In reading some of the articles on short handed transits I got to thinking
about using automobile radar detectors on boats to detect the radars on
approaching commercial vessels.
There used to be companies that manufactured radar detectors for boats. As
I remember, these indicated a rough bearing (i.e. which quadrant) to the
detected radar. Also, these were fairly pricey.
I'm not suggesting using these automobile devices as a first line system on
your boat. Nor should they be counted on to replace good watch standing
practices. But, if you've got one in your car why not take it along on your
next offshore/overnight transit and see how it does.
Without any real testing, here's what I think you might expect in the way of
performance:
I think the frequency of commercial marine radars will fall into one of the
operating bands of the automobile radar detectors (S, X, or K), i.e. it will
detect them. Police radars are doppler radars. Most basic marine radars
are probably simple pulse radars. I still think the device will detect
them.
It will have line-of-sight range.
If your vessel has a radar and it's operating, it won't work as the radar
detector will be overwhelmed by your own radar. On military vessels that
have both radar and radar detectors, the radar sends a blanking pulse to the
radar detector (ESM) when it transmits so the radar detector won't detect
the vessel's own radar.
These devices will not provide any kind of reliable bearing information.
The best you can hope for is an audible warning that will encourage you to
scan the horizon
I'd be interested to know if anyone has experimented with these automobile
radar detectors. It might help to keep you awake on that next long watch.
Patrick Connor
"Cheers", Prairie 36
Fort Myers, FL
In reading some of the articles on short handed transits I got to thinking
about using automobile radar detectors on boats to detect the radars on
approaching commercial vessels.
There used to be companies that manufactured radar detectors for boats. As
I remember, these indicated a rough bearing (i.e. which quadrant) to the
detected radar. Also, these were fairly pricey.
I'm not suggesting using these automobile devices as a first line system on
your boat. Nor should they be counted on to replace good watch standing
practices. But, if you've got one in your car why not take it along on your
next offshore/overnight transit and see how it does.
Without any real testing, here's what I think you might expect in the way of
performance:
I think the frequency of commercial marine radars will fall into one of the
operating bands of the automobile radar detectors (S, X, or K), i.e. it will
detect them. Police radars are doppler radars. Most basic marine radars
are probably simple pulse radars. I still think the device will detect
them.
It will have line-of-sight range.
If your vessel has a radar and it's operating, it won't work as the radar
detector will be overwhelmed by your own radar. On military vessels that
have both radar and radar detectors, the radar sends a blanking pulse to the
radar detector (ESM) when it transmits so the radar detector won't detect
the vessel's own radar.
These devices will not provide any kind of reliable bearing information.
The best you can hope for is an audible warning that will encourage you to
scan the horizon
I'd be interested to know if anyone has experimented with these automobile
radar detectors. It might help to keep you awake on that next long watch.
Patrick Connor
"Cheers", Prairie 36
Fort Myers, FL
