Peter Bennett wrote:
On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 12:11:29 -0700, Steve wrote:


I've probably been aware of these Nav Aids for awhile but never
encounted them until this week in the Puget sound..

I noticed an unusual 'smear' behind the radar return from a channel bouy
(part of the Puget Sound Traffic Control system). At first I was going
to try and tune it out but recognized that this shadow or smear
resembled the old "Boy Scout" Morse Code representation of the letter
"N" "- ." (who says Morse Code is dead).

I'm assuming that this is 10+ yr old technology since my older Furuno
1721 radar wasn't able to detect this NavAid ID while me newer Furuno
1721 mkII does.


The manual for my JRC radar indicates that if "Interference Rejection"
is turned on, RACONs won't be displayed.


Since I was surprised to find a RACON NavAid ID response, I'm wondering
how wide spread it's useage is, or is it another good idea that was
never fully implimented due to USCG budget short falls (like SSID, etc).

I only did a quick look at one Puget Sound chart and " at a glance " I
only saw a half doz. bouys with RACON designation ID..


The BC coast has about 20 RACONs. I expect that a RACON is too
expensive to place on every aid to navigation, so they are reserved
for "more important" (to commercial shipping) locations.

Since the radar MFGers have now incorporated this capability, I would
hope that more and more Nav Aids would be upgraded to RACON..


There are no modifications needed to a RADAR set to display a RACON
signal - as long as the RACON and RADAR both operate in the same band.

See http://www.tidelandsignal.com/ (click on "Radio Aids) for some
information from a manufacturer of RACONs (and other Aids to
Navigation)

In the past, they only worked on 3cm radar. Not sure if that still
applies in all cases.