RE: [Paddlewise] Visibility

>
> Such a device exists. Pains Wessex makes an "active" radar reflector
> that transmits a pulse of radar energy whenever it senses another ship's
> radar. It makes your boat appear to have a radar cross section of 80
> square meters(!), which should be adequate to create the desired level
> of "respect". It is reasonably small (a cylinder 20" x 2.25") and it
> weighs less than four pounds. The primary drawback is that it costs over
> $1000.

The general term for these things is "transponder."  Most light aircraft
have them for the same reason being discussed here, with some additional
data reply features (and even higher price tags, last I heard).

I have a cousin who is a radar electronics engineer for a major defense
contracter, to whom I posed just this issue about 4 weeks ago.  His
opinion was that a broad band transponder for kayaks was totally
impractical due to the multiple frequencies used by the different radars
of boats and ships of various sizes, vintages and nationalities.  "That's
like a military ECM problem," or words to that effect, was his reply.  I
wonder if the model Dan referred to might
be designed to work with shore based traffic control radars.  This would
be highly analogous to the aviation usage.

Too bad.  I wonder what a tanker and escort tugs would do if they suddenly
picked up an echo which appeared to be an invisible Hyundai container ship
drifting across their course  8->

Mike Wagenbach


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************