you desire....and you'll have fairly easy-peasy, offshore / hi-seas weather info and forecasts...

I hope this helps? If not, please read the stickies above and watch the videos (they're just standard definition, and do not require lots of bandwidth), 'cuz most of the answers are there....

Fair winds.

John

[Joh.Ghurt]

Hello John, that helps and cleared up some of my confusion, specially about the backstay / antenna-tuner.

Mostly interested in Weatherfax offshore and areas with bad cellular reception. As the previous owner had a Sony 7600 installed, I'll play around with this one and look into the mentioned software.

Just for reference, I'm currently still in the Mediterranean, where I have reasonably good mobile internet. This is more one of the long-term projects when I leave from here.