Black Cat Systems


Follow our tweets!

Home
Lost Reg Code?
News
Online KiwiSDRs
macOS Software
Windows Software
Ham Radio iPhone/iPad
Linux Software
Support/FAQ
Update Policy

USB Icom CI-V Interface

Radio Hobbyist Products

  22m Programmable Beacon Kit
  22m Part 15 Beacon Kit
  CW Keyer For Beacons Kit
  Jellyfish Transformer
  Cyclops Antenna Transformer

General Interest Programs

  Atomic Mac/PC
  Audiocorder
  Audio Toolbox
  Black Cat Timer
  Diet Sleuth
  iUnit
  Graffikon
  Graph Paper Maker
  Health Tracker
  Image Resizer
  Knitting Wizard
  Label Wizard
  Prog Audio Gen
  Sound Byte
  Synth 76477

Amateur Radio Programs
  AirSpyHF+ Server
  Audiocorder
  Black Cat Absolute ACARS
  Black Cat ACARS
  Black Cat ALE
  Black Cat ALE Vacuum Cleaner
  Black Cat NetFinder
  Black Cat GMDSS
  Black Cat HF Fax
  Black Cat SSTV
  Black Cat NAVTEX SITOR-B
  Carrier Sleuth
  Cocoa 1090
  Cocoa RTL Server
  DGPS Decoding
  DX Toolbox
  Elmer
  eQSL Factory
  MatchMaker
  KiwiKonnect
  KiwiSDR Monitor
  KiwiSDR Sound Client
  MININEC Pro
  Morse Mania
  MultiMode
  sdrRewind
  RF Toolbox
  SDRuno Plugin
  SDRuno Equalizer Plugin
  SelCall
  Sonde

iPhone/iPad Apps
  ALE
  Atoms To Go
  dB Calc
  Clik Trak
  DGPS Decoder
  Drill Calc
  DX Toolbox
  Elmer Extra
  Elmer General
  Elmer Tech
  Feld Hellschreiber
  Field Strength Calc
  Function Generator Pad
  GMDSS
  Godafoss
  HF Weather Fax
  iAttenuate
  iFunctionGenerator
  iSoundex
  iSoundByte
  iSweep
  iUnit
  Morse Mania
  ACARS Pad
  Morse Pad
  NAVTEX Pad
  Packet Pad
  PSK31 Pad
  SSTV Pad
  Photon Calc
  Rad Map Tracker
  RF Link Calc
  SelCall Tone Gen
  Sound Byte
  Sound Byte Control
  Spectrum Pad
  SWBC Schedules
  Synth 76477
  Synth Motion
  Transmission Line Calc
  Weather Calc
  Wire Calc

iPhone/iPad Bundles
  RF Calculator Apps
  Ham Radio Decoder Apps
  Audio Utility Apps
  Shortwave Weather Apps
  Ham Radio Exam Study Apps
  Shortwave Decoder Apps

Android Apps
  ACARS
  Audio Function Generator
  
Audio Spectrum Analyzer
  
DGPS Decoder
  HF Weather Fax
  NAVTEX
  Rad Map Tracker
  SelCall Tone Gen
  Sound Byte Control
  SWBC Schedules
  Wire Calc

About Black Cat Systems
Site Map
Our software for Mac OSX
Privacy Policy
Press/Media
HFunderground
Apple /// Emulator

Macintosh Links
Shortwave Radio
Pirate Radio
Spy Numbers Stations
Science and Electronics
Ham Radio Software


   

NAVTEX Pad FAQ

NAVTEX Pad

To use this app, you need to feed the audio output from a your radio into the device. You can do this via one of several ways:

  • Set the device near the radio's speaker to pick up the audio. While easy to do, this is not ideal, as background noise can interfere with the audio, causing garbled decodes.
  • Plug headphones into the radio, and set one earphone near the mic. I find that with good quality headphones, this can work extremely well.
  • Use the microphone input jack of your device, by obtaining an appopriate cable and connecting the radio's line level output to the microphone input.
  • With the Camera Connection Kit, you can plug a USB sound input device into the iPad, and use a patch cable between it and the radio's audio output. This is by far the best solution.
You can use the volume indicator in the upper right corner to verify that audio is getting into your device, and that the volume level is appropriate.

If you are running iOS 7 or later, be sure to give the app permission to use the microphone. If you denied permission, you can always give it again by following these steps:

  • Open Settings app and go to "Privacy"
  • Select "Microphone" to get a list of all apps that have requested access to the microphone, and to control which apps have access to the microphone

If you're looking for a radio to use with the app, there are many different types to choose from. Take a look at our listing of radios to use with your app, to see several, along with some suggestions on how to choose a radio.

Tune your radio to the NAVTEX frequency, usually 518 kHz, using RTTY mode if your radio has that mode. Set the frequency in NAVTEX Pad to the audio center frequency of your radio in RTTY mode, usually around 2200 Hz. Check your radio's manual to be sure.

Note: One the iPhone/iPod Touch, tap the info button (the gray i in the lower right corner) to display the spectrum and other controls

If your radio does not have RTTY mode, you will need to tune in SSB mode, to an offset frequency. For example, you can tube to 516 KHz USB, and then set the center frequency in NAVTEX Pad to 2000 Hz (2 kHz).

You can listen to and decode this NAVTEX recording as a test. Set your app to a frequency of 2220 Hz with Invert OFF.

The spectrum display in the upper left corner shows the audio spectrum, with red lines drawn over the mark and space frequencies. This can be used as a tuning aid.

Usually you will leave Invert off, turn it on if your radio inverts the audio spectrum.

When no valid NAVTEX signal is detected, the BAD indicator will display.

When a valid NAVTEX signal is detected, the GOOD indicator will display

When a NAVTEX phasing signal is detected, the PHASING indicator will display. It is normal during a NAVTEX transmission for both GOOD and PHASING to display.

Under poor reception conditions, the BAD indicator may sometimes display, usually this will be accompanied by garbled text.

That's it!

Here are some details on directly connecting an audio line source to your iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch


Email your comments and questions to support@blackcatsystems.com

Last modified August 9, 2016