Radar & Bluetooth

rogerroger

rogerroger

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Joined
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863
Location
West Sussex
www.myboatdetails.com
OK, here's an idea.

It seems a consensus that small yachts really shouldn't carry radar due to too much weight up the mast. So, surely someone can invent one that's used only when needed (thick fog in the Channel shipping lanes springs to mind).

A track could be fixed to the front of the mast with a simple pulley system, the radar dome is then attached and hoisted aloft. To save the obvious hassle of cables a Bluetooth wireless connection simply transmits the data the few yards to the screen.

Is that a good idea ? or am I talking nonsense ? Bluetooth would also save installation costs and all the hastle of poking cables down the mast etc...

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk
 
Doesn't sound a bad idea to me. But as to there being too much weight in one of the small modern scanners, I'm not sure. I think it would be a better idea to make them lighter again with composite materials, IMHO, however, how big a market are we talking about? I think the "bluetoth" idea is excellent, for a multitude of instruments etc at the masthead, but I think some of the companies are already working on it, if not released already.
 
I guess with Bluetooth you could also easily integrate a laptop or PDA to upload or download information.

Are radomes really that heavy ? My thinking is that if you're motoring (which is quite likely in fog) then does it really matter if it's not up the mast permanently ?

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk
 
Thats what I was saying, I don't think the small 12" diameter radomes are heavy atall, but everypound up the mast etc. But they could be even lighter, with the use of composites and mini circuitry. Using the computer is a good idea, but using one dedicated waterproof screen would be even better, all built in etc. But as I said, I do believe it's in the pipeline now.
 
Interesting idea.

Only faw that springs to mind is need to send power up to radome, which would mean some sort of cable, so why not use a small coil of some sort and save the cost and complication of Bluetooth kit?

Perhaps a more ambitious project would be a shore based radar which transmits its data over roughly the area it covers and allows vessels to see its screen remotely. Guess you would ned some means of identifying yourself on the screen, but that could be worked out somehow
 
Now that IS a good idea. Imagine being able to see the Calshott radar display with some kind of transponder identifing you and all the mini arpa bells and whistles in your own box.

Even sailors with their own equipment aboard might like the definition they would get from that scanner.

John

John
 
I be a bit of a novice at the wiggly amps thing, but having a bluetooth transmitter up a mast would require that it is rugged enough to be exposed to variations in temperature, damp envoironment and the vibration/swing of rough seas tossing the mastead transmitter through 360 degrees - perhaps not the best environment for a piece of landlubber kit that is at its best with the base unit in a semi-static role. I assume that data bandwith required can be supported by bluetooth and that the operating frequency and range of the masthead transmitter does not conflict or interfere with other transmitters/receivers either on board the host vessel or on board adjacent craft or potential rescue vessels. Don't wish to rain on your parad - sounds like a good idea, but it may not fly.
 
I don't think the wireless bit would work - you still need power to drive the radar; compared with providing power - supplying the signal back to the display is a simple task.

I believe that all current models of radar house the electronics remotely from the radome - installation would be simpler if they combined them and just used a remote display.
 
I think it is a great idea but I remember seeing exactly what you describe in a YM? news item about two years ago. A lot was made of the super definition you would get from a big land-based scanner. The only thing is that it seems the idea has died (or at least gone into hibernation). Probably the problem is that the land based end would have to install extra kit to support the idea. How would they arrange to charge for those making use of the system??
The picture of the kit shown previously was of a thing about the size of an executive case. The lid part had a round display of the LCD sort. I don't think it had any way of highlighting your own boat but with the high definition even a small course modification would show up quite quickly.
Roger
 
Didn't see the YM article - honest

Charging would be by license fee for software to decode the signal just like Sky television.
 
Thinking about it perhaps they could use a channel on Astra rather than a local microwave link. But then no perhaps not too expensive and don't need such wide reception area.

Hmmmm
 
I think most modern radars actually have most of the electronics in the radome, the bit downstairs being the display only. But I could be wrong it seems I often am.
 
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