RADAR REFLECTORS
FOUR MILE RANGE
The results we recorded here were exactly
the same as for three miles.
FIVE MILE RANGE
At fi ve miles we got no response from the
Echomaster octahedral refl ector, but all the
others performed the same, providing a
clearer, more consistent image than
without a refl ector.
By this range we were expecting to see
differences in returns between some of the
products, but none was observed.
SIX MILE RANGE
At this range we lost the Firdell Blipper,
though the remaining refl ectors, Echomax
and Tri-Lens, and the active RTEs, Sea-me
and Active-X continued to provide a
reasonably clear response.
Above: Octahedral at 4M. The boat is just to the left of the red X. Below: At 7M in the crowded
By now, the echos from the RTEs were
Solent it was extremely hard to keep track of the target boat, which is just to the left of the red X.
beginning to be clearer than those from the
passive refl ectors.
SEVEN MILE RANGE
To be completely accurate this test was
actually conducted at 7.3M, because there
was another craft in the way at 7M range.
This is where we lost the Tri-Lens.
However, there was a very faint response
from the Echomax.
The Sea-me and Active-X produced
better results, the Active-X being clearer.
From four miles and further, the screen
of the radar was somewhat busy, as you
can see. At seven miles, with the target
boat in the North Channel, the tracking
boat was in the vicinity of Bembridge,
east of the forts.
In reality, crossing the Channel in the
fog, there will be far fewer vessels and
buoys, so the chance of being picked up at
long range should be much better.
HEELING
We were unable to discern any difference
in refl ector performance when heeled at
10° and 20°. This fl ies in the face of
laboratory tests, but emphasises the point
that the ‘total refl ection’ sent back to an
interrogating radar is made up of the boat
and the radar refl ector. In practice, on our
test, heeling made no difference.
RI-LENS • FIRDELL • ACTIVE-X • SEA-ME • ECHOMAX • TRI-LENS •
September 09 Sailing Today 57
ST149 Grp Radar Reflect_RTG.indd49 49 16/7/09 14:16:32
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