X-band Radar (3 cm)

The common yacht radar band, sharp picture but poor in rain

X-band operates around 9.4 GHz with a wavelength near three centimetres. The short wavelength allows a narrow beam from a physically small antenna, giving good bearing discrimination and strong returns from small targets, buoys and radar reflectors, and it is the band to which racons and search and rescue transponders respond. Its drawback is greater attenuation and clutter in heavy rain and snow compared with the longer wavelength band.