The magnetron has been the “tool” of choice for radar instruments for a long, long time. But now, a replacement looms on the horizon.
Magnetron-free broadband boat radar was introduced not long ago, in Europe, and it’s something new and unusual.
Broadband boat radar only uses 1/2000 of the peak power that a traditional scanner uses, and in most areas, it outperforms the traditional radar, as well. If 0.1-W radar sounds unusual to you as a boater, it doesn’t to pilots or those in the military.
This high-end, low-wattage radar has been used by more affluent private pilots and the military for a fairly long period of time. A semiconductor in the unit will produce a microwave signal, which is a great deal more precise than those produced by one magnetron in a vacuum tube.
The usual scanner using broadband boat radar comes equipped with two antennas, and although it is not patented, it’s more a blend of newly available components and smart engineering.
It has actually taken years for the manufacturer, Navico, to find the exact distance at which it operates most efficiently.
From ten to twenty-four miles, broadband boat radar is really not all that special. It’s intended for use right now within ten miles, and it’s unmatched in its performance in this area.
The range resolution in broadband boat radar is much superior to what is achievable with the traditional magnetron.
Broadband radar uses a technique known as Frequency Modulated/Continuous Wave, or a technology that doesn’t use pulses like standard radar.
The two antennas are located within the dome; one that transmits and one that receives.
This makes for transmission that is continuous, and also modulated slightly, so that the return echos are measured on the exact timing of the frequency. In fact, broadband boat radar can distinguish between even the smallest of closely-spaced targets such as kayaks, pilings and moored boats.
The solid state scanners of a broadband boat radar unit turn on at once, and there is no period of waiting for a magnetron to warm up.
These units are also more stable, which means that they will work more efficiently, with less tweaking and tuning.
