Direction Finding

Delos Santos, Jesi V.

Decelo, Roehm P.

Navigation Technique

RADIO DIRECTION
FINDING
2

Radio Direction
Finding(RDF)
Measurement

of the direction from

which
a
received
signal
was
transmitted. This can refer to a
radioor other forms of wireless
communication,
including
radarsignals
detection
and
monitoring.

Radio Direction
Finding(RDF)
RDF

was important in combating

German threats during both the WW-II
Battle
of
Britainand
the
long
runningBattle of the Atlantic. In the
former, the Air Ministry also used RDF
to locate its own fighter groups and
vector them to detected German raids.

Radio Direction
Finding(RDF)
SMALL HISTORY
RDF
was important in combating
German threats during both the WW-II
Battle
of
Britainand
the
long
runningBattle of the Atlantic. In the
former, the Air Ministry also used RDF to
locate its own fighter groups and vector
them to detected German raids.

Radio Direction
Finding(RDF)
By

combining the direction information

from
two
or
more
suitably
spacedreceivers (or a single mobile
receiver), the source of a transmission
may be located viatriangulation.

Why do we need these skills?

Locating

Harmful
Interference

Jammers
Stuck transmitters
Local noise sources

Search

and Rescue

ELT/EPIRBs
FRS/ham radios
Wildlife location

Navigation
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Equipment Needed
Radio

receiver and antenna that are

directionally sensitive and can receive
the signal
A way to determine your direction
A map and compass to plot your
location

Triangulation
Doing

Math

the

Law of Sines
Law of Cosines
Pythagorean theorem

Triangulation
Doing

Math

the

, and distance AB are

already known
C can be calculated by
using the distance RC or
MC:
RC: Position of C can be
calculated using the
Law of Sines
RC or MC can be
calculated using the
Law of Cosines and the
Pythagorean theorem

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Triangulation
Graphical

Approch

Take bearings from

three points
90% of contacts will
be inside
intersecting triangle
Dont

neglect
signal strength info
Signal strength will
depend on terrain
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Sources of Error
Operator

Error
Antenna Gain Pattern
Propagation
Multi Path
Reflection

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RDF Techniques
Mapping

Time vs. accuracy

Accurate bearing plotting is time consuming
but often valuable
Terrain

Multipath issues particularly in urban areas

Reflections can mislead and can be
accentuated if the target uses a directional
antenna
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