the fuction of transponder's ident button
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TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
Pretty accurate depiction of what a controller sees here:
http://www.metacraft.com/VRC/docs/single_page.html#the_various_radar_modes
Search the page for "ident".
http://www.metacraft.com/VRC/docs/single_page.html#the_various_radar_modes
Search the page for "ident".
ATC RET 2003
No More Vectors
For those of us that are older than petrified dinosaur turds, it would cause the beacon targets to "blossom." I don't know if there are any facilities like that left.
Since we're talking old school. While on the jet penetration for a HI-VOR/TACAN IAP a number of years back, ATC requested "Ghost 12, Squawk LO, present code" to me. I hadn't heard that since the mid-80s, and even then only one other time in my career.
inigo88
Composite-lover
I think it depends on the type of radar display. Last I checked enroute ARTCC center controllers used something called DSR, which looks like:
Terminal controllers at TRACONs use STARS or ACD (ARTS Color Display) depending on the facility.
STARS:
ACD:
And originally before about 10 years ago everyone in terminal used ARTS-III, which looked like:
The only TRACON I've had the pleasure of touring was Norcal TRACON in Sacramento, and they use ARTS Color Display (and a lot of the larger towers in Northern CA use RACD - Remote ARTS Color Display).
But my point is that the visual presentation of what a "squawk ident" looks like will differ based on the equiment used. The shape of the radar target might change, or the target and/or datablock may flash, or change color. I'm not a controller so I'd be curious to hear exactly what happens with each type of display myself, but those are all examples I've heard in the past.
Hope that helps!
Edit: I forgot to include the flashing "IDENT" message on the datablock, as previously mentioned.
Terminal controllers at TRACONs use STARS or ACD (ARTS Color Display) depending on the facility.
STARS:
ACD:
And originally before about 10 years ago everyone in terminal used ARTS-III, which looked like:
The only TRACON I've had the pleasure of touring was Norcal TRACON in Sacramento, and they use ARTS Color Display (and a lot of the larger towers in Northern CA use RACD - Remote ARTS Color Display).
But my point is that the visual presentation of what a "squawk ident" looks like will differ based on the equiment used. The shape of the radar target might change, or the target and/or datablock may flash, or change color. I'm not a controller so I'd be curious to hear exactly what happens with each type of display myself, but those are all examples I've heard in the past.
Hope that helps!
Edit: I forgot to include the flashing "IDENT" message on the datablock, as previously mentioned.
boondr
Penalty Vectorer
My facility in the good ole Marine Corps used OD-58 orange scopes that had that function and not much else. We used to joke that we used the Archie League hand-me-downs. We never had any automation at all and I am pretty sure they still don't because they got downgraded to a GCA.
genot
Well-Known Member
On ACD, if you look at the inset pic of American 176, it causes ID to flash in white letters in the space the T occupies to the right of ground speed if the target is on an assigned code. Even if you're squawking 1200 and ident on accident the ID pops up, I believe below your altitude which is all ACD displays without a slew on a 1200 code aircraft.
ATC RET 2003
No More Vectors
We used to use that fairly regularly at one of my non-automated career stops, mostly to prevent (or lessen) "ring around." My understanding is that improvements in technology were such that they don't even make transponders with low sensitivity settings any more.
inigo88
Composite-lover
Awesome. Thanks a lot for the detailed responses guys, I love to nerd out over this stuff. (<- Ex. MS Flight Sim/VATSIM enthusiast. Don't taze me bros.
)
Autothrust Blue
Welcome aboard the Washington State Ferries
Nothing at all wrong with that. Someday, if you work hard enough, it actually comes in slightly handy.Awesome. Thanks a lot for the detailed responses guys, I love to nerd out over this stuff. (<- Ex. MS Flight Sim/VATSIM enthusiast. Don't taze me bros.
inigo88
Composite-lover
I had never heard of "Squawk Low," so you got me digging around in the 7110.65 and I found this:
May I ask what "ring around" was?
ATC RET 2003
No More Vectors
Ring around is a cluster of false beacon targets centered around the main bang, usually within several miles of it and almost always annoying.
Most civilians haven't so no surprise you've never heard about it, as civvie transponders haven't had the feature for a good while. Many military IFF Mode 3s still have it available in older jets.
pericynthion
Well-Known Member
"N27GM, LA Center, over"
"LA Center, VariEze 27GM, go ahead"
"N27GM, you appear to have been squawking ident for the past 30 miles, can you check your transponder?"
"Roger, it looks like my knee was caught on the ident button, sorry about that, VariEze 27GM."
"N27GM say again?"
"LA Center, VariEze 27GM, go ahead"
"N27GM, you appear to have been squawking ident for the past 30 miles, can you check your transponder?"
"Roger, it looks like my knee was caught on the ident button, sorry about that, VariEze 27GM."
"N27GM say again?"
inigo88
Composite-lover
While flying a C172 I had the ident button of the original POS 1970s transponder get stuck in the "ON" position for a good five minutes or so. Similarly entertaining conversations with ATC ensued.
fholbert
Mod's - Please don't edit my posts!
Depends on what system ATC has but it does change the display of your target.