■ Indirect echoes
Indirect echoes may be returned from either a passing
ship, or returned from a reecting surface, such as a
mast on your own ship.
Target
Scanner
Mast or
similar obstruction
An echo is reflected at this point.
Your ship
Target
Bridge
An indirect echo from a reective surface will appear
on a different bearing from the direct (true) echo, but
the distance will be approximately the same for both.
■ Side-lobe echoes
Radiation can escape on each side of the beam inside
the lobes. If a target reects this radiation, it will be
displayed on the screen as an echo.
Side-lobe echoes usually occur at short ranges and
as a result of large (strongly reective) targets. They
can be reduced with proper adjustment of the [SEA]/
[ ] control.
See page 9 for the [SEA]/[ ] control.
Radar uses a form of electromagnetic radiation which, like light, can be reected. Because of this property, some
objects may cause false echoes on the screen where in fact no targets actually exist.
These echoes may appear if a large vessel, bridge, or other metal object is in proximity. Operators should be famil-
iar with the effect of this phenomena. In some cases, echoes can be reduced.
7
BASIC RADAR THEORY
20