Does anyone still use NAVTEX?

[SV Demeter]

In the process of aquiring a new to me boat which has one of these old weather fax machines. NAV 5 GMDSS NAVTEX. Im not even sure if it works and have never had one but am curious if people still find them useful? Im pretty much satisfied with Predict Wind and NOAA Surface Charts all via iriduim and SSB but am interested to know what other people use.

[rszemeti]

The NAVTEX service still exists and still publishes the information, for free. There is more than just wind and weather on NAVTEX, there are other navigational warnings, notices etc.



I doubt many still use a FAX paper style machine, most just use an LCD display, or possibly pipe the data direct into their plotter etc.

[conachair]

I've a nasa navtex engine onboard but coastal it's usually just as easy to view the messages online. very useful for nav data, survey vessels, live firing ranges, buoys off station etc.
Handy being able to cut & paste lat and longs straight into Opencpn.