At what point does a SART begin transmitting?

At what point does a SART begin transmitting?

• A. When activated manually
• B. Only after distress beacon is received
• C. When placed in the on position and interrogated by a 9 GHz radar signal
• D. Immediately after power-up

Answer: (C)

A SART is a radar transponder that stays silent until it is asked to respond. It only transmits when it is on and a radar signal in the 9 GHz X-band sweeps over it. When interrogated in this way, the SART emits a distinctive radar response that appears on the interrogating ship’s radar as a pattern of dots, helping rescuers locate the distress vessel. So the device begins transmitting when it is powered on and detects a 9 GHz radar interrogation. It does not transmit just by being manually activated, nor after receiving a distress beacon, nor immediately after power-up without being interrogated.

A SART is a radar transponder that stays silent until it is asked to respond. It only transmits when it is on and a radar signal in the 9 GHz X-band sweeps over it. When interrogated in this way, the SART emits a distinctive radar response that appears on the interrogating ship’s radar as a pattern of dots, helping rescuers locate the distress vessel. So the device begins transmitting when it is powered on and detects a 9 GHz radar interrogation. It does not transmit just by being manually activated, nor after receiving a distress beacon, nor immediately after power-up without being interrogated.