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The Use of Radar Reflectors and Transponders by Sailing Craft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2009

Extract

Two devices may be used to enhance the radar echo from a small craft or a buoy. A radar reflector will send back to the radar nearly all the transmitted power it receives, instead of scattering it. It is like a very small heliograph mirror reflecting sunlight, which is as easily seen as a large white sail. A transponder on the other hand is an active electronic device which, when it detects the transmitted radar pulse, immediately transmits its own identifying signal back to the radar. The appearance at the radar display can be seen in Fig. 1 (North is at the top and the range rings are at 1 mile intervals). The transponder was in a small boat at 2·8 miles range on 162°, its response being the Morse letter Y. No. 1 Sea Reach buoy with a reflector on it is visible at 6 miles on 115°.

Type
Safety of Navigation Under Sail
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1977

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References

REFERENCES

1(1976). Report of Working Group on Radar Beacons and Transponders. Imco Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation. NAV XVIII/WP4, Annex II.Google Scholar
2(1974). I.T.U. Radio Regulations. Revised at W.M.A.R.C. Geneva, RR, 367A and B.Google Scholar
3(1971). How safe is your craft? P.7 Dept. of Trade and Industry.Google Scholar
4(1974). ‘Seaway Code. A guidefor small boat users’, p. 12, 1. 26. D. T. I.Google Scholar