Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 30-05-2015, 07:03   #1
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Currently getting to know some of the stuff on my boat that I've owned for over three years.

I have an Icom SSB radio and this gadget on the other side if the wall, a Furuno Weatherfax FAX-207. Can someone please tell me if this is normally hooked up directly to my SSB radio? I have two rolls of fax paper onboard, but I'm sure the ribbon or ink is dried up. Can I still obtain printing supplies for this Weatherfax, or is it now considered obsolete?

I'd like to learn how to use it if someone out there has some patience and is willing to teach me.

Thanks in advance.

Ken
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	image.jpg
Views:	389
Size:	404.4 KB
ID:	102923  
Kenomac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:08   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
weavis's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seville London Eastbourne
Posts: 13,406
Send a message via Skype™ to weavis
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenomac View Post
Currently getting to know some of the stuff on my boat that I've owned for over three years.

I have an Icom SSB radio and this gadget on the other side if the wall, a Furuno Weatherfax FAX-207. Can someone please tell me if this is normally hooked up directly to my SSB radio? I have two rolls of fax paper onboard, but I'm sure the ribbon or ink is dried up. Can I still obtain printing supplies for this Weatherfax, or is it now considered obsolete?

I'd like to learn how to use it if someone out there has some patience and is willing to teach me.

Thanks in advance.

Ken
Its a thermal printer. No ink or ribbon.
__________________
- Never test how deep the water is with both feet -
10% of conflicts are due to different opinions. 90% by the tone of voice.
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
weavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:10   #3
Moderator Emeritus
 
weavis's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seville London Eastbourne
Posts: 13,406
Send a message via Skype™ to weavis
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

here is the link for the manual.

http://www.manualslib.com/download/2...o-Fax-207.html
__________________
- Never test how deep the water is with both feet -
10% of conflicts are due to different opinions. 90% by the tone of voice.
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
weavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:11   #4
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Quote:
Originally Posted by weavis View Post
Its a thermal printer. No ink or ribbon.
How does it work? Does it burn the image onto the paper? I'm not being a smartass... I really don't know. Can I still buy the paper?
Kenomac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:13   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
weavis's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seville London Eastbourne
Posts: 13,406
Send a message via Skype™ to weavis
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenomac View Post
How does it work? Does it burn the image onto the paper? I'm not being a smartass... I really don't know. Can I still buy the paper?
Yes. Thermal paper is heated in the shape of the letters and pictures.
Sent you link for the instructions above.
__________________
- Never test how deep the water is with both feet -
10% of conflicts are due to different opinions. 90% by the tone of voice.
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
weavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:19   #6
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Do you know how this thing works? Is it connected directly to my SSB? If I tune into a Weatherfax channel and turn this gizmo on, will it print out a weather forecast?
Kenomac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:25   #7
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Awesome. I now know what this is and have downloaded and read the first dozen pages of the owners manual. Does anyone know of a Weatherfax channel here in the Mediterranean near Italy that I can tune into, in order to see if this Weatherfax works?

Thanks
Kenomac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:29   #8
Moderator Emeritus
 
nigel1's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Boat: Beneteau 473
Posts: 5,589
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Ken

Here is a link to the installation manual for the fax
https://www.furunousa.com/ProductDoc...2011-11-02.pdf

It may be that the fax shares the SSB antenna, you'll need to trace the antenna connection from the fax.

The fax has it's own receiver but can also be used with an external receiver, again, you'll need to trace the cables.

Not many fax transmitting stations left now.
__________________
Nigel
Beneteau 473
Manchester, UK
nigel1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:41   #9
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel1 View Post
Not many fax transmitting stations left now.
Nigel,

Do you know where to find one? I don't know where to look.
Kenomac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 07:47   #10
Moderator Emeritus
 
weavis's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seville London Eastbourne
Posts: 13,406
Send a message via Skype™ to weavis
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenomac View Post
Nigel,

Do you know where to find one? I don't know where to look.
NAVTEX Weather Broadcasts for Europe & the Mediterranean/ Franks-Weather | The Weather Window

Im in clinic now so yer on yer own ...
__________________
- Never test how deep the water is with both feet -
10% of conflicts are due to different opinions. 90% by the tone of voice.
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
weavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 08:09   #11
Moderator Emeritus
 
nigel1's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Boat: Beneteau 473
Posts: 5,589
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

The link Weavis posted is to NAVTEX.

This is a list of fax transmitting station, with frequency and time of broadcasts.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/marine/rfax.pdf

As far as I can remember, the Furuno fax receiver is pre-programmed with frequencies, you will need to check the operator manual.
__________________
Nigel
Beneteau 473
Manchester, UK
nigel1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 08:11   #12
Moderator Emeritus
 
nigel1's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Boat: Beneteau 473
Posts: 5,589
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

The nearest station to you will be in Greece.
__________________
Nigel
Beneteau 473
Manchester, UK
nigel1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 08:13   #13
Moderator Emeritus
 
weavis's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seville London Eastbourne
Posts: 13,406
Send a message via Skype™ to weavis
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel1 View Post
The link Weavis posted is to NAVTEX.

This is a list of fax transmitting station, with frequency and time of broadcasts.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/marine/rfax.pdf

As far as I can remember, the Furuno fax receiver is pre-programmed with frequencies, you will need to check the operator manual.
Oops.

I use NAVTEX and scribbled in haste.

Thanks Nigel.
__________________
- Never test how deep the water is with both feet -
10% of conflicts are due to different opinions. 90% by the tone of voice.
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
weavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 08:27   #14
Senior Cruiser

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,033
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Just a note - these wefax machines often don't work very well in marina's or crowded anchorages because of all the surrounding RF noise - you get shitty or no picture. They always worked better out at sea. But they have really become pretty obsolete, generally replaced by gribs.
estarzinger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2015, 09:47   #15
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
Re: Furuno Weatherfax Obsolete?

Quote:
Originally Posted by estarzinger View Post
Just a note - these wefax machines often don't work very well in marina's or crowded anchorages because of all the surrounding RF noise - you get shitty or no picture. They always worked better out at sea. But they have really become pretty obsolete, generally replaced by gribs.
I've been using the iPad app "pocket gribs" and Nobeltec for the iPad and the expensive (but excellent) PC version for three years; that's why I haven't looked into the Weatherfax until today. I guess it's kind of like messing with an antique.
Kenomac is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
furuno, weather

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[SOLD] Furuno Fax30 Navnet Weatherfax Navtex Receiver $750 deepthought Classifieds Archive 3 12-07-2014 21:55
Suppliers for obsolete parts? (Volvo MD17) nitpik Engines and Propulsion Systems 5 14-11-2012 21:23
Will this make GPS obsolete? avb3 Marine Electronics 43 07-07-2012 21:52
Furuno / Max Sea & Weatherfax Sabbatical II Marine Electronics 0 27-10-2011 11:00
Obsolete Roller Furling? Jimske Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 4 07-09-2006 11:40

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:38.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.