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.

I had an old 1720 until 3 years ago that detected racons without
difficulty. They looked like radiating sharp blocks spelling the morse
code ID away from the ATON itself. I wouldn't call them a smear since
they were more sharply defined than any other echoes.

They are implemented widely in the Northeast for important aids,
including bridges in the Hudson River, the Narragansett Bay buoy NB,
the Buzzards Bay towe BB, Cleveland Ledge light CL

I am sure they occur in Long Island Sound as well, but I rarely have
occasion to use the radar there. Also, by the time I get to Maine in
September, the fog is usually gone, so I am not so conscious of them
there.

I don't think there is any need to put them on minor aids. If you have
a radar on, you see them from th eradar reflectors the almost all
carry now, and you know what they are because you know where you are
sort of.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC


We have achieved faith-based science,
faith-based economics, faith-based law
enforcement, and faith-based missile
defense.
What's next? Faith-based air traffic control?