Radar transponder

Shipboard GMDSS installations include one or more search and rescue locating devices. The radar-SART is used to locate a survival craft or distressed vessel by creating a series of dots on a rescuing ship's radar display. A SART will only respond to a 9 GHz X-band (3 cm wavelength) radar. It will not be seen on S-band (10 cm) or other radar.

The SART may be triggered by any X-band radar within a range of approximately 8 nautical miles (15 kilometers). Each radar pulse received causes it to transmit a response which is swept repetitively across the complete radar frequency band. When interrogated, it first sweeps rapidly (0.4 microsecond) through the band before beginning a relatively slow sweep (7.5 microseconds) through the band back to the starting frequency. This process is repeated for a total of twelve complete cycles. At some point in each sweep, the SART frequency will match that of the interrogating radar and be within the pass band of the radar receiver. If the SART is within range, the frequency match during each of the 12 slow sweeps will produce a response on the radar display, thus a line of 12 dots equally spaced by about 0.64 nautical mile (1.2 km) will be shown. When the range to the radar-SART is reduced to about 1 nautical mile (2 km), the radar display may show also the 12 responses generated during the fast sweeps. These additional dot responses, which also are equally spaced by 0.64 nautical mile (1.2 km), will be interspersed with the original line of 12 dots. They will appear slightly weaker and smaller than the original dots.

GMDSS 9GHz Radar Transponder Tron SART

JRC JQX-30A

SART 9 GHZ is designed for use in search and rescue operations. SART JQX-30A fulfills the mandatory requirements for the location function within the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS).

• Heavy duty design
• High reliability / Maintenance free
• Easy to hand and carry
• Easy to fit and operate

Specification:

Frequency:	X-band (9200-9500 MHz)
Temperature: operating storage	–20°C ... +55°C –30°C ... +65°C
Battery capacity: standby continuous operation	96 hrs 8 hrs
Eff. sensitivity:	Better than – 50 dBm
Pulse emission:	100 µS
Power output:	≥400 mW
Antenna polarisation:	Horizontal
Horizontal directionality:	Omnidirectional
Vertical directionality:	≥±12,5°
Dimensions:	374 × 80 × 118 mm
Weight:	1.05 kg

McMurdo S4 Rescue SART

The S4 Rescue SART offers proven reliability. Extremely simple to use the S4 Rescue can be operated even with gloved or wet hands. Its compact design makes it ideally suited for packing in liferafts or as a carry off device according to SOLAS regulations.

The S4 Rescue is a 9GHz X-band Radar transceiver and has been designed for assisting air/sea ship or survival craft rescue operations in accordance with IMO, GMDSS requirements.

When a radar signal is received from a ship or aircraft, the S4 Rescue automatically transmits a response signal, which clearly identifies the survival craft on the radar screen by means of a stream of 12 in-line dots. Once activated the S4 will remain in standby mode for over 96 hours.

The S4 Rescue has been designed for reliable operation in the toughest of marine environments, in accordance with IMO/GMDSS requirements.

• Ship or survival craft options
• Waterproof to 10 m
• Buoyant
• Compact and lightweight
• Maintenance free
• Replaceable, 5 year battery pack
• Audio/visual indication of operation
• Built-in test facility
• Integral lanyard
• Mounting options - internal/external

Specification:

Receiver Response:	9.2-9.5 GHz
Sensitivity:	better than -50 dBm
Transmitter Response:	12 forward and return sweeps through the range 9.2-9.5 GHz
Nominal sweep times:	7.5 _s forward and 0.4 _s return
Radiated Power (ERP):	Not less than 400 mW (+26 dBm)
Duration of Operation:	96 hours in standby condition min. 8 hours of transmission with a pulse repetition frequency of 1 kHz.
Temperature Range: Operational Storage	-20°C to +55°C -30°C to +65°C
Effective Antenna Height:	1 metre or greater
Weight:	360g (without mast or bracket) 510g (with mast) 530g (with mast & bracket)
Dimensions:	264 mm × Ø90mm

SAILOR SART II

All products from Thrane & Thrane’s SAILOR product programme are designed for the rough conditions at sea and the SAILOR SART II is no exception. The SAILOR SART II is small and easy to use, offering safety in critical situations.

The SAILOR SART II is a 9 GHz X-band Radar transceiver and has been designed for assisting rescue operations in accordance with IMO, GMDSS requirements.

• Ship or survival craft options
  
• Waterproof to 10 m
  
• Maintenance free
  
• Replaceable, 5 year battery pack
  
• Audio/visual indication of operation
  
• Built-in test facility
  
• Integral lanyard
  
• Mounting options – internal/external

Specification:

Receiver Response:	9.2-9.5 GHz
Transmitter Response:	12 forward and return sweeps through the range 9.2-9.5 GHz
Nominal sweep times:	7.5 µs forward 0.4 µs return
Minimum recovery time following excitation:	less than 10µs
Response reply to receiver signal:	less than 0.5µs
Radiated Power (ERP):	Not less than 400 mW (+26 dBm)
Duration of Operation:	96 hours in standby condition min. 8 hours of transmission with a pulse repetition frequency of 1 kHz.
Temperature Range: Operational Storage	-20°C to +55°C -30°C to +65°C
Effective Antenna Height:	1 metre or greater
Weight:	360g (without mast or bracket) 510g (with mast) 530g (with mast & bracket)
Dimensions:	264 mm × Ø90mm

Samyung SAR-9