The HF weather broadcast are the only game in town once you are outside VHF
WX.. Actually they are better for someone trained in rudimentary
meteorology. This is because of the graphical presentation of analysis, and
forecast of surface and 500 mb weather maps.

Personally if the government were to broadcast via satellite, I believe they
would save some money, we would get better service.

Patrick Harman
M/V Meriwether


"JOSEPH D HERSEY" wrote in message
news:Kcsoj.22440$ar6.13122@trnddc07...
Last April the Coast Guard asked for public comments regarding the need to
continue HF high seas weather broadcasts over single sideband voice,
facsimile charts and text messages over radiotelex.

After reviewing the public responses to their query and reading the
conclusions of the business case report on the subject, the Coast Guard
has decided to continue those broadcasts without interruption. The
report, which in a few days will be posted here
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/...-WX_notice.htm,
concluded that:

"The responding public collectively perceives that the USCG HF broadcasts
are essential to their safety. There is no viable alternative to the USCG
HF broadcasts because present alternatives are perceived by the public to
be out of financial reach. Also, marine weather forecasts available
through these alternative sources may not guarantee the same level of
accuracy, timeliness, and/or sufficiency as provided by the USCG HF
broadcasts."

The Coast Guard still doesn't have funds necessary to replace all their
high power transmitters and some services will have to be cut (mostly
their own internal services), but they should now have the funds to
replace the 20 transmitters used for weather broadcasts.

Good news.

Joe Hersey