Practical Range for HF Weatherfax Reception

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I spent a bit of time rigging a long-wire antenna at home today to see what sort of range is practical for HF Weatherfax reception:

  • The antenna is now about 20 metres long, made entirely from inexpensive hookup wire.
  • The antenna is L-shaped, with one leg oriented East-West and the other North-South.
  • I’ve also connected an earth wire to a copper stake just outside my window, significantly reducing background noise.

To my delight the little Degen DE-1103 receiver pulled in the Wellington MetService broadcast on two of the four frequencies! That’s 1,000 nautical miles! Local weatherfaxes from Charleville (WMC) are now clean and crisp.

HF Weatherfax received in Sydney from Wellington

HF Weather Fax Reception

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It hasn’t been really necessary on my last trip, being mostly within range of VHF weather forecasts, but getting offshore weather via HF WeatherFax has intrigued me.

If you’re carrying a notebook computer anyway, the only thing you need is an HF receiver with SSB (Single-Side Band) capability. Most people think megabucks when they hear “HF” and “SSB”, but a very inexpensive receiver will actually do the job. I bought a Degen DE1103 off E-Bay. You simply connect the output from the receiver to your notebook’s microphone input and then use one of the available software packages to decode the fax data received on the appropriate frequency at the given time! I use SEATTY from DXsoft, an amazing piece of software that literally does everything for you!

Receiving a fax using SEATTY

I was amazed at the ability of the little Degen DE1103 receiver (read some reviews here). Even at home, with the supplied 12 metre long wire antenna strung among trees, I can usually get quite clear fax reception. Out at Curlew Island one night, I strung the wire antenna from the forestay to the backstay, and found the receiver was overloaded with the sensitivity switched to “DX”. On “LO” I had perfect reception!

HF Weatherfax received with Degen DE1103 receiver and notebook running SeaTTY

Southport – Sydney, 20/09/2008

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We’re still flying along, making 9 to 10 knots SoG (speed over the ground) on average. The current is between 2.5 and 3 knots behind us, 20 miles offshore!

I decided to put the kite up this morning. What a drama! Sarah, Vicky and George had packed it beautifully with rubber bands in July, and it went up just perfectly. We sheeted on, the rubber bands snapped and we were flying. All good, until Sebastian inadvertently disengaged the Autohelm… Got it wrapped round the forestay then got knocked flat just as Sebastian and Bobby got it untangled. Threw the after guy off and just blew it off…

With the genoa set I ordered the kite re-packed, complete with rubber bands. This time I stood on the helm while they popped it. Sheet on and suddenly I have bucking wild animal in my hands! She’s surfing at 11 knots boat speed! That’s 4 knots over hull speed! I managed half an hour of this before terror overcame exhiliration… Blew her off, hauled the kite in, set the poled out genoa again and Bobby and Sebastian packed the kite like pros this time!

Flying kites takes concentration!