It seem like most folks refer to their transponder as a radar (or their transponder reply as a radar return)? Sorry for the rant, but they are two different animals entirely. A radar sends out a pulse of RF which reflects off of a target, returns to the receiver, is processed (speed, range, etc...) and is displayed. Nothing required but a target out in the airspace (or, on the ocean, or the ground, depending). A transponder, on the other hand, is analogous to your radio. An interrogator sends out a message...(who are you? What are you doing? What's your speed?...etc...) and your transponder is kind enough to reply with the answers...just as if you were talking to ATC. The beauty is when the radar returns and the transponder replys come together and agree. When they don't agree, or in some cases when they completely disagree, that's when folks smarter than I start to ask questions. For anyone who would like to see this, look me up when you're in the Keys...be glad to give you a tour of a facility and show ya some hardware.
Ok, rant over. You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming...
Ok, rant over. You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming...