Does the radar really fry your brain?

[ianainge]

Is that true, do people with a flybridge only use the radar from the lower steering position.I would have thought the on the two occasions that you`d use the radar are in fog when you need to be up top listening out for fog horns or at night where trying to make out lights on other ships would be very difficult from behind a possibly spray ridden windscreen. What do you do?

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[djefabs]

The warning in the manuals seem to warn you against sitting in front of your radar and I agree that you would want to be out on the flybridge in poor vis. Thats why I have moved mine up so the beam misses my bonce. Assumes thats where my brain is. (despite popular opinion)

<hr width=100% size=1>Rules are for the strict adherance of fools, and the guidance of wise men

 

[adarcy]

Re: No

Been talked about before Ian

you can do a search on "radar" AND "fry" - all posts or try this one for a start

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=156440&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post156440> Here </A>



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[Mike21]

Don't know if radars fitted to leisure boats are powerful enough, but manual does advise against being directly in front of it.
Years ago when I used to test airborne radars, you were not allowed to go in front of aradar being test fired and that someone set fire to a test chamber when they inadvertantly fired one on full power.

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thats why I always send SWMBO up to the flybridge to drive in fog whilst I peer at the radar screen down in the warm below. Her brains are well scrambled already!!!

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[hlb]

Well I used to get a sore head when upstairs with radar on, so reverted to your solution. Worked well till sending messages up on intercom. Yacht to port or starboad. Result........AAaaaaAAaaaRRrrrrrrGGGggggggggHh...!!.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>Specializing in marine sanitation since 1997.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[longjohnsilver]

Well it used to be that hlb was a British speller and Scrabble champion until he fitted radar.

Need I say more?

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[hlb]

Still could be scrabble champion. With my shpelling. All words fit.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>Specializing in marine sanitation since 1997.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[oldgit]

In our(old) furano workshop manual it states that the energy field external to the dome and it quotes approx 12" should not cause injury when working on scanner.
It mentions that the main danger is to the eyes ?

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Could you use larger letters, can't read yours.

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[anchorhandler]

Re: Rarad harm

Hello everyone, Its worth noting that commercial radar sets (be it 10cm S band or 3 cm X band) usually operate in the 'microwave' frequencie region 400-40000 Mhtz. It has been usual practice for many years now to avoid placing yourself in front of an active scanner, especially a reasonably high powered commercial unit due to the fact that the microwave energy would render a man temporarily impotent!! As i dont have a radar set on my pleasure boat, i cant quote any power figures or comment as to the potential damage one could suffer but in my experience, its always better to err on the side of safety...
However you could take the point of view that
1 little blue viagra tablet and 1 radar set = a good weekend by anyone standards!

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[anchorhandler]

Re: Radar harm

Hello everyone, Its worth noting that commercial radar sets (be it 10cm S band or 3 cm X band) usually operate in the 'microwave' frequencie region 400-40000 Mhtz. It has been usual practice for many years now to avoid placing yourself in front of an active scanner, especially a reasonably high powered commercial unit due to the fact that the microwave energy would render a man temporarily impotent!! As i dont have a radar set on my pleasure boat, i cant quote any power figures or comment as to the potential damage one could suffer but in my experience, its always better to err on the side of safety...
However you could take the point of view that
1 'little blue pill' and 1 radar set = a good weekend by anyone standards!

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[anchorhandler]

Hello everyone, Its worth noting that commercial radar sets (be it 10cm S band or 3 cm X band) usually operate in the 'microwave' frequencie region 400-40000 Mhtz. It has been usual practice for many years now to avoid placing yourself in front of an active scanner, especially a reasonably high powered commercial unit due to the fact that the microwave energy would render a man temporarily impotent!! As i dont have a radar set on my pleasure boat, i cant quote any power figures or comment as to the potential damage one could suffer but in my experience, its always better to err on the side of safety...
However you could take the point of view that
1 'little blue pill' and 1 radar set = a good weekend by anyone standards!

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[anchorhandler]

Sorry about posting three times, didnt quite realise what was going on!
These computers,.....they will never catch on you know!

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[oldgit]

Re: SORRY LUV,IS THIS BETTER NM.

/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

That's because your eyes focus on the RF believe it or not. By focusing it then fries the retina, that was the bit I stayed awake for in our once annual radar safety lectures.

Our aircraft radar has a safe working distance of 30 metres if live firing, but they are much more powerful than the type fitted to small boats.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[PhilF]

just what I thought this morning, great having a radar indoors when I am up on the fly bridge peering out into the fog. Could never have seen a thing from the inside.
PhilF

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[longjohnsilver]

YES THANKS! NM

.

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[graham]

I contacted the MCA for advise and was told that provided the scanner is going round it is safe but a potential danger is if it jammed in one position and concentrated the beam at you.

In fog I would be more worried about not using radar!

When you consider people like lockgate men who work everyday in close proximity to working ships radars ,the lockgatemen I know have all got children,I think that the problem may be based on rumour .


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[Oldhand]

I would think that if your brain is more than 2 meteres from the radar antenna you are at very little risk as this was the no-go circle painted around much more powerful naval radars in my youth. However, duration of irradiation is a factor, so if any part of you is consistantly in the radar beam, minimise its use (the radar not your brain I mean). Its not just your brain that can be affected though. Just think about microwave cooking....

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