I am in the final stages of having a stern mounted radar mast designed. The remaining issue is how high should the mast be? I'd like to keep the pole as short as possible, so my questions are: 1. Does the scanner need to be higher than the boom? (the top of the boom is 9 feet above the cockpit sole) If so how much higher? 2. Can the scanner be positioned just below the boom about 8 feet above the cockpit sole. 3. Will the boom create a "shadow" or blind spot on the radar screen? Will locating the scanner above or below the boom have an impact on any shadow? Grateful for any comments or words of wisdom. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
- Status
Well, it depends,,,,,
Doesn't everything? How wide is your transponder? (sorry, antenna?) A good width helps see around the mast. But the boom, I would try to avoid being at the same hight. You should be OK under it but don't go lower than 8' above the cockpit floor. Radar can damage vision.
Doesn't everything? How wide is your transponder? (sorry, antenna?) A good width helps see around the mast. But the boom, I would try to avoid being at the same hight. You should be OK under it but don't go lower than 8' above the cockpit floor. Radar can damage vision.Me too
Hey Peter who is building your radar mast? I am waiting on a quote from Rod Nunn at Strait Metal for a stern mast for our cat30.I also understand Blackline in Canoe Cove is now fabricating in SS. Our mast will be 8ft above the cockpit seats which I would guess would make it about 9 1/2 ft off the cockpit floor. tmrirwin@telus.net
Hey Peter who is building your radar mast? I am waiting on a quote from Rod Nunn at Strait Metal for a stern mast for our cat30.I also understand Blackline in Canoe Cove is now fabricating in SS. Our mast will be 8ft above the cockpit seats which I would guess would make it about 9 1/2 ft off the cockpit floor. tmrirwin@telus.net
Hey Fred!!
That comment about radar damaging vision. I've never heard that before, explain please.
That comment about radar damaging vision. I've never heard that before, explain please.
Hey J.B.
It's in the owners manual of my Radar. (R20X) It says to mount the antenna about two feet above standing crew so as to not send the microwave energy to the eyes because possible vision damage can occur. That's all I can think of until I have more coffee.
It's in the owners manual of my Radar. (R20X) It says to mount the antenna about two feet above standing crew so as to not send the microwave energy to the eyes because possible vision damage can occur. That's all I can think of until I have more coffee.
Back to you Fred
That just goes to show you, I've been around for 60 years and that's the first time that I've ever heard this, there is something to learn every day. There will be some discussion at my marina this weekend about this and we'll get the books out. There are couple of potentially blind dockmates that will be interested. Thanks!
That just goes to show you, I've been around for 60 years and that's the first time that I've ever heard this, there is something to learn every day. There will be some discussion at my marina this weekend about this and we'll get the books out. There are couple of potentially blind dockmates that will be interested. Thanks!
Hey Guys
Microwave energy can damage the eyes (remember the old microwave oven thing?) but I believe the majority of these problems occur if the energy comes through the open eye. Hence, you would have to be looking at an active transponder. With it mounted behind you, it'll just affect your brain. Come to think of it, better mount it high.
Microwave energy can damage the eyes (remember the old microwave oven thing?) but I believe the majority of these problems occur if the energy comes through the open eye. Hence, you would have to be looking at an active transponder. With it mounted behind you, it'll just affect your brain. Come to think of it, better mount it high.
Steve
Good Point!! I'd hate to kill off the two or three good brain cells that I have left. Some where in the past, the lab boys probably strapped a rat to an active radar and after a couple of months of constant exposure, the rat went blind. This is very likely a disclaimer notice just in case someone does go blind or developes vision problems and tries to sue the manufacturer. Kind of like the hot coffee in the lap suit several years ago. There will be a discussion at the dock about this, but, when the refreshments get to flowing, there are a lot of conversations, some are remembered, some are not. Thanks
Good Point!! I'd hate to kill off the two or three good brain cells that I have left. Some where in the past, the lab boys probably strapped a rat to an active radar and after a couple of months of constant exposure, the rat went blind. This is very likely a disclaimer notice just in case someone does go blind or developes vision problems and tries to sue the manufacturer. Kind of like the hot coffee in the lap suit several years ago. There will be a discussion at the dock about this, but, when the refreshments get to flowing, there are a lot of conversations, some are remembered, some are not. Thanks
that's how they discovered cooking with microwaves
There is an old story - likely an urban myth - that they discovered moicrowave cooking when a couple of guys working on the dishes of microwave transmitters had their family jewels "cooked" by the micro wave energy - not something to mess with. You can buy a sensor at some appliance stores to check your home microwave to make sure there are no stray beams of energy escaping the box - I suppose you could test a radar in the same way?
There is an old story - likely an urban myth - that they discovered moicrowave cooking when a couple of guys working on the dishes of microwave transmitters had their family jewels "cooked" by the micro wave energy - not something to mess with. You can buy a sensor at some appliance stores to check your home microwave to make sure there are no stray beams of energy escaping the box - I suppose you could test a radar in the same way?
Trivia time;
The microwave oven was invented by a man who walked in front of a military type, active radar. The chocolate bar in his pocket melted. The rest is history. Such travels are almost never done now. The military radars are too strong. The eyes are just the first thing to go, imagine what other parts go poof, or psst,
The microwave oven was invented by a man who walked in front of a military type, active radar. The chocolate bar in his pocket melted. The rest is history. Such travels are almost never done now. The military radars are too strong. The eyes are just the first thing to go, imagine what other parts go poof, or psst,
The inventor of the Microwave Oven...
...is Dr. Percy Lebaron Spencer of Raytheon, a self-taught engineer. His biography is really interesting, he is in the Inventor's Hall of Fame. His brother is also an inventor who invented the "Spencer Disc". Check the link to a Reader's Digest article written about him in August 1958. Fair Winds, Clyde
...is Dr. Percy Lebaron Spencer of Raytheon, a self-taught engineer. His biography is really interesting, he is in the Inventor's Hall of Fame. His brother is also an inventor who invented the "Spencer Disc". Check the link to a Reader's Digest article written about him in August 1958. Fair Winds, Clyde
I hope he didn't live long enough to see his
companys' radar production go overseas, to a defeated enemy.
companys' radar production go overseas, to a defeated enemy.
- Status