Electronic & Radionavigation

Every radionavigation system inherits the behaviour of its carrier frequency. Knowing how a wave travels explains both the coverage and the errors of the system.

GNSS gives continuous global position from ranging to satellites. Understanding how it fails matters more than knowing how it works.

Loran-C and its modern descendant eLoran fix position from differences in time of arrival, producing hyperbolic lines of position independent of satellites.

Radar measures range and bearing to targets, providing both navigation LOPs and the raw data for collision avoidance. ARPA automates the plot but not the judgement.

ECDIS with official vector charts can replace paper under SOLAS, but only when set up, updated and backed up correctly. Most ECDIS incidents are configuration failures, not equipment failures.