Using 4G Radar for Squall detection

[simonpickard]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone out there has a 3G/4G radar (our's is B&G).
If so do you have any advice on the best settings to pick up Squalls?

I've been playing with the settings but I can't get it to pick up Squall clouds at all. Seems like all the settings are designed to filter out such things.

Any advice would be most welcomed.

Regards,
Simon

[Dockhead]

I see squalls on my B&G 4G radar using the regular settings (sea clutter: offshore; gain: auto; rain: off). I find the auto settings work far better than on other radars I've had, and rarely use the manual controls.

If that doesn't work for you, however, turn the gain up and sea clutter down.

You will never see them as well as you could on a 4kW pulse radar, however -- nature of the beast.

[simonpickard]

Thanks Dock head. I'll try resetting my settings and give that a go. Maybe I've turned on something I shouldn't have.

Would this be the same on a 3G radar? Actually, just thinking about it, I'm not sure which one I have!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

Thanks Dock head. I'll try resetting my settings and give that a go. Maybe I've turned on something I shouldn't have.

Would this be the same on a 3G radar? Actually, just thinking about it, I'm not sure which one I have!

3G and 4G (the use of "G" implying an entire generational change is ridiculous) is the same hardware, AFAIK, but 4G has some significant software improvements, I think especially DSP on the radar signal ("beam sharpening"). The result is significantly better range than the 3G. The practical range of my 4G radar is about the same as my previous 4kW pulse radar set.

See here: Panbo: The Marine Electronics Hub: Navico Broadband Radar 4G, the launch demo

Note that these guys make it sound like this radar is revolutionary -- I like it, but it has not seemed revolutionary to me.

[Cheechako]

Squalls, waterspouts etc were very easy to pick up on my old school radars. But I have no experience with newer types.

[a64pilot]

You say clouds, but you meant heavy rain right? I don't think any are going to pick out clouds

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

You say clouds, but you meant heavy rain right? I don't think any are going to pick out clouds

I'm sure he means squalls with heavy rain. These show up on the new-type radars, but for some technical reason not as well as on a pulse radar. Maybe someone here has the technical knowledge to explain why.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I'm sure he means squalls with heavy rain. These show up on the new-type radars, but for some technical reason not as well as on a pulse radar. Maybe someone here has the technical knowledge to explain why.

No technical reason - just pure power. A pulse radar puts all that power into each pulse. A CW radar could also provide that power, but it would be a power hog and a bit of a safety concern.

Mark

[simonpickard]

Sorry I meant rain clouds yes.



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