- Home
- ASAE
- ASAP
- CONUS
- Ops & Tng
- Orderly Room
- Supply
- Guestbook
- Contact
- Search
ASA DF SOP
DF Plotting & Fix Evaluation
Radio Fingerprinting (RFP)
Radio Direction Finding Set AN/TRD-4A
Radio Direction Finding Set AN/TRD15/23
Other Radio Direction Finding Sets
Useful Definitions
Project DF Site Location
Your location is: Home ยป Ops & Tng
Radio Direction finding is concerned with determining the arrival direction of a radio wave. A DF receiver, with associated DF equipment, indicates the approximate direction along an imaginary line on which a transmitter lies. The information obtained by direction finding is seldom accurate enough to direct artillery fire. However, the direction of a distant transmitter can be determined, depending on the DF equipment used, to an accuracy of plus or minus 2 degrees. With the exception of the single station locator, one DF site can only indicate the approximate direction of a transmitter.
There are many uses of direction finding. One example is DF can be used as a navigational aid. ln this capacity, the DF equipment is either used alone or in combination with other DF systems. This depends on the service which is to be provided. Such service includes the positioning, controlling, and homing of ground, sea, and air forces. DF equipment is also used by rescue personnel as an essential part of air-sea rescue. Crash beacons on downed aircraft or disabled ships provide a signal which can be located or "homed-in" on by DF equipment.
The extensive use of military radio communications has increased the value of direction finding in producing signals intelligence. Even if a military force is extremely careful, radio and radar transmissions can be intercepted and the locations of the transmitters determined. Direction finding can provide enemy transmitter locations to intelligence personnel for the construction of enemy order of battle and fusion into other intelligence activities.
Specifically, direction finding can also be used to assist in determining:
Above extracted/edited from: DA Field Manual No. FM 34-86 Direction Finding Operations November 1984 version