A SART's signal cannot be detected:

A SART's signal cannot be detected:

• A. In poor visibility, or at night.
• B. In heavy seas.
• C. By a search vessel's 10 cm Radar.
• D. By a search vessel's 3 cm Radar.

Answer: (C)

A SART, or Search and Rescue Transponder, emits a radar signal that is specifically designed to aid in the location of distressed vessels. This signal is primarily detected by radar systems operating at the X-band frequency, which typically ranges around 3 cm in wavelength. The SART is optimized to respond to radar pulses by sending back a series of signals, which can be displayed on a radar screen as dots or lines, indicating the presence of the SART and thus assisting in recovery operations. When considering the type of radar that is unable to detect a SART's signal, the 10 cm radar is operating within a frequency range that is longer than the SART's signal range, making detection ineffective. Consequently, this means radar systems operating at 10 cm cannot adequately pick up the unique returns from the SART, as they fall outside the frequency response the SART is designed to operate within. In contrast, the 3 cm radar is within the SART's operational detection frequency range, which is why it can accurately detect and track SART signals. Therefore, the best answer recognizes that a search vessel's 10 cm radar lacks the sensitivity required to detect the signals transmitted by a SART.

A SART, or Search and Rescue Transponder, emits a radar signal that is specifically designed to aid in the location of distressed vessels. This signal is primarily detected by radar systems operating at the X-band frequency, which typically ranges around 3 cm in wavelength.

The SART is optimized to respond to radar pulses by sending back a series of signals, which can be displayed on a radar screen as dots or lines, indicating the presence of the SART and thus assisting in recovery operations.

When considering the type of radar that is unable to detect a SART's signal, the 10 cm radar is operating within a frequency range that is longer than the SART's signal range, making detection ineffective. Consequently, this means radar systems operating at 10 cm cannot adequately pick up the unique returns from the SART, as they fall outside the frequency response the SART is designed to operate within.

In contrast, the 3 cm radar is within the SART's operational detection frequency range, which is why it can accurately detect and track SART signals. Therefore, the best answer recognizes that a search vessel's 10 cm radar lacks the sensitivity required to detect the signals transmitted by a SART.