Thailand RACON On-Vessel Radar Verification
Projects Detail
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Test Site: Chao Phraya River
Test Platform: Dredger
Product: DX-RACON-02 Radar Beacon
Test Type: On-Vessel Radar Verification
For RACON equipment, technical specifications are important, but they do not show the full picture.
In this project, the DX-RACON-02 was tested on a dredger in the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand. The purpose was to check the radar response of the unit through an actual vessel radar system and review how that response appeared on the onboard radar display.
The test focused on the core interaction between the vessel radar and the RACON under real vessel conditions.
The test was centered on the basic radar response process of the DX-RACON-02.
The main points checked were:
- radar interrogation from the vessel radar;
- coded response returned by the DX-RACON-02;
- how the returned response appeared on the onboard radar display.
The focus was not on multiple product functions, but on the RACON’s core radar response behavior during an actual vessel test.
The test was carried out directly through the dredger’s onboard radar system.
During the test, the vessel radar transmitted interrogation signals toward the RACON. The DX-RACON-02 received the radar signal and returned its configured coded response, which could then be reviewed on the radar display.
This allowed the full radar interaction to be checked in one actual vessel environment:
Radar Interrogation → RACON Response → Radar Display
The field video recorded the vessel radar screen during the DX-RACON-02 test.
At the time of the recorded view, the radar display range was set to 3.0 NM. The PPI display showed normal surrounding radar echoes, range rings and navigation information together with a distinct radial response during the test.
The response was not limited to a single captured frame. Similar response patterns could be observed across successive radar sweeps in the field video.
This is useful because the RACON response was not viewed in isolation. It appeared within the vessel’s normal radar picture together with surrounding echoes, giving a more practical view of how the response is presented during an onboard radar test.
A specification sheet can describe frequency, power, response code and nominal range, but the radar screen shows something different: how the response actually appears in the operator’s normal radar picture.
During this test, the response could be reviewed together with:
- surrounding radar echoes;
- bearing and range information;
- standard PPI range rings;
- normal onboard radar navigation data.
This made the field test more than a simple equipment check. It provided a direct visual reference for the response pattern of the DX-RACON-02 under the tested vessel conditions.
The DX-RACON-02 is a dual-band radar beacon supporting both X-band and S-band marine radar.
Key specifications include:
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Operating Frequency | X-band: 9300–9500 MHz; S-band: 2900–3100 MHz |
| Nominal Range | 10–15 NM |
| Transmit Power | ≥1.5 W |
| Response Code | A–Z, 0–9, NW, NE, SW, SE, per IMO A.530 |
| Response Delay | ≤0.5 μs |
| Waterproof Rating | IP68 |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +70°C |
| Housing / Material | Engineering plastic radome + 316 stainless steel base |
The dual-band version is designed to work with both X-band and S-band radar systems.
After the test and inspection, the site feedback was:
“The customer inspection went smoothly this afternoon!”
The inspection and radar verification were completed smoothly on site.
This Bangkok field test provided a direct way to review the DX-RACON-02 through an actual vessel radar system.
Instead of relying only on product specifications, the test recorded how the RACON response appeared within a real onboard radar picture, including surrounding echoes and normal navigation information.
For RACON evaluation, this type of on-vessel test provides a practical reference for understanding how the equipment responds and how that response is presented on the radar display.
