Weather radar returns
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Sweden
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Weather radar returns
Hi there. I have seen some strange weather radar responses a couple of times now over more or less the same position over germany. It looks like a very pointy V, formed by yellow and red returns, pointing towards me. Iwe asked a couple of friends and I have heard lots of different answers, the two that sounds most likely is either that their is moisture inside of the cover of the radar, or that it is produced when my aircraft pics up returns from a military aircraft with a very strong radar.
For your information, im sailing around in a b738ng if their is different kind of weather radars out there.. :P
For your information, im sailing around in a b738ng if their is different kind of weather radars out there.. :P
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Experienced that myself, always at the same position in Italy, so I doubt it has something to do with moisture inside the cover.
I was told this has something to do with military radar stations on the ground.
But maybe somebody knows for sure.
I was told this has something to do with military radar stations on the ground.
But maybe somebody knows for sure.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: on the golf course (Covid permitting)
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe it to be radar spiking by the military. Happens often near sensitive installations and in places of conflict, hence the requirement for civil aircraft to have their radars on and to monitor 121.5 in these areas.
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 18,579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Other radars normally produce what is known as a 'spoke' (not 'spike') which originates at you and expands gently out towards the top of the screen on the azimuth of the TX. Not a 'normal' occurrence since powerful mil radar frequencies are far away from civil but sometimes a harmonic will pop up. Civil stuff is pretty low-powered and may produce one. You'll never know until the missile hits you........................, 
. Radar jargon - 1
. Radar jargon - 1
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting discussion covering the same topic:
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php//t-344799.html
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php//t-344799.html
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: hertfordshire
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I get it all the time - looks light a search light originating from us. I presumed it was another radar tracking my aircraft (deliberately). I have had it almost everywhere except the UK.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SoCalif
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sometimes it shows up as a narrow void, or reverse spoke. I have seen it from ships off San Diego, Calif, and Southern Nevada. To verify it's a ground source, turn the plane a few degrees.
Mil. a/c used to use airliners as practice targets - until TCAS came along and showed the games they were playing. Even after that, America West was seeing lots of pilot squawks for phanom targets over Southern Nevada. It was apparently from nifty ground radars that could make your TCAS look like you had four bogeys approaching from four directions. After a technical management meeting, an AMW pilot, who was USAF Reserve, got in touch and told them to knock that crap off. That pretty much ended the unverified removals of TCAS processors.
GB
Mil. a/c used to use airliners as practice targets - until TCAS came along and showed the games they were playing. Even after that, America West was seeing lots of pilot squawks for phanom targets over Southern Nevada. It was apparently from nifty ground radars that could make your TCAS look like you had four bogeys approaching from four directions. After a technical management meeting, an AMW pilot, who was USAF Reserve, got in touch and told them to knock that crap off. That pretty much ended the unverified removals of TCAS processors.
GB
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Sweden
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
explorer, thats exactly where I experienced it as well...
I'we read somewhere else that it could be one of those big mil.ac with a radar disk on the roof that is locking its radar on you.
I'we read somewhere else that it could be one of those big mil.ac with a radar disk on the roof that is locking its radar on you.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had this a few times myself over Germany and also routing from Charleston down towards Ormond Beach in Fla. Explanation I was given by an ex fast jet bloke was that we were being locked onto by AWACS.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Collins manual states the following
ALIEN RADAR
The WXR-2100 radar incorporates a sophisticated alien radar rejection
algorithm that is designed to prevent interference from other airborne
weather radars. However, high power military radars and military
radar-jamming systems will “burn through” and cause display artifacts
This is followed by a picture showing a "spike" although I'm unable to reproduce it here!
ALIEN RADAR
The WXR-2100 radar incorporates a sophisticated alien radar rejection
algorithm that is designed to prevent interference from other airborne
weather radars. However, high power military radars and military
radar-jamming systems will “burn through” and cause display artifacts
This is followed by a picture showing a "spike" although I'm unable to reproduce it here!
Last edited by lamina; 28th Jul 2009 at 16:03.
