EO 51.06 Fix a Position with Radar

EO 51.06 Fix a Position with Radar

It is important for students to know how to locate a position on a chart using RADAR as they may not be able to determine the ship's position by visual or other electronic means.

Basic Radar Theory

This movie will explain the electromagnetic pulse.

Multiple Choice

RADAR:

• detects only stationary objects

• detects only moving targets

• detects only incoming targets

• detects only stationary and moving targets

Multiple Choice

Which of this correspond to the information a 2D marine radar PPI will display?

• Range

• Range & Height

• Range, Height, Bearing

• Range & Bearing

Multiple Choice

Range is...?

• Direction

• Distance

• Detection

• Duplexer

Multiple Choice

What does RADAR stand for?

• RAdiation, Direction And Ranging

• RAdio, Direction And Ranging

• Reciprocity, Detection, And Ranging

• RAdio, Detection, And Ranging

Radar Display Unit

All radar display units provide the same function for the use of your radar. The following teaching point will cover some of these generalities.

Download the Bridge Command UK Simulator for Free @

https://www.bridgecommand.co.uk/file/bc47gpl_setup.php

Bridge Command UK Radar Simulator

In addition to the controls for radar range, gain and clutter, there are additional controls for the radar cursor, electronic bearing line, parallel index lines, guard zone, ARPA, ARPA contact selection and clearing, ARPA plotting, ARPA alarm and ARPA trial. To move between the control modes, click the '<' and '>' buttons above the 'MODE' text, and this will move through the different controls.

Cursor

Instead of a wheel, This simulator has a radar curser to move the crosshair onto a target. Modern radar systems will use a similar arrangement using a mouse to get bearings for points on your radar screen.

Range

Ranging in and out provides more or less radar coverage in the PPI. 

To range in and out, click on the + or – at the top of your display

Range

Ranging in can provide more dexterity on close contacts and land.

But looses overall situational awareness of anything outside of the range scale

Range Scale

A proper range scale should allow you to see enough detail around you and far enough ahead to deal with developing contact situations.

Ultimately, a good OOW regularly ranges in and out on the radar to ensure full use of its capabilities and to have the more accurate situational awareness.

Range Rings

Range rings are a tool that can be used to assess ranges quickly without having to move the cursor around or hook a contact.

Range Rings

Range rings will automatically adjust themselves based on your range scale.

Tuning

A radar, like many other types of radio oriented equipment, required tuning to ensure proper operations. Most radars have 4 features, tune, gain, sea, and rain. Tune is normally left to neutral (the middle) as on a modern radar it is often not necessary.

Bridge Command UK radar has 3 functions. Tune is not used. 

Gain

Gain adjusts the intensity of the radar. Increasing the gain (as seen here) will give you more dexterity and more radar returns, however, when the gain is too high, it will blur some returns together and create a lot of unnecessary clutter on the screen.

Gain can be adjusted using the knob at the top of the screen

Clutter

The sea (Clutter) function reduces sea clutter in higher sea states. When a radar starts to detect the waves around the ship it can create a very cluttered radar picture and make it difficult to detect contacts at both short and long ranges.

Adjusting the sea feature filters out the low angle radar returns, such as waves, to clear up the picture. The sea function should always be adjusted with care as too much sea will prevent small contacts that are low to the water from being detected.

Sea can be adjusted using the knob at the top of the screen.

Rain

From a basic perspective, the rain function does the opposite to the sea function. Rain can create large radar returns, cluttering up the screen and masking the detection of contacts in the rain. 

The rain function filters out the higher angle returns (such a rain squalls), however, should be adjusted with care as too much rain can filter out land or aircraft (remember that the ship born air controller is using your radar as well).

PPI Modes

The planned position indicator (PPI) is the most common type of radar display and used on the Bridges of all RCN ships. It refers to the circular portion of the screen that displays the radar returns.

The PPI can have its center offset and re-centered as necessary given the situation.

There are two primary PPI modes:

The first is North Up, in which North remains at the top of your PPI display, and shows you a similar image to what you would see on a chart or in ECPINS.

PPI Modes

The Second is heads up. In this view, the PPI display always remains pointed in the same direction as the ship, following as it turns. This display is similar to what you’re actually seeing out the window, but can be confusing as it does not resemble the chart and/or ECDIS.

Conclusion

Most if not all radars follow the same principles and have the same basic features. An understanding of your particular equipment will go a long way to your safe navigation.

Exercises

Some Radar Fixing exercises can be sent or given by the instructor using the Bridge Command UK Training Chart.