What is the stated relationship between frequency and detection range?

• A. Increased frequency increases detection range.
• B. Increased frequency decreases detection range.
• C. Frequency has no effect on detection range.
• D. Detection range is only set by transmitter power.

Answer: (B)

When you judge how far a radar can detect something, the important factor is how much signal power actually reaches the receiver after traveling to the target and back. This hinges on path loss, which grows with frequency. In free space, the loss increases with the square of frequency (since wavelength shrinks as frequency rises), so for the same transmitter power and antenna gains, higher frequency signals arrive weaker at the receiver from the same range. Add atmospheric absorption and rain attenuation, which also increase with frequency, and the detectable range shrinks further. That’s why, although higher frequency provides better detail and resolution, it reduces detection range.