Parts Of A Marine Radar Display You Should Know

A marine radar is one of the most important marine equipment that aids in the navigation of vessels and the prevention of unlikely collision with foreign targets that could cause damage on vessels and the passengers or the crew. Right now there are small and portable radars that even boats as small at 18 feet are able to utilize. And since using a boat is no longer limited to fishing and travelling, but also for pleasurable acts a diving, marine sports, parties, and holidays, many have made efforts to learn how use a boat radar. So what are found on an array radar monitor that you should know about and understand?

The number located on the upper left corner of the radar screen is the range of radar display. Land masses are visible on the radar display as large green entities. Since the display is black, land masses are the easiest to spot. The lollipop shaped object that appears starting from the midpoint of the screen is called the lollipop indicator, which indicates the selected waypoint of the boat. Anytime the boat goes off course, it is easily determined by looking at the lollipop indicator as both will be terribly misaligned. The vessel’s position, head-up, is shown right ahead of where the boat is (middle of the screen). The auto anti-clutter is located on the lower left portion of the screen. When heavy rain of breaking waves occur, the array radar detects them and leaves noise clutters. These noise clutters tend to cover up other land target indications so then it is slowed down or stopped by the auto anti-clutter. A heading line is traced from the vessel’s location up to the top part of the screen where the boat’s heading is shown. The geographical location to where the boat is headed to is then displayed.

The rings in various sizes that are seen on the screen are selectable fixed range rings. Each ring has a measure distance from the boat and can therefore tell you how far land targets are. The last part of the monitor is the waypoint bearing, which is found at very bottom  and middle part. This is a rectangular object labeled “waypoint” and filled with numbers. These numbers are specific measurements that tell the boat’s exact location and whether or not it’s being navigated accurately.