Radar Reflector

[Fred Ficarra]

True John,

I didn't understand you to say that it DOES pickup small birds. My experience is with my R20X Raytheon (JRC) 4kw unit, jumpered to 32 mile range and a few similar size units. I know power makes a lot of difference. I've told the story here about not being able to pickup an ISLAND in the Caribbean with a Sitex 24 mile radar that was 17 miles away. I was looking at the island but never received a return signal. Also vital is Horizontal Beam Width. The smaller the number the better. A small HBW lets the unit do things like differentiate between a tug and its' tow. And all of this doesn't even take into account antenna size. Larger is better. Especially in smaller recreational-sized units. It's something to do with the laws of phyisics. As far as one target looking to be the same size as another, that is an offshoot of science and raster scan technology. Returns tend to look similar sized on the screen. Not until a target is physically larger than the space taken up on the screen does its image begin to show a larger return. (computers) That's why your Alaska cruise ship story is a red flag. I'm certain that you have your set adjusted properly. That just goes with the abilities of the owner.(you) But the list of non-good returns you have is scary. I have yet to have even one of those examples with my R20X. You know,,,,my buddie just bought a JRC. Same model as my R20X only with all the newer controls,,,for $1800.00. Hmmm. He bought it here; http://www.vitmarine.com/index.html HmmmmP.S. We have a Davis reflector. (somewhere, might have given it away) I couldn't see the sense in it if we can see the other guy.

 

[John Nantz]

Reflective Surface Makes The Difference too

The reason the Davis EchoMaster creates such a good target is because of the area that returns the transmitted signal. Many things we're looking out for don't have that much area.For example:The cone-shaped nun buoys (is this an oxymoron?) doesn't have any line that is perpendicular to the transmitter, hence no target.Large wood rock barge on a buoy south of Tacoma has all flat sides. If the sides are pointing away from the transmitter the reflected ray will go somewhere it isn't needed. Not to mention wood doesn't make a good reflecting surface. The barge will have one corner creating a vertical line to reflect back a very weak signal. The bit of signal I was receiving from it was probably more from the mooring buoy and the chain connected to the barge and maybe some spikes or bolts.At very high tide when the water laps against the tree branches on the bank there is essentially no return either. Then again, at low tide when the bank really slopes back and is all mud and there is no cut bank with rocks and no rocks on the beach to reflect a signal the picture on the screen will look really disappointing too.Boats have lots of curves, including the metal handrails on powerboats, sometimes the stanchion portion of the handrail is sloping to make it look fast, these things don't reflect well either. A mast on a sailboat when the boat is healing won't reflect either. When upright only a thin vertical line will reflect - much less area than the EchoMaster. And of course plastic and sails don't reflect either.Guess the main thing is that some targets just don't provide very good returns and one has to look at what you get and make decisions of whether it's significant or not. Most of the "bad" targets provide some sort of signal so the trick is to decide if it's significant or just a bird and sometimes it takes a little playing around with the boat and radar set and integrating the information with some common sense. So far I've done okay - knock on plastic!I'm positive that a more powerful and newer/better radar will do better than what I have but I don't think it's so much better that it warrants me going out and buying a new unit. At least not just yet - there are so many changes taking place in the electronics I'll wait until things settle down a bit. I'm not a gadget freak (anymore) so something "simple" without all the bells and whistles will do.

 

[Don12364]

Fred - International Regulations

International Regulations under SOLAS now require everyone to carry a radar reflector (if practicable).I interpret this to mean it is okay to have one disassembled in the locker - but ready for use if the viz closes in.By the way I sail in the Solent and my AIS regularly logs 30 ships. Its a scary place to be if caught out in fog. Also have a radar because I agree with you. Seeing em is the key to dodging em.

 

[Alan]

Speaking Radar Reflectors.....

...in today's mail was a flyer from JSI with a special on, guess what? ....radar reflectors. The Davis aluminum Echomaster regular price $51.99, sale price $4.99. I called to order 2 at that price ...guess what? ....a typo in the add....they said....really sale priced at $34.99...still a good deal but not as good as $4.99

 

[Franklin]

false ad

If I'm not mistaken, they are required to live up to the ad or they can be sued.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

I wish, Franklin,

But no, a typo gets them off the hook. We'd have to show that they were baiting and switching or something similar. Most ads carry a typo disclaimer too. Hey John!!! A thought! Wanna go out on my boat and check out the radar? When I read each of your examples, again, I couldn't relate. For guys with the Davis reflector, (a great unit BTW) don't forget to hang them in the 'catch-rain' position. These things work so well because when in the 'CR' position each chamber returns a signal back to where it came from regardless of heel or angle. But if not in the 'CR' position all of the benefits are lost. It's in the Davis instructions but second owners sometimes don't get the info. Have fun and hope to see you out there.