EchoMax Radar Reflectors

Foreword

In just eight years Echomax radar reflectors have become one of the best known passive radar reflectors in the world. From early sales to pleasure vessels they are now fitted by many of the leading buoy manufacturers in europe and as far away as Australia, Port and Harbour Authorities, many foreign Navies including US Nuclear Submarines. The valuable lessons we have learnt enable us to extend or services which are listed below. We are confident that the launch of our new Active-X RTE will take us into a new era.

Leading / Range Lights, beacons, Racons, audible signals, day marks.
Support structures in steel, aluminium and GRP.
Modernisation of buoy power systems for LED lights and advances in passive radar reflector technology .
Rotationally moulded PE and steel navigation & mooring buoys with chain, sinkers, anchors.
Upgrade of existing floating and fixed station aids to navigation.
Land or Marine Hazard markers.
Passive and active AIS systems and custom made radar reflectors from 10-500M2.
Our independent status enables us to supply and install equipment from any manufacturer, world-wide.

We value your feedback - if you have any comments, suggestions or queries regarding our products please email us

John H. FIRTH (1922-2002)
Pictured at DERA (QinetiQ),
reproduced courtesy of PBO

"Comparing Echomax to other reflectors is like comparing a car headlight with a candle in a jar."

"My involvement in radar reflectors was merely self preservation - as I was the target!"

John H. FIRTH

Echomax Radar Reflectors are based on an invention by John Firth.

Concerned about the performance of radar reflectors, in the seventies John Firth patented a design which, as licensees, Firdell was jointly established to market. Firdell stopped selling Pentland Firth reflectors and continued to market another design which they sold as the Blipper. Connections with that company severed and John then patented an improved design which was sold as the Gillie-Firth for 25 years. The Echomax was a revolutionary design of the stacked array principle and was his third patent.

As a member of ISO committee in Paris in 1980, considering amendments to Marine Radar Reflectors Regulations, John drafted performance paragraphs subsequently incorporated into ISO 8729.

For many years the Octahedral reflector has been accepted as the basis for the ISO 8729, RORC and ORC specification. However, at a 15° tilt its serious failings are a lack of response over 140° azimuth.

Echomax products awaiting testing at QinetiQ April 2001
Click here to view larger image

ECHOMAX EM 230 (sculptured).
Supplied to commercial applications
in the North Sea

Echomax Reflectors

Echomax EM 230 weighs approximately four pounds, and comprises six identical sectors each responding with peaks to 24M2, 10M2 - 70% az., 5M2 - 100% az. When the reflector is tilted, with yaw pitch and roll, 'glint' also ensures an all round performance is maintained.

Comprised of a three stack array of laser cut aluminum or stainless steel enclosed in a glass fibre or polyethylene case. At each end 8/10mm diameter fixings enable a halyard hoist or mast mounting. Echomax inflatable reflectors fold down into a neat pocket size, an ideal addition to the emergency grab bag.

Increased Radar Cross Section

Tests carried out in the QinetiQ (DERA) anechoic chamber at Funtington confirm that the designs reflective area is nearly four times greater than similar size products using orthogonal corners. The only symmetrical reflector with modified corners the Echomax directs optimum power perpendicular to its major axis. With minimum movement of that axis mutual interference (glint) occurs between incorporated lobes of response.

Increased Heel Response

This vertical response is most important where the grazing angle of a searching airborne radar beam may be large.

High S Band Response

MCA/QinetiQ sea trials at 5 miles plus the EM 230 gave 100% paints at X Band and 80% paints at S Band. Two EM230's were sent to QinetiQ at their request for echoic tests which confirmed the sea trial results.

Increased 360° Response Cycle

The Echomax gives a significant centreband response over 360° azimuth and does not have the characteristic peaks and nulls of other corner reflectors since the stacked array ensures that there is always a fully opened corner facing the horizon.

Choice of Mounting Options

Mast mounting, Deck mounting, Halyard hoist or Pedestal.

Custom made Echomax

Echomax Radar Reflectors are available from 20m² to 500m² plus.

So far as we can discover we are the only manufacturer who freely publishes independent test results. We also include with each product a certified polar diagram of it performance.

From 28th October 2003 until 21st July 2009 Echomax EM230/230BR and EM305PE were certified by QinetiQ and able to claim the prestigious ‘Ships Wheel Mark’ which indicates that the models specified met all the necessary International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and SOLAS requirements of the then current ISO 8729. The ‘Ships Wheel Mark’ Certification is only granted following rigorous independent environmental and performance testing to International Standards in force at that time.

However upon the introduction of the up graded ISO 8729-2 on 22nd July 2009 certification of all radar reflectors granted under this standard ceased from that date. At the time of updating this site (08/09) no known Active RTE or Passive reflector is known to have been tested and certified to this specification which can be seen on Echomax in Action - Marine Regulation and Rules.

The ‘Ships Wheel Mark’ indicates that specified Echomax products met all the necessary International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and SOLAS requirements. The ‘Ships Wheel Mark’ Certification was only granted following rigorous independent environmental and performance testing to International Standards.

Performance testing is carried out under the supervision and assessment of a European Government appointed Notified body. Under the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) the ‘Ships Wheel Mark’ is recognised and fully accepted in the EU and the USA for certain items of marine equipment including Radar Reflectors.

Certification proves that Echomax has obtained a performance and durability that can be equalled by few radar reflector manufacturers anywhere in the world.

Echomax products awaiting testing at QinetiQ 21st November 2001
Click here to view larger image

* From 28th October 2003 until 21st July 2009 Echomax EM230/230BR and EM305PE

ISO 8729

For many years the 18" Octahedral reflector has been accepted as a benchmark by ISO/BSI and RORC. However, its serious failings are illustrated adjacent where, at 15 Degrees tilt, the octahedral gives no response over 140 Degrees.

1. Radar reflectors using lens elements maintain, substantially, the same response when tilted, but are restricted by size and weight from providing an acceptable RCS.

2. An octahedral corner reflector in its ‘catch water’ position returns six 10m2 peak echoes but loses some entirely with minimal tilt (after sixty years still in wide use).

3. Echomax reflectors use a symmetrical arrangement of interacting corners. Whilst its centreband response pattern is maintained at 15 degrees tilt RCS is -5dB. To counter this, and avoid ‘mast shadow’

Echomax should be hoisted as shown. Pass a bight over the yardarm via a dead eye. Return bight through reflectors eye and secure taking lines through bight. Take tails through reflectors bottom eye and then to separate cleats via loops at --xx--

Note: Reflector trimmed to leeward 15 degrees. Mast heeling to 30 degrees. Echomax 230mm response = 6M2.