Would a radar detector work?

[chrisncate]

Would a normal automobile radar detector work to pick up another vessels radar when in operation? If so, would it get more rapid as the other vessel got closer?

Just wondering... anyone know?

[PaulinVictoria]

I doubt they use the same frequencies

[jackdale]

Automotive

Operating Bands
· X-band 10.525 GHz ± 25 MHz
· K-band 24.150 GHz ± 100 MHz
· Ka-band 34.700 GHz ± 1300 MHz
· Ku-band 13.425 GHz ± 25 MHz
· Laser 904nm, 33 MHz bandwidth


Marine

RF Transceiver
1. Frequency
X-band: 9410 MHz ± 30 MHz
S-band: 3050 MHz ± 30 MHz

[chrisncate]

I don't imagine they make a marine radar detector, huh?

Seems like a good idea maybe? A secondary/backup warning system?

[PaulinVictoria]

Only useful if it can tell you the distance and bearing of the source, by the time you've figured that out it's probably easier to just install your own radar and see the other boat on that

[Faster]

Originally Posted by chrisncate

I don't imagine they make a marine radar detector, huh?

Seems like a good idea maybe? A secondary/backup warning system?

I believe they do... Solo ocean racers use them.

[catamount]

Originally Posted by PaulinVictoria

Only useful if it can tell you the distance and bearing of the source, by the time you've figured that out it's probably easier to just install your own radar and see the other boat on that

I disagree with your premise here.

If I am short-handed offshore, a device that would alert me to the fact that it is being painted by radar would still be useful, even if it can't tell me from which direction or how far away. It would prompt me to wake up and look around, letting me know that there are other vessels in the vicinity!

That said, there is a device called the CARD (collision avoidance radar detector) that will tell you from what quadrant the radar signal came. I don't know if it is still being made, and some of the reports I've read about it have been rather mixed.

There are also devices on the market known as "Active Radar Target Enhancers" (or RTE's) that send out an amplified return signal when they sense an incoming radar signal. These devices are not directional, but the offer significantly improved radar cross section for many boats. They also serve as radar detectors, in that the have lights and/or sound signals indicating that they are working (have sensed incoming radar and are transmitting in response).

The two main players in this market seem to be the SeaMe device and the EchoMax Active-X.

[PaulinVictoria]

If all you care about is "is someone sending radar waves out somewhere" then yes, a detector would be both simple and useful. The problem with all radar detectors is of course that you might get so many signals that you no longer pay any attention to it.
Enhancers are a good idea, as long as the person on the other end is actually watching their radar screen.
As for the CARD, as I said before, by the time you've got the equipment to figure something like that out, you could have probably got a radar of your own.

[chrisncate]

I was thinking of it like the one I had in my car once. It pulsed sounds and led's faster as you approached the police radar source.

I'd picture it working if you were say, hove to and catching a nap and a ship with it's radar on began to close on you. Just like in the car, a series of spaced out warnings that increase as you (they) get closer...

[PaulinVictoria]

Could work, but with a 24mile radar, and a boat moving at 20knots, you're an hour of beeping from it