The automated radar contact tracking, threat assessment, and measured response software that operates WatchStander is a commercial-grade adaptation of proven, mature technologies developed by the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at The Pennsylvania State University. The original technologies were developed over the past decade under sponsorship of the US Navy, and much is protected by a patent licensed exclusively to WatchStander.
How It Works
- Long-range, high-resolution radar surveillance
- Automatic “antagonistic behaviour” recognition
- Immediate automated defensive response - at distance
- Disruptive, legal, non-lethal defence
Broadband 4G™ Radar has an impressive 50% improvement in range and target detection capability, with a new 36nm range and 18 range scales to accomodate the increased performance.Simrad Broadband 4G™ is the first dome radar to employ Beam Sharpening. This technology enables a new feature called Target Separation Control, which improves the Azimuth resolution, or effective antenna horizontal beam width, up to double the resolution of any 18-inch dome radar. This is the equivalent of a three and a half foot open array radar.
- Beam Sharpening with Target Separation Control
- Long Range performance
- Dual range anywhere from 200' to 36nm
- Up to 48rpm at less than 1nm
- Directional Clutter rejection and Sidelobe suppression
- FMCW technology with inherent LPI
- Extremely low emissions
- InstantOn™
Improved Range Performance with Noise Rejection Control
Broadband 4G™ Radar uses advanced levels of Digital Signal Processing to reduce the amount of noise picked up by the radome's surroundings. Users can choose the levels of Noise Rejection via an onscreen menu and decide between LOW or HIGH rejection to customise their views (displays without Noise Rejection Control automatically default to High, in this case Target Separation will also be High). Noise Rejection Control increases the Broadband 4G Radar range by up to 50% and also increases target detection sensitivity.Panbo: The Marine Electronics Hub: Simrad Broadband Radar 4G, hand's-on #1
4G truly is a significant upgrade from the original BR24 and its 3G successor.
It does have more power, better range, and better horizontal
resolution. Higher possible automated rotation speed will no doubt
improve close-in tracking of fast targets (I only got one lobster boat
to test that theory on), and the new dual range feature -- if you have
an MFD that supports it -- is the absolute bomb. But can it faithfully
produce the range of a 4kw radome or the beam width of a 3.5-foot open
array? Is it true that "Broadband 4G Radar signals the death of pulse" radar? Sorry, but that kind of talk is premature, I think.
Not that 4G didn't impress me mightily. Click on that top screen for the highest detail of Camden Inner Harbor, both in range resolution and horizontal resolution, that I've ever seen from a radar antenna 24-inch or less. And note that the radar overlaid over the chart window is operating at a greater range with completely independent controls, something I've never seen before even though the Furuno DRS2D, last discussed here in June, and the Raymarine RD418HD can both do dual range... - See more at: http://www.panbo.com/archives/2011/12/simrad_broadband_radar_4g_hands-on_1.html#sthash.xvmV2elq.dpuf
Not that 4G didn't impress me mightily. Click on that top screen for the highest detail of Camden Inner Harbor, both in range resolution and horizontal resolution, that I've ever seen from a radar antenna 24-inch or less. And note that the radar overlaid over the chart window is operating at a greater range with completely independent controls, something I've never seen before even though the Furuno DRS2D, last discussed here in June, and the Raymarine RD418HD can both do dual range... - See more at: http://www.panbo.com/archives/2011/12/simrad_broadband_radar_4g_hands-on_1.html#sthash.xvmV2elq.dpuf
In my view, 4G truly is a significant upgrade from the original BR24
and its 3G successor. It does have more power, better range, and better
horizontal resolution. Higher possible automated rotation speed will no
doubt improve close-in tracking of fast targets (I only got one lobster
boat to test that theory on), and the new dual range feature -- if you
have an MFD that supports it -- is the absolute bomb. But can it
faithfully produce the range of a 4kw radome or the beam width of a
3.5-foot open array? Is it true that "Broadband 4G Radar signals the
death of pulse" radar? Sorry, but that kind of talk is premature, I
think. - See more at:
http://www.panbo.com/archives/2011/12/simrad_broadband_radar_4g_hands-on_1.html#sthash.xvmV2elq.dpuf
In my view, 4G truly is a significant upgrade from the original BR24 and its 3G successor. It does have more power, better range, and better horizontal resolution. Higher possible automated rotation speed will no doubt improve close-in tracking of fast targets (I only got one lobster boat to test that theory on), and the new dual range feature -- if you have an MFD that supports it -- is the absolute bomb.
But can it faithfully produce the range of a 4kw radome or the beam width of a 3.5-foot open array? Is it true that "Broadband 4G Radar signals the death of pulse" radar? Sorry, but that kind of talk is premature, I think. Not that 4G didn't impress me mightily.
Click on that top screen for the highest detail of Camden Inner Harbor, both in range resolution and horizontal resolution, that I've ever seen from a radar antenna 24-inch or less. And note that the radar overlaid over the chart window is operating at a greater range with completely independent controls, something I've never seen before even though the Furuno DRS2D, last discussed here in June, and the Raymarine RD418HD can both do dual range - - See more at: http://www.panbo.com/archives/2011/12/simrad_broadband_radar_4g_hands-on_1.html#sthash.xvmV2elq.dpuf
4G truly is a significant upgrade from the original BR24 and its 3G successor.
It does have more power, better range, and better horizontal
resolution. Higher possible automated rotation speed will no doubt
improve close-in tracking of fast targets (I only got one lobster boat
to test that theory on), and the new dual range feature -- if you have
an MFD that supports it -- is the absolute bomb. But can it faithfully
produce the range of a 4kw radome or the beam width of a 3.5-foot open
array? Is it true that "Broadband 4G Radar signals the death of pulse" radar? Sorry, but that kind of talk is premature, I think.
Not that 4G didn't impress me mightily. Click on that top screen for the highest detail of Camden Inner Harbor, both in range resolution and horizontal resolution, that I've ever seen from a radar antenna 24-inch or less. And note that the radar overlaid over the chart window is operating at a greater range with completely independent controls, something I've never seen before even though the Furuno DRS2D, last discussed here in June, and the Raymarine RD418HD can both do dual range... - See more at: http://www.panbo.com/archives/2011/12/simrad_broadband_radar_4g_hands-on_1.html#sthash.xvmV2elq.dpuf
Radar: Is 4G Better? | boats.com BlogNot that 4G didn't impress me mightily. Click on that top screen for the highest detail of Camden Inner Harbor, both in range resolution and horizontal resolution, that I've ever seen from a radar antenna 24-inch or less. And note that the radar overlaid over the chart window is operating at a greater range with completely independent controls, something I've never seen before even though the Furuno DRS2D, last discussed here in June, and the Raymarine RD418HD can both do dual range... - See more at: http://www.panbo.com/archives/2011/12/simrad_broadband_radar_4g_hands-on_1.html#sthash.xvmV2elq.dpuf
It only took a couple of seasons for Navico (the parent company of Lowrance and Simrad, among others) to tackle this challenge head-on, and as they developed the NSE and NSO systems they rolled out the Broadband 3G. Transmission power was doubled, and this delivered 30-percent more range and better long-distance target detection. At the same time, 3G still transmits a mere fraction of the energy of a cell phone, and fits into a compact 18” dome.
Yet 32 miles of range remains a bit on the wimpy side, for some large boat owners. Remember: the most important factor in radar range is actually the height of the antenna, because of the curvature of the Earth. If you have a 20- to 30-something center console, cruiser, or express, chances are your radar won’t live up to its full potential no matter how weak or powerful it may be. (Learn more about radar range here). But if you have a 50’ convertible and the radar is 25’ off the water at the top of a tuna tower, a 32 mile unit doesn’t quite cut it.
Now, behold 4G—Navico has introduced yet another version of Broadband barely a year after 3G hit the market, and this one can peek out an additional four nautical miles into the distance with a 36 NM range. The trick lies in reducing the amount of “noise” the radar registers via advanced digital signal processing, 4G can see farther than any Broadband created to date. And there’s one more nifty perk: this system allows you to look at multiple ranges on split-screens, at the same time.
Previous analysis of BR24 Performance
This analysis showed the BR24 Wideband performance for small boats without reflector was 0.5 to 1.5 NM, compared to the IMO requirement of 3.4 NM. The small antenna width resulted in large horizontal beamwidth.Kazimierski, W.; Lubczonek, J., "Analysis of broadband radar picture in the aspect of marine target tracking," Radar Symposium (IRS), 2011 Proceedings International , vol., no., pp.603,608, 7-9 Sept. 2011 - URL: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6041620&isnumber=6041611
Abstract: Broadband radars, known also as a FMCW radars (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) is a more and more popular alternative for the pulse radars at sea. The technology is usually used on small boats and yachts (small antennas) or in VTS systems (large antennas). In case of boat the antennas are part of multifunctional navigation systems and in case of VTS they are a part of radar monitoring system chain integrated in VTS centre. In both situations tracking of targets is enabled for the user and is provided by software manufacturer. Particularly interested from the tracking point of view are the systems provided for boats, which has very small scanners (ab. 0,6 m), which means horizontal beam width of 5,2°. The research presented in the article are to show if such a radar can be used for verification of different tracking algorithms as a source of input data for tracking filter. The idea is to examine broadband radar picture in the aspect of target detection and recognition, as these are the key issues in tracking in marine radars.
Conclusions: The paper presented the analysis of broadband radar for the needs of radar target tracking. First the theoretical frame was established and then the research with real radar pictures were taken. To sum up the theoretical part it can be said that there are a few factors derived from radar parameters that are of the major meaning if radar picture is good enough for tracking. These are detection and extraction possibilities, discrimination and measurement accuracy.
BR24 Detection Performance vs IMO X Band Requirements
The problems with detecting of small targets and on the long ranges for the broadband radar has been noticed. In general however it was stated that theoretically FMCW radar should provide picture useful for tracking. There are of course some issues regarding the size of antenna. If it is small bearing discrimination is poor, and it is getting much worse for longer ranges. A little better range accuracy should be expected on the contrary.
The experimental research confirmed theoretical analysis results. The radar pictures of an island with mooring dolphins near it have been analyzed. Broadband radar dolphins are very wide due to huge horizontal beam width. They are not separated from the Island and they are quite close to each other. Pulse radar dolphins are on the other hand longer, because of the pulse technology.
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