Radar Vs Radar Reflector

[matt1]

There have been a couple of articles recently about Radar and Radar reflectors in YM. I'm keen on the "Seame" active radar target enhancing type of radar reflector but they are not cheap at £430! On the other hand radar itself can now be as little as £699. My question is, would a normal radar act as a reflector in the same way that the Seame works - eg by emitting a radar signal in the same way that the Seame "amplifies" the signal. I didn't actually want radar becuase I sail short handed and won't have somewhere sensible to mount one from where I could view it from the cockpit but given the price difference now I'm thinking that if a normal radar gives off an echo in it's own right then I may be better off with Radar.

So if I buy a radar am I getting an active radar reflector included in the price! Both work on Xband.

 

[tome]

The Seame works by responding to an incoming radar signal. Radar doesn't give off an echo, so you will still be invisible without a reflector.

 

[Twister_Ken]

> but they are not cheap at £430! <

If you can find one for only £430, please let me know where. It was closer to £500 (before fitting, brackets, electrrics, etc) when I looked at the East London International Boat Show..

 

[Oldhand]

The answer to your question is no, a radar does not act like an active transponder. The Seame is probably OK in coastal waters but S-Band radars are more likely to be used as the primary radar by ships in open water and the Seame won't show up on that.

 

[claymore]

EAST London International Boat Show .... have we renamed it then?

 

[TigaWave]

In open water my maxi blip, mounted above forestay on 15m mast was seen clearly in storms and 10m swell by ships that I talked to.

Which was reassuring, as you dont watch a radar all the time, and you do fall asleep occassionaly when single handing.

 

[hlb]

Think I'd rely on me seeing them rather than them seeing me, as they aint looking most of the time. So Buy radar and just get oot the way!!

 

[BrendanS]

Glad to see someone other than me has been out in rough stuff? 10 m swells are awesome by anyone's standards