May I digress slightly. Can anyone help with radar use, B738, when below 5000'agl on arrival? I scan ahead when about 40nm out and try to get build apicture of what's down there.
However, when close to the gorund and trying to get a clear picture there is too much ground clutter. Pointing it up us useless. reducing the gain from auto to manual is the only thing left, but how much? Might you erase the very stuff you are trying to detect and giving yourself a false relaxation. Any hills around and the screen gives you the idea than a diversion (false TS's) when you suspect there are some reals ones as well, might be best option.
I've had the confusion below 3000' that ATC radar gavde a base turn heading, but our screen looked like tomatoes. ATC said their screen was clear, and sure enough we were underneath the real stuff.
Any solid advice mch appreciated. The FCOM are useless on such an important topic. Our grey boxes don't even have the manufacturer's name/model on them to pursue that route.