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Frequency Modulated Continuous-Wave X-Band Radar A type of radar that does not use a magnatron. It has very good resolution for near targets but some limitations for ranges greater than 10 miles or so. It uses very low power, which is an advantage to power consumption matters as well as radiation safety issues (essentially none with this unit), but a notable disadvantage as it will not trigger a RACON, which is an important aid to radar navigation. In principle they could be sold for significantly less than conventional magnatron radars for several reasons, but it is not clear how this will evolve. This is not new technology, it has been used for years by the military, but it is as of 2009 relatively new application to small-craft radar. It is called "Broadband Radar" by several companies, which is a marketing choice, not related to any principles involved. See Broadband Radar. See practical discussions in our online radar course. Abbreviation:  FMCW

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