Subelement E: Survival Craft Equip & S.A.R.— Topic :
Question 27E6
Element 7R (GMDSS-RO)A SART's signal cannot be detected:
Explanation
SARTs (Search and Rescue Transponders) are specifically designed to operate in the X-band frequency range, typically 9.2-9.5 GHz, which corresponds to a 3 cm wavelength. When interrogated by an X-band radar, a SART transmits a unique swept-frequency signal back, appearing as a series of 12 dots on the radar display.
A search vessel's 10 cm radar operates in the S-band, which is a significantly lower frequency range (around 3 GHz). Because the SART is designed to transmit and receive only within the X-band, it cannot respond to or be detected by an S-band (10 cm) radar.
Conversely, a 3 cm radar operates in the X-band and *can* detect a SART. Options A and B describe environmental conditions, but SARTs are electronic devices designed precisely to aid detection in poor visibility, at night, and in heavy seas when visual detection is impossible.
Related Questions
27E4 Which statement is NOT true regarding the SART?27E5 At what point does a SART begin transmitting?28E1 How does the searching vessel's radar interrogate a survival craft SART?28E2 What radar display changes indicate the correct approach to a SART and what care should be taken in a SAR situation?28E3 How can rescue personnel detect that a SART is transmitting in the immediate vicinity?