X-Band v S band Radar

[boatmike]

This is a duplicate of a question I posted on Scuttlebutt but I thought I might get more commercial experience from the people on here..

The question relates to fitting a Sea-Me radar transponder to a small yacht generally used in the English Channel and North Sea.

As I said on another thread I am considering fitting one of these transponders, but there are two. One operates only on X-Band (I think) and the other on X and S band. It's a no brainer that the dual frequency one is best but it's a lot more expensive. My knowledge of commercial and military ships use of radar is confined to re-fitting them. I have no commercial sea experience. I think I am right that in crowded waters and close quarters situations like the English Channel, Irish Sea etc. X-Band is likely to be used. S band has greater range and better discrimination in fog and rain (??) and is more likely used more in open waters away from land. Either way, am I right that most ships encountered will be either running X-band, or both? Are there many cases where S band on it's own will be running unless in say mid atlantic? If so the single X-Band one will do OK won't it?
Definitive answers from commercial users would be appreciated.

 

[Dyflin]

In Coastal waters (all of Europe) it will be X and S Band. Only way out deep sea will they switch off the X/3cm set. In my experience, S band seems to be a more popular set. Maybe just because it gets more use and so force of habit?

 

[Mariner69]

In Coastal waters (all of Europe) it will be X and S Band. Only way out deep sea will they switch off the X/3cm set. In my experience, S band seems to be a more popular set. Maybe just because it gets more use and so force of habit?

Ditto.

 

[homa]

Both

For all coastal and near coastal we always use both X & S band radars.

We used to switch one set and sometimes both sets off when clear of land 30 years ago because the magnatron and CRT display had a relatively short life, but sets nowadays just go on and on. With more traffic around personnaly I would have both sets on all the time.

I work on the coast all the time now and we use both sets all the time in even the perfect of weather. We get uncomfortable when one of the radars is out of action due to maintenance.

 

[boatmike]

Thanks for that chaps. A good "heads up" from professionals is worth 20 "opinions" on Scuttlebutt and re-inforced what I thought.