What are Radar Beacons?

While radar reflectors are used to obtain stronger echoes from radar targets, other means are required for more positive identification of radar targets. Radar beacons are transmitters operating in the marine radar frequency band which produce distinctive indications on the radarscopes of ships within range of these beacons.

There are two general classes of these Radar Beacons:

Racon which provides both bearing and range information to the target and

Ramark which provides bearing information only. However, if the Ramark installation is detected as an echo on the radarscope, the range will be available also.