Ramark
Encyclopedia
A Ramark is a type of radar
beacon
occasionally used to mark maritime navigational hazards. The word is an acronym for RAdar MARKer.
They are wide-band beacons which transmit either continuously or periodically on the radar bands. The transmission forms a line of Morse
characters on a plan position indicator
radar display which radiates from the centre of the display to its edge.
Periodic transmissions every few seconds are usually used so that important radar targets behind the ramark beacon are not masked by the Morse characters. Ramark beacons are less commonly used than Racon
beacons which give the location as well as the bearing of the hazard and do not clutter the display so much.
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
beacon
Beacon
A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.Beacons can also be combined with semaphoric or other indicators to provide important information, such as the status of an airport, by the colour and rotational pattern of its airport beacon, or of...
occasionally used to mark maritime navigational hazards. The word is an acronym for RAdar MARKer.
They are wide-band beacons which transmit either continuously or periodically on the radar bands. The transmission forms a line of Morse
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
characters on a plan position indicator
Plan position indicator
The plan position indicator , is the most common type of radar display. The radar antenna is usually represented in the center of the display, so the distance from it and height above ground can be drawn as concentric circles...
radar display which radiates from the centre of the display to its edge.
Periodic transmissions every few seconds are usually used so that important radar targets behind the ramark beacon are not masked by the Morse characters. Ramark beacons are less commonly used than Racon
Racon
A racon is a radar transponder commonly used to mark maritime navigational hazards. The word is a portmanteau of RAdar and beaCON.When a racon receives a radar pulse, it responds with a signal on the same frequency which puts an image on the radar display...
beacons which give the location as well as the bearing of the hazard and do not clutter the display so much.