Disco balls?

[Billie]

Hi, Would a disco ball work as a good radar reflector?

[avb3]

Originally Posted by Billie

Hi, Would a disco ball work as a good radar reflector?

Only if your playing "Hot Stuff" or "Stayin' Alive" on the VHF

[nosinglesource]

Originally Posted by avb3

Only if your playing "Hot Stuff" or "Stayin' Alive" on the VHF

Awesome!

[Mimsy]

Probably not but your boat would look FIERCE!

[webejammin]

There's a 25 ft power boat that has a Disco ball on there boat but it only is visiable on Sat night at the marina, noise all night.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Billie

Hi, Would a disco ball work as a good radar reflector?

Other boats probably would stay well away, but not because of radar. Might be even better than a Jolly Roger to keep others away from your boat when anchoring, no one is going to drop the hook next to the disco ball boat with "Hot Stuff" blaring. Wonder if a disco ball would shatter and make a horrible mess when it swings into your mast...

[zeta]

I've never had the balls to disco.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by minaret

Other boats probably would stay well away, but not because of radar. ..

Stunning idea, even better than hanging up nappies

[xymotic]

A disco ball would make a really effective radar reflector, as long as it was made of polished stainless steel instead instead of plastic

The first anchorage I see flying a cocktail flag and a disco anchor ball is where I'm headin!

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Billie

Hi, Would a disco ball work as a good radar reflector?

While all the previous posts are accurate, the correct answer is NO, it won't be a good radar reflector (even if made of polished SS).

A radar reflector requires a large effective reflective area in a line directly back to the radar in question. A disco ball will scatter the radar pulse in every other direction but back to the radar unit.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Wotname

While all the previous posts are accurate, the correct answer is NO, it won't be a good radar reflector (even if made of polished SS).

A radar reflector requires a large effective reflective area in a line directly back to the radar in question. A disco ball will scatter the radar pulse in every other direction but back to the radar unit.

Absolutely correct! (ya beat me to it, Wotname!)

Cheers,

Jim

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by Wotname

While all the previous posts are accurate, the correct answer is NO, it won't be a good radar reflector (even if made of polished SS).

A radar reflector requires a large effective reflective area in a line directly back to the radar in question. A disco ball will scatter the radar pulse in every other direction but back to the radar unit.

MAAANNN!!- a stealth disco ball, I'd like to see a Predator locate that hangout.

[Cormorant]

Radar reflectors rely on the corner-cube -- three orthogonal inside surfaces of a cube -- to send electromagnetic pulses directly back to their source. They need a corner length of about 10X the wavelength of the radar, if I recall, so even an array of many tiny cubes doesn't work.

But . . . radar signatures are usually measured in equivalent spheres -- i.e., a regular octahedral reflector might be equivalent to hanging a 1.6m diameter metal sphere in your rigging. So you just need to hang a really REALLY big disco ball up there. And play "Macho Man" by the Village People. . . .

[Bash]

Not a good radar reflector, but if you paint it black it would make an serviceable day shape.

[ohdrinkboy]

I just have my crew put on their uniforms.