In which frequency band does a search and rescue transponder operate?

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Multiple Choice

In which frequency band does a search and rescue transponder operate?

A search and rescue transponder is designed to respond to a ship’s radar interrogations, so it must operate in the same radar frequency band as those radars. Most marine X-band radars use about 9 GHz, which is why the SART is built to transmit at roughly 9 GHz when triggered. This frequency allows the rescuing vessel’s radar to detect a distinctive pattern (often a line of dots) on its screen, pinpointing the distress source. Distress beacons at 406 MHz are for COSPAS-SARSAT satellite tracking, not radar responses, and S-band or other frequencies like 3 GHz are not the standard for SARTs.

A search and rescue transponder is designed to respond to a ship’s radar interrogations, so it must operate in the same radar frequency band as those radars. Most marine X-band radars use about 9 GHz, which is why the SART is built to transmit at roughly 9 GHz when triggered. This frequency allows the rescuing vessel’s radar to detect a distinctive pattern (often a line of dots) on its screen, pinpointing the distress source. Distress beacons at 406 MHz are for COSPAS-SARSAT satellite tracking, not radar responses, and S-band or other frequencies like 3 GHz are not the standard for SARTs.

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