Radar Reflector

SerengetiGuide

SerengetiGuide

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

We are mounting a radar reflector on each of the boats in the next couple days and I heard something from a friend I just wanted to verify. Is it true that if you mount the radar reflector on the same plane as your radar it can burn the radar out?? We were thinking about mounting it behind the life raft (which is right behind the radar) but if that's the case it wouldn't be a good idea obviously...any other suggestions on where it could/should be mounted??

Thanks,
David :D

www.serengetifishingcharters.com
 
i see alot of the tube ones zap strapped to the base of vhf antennas.. i doubt it would burn out your radar there made to send and receive signals


img3937n.jpg
 
Are you going to create a dead spot on your radar by mounting it the beam?

Intruder2-2.jpg


20ft Alumaweld Intruder
 
I only know from what I've read, your radar should be free of any obstructions for 360 degrees on the same level. You might end up losing detection on the back half of your boat or a portion of. Haven't read anything about burning out radar though.
 
quote:Originally posted by Cuba Libre

Are you going to create a dead spot on your radar by mounting it in the beam?
Click to expand...
Yep!
Can't say how much interference it will create, as I have never done that? But, could be enough to not see that log right in front of you?
 
talked to a excoastgaurd guy and he said they mounted the rflecter beside the radar with no problems. mounting mine in the same place.
 
i would not mount a reflector where the sweep of the radar would be reflected back, really bad idea.

you have a couple of obvious options here: either on a stalk that rises above your radar or at a location below your radar that is convenient to mount.

i have a tube reflector, trotac, which i hang when the weather closes in on me. it offers 360 degrees of visability for reflection but is by no means at the highest point on my boat. the critical thing is you have a reflector somewhere on board that can be 'seen' around all points on the compass. obviously the higher the better but not totally necessary for safety.
 
Mounting anything next to radar is not the problem!

In the "beam" is the problem... I don't care what kind of metal you mount inside that beam... it is going to interfere, period. The question is how much!

And this is "not" IMHO... it is fact!
 
I have two reflectors. I plan to mount one to the underside of the Radar Arch below the dome. I will only put out the 2nd one when in the fog or at night. I will mount the second reflector by clipping it to the net which is in a rod holder mounted on the side of the cabin and points straight up. One snap clip when trolling for fast removal and for traveling on the main in fog or at night,I will use the snap clip plus a couple of small bungee cords. This will put the bottom of the reflector at least 2.5 feet above the top of the radar dome which I hope should be out of the radar beam. This does leave the aluminum handle of the net in the beam about 4 feet from the dome, but it has a pretty small profile and I hope it won’t be much of a problem. If it is, perhaps a length of PVC pipe in the net rod holder with the reflector clipped to it at the top. I like the idea of having the 2nd reflector up as high as I can get it since we had a close call in the fog once.
I did hear of a power squadron tip if you get caught in the fog without a reflector in a shipping lane or something. Go to the galley and grab 3 garbage bags and a roll of tin foil. Put the bags inside each other and loosely crunch up tin foil and place it in the bag. Tie it off and put it up as high as you can.
 
quote:Originally posted by dss

talked to a excoastgaurd guy and he said they mounted the rflecter beside the radar with no problems. mounting mine in the same place.
Click to expand...

I don't know what idiot you talked to, but it's a sure bet that he is not a radio tech.

Think about it.

Radar is designed to transmit a radio signal and receive that signal back after it has been reflected off of other boats, ships, lighthouses, big rocks, shorelines, etc.

Radar Reflectors are designed to reflect that signal back to the radar antenna.

If you put the reflector in the path of the transmitted signal, you are going to reflect it back into the receiving antenna at a much higher signal level than it was designed to receive.

It may not go poof the instant you turn it on, but I would bet dollars to donuts that it will shorten the life of the radar unit.

Not to mention that it will probably give you a large blind spot.

If you can mount the reflector in the path of the signal, you can mount it 15 inches higher. Use a small antenna mast to extend it above the radar unit. You might even be able to find one made of fibreglass. Better to put a 1-1/4" metal pole in the path than something that is specifically designed to reflect that signal back from a distance of a few inches.

Don't believe me? Put your reflector in your microwave oven and turn it on for a few minutes and see how long that works for you [:o)]



Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

jfc_banner-2009-01.jpg
 
quote:Originally posted by Sushihunter

quote:Originally posted by dss

talked to a excoastgaurd guy and he said they mounted the rflecter beside the radar with no problems. mounting mine in the same place.
Click to expand...


Don't believe me? Put your reflector in your microwave oven and turn it on for a few minutes and see how long that works for you [:o)]



Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

jfc_banner-2009-01.jpg
Click to expand...

Jim , you really have to stop doing that. I know its pretty fun watching the sparks fly but you are going to fry yourself one of these days!! ;)
 
My guess is that a fibreglass mast is not a major problem given that unless you have an open radar antenna (the ones you can see rotating), your radar is already transmitting through the fibreglass/plastic of your antenna dome cover. Still, I am sure it is best to have nothing in the beam close to it.
 
He put it in the cabin with him. Hum --- does he glow in the dark. Don’t think I would want to be in the beam in a cabin.
 
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