FURUNO FAX-30 Marine Weather Facsimile & NAVTEX Receiver
The FURUNO FAX-30 is a compact, versatile, and reliable dual-purpose marine receiver designed to provide critical maritime safety and weather information directly to the bridge. It combines the traditional functionality of a Weather Facsimile (WEFAX) receiver with a fully integrated NAVTEX text receiver in a single, space-saving unit.
Key Features & Product Description
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Dual-Function Operation:
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Weather Facsimile (WEFAX) Mode:Â Receives and prints high-frequency (HF) radio-facsimile transmissions from weather stations worldwide. These transmissions include:
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Surface Analysis Charts:Â For understanding pressure systems, fronts, and wind patterns.
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Forecast Charts:Â 24, 48, and 96-hour weather forecasts.
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Sea State & Swell Charts:Â Wave height and direction information.
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Ice & SST Charts:Â Sea ice boundaries and sea surface temperatures.
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Hurricane & Typhoon Tracking Charts.
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NAVTEX Mode: Automatically receives and prints Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) mandated navigational and meteorological warnings, forecasts, and urgent marine information on the 518 kHz frequency. This includes:
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Navigational Warnings (e.g., hazards, buoy displacements).
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Meteorological Warnings & Forecasts.
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Search and Rescue (SAR) alerts.
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Piracy warnings and other critical bulletins.
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Compact & Integrated Design: The unit houses both the receiver and a thermal printer in one chassis, eliminating the need for separate components, messy ink, or toner. It provides a permanent paper record of all received data.
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Power Supply & Installation:
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12-24V DC Operation:Â Designed for direct connection to a vessel’s DC power system, making it suitable for a wide range of vessels from yachts to commercial ships.
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NMEA 0183 Interface:Â This is a crucial feature. The FAX-30 can receive position, speed, and time data from an external GPS or chart plotter via NMEA sentences. This allows for:
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Automatic Frequency Selection:Â The receiver can use your vessel’s position to automatically tune to the strongest and most relevant weatherfax station.
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Precise Time Synchronization:Â Essential for error-free facsimile decoding.
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User-Friendly Operation:
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Automatic or Manual Scheduling:Â Users can manually start a fax reception or program schedules by station, chart type, and time. The automatic mode, combined with GPS input, simplifies operation significantly.
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Clear Thermal Print Output:Â Produces clean, monochrome prints on standard roll paper. The print contrast and speed are adjustable for optimal results.
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Typical Use Case & Vessel Application
The FAX-30 is ideal for mariners who operate beyond reliable internet or satellite weather data coverage. It provides independent, cost-free access to official weather and safety information directly from government hydrographic and meteorological offices.
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Ocean-Going Yachts & Sailboats
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Fishing Vessels
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Research Vessels
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Small to Medium Commercial Ships



























