Equipment & Gear used on our CR Yachts 400DS sailboat
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Passive Tri-lens radar reflector

Radar Reflector. Perhaps even more important than having a radar is owning a properly-configured radar reflector. Radar reflectors help other radar operators to see you more clearly on their screens. These devices are specifically designed to make your vessel look larger (or at least show up more clearly) on a radar scan! A standard sailboat mast might appear as a pin-prick on the radar screen of a large ship. The helmsman of that ship might not pay any attention to just a "blip" on the radar. But if that blip is big enough (or bright enough), it might get his attention so he can change course or slow down before running you over in the middle of the night!

Every boat needs a radar reflector. A ship's radar system will only work with boats that are visible on radar, and a radar reflector is what makes your boat visible. Radar systems typically require a minimum of 3 consecutive "hits" or blips on a ship's radar before it can be acquired as a target. This puts a premium not only on the strength of the return, but also on consistent coverage.

Luneberg lenses have been used by the Navy, Army and Air Force for years as radar reflectors. The Tri-Lens Reflector uses this technology to bring a far superior reflector to the market. The Tri-Lens Reflector has more angular coverage and higher radar cross section (RCS) than reflectors made of triangular or circular plates.

 

The Luneberg lens reflectors focus incident electromagnetic plane waves onto a reflector cap located near the back surface of the lens so that RCS enhancement is provided over a conical view angle. This is what gives the Tri-lens it's unique coverage signature.

The signal from the most commonly used radar reflectors (corner reflectors) have a few peaks and many valleys. The manufactures of these type of reflectors (Firdell, Mobri, Davis) always refer to RCS in terms of Peak RCS. What they don't tell you is this RCS is rarely obtainable and never happens when your boat is pitching or heeling. Also, they never mention angular coverage, which is most important when evaluating a radar reflector. A tri-hedral radar reflector's angular coverage is just 35 degrees wide.

The Tri-Lens Reflector has a far superior signature. There are 3 wide peaks and just 3 narrow valleys. The Tri-Lens has the same maximum radar cross section as 12" aluminum corner reflector clusters, but has far more angular coverage. There is a better chance of being seen by another ship's radar in low visibility, high traffic or emergency situations when using the Tri-Lens Reflector.