Want To Buy: Vintage weather fax, must work for Golden Globe race.

[GRIT]

Hello. A friend is helping to equip a boat for the Golden Globe race. (Around alone in a vintage boat).
They need an old fashioned weather fax machine. Anybody have one? https://goldengloberace.com/ggr/

Thanks.
Paul.

[GRIT]

I'm going to bump this ad.

I know someone out there has an old weatherfax in their basement, garage, or shed. If you're keeping it for posterity, then perhaps you could loan it, or rent it out for the race.

Help a girl equip her boat for a great "regular person's" non-stop race around the world.. No autopilot, no chart plotters... I'm sure I can get her to autograph it for you, if that'll help.

https://goldengloberace.com/skipper/...en-neuschafer/

Cheers.
Paul.

[GRIT]

Bumping this thread again.

I know someone out there has one, or knows someone who has one.

Thanks.
Paul.

[GRIT]

Ok folks, I know you were all wondering how she got along with the weather fax issue.

So she's got a Furuno FAX-108, circa 1983. Now we're looking for a user's manual for it. I've tried Google, and don't seem to find a user's manual.

If anyone's got a user's manual for this unit, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks for your time.
Paul.

[JPA Cate]

Paul, i was wondering if you happen to know if ham radio based JV Com weather maps and reports can be used? instead of ancient wxfax. Am also wondering about the actual broadcasting of such wxfax....

Thanks.

Ann

[GRIT]

Hi Ann.

Apparently, they're not allowed computers aboard at all .

Weather fax is still broadcast, but until I get a manual, I won't know how to set up the unit to receive the appropriate information. There seem to be 999 choices on the unit, which would take forever to sort out through trial and error.

It seems like a safety issue to me, relying on 50 year old electronics, to work for the duration.

It is part of the challenge, I suppose. But allowing for more reliable receipt of weather forecasting would seem like a good idea.

Cheers.
Paul.

[TooCoys]

Would a manual for a 208 help?

https://usermanual.wiki/Furuno/Furun...1055410086.pdf

[GRIT]

Thanks TooCoys.

I thought the same thing, but it's quite a different unit. The 208 is miniscule in comparison to the 108. And it has an lcd for programming. The 108 is quite clunky in comparison.

Perhaps someone remembers using this particular model and can comment?



Cheers.
Paul.

[JPA Cate]

Thanks for the input, Grit.

Sourcing the paper for it will be tricky, as well.

Good luck to her...there was a lot of attrition, last time.

Ann

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by GRIT

Hi Ann.

Apparently, they're not allowed computers aboard at all .

Weather fax is still broadcast, but until I get a manual, I won't know how to set up the unit to receive the appropriate information. There seem to be 999 choices on the unit, which would take forever to sort out through trial and error.

It seems like a safety issue to me, relying on 50 year old electronics, to work for the duration.

It is part of the challenge, I suppose. But allowing for more reliable receipt of weather forecasting would seem like a good idea.

Cheers.
Paul.

Sorry I can't help you with a manual.

And without wanting to tell you how to suck eggs, I would first up find out what frequencies (and mode of transmission) the existing weather fax transmitters are using. Presumably these are government services and as such, the information will (or should) be available.

Armed with the transmitting frequencies, I would then connect a RF signal generator to the unit and by trial and error, see how to tune it to the known Tx freq. If no RF signal generator is available, take it to a comms repair shop and get them to do it.

I double there are still 999 transmitting frequencies in use today so it won't take long.

As this unit is from the pre computer age, it should be straightforward to work out what every switch and knob does once you have established it is actually receiving OK.

[El Pinguino]

Plenty fax stations still operational and the Golden Globe route is pretty well covered although reports from sea suggest Cape Naval is at best intermittent.
'Straya, Unzud and Chile are all good and reliable.
https://www.weather.gov/media/marine/rfax.pdf

[El Pinguino]

Manuals available on Ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Furuno-Serv...-/273812370539

[GRIT]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Manuals available on Ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Furuno-Serv...-/273812370539

Thank you for finding that, El Pinguino. I've attempted to purchase it, but they said I wouldn't receive it for a month. I won't be here in a month, so I'm letting Kirsten know about it, and she can have it sent to her.

What a great find. Thank you.

Cheers.
Paul.

[GRIT]

Thanks wotname, for you comments.

I'm afraid we don't have a signal generator, nor the time to test each frequency. I think a radio tech would cost a fortune to have him test each possible frequency too.

Thanks to El Pinguino, I think we now have a better option.

Cheers.
Paul.

[GRIT]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Thanks for the input, Grit.

Sourcing the paper for it will be tricky, as well.

Good luck to her...there was a lot of attrition, last time.

Ann

Thanks Ann.

I think just finishing the race is a heck of an accomplishment; as you said, there's a lot of attrition in these races.

The maximum boat size allowed, doesn't leave much room for spare parts, or food choices, for a non-stop around the world race.

Paper will be another issue to deal with. True enough.

Cheers.
Paul.