RTTY, NAVTEX, and WEFAX (HF) Software for Sound Analysis: Freeware DOS & Windows Versions (9x/NT/2000) Audio Frequency Analyzer. NOTE: These programs are good for older, slower computers (486 processor for DOS version). Spectran: Shareware(?) Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP.

About this page

Use of RadioTeletype (RTTY) has received a boost since NASA Marine introduced the Weatherman receiver. But, what is RTTY and why is it useful to sailors? A separate page deals with some reception problems.

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On this page -

Do I need RTTY?

I sometimes get asked 'Should I have NAVTEX or the NASA Weatherman?'. My usual reply is 'Both!' If not Weatherman, then have an HF/SSB receiver, with laptop and decoding software.

To understand the question and answer we need to know about RadioTeletype (RTTY). This is old technology but is still used in some parts of the world. Around Western Europe and throughout the Mediterranean it provides a useful forecast service that complements other GMDSS services that sailors will receive via Marine VHF, NAVTEX and Inmarsat-C. The DWD has said that they intend to continue the service despite rumours to the contrary. ( See the Yachtcom site for much good advice on marine radio communications.)

So, What is RTTY?

RTTY is a system for broadcasting text over radio. The technology dates back to the late 1950s and seems somewhat anachronistic. Speeds are slow, even slower than NAVTEX. A similar service is the USCG service, SITOR (Simplex Teletype Over Radio) providing offshore and coastal forecasts over very wide and remote areas from the tropics to the polar regions.

There is dedicated equipment to receive RTTY and SITOR but we can receive both using a standard HF/SSB receiver with software packages such as TRUETTY, JVcomm and SEATTY to decode the signals.

The main advantage of RTTY/SITOR is the reception of information over an entire ocean area. The USCG also shares frequencies across multiple transmitters according to a schedule, rather like NAVTEX. The system is available over the Atlantic and Pacific including polar regions not served . For more about SITOR see the Monitoring Times link or the USCG site.

Around Western Europe and the Mediterranean, the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) , the German Weather Service has accepted the responsibility to broadcast weather information for mariners on RTTY. Frequencies are as in the table below.

DWD Frequencies

Frequency	Call sign	Times of broadcast	Power	Class of emission	Band	Shift
147,3 kHz	DDH 47	05.30 - 22.00 UTC	20 kW	F1B	50 Baud	+ / - 42,5 Hz
11039 kHz	DDH 9	05.30 - 22.00 UTC	1 kW	F1B	50 Baud	+ / - 225 Hz
14467,3 kHz	DDH 8	05.30 - 22.00 UTC	1 kW	F1B	50 Baud	+ / - 225 Hz
4583 kHz	DDK 2	00.00 - 24.00 UTC	1 kW	F1B	50 Baud	+ / - 225 Hz
7646 kHz	DDH 7	00.00 - 24.00 UTC	1 kW	F1B	50 Baud	+ / - 225 Hz
10100,8 kHz	DDK 9	00.00 - 24.00 UTC	10 kW	F1B	50 Baud	+ / - 225 Hz

DWD (Hamburg) Broadcast Content

Some broadcasts are of raw weather observations in a WMO coded form. These are not readily useful to sailors - but see below and the Appendix..

Otherwise, for the broadcasts include

Strong wind, gale and storm warnings for German Bight, Western and Southern Baltic Sea, German North Sea and Baltic Sea coast
Weather forecast for the North Sea and Baltic Sea , Weather situation, forecast valid for 12 hours and outlook valid for another 12 hours
Weather report German North Sea and Baltic Sea coast, Weather situation and forecast valid for 12 hours.
Navigational warnings for North Sea, Baltic Sea and German coast
Weather report Norwegian Sea and Baltic Sea Route North Cape - Shetlands, The Quark - Gulf of Finland. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days
Weather report North Atlantic. Route Pentlands - Southwest Greenland. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days
Station reports North Sea and Baltic Sea
Weather report Western European Sea . Route Southern Ireland - Area Canarias. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days
Medium range weather report North Sea , Weather situation and time series forecast for 5 daysFor the Mediterranean there are
Station reports Mediterranean Sea
Weather report Mediterranean Sea (in German), Weather situation and forecast valid for 24 hours.
Alborán - Tunis. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days
Weather report Eastern Mediterranean Sea (in German). Route Eastern Tunis - Rhodes/Cyprus. Weather situation and time series forecast for 2 days
Medium range weather report Mediterranean Sea (in English), Weather situation and time series forecast for 5 days

Around the North Sea and the Baltic this service is a useful supplement to NAVTEX. Particularly so are the 5 day outlooks, These give wind forecast every 12 hours for the 5 day period. The values are straight from the DWD NWP model at a few grid points although these are sufficient to give an overall view and much quicker to receive than synoptic charts on radio fax.

In the Mediterranean, most valuable is the 5 day forecast which seems to be used and very highly regarded by the majority of serious cruising yachtsmen. It is a most valuable service for predicting the major strong wind systems such as Mistrals, Libeccios, Tramontanes etc. Such winds are usually well predicted 4 and often 5 days ahead. Conversely, I have never found the 24 hour forecast to be much use. For this period, the French, Spanish and even the Italian NAVTEX broadcasts are to be preferred.

The two DWD programme schedules are available here

Rtty Software