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.