Are radio direction finders completely obsolete?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by thomm225

So now you concede that it's a requirement but not required to be used.

Okay so you are changing what you said before so you won't be wrong.

It’s irelevant , RDF can’t be used anymore reliably as the beacons are gone and long wave is disappearing as we speak.

Nobody is making new small boat RDF units

What a few wierdos do in a oddball throwback race is irelevant to the argument.

As least this GGR race has a reasonable approach “ break seal to return to 2022” format to help those in trouble.

They should have included a flux capacitor.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Obsolete - yes

Are there any transmitting stations still active - yes, many.



Many airports still have active NDB transmitters but they are getting phased out.

Many (most/all?) countries still have AM broadcast radio stations.



Both of these types of transmitters are used for radio direction finding.

By the way most these beacons not be picked up by typical small boat Rdf like the lokata or sitek. am radio is typically above the rdf frequency as long wave radio transmissions are mostly gone now. BBC expects the last few to go in 2023

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Yes an RDF is required equipment to be on board as is the AIS safety kit and tracking equipment

So you are saying it's on PAR with AIS so it's not obsolete after all then......!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by thomm225

So you are saying it's on PAR with AIS so it's not obsolete after all then......!

No I’m saying it’s just a carriage requirement like AIS or other «break seal to return to 2022” equipment. None of this can be used either but has to be carried.

Given the lack of beacons on long wave radio these days the RDF is basically useless
As my link to the YBW forum in 2002 showed.

I wish all the GGR participants well
Remember Cpt Sumner had “no modern fan dangle RDF “ as he approached the Tuskar

This new fangled rdf will never catch on anyway. .

I’m good to 3-5 miles with a sextant , the sun sets in the west still , no need for anything else.

Fixes can be plotted the traditional way from known landmarks and sea marks. Good old fashioned mk1 eyeball , a bearing compasses , a pencil and a chart. Both running fixes and three point can be done once you know what you are doing . Electrickery not needed

Sulhailli was far too modern !!

These days anyone can do a circumnavigation let’s get back to Sumner days, how about in square rigged caravelles , only equipment available before 1720 allowed.

Now that’s a challenge, Magellan would have approved.

What’s next , Antarctic crossing using donkeys !! All participants must be malnourished and diagnosed with rickets.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

No I’m saying it’s just a carriage requirement like AIS or other «break seal to return to 2022” equipment. None of this can be used either but has to be carried.

Wrong again!

The racers will navigate using their RDF's, sextants, and charts.

https://www.darglow.co.uk/featherstr...und-the-world/

From the link above:

Navigation will need to be done with a radio direction finder and sextants. They will also hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves. Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency radios allow.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Wrong again!



The racers will navigate using their RDF's, sextants, and charts.



https://www.darglow.co.uk/featherstr...und-the-world/



From the link above:



Navigation will need to be done with a radio direction finder and sextants. They will also hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves. Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency radios allow.

Wrong

Read the rules as posted on the official site. There is no requirement to use RDF. In practice these days it’s almost impossible anyway

The equipment must be carried. It’s not mandatory that it’s used. You can navigate around by the DC madness method of navigation as long as you write up the log ( the one you present anyway )

Again and again a race of this type in no way redeems RDF . The lack of equipment , functional beacons , damns it to obscurity.