WeatherFax ...

[rgleason]

There is a new testing executable here:
https://ci.appveyor.com/project/rgle...2392/artifacts


Which has an incremented version number to 1.9.1 and now indicated the Opencpn version with this naming:


weatherfax_pi-1.9.1-ov50-win32.exe


This is from my repository, branch: "xml-update-stelian-ov50-appveyor-cmake"
and it includes all the changes by Stelian to the UI, new XML files, ov50 Appveyor, and changes to the version number and "ov50".

[Franziska]

Rick, do you think this would in principle be able to record HF weather fax? It does not mention SSB...
I'm not deep enough in the subject to see if it could do it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...m01...SZXLI2RN7CUIKH

Uups just read the reviews, can receive sw but not very well. Possibly they do a better model with recording?

Maybe you saw my thread for finding a good receiver with automatic recording receiver too?

Thanks, Fran

[stelian]

The Tecsun PL-600 is cheap and works perfecly (I have one and I believe Sean has one too). It requires manual tuning though...


There are better radios but much more expensive...

[Franziska]

Correct Stelian. I am looking at the 660 or 880, just thought automatic recording as on my old Sangean would have been nice :-)

Thanks.

[rgleason]

Franziska,
I have an old version of HF Weather Fax for Marine on Android that was Free, that I treasure. It is simple and works well.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...m.wolphi.wefax
I see that it says that it is incompatible on my device now, but it loads. I should test it.

However I see that Blackcat has one for $5
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...atherfax&hl=en

To answer your earlier question, about Weatherfax_pi receiving sound faxes, yes it does. Sean uses it all the time as do others.
I have not been able to get my rtlsdr dongle working properly, but should try this again.


Let us know what you find out!


This Navtex one looks interesting too, just uses the text transmission.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...systems.navtex

Originally Posted by Franziska

Rick, do you think this would in principle be able to record HF weather fax? It does not mention SSB...
I'm not deep enough in the subject to see if it could do it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...m01...SZXLI2RN7CUIKH

Uups just read the reviews, can receive sw but not very well. Possibly they do a better model with recording?

Maybe you saw my thread for finding a good receiver with automatic recording receiver too?

Thanks, Fran

[rgleason]

Thanks BCN for the text based weather fax transmission schedule. Now we just need to find someone who would like to migrate that into the XML.


Then we need to update/check for the entire world.

[Franziska]

Hey, you misunderstood that. I am aware that weatherfax. Pi is using the audio files and tested it the last few days when I did the trials.
Also understand that the Tecsun and other receivers can receive these files. Just thought a HF receiver (without internet) which can record timer triggered would be handy.
Question, is any shortwave capable radio suitable or do I need one which says specifically SSB?

[rgleason]

There are several SSB band radios that are used. I believe Sean has a Tecsun SSB radio. You need an SSB receiver to receive Weather Faxes!



1. Get a good antenna for the radio.
2. Tune the radio in to receive at the frequency and time.
3. Turn on your android and start the HF Weather Fax app.
4. Hold your phone close to the radio or use a microphone cord to connect them.
5. The fax will show up in the app.


The next step is to use Opencpn Weatherfax_pi to receive.
I don't believe the plugin will control an SSB radio to receive at the time and frequency, but I do believe it will control an rtlsdr dongle, provided you can get the proper drivers and get it working. I had difficulty with the drivers and perhaps the antenna and finally gave up.


I would dearly like to have a complete description of a installation and setup that works. I believe Moo has also provided one, which haven't found the time to try.
His description is in the manual I believe, I've forgotten where, probably at the bottom of the Weatherfax_pi wiki.

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do..._weather_faxes


Don't find it there, but wxfax_pi wiki needs some rewritting and is missing some images too.


Good luck. This is the best way to have good weather information over long distances. I need to get it going!


Satellite overlay
https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...ellite_overlay


Look under rtlsdr_pi wiki

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do...dar:rtlsdr_usb

[Franziska]

OK. Thanks. So SSB is the keyword not only SW.

[rgleason]

Where to buy rtlsdr dongles

https://www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-dvb-t-dongles/


https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tuto...ship-tracking/


I made a coax colinear antennae from good coax.


I found SDRsharp to be very useful. AISmon is good too, but that is for AIS receiving.


Also see RTLsdr Quick Start Guide
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/

[rgleason]

eHam has excellent and detailed reviews by the Ham community. They will provide the best source for getting a good radio with SSB
https://www.eham.net/reviews/search
Try in the search Tecsun or Kaito or Grundig or Sangean or Sony

Or perhaps better, their eHam reviews for Recievers: General

https://www.eham.net/reviews/products/8

One review
https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11457
Hooked up a full sized external antenna (31' vertical with 32 radials), great SW receive, very good SSB, like blown away good for size.





Here is a thread that Paul Elliot participated in. I have respect for what he says.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1225032


This looks informative
https://www.sfbaysss.org/forum/showt...SB-transceiver)


Kaito KA1103
https://www.amazon.com/Kaito-KA1103-.../dp/B0006OCEFY

[rgleason]

All of Stelian's UI Fixes had not been committed, sorry. This is the correct location now for weatherfax-1.9.1-ov50-win32


https://ci.appveyor.com/project/rgle...5194/artifacts

Originally Posted by rgleason

There is a new testing executable here:
https://ci.appveyor.com/project/rgle...2392/artifacts


Which has an incremented version number to 1.9.1 and now indicated the Opencpn version with this naming:


weatherfax_pi-1.9.1-ov50-win32.exe


This is from my repository, branch: "xml-update-stelian-ov50-appveyor-cmake"
and it includes all the changes by Stelian to the UI, new XML files, ov50 Appveyor, and changes to the version number and "ov50".

[Maelruan]

Originally Posted by rgleason

All of Stelian's UI Fixes had not been committed, sorry. This is the correct location now for weatherfax-1.9.1-ov50-win32


https://ci.appveyor.com/project/rgle...5194/artifacts

I've now tested the above plugin and the resizing bugs have been sorted. Thank you very much to Stelian & RGleason!
As reported earlier, I also have the OpenCPN 4.88 version of the plugin working correctly. OpenCPN 5 and OpenCPN 4.88 are installed on separate machines, almost clones of each other for spares reasons, running Windows 10. My antenna setup was described in a previous post, with a little modification - I now use R58 coax clipped to the backstay with the screen clipped to the rudder stock as an earth. The other end is coiled around a ferrite bar salvaged from a vintage radio direction finder, then to an old atu module from a military surplus HF manpack, then to the rtl-sdr.com dongle and from there to a Dell notebook. The dongle is controlled by SDRSharp, and piped to OpenCPN using Virtual Audio Cable (VAC). I'm afraid have no knowledge of Linux, and have yet to succeed in in getting the rtlsdr plugin to control the dongle.
This setup allows me to get very clear images from Offenbach which is over 1,000 klms away.
In the past I have had success with a Sony 7600, and later a Degen DE1103 with a little tuned loop antenna. The Degen SSB tone control (these SW sets have a circuit called a Beat Frequency Ossilator - BFO to put a tone on each SSB) is much more sensitive than the earlier Sony model, and it can also recharge it's own batteries.

[rgleason]

The most recent Weatherfax_pi version for ov4.2 to ov 4.8.8 which now incorporates an Opencpn version designation is here for testing:

• weatherfax_pi-1.9.001-ov42-win32.exe

https://ci.appveyor.com/project/rgle...2914/artifacts



Also:

Thanks Maelruan,
For your added report.
Virtual Audio Cable is a very good suggestion and the antenna description is helpful to others. We should develop a section for this in the Wiki.

[rgleason]

Weatherfax_pi has a new release versions for Windows

Opencpn ov42: weatherfax_pi-1.9001-ov42-win32

OpenCPN ov50: weatherfax_pi1.9001-ov50-win32

The Plugin Download page will be updated soon and that is the best place to download.


Many thanks to those testing.
Thanks to Stelian and Uwe for the improvements, and to Sean for making this plugin.
Sean, we'd like to get these changes merged and would like to get windows release versions automatically updated on your "Release" repository if possible, then I will stop doing it on mine.