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RADAR TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

RADAR: RAdio Detection And Ranging


Anti-Rain Clutter: (FTC-fast time constant) A control which clips off the
trailing edge of all target echoes, this control eliminates the clutter caused by rain
or snow at all ranges. Looks like little speckles on the display. Size and amount of
spots will depend on Range, Gain,.etc.
Anti-Sea Clutter: (STC)- A control which reduces the sensitivity of the receiver
at a short range. The anti-sea clutter control reduces the echoes of sea clutter,
which is strongest near the origin of the radar signal. (similar to surface clarity in
sonar).
ARPA - Automatic Radar Plotting Aid or MARPA Mini Automatic Radar
Plotting Aid
You select specific targets on the display to monitor. MARPA will only allow a few
targets. These targets will then continuously update you on course, speed and
place them on the display in vector format. The course direction is the vector and
the length of the vector is the speed. This feature is normally offered only in
North-up stabilized mode. You need a flux gate compass, gyro-compass, or a GPS
compass sensor to integration into the radar to make it stabilized especially at low
speeds.
Beam - The directed flow of microwave energy broadcast by the radar antenna.
Beam width - The width of the beam, both horizontally and vertically, measured in
degress.
Clutter- Unwanted echoes from waves, rain or other transient phenomena.
Course up- When the direction of travel is represented at the top of a radar or EC
display, the display is said to be course-up
EBL (Electronic Bearing Line)- A radial line, originating in the sweep origin of
the PPI, that may be rotated through 360 degrees. Used to precisely measure the
bearing of the a target.
Echo(return)-The reflected radar pulse that is detected by the radar. Also refers to
the image of the target on the radar display.
Echo trail- The persistent image of past positions of an echo on the PPI.

Gain Control- A control used to increase or decrease the sensitivity of the


receiver, and thus the intensity of the displayed images.
Ghost Echo- an unwanted image appearing on the display caused by echoes
reflected off other structures. An echo of unknown origin.
Guard Zone- An area of the display established by the user. When activated, the
entry of an echo into the Guard Zone causes an alarm to sound.
Heading Flash- The illuminated line visible on a radar display which indicates the
direction the vessel is heading.
Heading line Adjustment- The ability to adjust the radar target orientation on the
display. This allows for any misalignment that could occur during the mounting of
the antenna to be corrected. For example if a target should be directly in front of
you but is skewed port or starboard. You can rotate the image of the screen to make
it appear directly in front of you for proper orientation.
Head Up- When the vessels heading is represented at the top of a radar or EC
display, the display is said to be Head up.
Interference Rejection: The ability to reduce/filter out the microwave signal from
another radar in close proximity to the scanning radar.
North Up- When north is represented at the top of a radar or EC display, the
display is said to be North-up.
Offset EBL -An EBL that originates at some other point than the seep origin of the
PPI.
Offset Mode. When the operator shifts the center of the PPI (the sweep origin or
time base origin) away from the center of the display, the radar is operating in
offset mode
Open Array antenna-An antenna with rotating elements that are exposed to the
weather.
PPI (Plan Position Indicator)- the representation of target echoes in a map-like
format. The PPI represents the images as if seen from above, with the radars own
vessel represented at the center. The PPI need not be centered on the display; it
can be shifted off center when the radar operates in OFFSET MODE.
Radar Overlay- An image of the radar display over laid on an electronic chart.

Radome-A radar antenna and transceiver housed in a single weather tight


enclosure.
Rain Clutter- Unwanted echoes reflected by rain drops or snow.
Range- A distance to a pre-selected target
Range Ring- Fixed circles centered on the sweep center of the PPI at preselected
distances.
Sea Clutter-Unwanted echoes returned by smaller waves and chop.
Standby- the conditions in which a radar is warmed up and is prepared to transmit.
Sweep Origin (time base origin) The point at the center of the PPI about time base
rotates, and which is the origin of the VRM and EBL
Safety Zone: An angle selected in degrees that the radar will not send out a pulse.
Keeps a zone from being exposed to the micro wave radar pulse.
Target-an object detected by radar.
Target-acquisition- In an ARPA radar, the process of locking on to a target and
beginning to track it.
Time Based- the rotating line that updates the images on the PPI. In an analog
radar, the time base is directly linked to the returning pulses.
Tuning - Adjustment of the intermediate frequency in order to optimize the radars
performance. Most small vessel radars tune automatically.
VRM (Variable Range Marker)- A range ring which can be adjustable from sero
to maximum range; used to precisely measure the distance to a target.

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