FCC Ship Radar Endorsement case studies
FCC Ship Radar Endorsement · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Ship Radar Endorsement is a commercial radio operator credential tied to the FCC Commercial Radio Operator License Program, which is administered under 47 C.F.R. Importantly, the FCC's own program page lists ship radar stations among the facilities you do NOT need a commercial operator license to operate when the radar frequency is determined by a nontunable, pulse type magnetron or other fixed tune device and the radar can be operated exclusively by external controls. The same page states that a commercial operator license IS required to repair and maintain all ship radio and radar stations. So the endorsement matters most to technicians and maintainers, and to operators of radar installations that fall outside those two exemptions. The FCC Ship Radar Endorsement case studies are 5 cases and about 3,281 words.
1Radar Endorsement and the Dockside Repair
You are the port engineer for a small commercial fishing fleet. A 72-foot vessel has just received a 6 kW X-band radar.
745 words, about 4 min2Two Boats on the Same Bearing at Six Miles
A 12-inch X-band radar on a harbor tug is set to the 6 NM range scale. The transmitter uses a 0.5 microsecond pulse and a PRF of 1200 Hz.
618 words, about 3 min3The Fixed-Tune Magnetron That Almost Fits
A 25 kW X-band radar on a coastal freighter has a fixed-tune magnetron designed for 9410 MHz. After 7000 hours, the technician replaces it with a universal replacement rated at 9375 MHz because the exact part is unavailable.
646 words, about 3 min4Twelve Degrees of Heading Error
A 45-foot workboat has a 4 kW open-array X-band radar, a new GPS, and a gyrocompass. After a technician replaces the heading interface cable, the radar is set to north-up and true bearing.
636 words, about 3 min5Radial Lines and an Open Waveguide
A 90-foot offshore supply vessel is alongside in a busy harbor. Its 25 kW X-band radar display shows bright dotted radial lines from the center on every range scale.
636 words, about 3 min