Identifier

This article deals with the identification of beacons for shipping and beacons for navigation purposes. For the official identification of aircraft in the sense of registration, see aircraft identification , for the corresponding identification of warships see ship identification , for merchant ships ship number

The identification of a beacon is the name given to the properties that enable it to be identified at night.

The identification of a radio beacon for navigation purposes is transmitted by modulating the carrier , usually using Morse code .

Identification of beacons

properties

The identifying properties include the color of the fire / light, its timing , the characteristic sequence of light and dark intervals and their recurrence , the duration between the beginning of a timing pattern and the beginning of the next identical one. In a broader sense, this also includes the height of the fire and the nominal range .

The essential clocks are (with the abbreviations used in nautical charts and beacon lists):

English		German		description
Long form	Abbreviation	Long form	Abbreviation
Fixed	F.	Firmly	F.	Continuous fire
Occulting	Oc	Interrupted	Ubr.	Light intervals longer than dark phases
Isophase	Iso	In sync	Valid	Light intervals as long as dark phases
Long flashing	LFl	Blink	Blk.	Light shorter than dark, flashing> 2s
Flashing	Fl	lightning	Blz.	Light shorter than dark, flash <2s
Quick	Q	Twinkle	Fkl.	50-60 flashes per minute
Interrupted quick	IQ	Sparkle interrupted	Fkl.unt.	50–60 flashes per minute interrupted by dark phases
Very quick	VQ	Fast twinkle	sFkl.	100-120 flashes per minute

Color and recurrence are also specified.

Identifier Heiligenhafen, green sector

Examples

For the Heiligenhafen fire you can find “Oc (2) WRG.9s” in nautical charts. This is a twice interrupted sector fire with the colors white / red / green with a return of 9 seconds and a timing (dark) light: (1s) + 2s + (1s) + 5s = 9s

"Fl (4) WR.15s", in the red sector

The identifier "Fl (4) WR.15s" at the Marienuchter lighthouse stands for a sector fire in the colors white / red with 4 flashes with a return of 15 seconds.

Identification of radio beacons

Radio beacons also have an identifier. It usually consists of a maximum of four letters, which the radio beacon transmits in Morse code. With transmitters of the types VOR and ILS , in some cases (especially in the USA ) the station name is also transmitted in voice form.

In the case of non-directional radio beacons in the form of NDBs, the carrier of the radio beacon is usually modulated with an audio frequency signal of 400 Hertz or 1020 Hertz, either using the amplitude modulation or single sideband modulation method . In all cases, a carrier must always be sent as the bearing will otherwise be difficult.

There are also radio beacons that send the identifier by touching the carrier.

Between the individual repetitions of the identifier, only the carrier or carrier is broadcast with a continuous tone.

Marine radio beacons that work in chains emit the identification of the radio beacons involved in the chain in a usually six-minute cycle, the cycle usually starting at the beginning of the full hour. The type of broadcast is the same as for NDB radio beacons.

LORAN , Decca , Omega and RSDN-20 transmitters do not broadcast any identification. This also applies to the satellites of the GPS system.

See also

• Callsign

Web links

Wiktionary: identifier  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

• Comprehensive overview (visually animated) of lighthouse identifiers (requires JavaScript )

swell

• Nautical chart D1 with symbols and abbreviations in the German nautical charts, part "K - Beacon" from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency , Hamburg

Individual evidence

1. ^ Heinz AF Schmidt: Lexicon aviation . VEB transpress, East Berlin 1971, p. 211.