Marine Electronic Service Ltd - Moerer WIB2D Navtex Receiver with LCD Display

Brian Lennon - 03/15/2010 5 of 5 Stars!

"I had two major doubts about buying this Navtex receiver. (1) the ability of its inbuilt aerial to pick up transmissions and (2) it's small screen size. I needn't have worried on either score. Using the WIB2D from inside my house in north County Dublin I got transmissions from northern Spain, Iceland, Sweden, Belgium, Holland, France, Germany and, of course, from stations covering the Irish Sea. The simple menu layout makes it easy to identify specific transmissions such as weather forecasts. In the lists of transmissions all are marked as "New", "Rollback" or "Read", another useful feature. The use of the screen space is excellent and lettering that is 2mm high is easy to read. The only drawback was in weather station reports where tabulated presentations are word-wrapped. The WIB2D settings include screens to filter the transmissions so that you only see the ones you need (though the others are always stored on the machine). The built-in barometer matched perfectly what the weather stations were giving for my area and its barograph charting feature is excellent. The front screen also reports the rate of change in pressure per 3 hours, a useful statistic. The WIB2D can be set to record barometric pressure even when it is switched off. There is also an onboard thermometer that is not advertised. When charging the equipment there is extra heat generated inside the equipment and the thermometer reading is temporarily distorted by this. Otherwise it is very accurate. Readings are given only in Celsius. The installation of the software was a breeze and the USB connection worked first time. The software has a very simple presentation and excellent help notes including lists of the Navtex stations. It constantly updates from the WIB2D including pressure, temperature and battery state information. Whereas the WIB2D screen can show a 48 hour record of barometric pressure the software will display a 7 days chart. The software has good zooming features. One drawback in the software is the lack of a filter setting for Navtex transmissions. Another nice feature would be an optional sound alert for new incoming transmissions. When disconnected from the WIB2D, the software retains a record of all the latest information received, a useful feature! After connection to the computer for a couple of hours the WIB2D was fully charged and, even on a first charge, lasted well into a fourth day. Negative points include the lack of a simple bracket to support the unit in a boat and the fact that it is expensive! (The Navtex service itself could do with an overhaul. It needs a more standardised way of time and date stamping all transmissions and really should issue more weather forecasts than it does at present. This is no reflection on the WIB2D.) The WIB2D is one of the most user-friendly pieces of kit I have encountered in years on or off a boat!"

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Moerer WIB2D Navtex Receiver with LCD Display
[ZMORWIB2D]

£316.62
(£379.94 Inc VAT)

Moerer WIB2D Navtex Receiver with LCD Display[ZMORWIB2D]

£316.62(£379.94 Inc VAT)

Moerer WIB2D Navtex Receiver with LCD Display
[ZMORWIB2D]

£316.62
(£379.94 Inc VAT)