Furuno 1753C, 1742, 1733C, 1752, 1723C, 1762C, 1732 Racon Radar Beacon, SEA control, Rain control

2. RADAR OPERATION

A/C SEA control

For optimum range SART detection, this control should be set to the minimum. Care should be exercised as wanted target in sea clutter may be obscured. Note also that in clutter conditions the first few dots of the SART response may not be detectable, irrespective of the setting of the anti-clutter sea control. In this case, the position of the SART may be estimated by measuring 9.5 nm from the furthest dot back towards own ship.

Some sets have automatic/manual anti-clutter sea control facilities in which case the operator should switch to manual.

A/C RAIN control

This should be used normally (to break up areas of rain) when trying to detect a SART response which, being a series of dots, is not affected by the action of the anti-clutter rain circuitry. Note that racon responses, which are often in the form of a long flash, will be affected by the use of this control.

Some sets have automatic/manual anti-clutter rain control facilities in which case the operator should switch to manual.

Note: This SART information is excerpted from IMO SN/Circ 197 Operation of Marine Radar for SART Detection.

2.26.4Racon (Radar Beacon)

A racon is a radar transponder which emits a characteristic signal when triggered by a ship’s radar (usually only the 3 centimeter band). The signal may be emitted on the same frequency as that of the triggering radar, in which case it is superimposed on the ship's radar display automatically.

The racon signal appears on the PPI as a radial line originating at a point just beyond the position of the radar beacon or as a Morse code signal (see figure below) displayed radially from just beyond the beacon.

Racon

Appearance of racon signal on the radar display

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