Nuñez, Prince Eugene F.

BSMT1-PINEAPPLE KNOT

Activity 6B - Describing a Process

RADAR (and how to use the RADAR/identify a target)

What is Marine Radar?

 A mandatory aid to navigation, the radar is used in identifying, tracking (with

integrated ARPA) and positioning of vessels (including one’s own vessel)
among other things in order to adhere to the COLREGs so as to safely navigate
a ship from one point to another.

The general procedure to switch on radar set:

1. Make sure that the scanner is clear.

2. Set the main function switch (Off/Standby/Transmit) to standby. The radar set will
then begin to warm-up certain parts will require time for warming up.

3. Set the four critical adjustment controls – Gain, Brilliance, Anti clutter & Anti rain
clutter – to off or minimum. The radar set will then begin to warm up certain parts will
require time for warming up.

4. Check that the electronic centre coincides with the geometric centre of the display.

5. Check that the heading marker is properly aligned.

6. Gradually increase to gain until the receiver noise is just visible as a speckled
background. The setting of gain would have to be reduced when suing short range
scales.

7. Test the efficiency of the set.

8. Adjust other controls as necessary.