RADAR BEACONS

RACONs, also called radar responders, or radar transponder beacons, are

receiver/transmitter transponder devices used as a navigation aid, identifying landmarks
or buoys on a shipboard marine radar display. A racon responds to a received radar
pulse by transmitting an identifiable mark back to the radar set. The displayed
response has a length on the radar display corresponding to a few nautical miles,
encoded as a Morse character beginning with a dash for identification. The inherent
delay in the racon causes the displayed response to appear behind the echo from the
structure on which the racon is mounted. Racons and their identifying marks are
normally indicated on marine charts. Racons are used in the U.S. for the following
purposes:
to identify aids to navigation, both seaborne (e.g. buoys)
and land-based (e.g. lighthouses)
to identify landfall or positions on inconspicuous
coastlines
to indicate navigable spans under bridges
to identify offshore oil platforms and similar structures
to identify and warn of environmentally-sensitive areas (such as coral reefs)
Outside the U.S., racons are also used:
to mark new and uncharted hazards (these should use the Morse identifier "D")
to identify center and turning points
as leading line racons
The U.S. Coast Guard operates approximately 80 racons. Several more are operated
by states or private organizations, such as those marking oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico,
or bridges in California. The use of a racon for any purpose other than as a navigation
aid is prohibited.
Racon Technical Characteristics
All racons used by the USCG are frequency agile type, designed to measure the
frequency of every incoming radar pulse, and transmit an approximately 25
microsecond Morse-encoded response less than 700 nanoseconds later back to the
radar on that frequency. The Morse-encoded response is encoded such that the
length of one dash is equal to that of three dots, and the length of one dot equals that of
one space. All racons operate over the frequency range 9300-9500 MHz marine radar

band (X-band), and most additionally operate in the 2900-3100 MHz marine radar band
(S-band). Racon range is approximately line-of-sight range, normally over 15
nautical miles, although actual range depends upon a number of factors, including
mounting height, atmospheric conditions, and racon receiver sensitivity setting.
S-band racon antennas should be suitable for responding to radars using horizontal or
vertical polarization. X-band racons should respond to radars using horizontal
polarization. X-band antenna vertical divergence ranges from about 8 degrees for
fixed installations, to 18 degrees for installation on buoys. S-band antenna vertical
divergence is 22 degrees. Radiated power is 600 milliwatts. Receiver sensitivity is
about -35 dbm.
Older racons, no longer used by the USCG but still used in other parts in the world,
operate in a slow sweep mode. The transmitter on a slow sweep racon slowly sweeps
every 1 to 2 minutes through the 9300-9500 MHz band, and when interrogated,
responds back on the frequency the transmitter happens to be tuned to at the time.
The response from most slow sweep racons is visible on a radar display for only about
5% of the time.
Ramarks are radar beacons which transmit independently, without having to be
triggered by a ship radar. A ramark response on a radar display gives no indication of
distance, but instead extends from the ship's position to the circumference of the
display. Ramarks are not used in the U.S.
Display of a Racon Response
In order to conserve battery power, racons installed on buoys in the U.S. are
programmed to operate 50% of the time. These racons are normally active for 20
seconds, and then off for the next 20 seconds. Racons installed on shore, where
battery life is not a factor, are normally programmed to operate 75% of the time.
Racons are usually not programmed with a duty cycle greater than 75%, in order to
ensure that the response never completely masks an important radar target.
The anti-clutter rain control on a radar could mask a racon return, and may need to be
shut off. The anti-clutter sea control on certain radars could also degrade a racon
response in some situations. Clutter rejection circuitry on some radar equipment may
also suppress a racon response. The detection range of a racon may also be reduced
if the radar receiver is off-tuned. Tweaking the radar tuning control should correct that
problem.
Under conditions of abnormal radio propagation, a spurious racon flash may be
received at ranges considerably in excess of a racon's quoted range, regardless of the
range to which the ship's radar is set; such a spurious flash may appear in any random
position along the correct bearing on the display. Therefore, reliance should only be
placed on a racon flash if its appearance is consistent and if the ship is believed to be
within the racon's quoted range. (ALRS 2)

For More Information...

IALA Aids to Navigation Guide, ISBN 2-910312-03-8, published by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), 20ter, rue Schnapper,
78100 Saint Germain en Laye, France.
ITU-R Recommendation M.824, Technical Parameters of Radar Beacons (RACONS), International Telecommunications Union, Geneva, Switzerland.
Admiralty List of Radio Signals, Volume 2, United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2DN, UK. (ALRS 2)
Note: The photograph at the top-right of this page is a racon response coded with the Morse character "Q", located near Boston Harbor (Nahant),
using a 25kw radar. The radar probably has a 6' antenna. Courtesy, Tideland Signal Corp.

Racon devices are used at sea to mark navigational hazards as RADAR targets for presentation on a ship
navigational radar display. The word Racon comes from combining RAdar and beaCON.
The McMurdo Marine Systems HEKLEO-SX Racon is a frequency agile all-weather radar transponder that works on
both "X" band (3cm wavelength), and "S" Band (10cm wavelength) frequencies.
A HEKLEO-SX Racon responds to a radar interrogation by transmitting a Morse code character which appears on the
passing ships radar display. When HEKLEO-SX Racon receives a ships interrogating radar pulse, it responds with a
return signal on the same Radar frequency, this results in a special Radar target image icon appearing on the ships
radar display. The icon takes the form of a short line of dots and dashes forming a Morse character radiating away
from the fixed position of the HEKLEO-SX Racon as indicated on the ships radar display. The length of the line
usually corresponds to the equivalent of a few nautical miles on the display. Once the Morse letter is displayed on
screen, the bearing and distance of the HEKLEO-SX Racon from the vessel can be observed.
Even when numerous radar returns clutter the radar display, a coded Racon icon trace is an unmistakable feature on
the radar display and provides the means for accurate and positive identification of a hazard to navigation.
HEKLEO-SX Racons are often used as aids to navigation when marking:

Lighthouses and navigation buoys (the majority are on buoys rather than lighthouses)

Offshore oil platforms and other marine structures

Environmentally-sensitive areas such as coral reefs

Navigable spans under bridges

To identify centre lines and turning points

In some parts of the World they are also used:

To indicate temporary, new and uncharted hazards (with a Morse character "D")

As leading line Racons

GENERAL INFORMATION

Radar beacons are transmitters designed to produce a distinctive image on the screens of ships' radar sets,
thus enabling the mariner to determine his position with greater certainty than would be possible by means of a
normal radar display alone. Many Lighthouse Authorities have established radar beacons, usually of the type known
as Racons, at lighthouses and at other sites where it is believed they would give good service to shipping. These
microwave aids to navigation usually operate initially on an experimental or trial basis and are only permanently
established if the service provided is vindicated by user experience. Consequently, to avoid unnecessary correction,
the issue of Notices to Mariners to chart these aids may be delayed until such time as they are assessed to be
permanent. The relevant section of ALRS Volume 2 will continue to be amended, however, for details of these aids
whether temporary or permanent.

It may be found that, in certain circumstances, radar beacon emissions can cause unwanted interference
with the normal radar display, particularly at close range. It has been found that the operation of the "differentiator"
("rain clutter") control on the ship's radar may reduce Racon interference to acceptable proportions, provided that the
technical characteristics of the beacon have been selected with this in view; however, it does not appear to be
possible to reduce Ramark interference in this way. It should also be noted that the displayed response of radar
beacons may also be affected by the use of rain clutter filters on radar sets to the point where the displayed
response signal is degraded or eliminated. Particular care is required when using sets fitted with auto clutter
adoptive rain and sea clutter suppression smart circuits.

When it is known, the nominal range of a Racon is included in the details of the beacon. The range of
reception of a Racon response depends upon the power of the Racon and the interrogating radar set and also the
height of the Racon and the radar antenna. Low powered radar sets may not be capable of triggering a response
from a Racon and some Racon responses may be too weak to reach the triggering radar set.

DEFINITIONS

RACON: A radar transponder beacon which emits a characteristic signal when triggered by emissions of
ships' radars. All Racons at present fully operational are in-band Racons i.e. they respond within the frequency
range of the marine radar band. The majority of in-band Racons are of the swept frequency type Le. the transponder
frequency sweeps the frequency range of the marine radar band. The Racon response to a ship's triggering radar
pulse will therefore appear automatically on the ship's radar display for the period when the Racon sweep is within
the bandwidth of the ship's radar receiver. Some in-band Racons are termed frequency agile. Their response is
always within the bandwidth of the ship's radar receiver. They may cease to respond for a few seconds each minute
to allow radar echoes otherwise obscured by the Racon signal to be distinguished; at other times the Racon
response appears automatically on the ship's radar display.

A further development of the frequency agile Racon is the Interrogated Time Offset Frequency Agile Racon
(ITOFAR) which can present the beacon response independent of the surrounding radar signals by offsetting the
time of its response. The response is delayed by about 500 ~lS so that its apparent range is in excess of 40 n miles
and it can be presented clear of all but the strongest of radar returns. At present there are only a small number of

ITOFARs in Norway and Sweden. Only specially modified radar sets can trigger and subsequently receive ITOFAR
responses. On unmodified radar sets ITOFARs appear as normal frequency agile Racons.

The majority of Racons respond to 3cm (X-band) and 10 cm (S-band) radar emissions. The 3cm (X-band)
operates between 9300 and 9500 MHz. The 10 cm (S-band) operates between 2900 and 3100 MHz.

Except where otherwise indicated, the "Racon flash" takes the form of a single line or narrow sector,
extending radially towards the circumference of the radar display, from a point slightly beyond the spot (if any)
formed by the echo from the lighthouse, etc, at the Racon site. Thus, "distance off" may be measured to the point at
which the Racon flash begins but the figure obtained will be greater than the ship's distance from the Racon; this is
due to the slight response delay in the radar beacon apparatus.