Radar performance

[seobobs]

Decreasing bearing accuracy versus range is understandable - beam spread. However, there is a claim that range accuracy also decreases. Is this true and if so, what is the cause and amount of decrease versus range?

[Steve - Raymarine - Moderator]

In order to understand the context of this thread, please indicated what document are you citing this information from?

[seobobs]

(03-04-16 08:42 AM)Steve - Raymarine - Moderator Wrote:  In order to understand the context of this thread, please indicated what document are you citing this information from?

The claim is in presentation material created by United States Power Squadrons, which I use to teach my Advanced Piloting course. Specifically, it says, "Range accuracy
30 ft at short (~ ¼ nm) range
75 ft at medium (~ 2 nm) range
200 ft at long (~3 nm) range"

[Brian - Raymarine]

Range resolution in a pulsed magnetron radar is dependent primarily on the pulse length of the transmitted signal. The longer the range setting selected, the longer the pulse length of the transmitted pulse. The pulse length determines range resolution in this case; all target ranges should be measured from the leading edge of the detected target. There are other factors such as target size & geometry, and the processing capabilities of the receiver, but pulse length is primary.

[seobobs]

(03-09-16 02:26 PM)radarman Wrote:  Range resolution in a pulsed magnetron radar is dependent primarily on the pulse length of the transmitted signal. The longer the range setting selected, the longer the pulse length of the transmitted pulse. The pulse length determines range resolution in this case; all target ranges should be measured from the leading edge of the detected target. There are other factors such as target size & geometry, and the processing capabilities of the receiver, but pulse length is primary.

Thank you.

[Steve - Raymarine - Moderator]

You're Welcome.