Active Radar Target Enhancers

[catamount]

Who here is using an Active Radar Target Enhancer (RTE) such as the Sea-Me or the Echomax Active?

If you are using one, where is your antenna mounted? How is that position working out for you?


I have the Echomax Active X, just have to figure out where to mount my antenna.

Top of the mast would be great, but I'ld rather not have any extra weight or windage that far up if I can help it (I've been adding more than enough weight to the rig as it is with all my other "upgrades"), plus I'm worried about obstructing the tri-color light, and I'm not sure there's room what with the tri-color on one side, Nexus wind transducer off the front, Windex off the back, and VHF antenna on the other side.

Stern rail is the next obvious choice. Currently have two GPS mushrooms, a VHF whip for my AIS transponder, and a 4-foot whip for an all-band receiver, plus MOB horseshoe and a Lifesling (also the feed for the SSB backstay antenna snakes through there as well), so the stern rail is crowded, too, and the RTE's detection range wouldn't be any better than my visual range.

So I'm contemplating putting up a stern pole for the RTE antenna, and moving the AIS transponder antenna up there, too. It's a bit more windage, but it gets me a couple miles of additional range.

Any thoughts?

[catamount]

Hmmm.... Looks like I'm on the cutting edge here.

I've decided to mount the transponder to my stern rail, for now.

FWIW, here's a link to the Manufacturer's page on this device: EchoMax Radar Reflectors -EchoMax Products

And a link to one of I believe only two US vendors:
Echomax Active-X Band Radar Target Enhancer

And here is a link to the radar reflector test that shows that an active reflector such as this is much better than a passive reflector:
Marine Accidents Investigation: Download PDF document

This test was commissioned as part of the investigation of the loss of the yacht Ouzo in the collision with a ship a few years ago:
Marine Accident Investigation: Ouzo

For me, the reason for installing this, besides the obvious advantage of enhancing my radar cross-section, is that it also acts as a radar detector.