Assumptions shall not be made on the basis of which in radar information?

Assumptions shall not be made on the basis of which in radar information?

• A. Visual bearings
• B. Signals from multiple sources
• C. Signal strength
• D. Single source

Answer: (D)

Relying on a single radar reading invites misinterpretation. Radar information can be deceptive because of clutter, ghost echoes, interference, sea state effects, and measurement errors, so one echo might not tell the full story. If you only have one source, you risk mistaking a false return for a real target or misjudging its range or bearing. Using more than one source to confirm the target—such as another radar, AIS, or even corroborating visual information—reduces that risk and gives a clearer picture of what’s really there. Visual bearings aren’t radar data themselves, but they can help verify what the radar shows; signals from multiple sources are exactly the kind of corroboration you want to rely on. Relying on signal strength alone can also be misleading, as it can vary with range, angle, and clutter.

Relying on a single radar reading invites misinterpretation. Radar information can be deceptive because of clutter, ghost echoes, interference, sea state effects, and measurement errors, so one echo might not tell the full story. If you only have one source, you risk mistaking a false return for a real target or misjudging its range or bearing. Using more than one source to confirm the target—such as another radar, AIS, or even corroborating visual information—reduces that risk and gives a clearer picture of what’s really there. Visual bearings aren’t radar data themselves, but they can help verify what the radar shows; signals from multiple sources are exactly the kind of corroboration you want to rely on. Relying on signal strength alone can also be misleading, as it can vary with range, angle, and clutter.