Neets Master Glossary

1-59 RADAR DETECTOR—A detector that, in its simplest form, only needs to be capable of producing an output when RF energy (reflected from a target) is present at its input [12]. RADAR DISTRIBUTION SWITCHBOARD—An electrical switching panel used to connect inputs from any of several radars to repeaters (indicators) [18]. RADAR MILE—Time interval (12.36 microseconds) for RF energy to travel out from a radar to a target and back to the radar; radar nautical mile [18]. RADAR TEST SET—A combination of several test circuits and equipment used to test various characteristics of a radar [18]. RADIATION FIELD—The electromagnetic field that radiates from an antenna and travels through space [10]. RADIATION LOSSES—The losses that occur when magnetic lines of force about a conductor are projected into space as radiation and are not returned to the conductor as the cycle alternates [10]. RADIATION PATTERN—A plot of the radiated energy from an antenna [10]. RADIATION RESISTANCE—The resistance that if inserted in place of the antenna would consume the same amount of power as that radiated by the antenna [10]. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS—The term describing teletypewriter, voice, telegraphic, and facsimile communications. [17]. RADIO FREQUENCY (RF)—(1) Any frequency of electromagnetic energy capable of propagation into space [2]. (2) The frequencies that fall between 3 kilohertz and 300 gigahertz used for radio communications [10]. RADIO FREQUENCY CARRIER SHIFT—The system that uses a keyer to shift a radio frequency signal above or below an assigned frequency. These shifts correspond to marks and spaces [17]. RADIO HORIZON—The boundary beyond the natural horizon in which radio waves cannot be propagated over the earth's surface [10]. RADIO SET CONTROL UNIT—Equipment used to remotely control certain transmitter and receiver functions [17]. RADIO WAVES—(1) A form of radiant energy that can neither be seen nor felt. (2) An electromagnetic wave that is generated by a transmitter [10]. RADIX—Also called the base. The number of distinct symbols used in a number system. For example, since the decimal number system uses ten symbols (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), the radix is 10. In the binary number system, the radix is 2 because it uses only two symbols (0, 1) [13]. RADIX POINT—Also called BINARY POINT, OCTAL POINT, DECIMAL POINT, and so forth, depending on the number system [13]. RANGE—The length of a straight line between a radar set and a target [11] [18]. RANGE-GATE—A movable gate used to select radar echoes from a very short range interval [18].