DW Sensor Spreadsheet

[Shearwater]

Gentlemen,
inspired by Robert Moloney's Reference docs (on the subguru page), I was thinking that it might be a good idea to use DWEdit to gather some sensor data and compile it into a nice and easy-to-use spreadsheet. Problem is, I don't have much of a clue what many of the figures mentioned in the 'sensor dialog' actually mean. Specifically, the following points need some clarification:

What is the unit used to measure distance in the DW database?
Does 'detection curve' mean 'sensor range'?
Is there a reason why the convergence zones are grayed out? Does DW model CZs? (What does the second group of numbers in the Convergence Curves data field mean?)
In the 'accoustic sensors' field, what does 'Nrd' mean? (The one followed by [-127, ...-128])

Needless to say, I'll make it availabe for everyone to use once it's finished. Only I need some information to get started. I'd be glad for any help I can get. Until then, happy hunting

-shearwater-

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by Shearwater

Gentlemen,
inspired by Robert Moloney's Reference docs (on the subguru page), I was thinking that it might be a good idea to use DWEdit to gather some sensor data and compile it into a nice and easy-to-use spreadsheet. Problem is, I don't have much of a clue what many of the figures mentioned in the 'sensor dialog' actually mean. Specifically, the following points need some clarification:

What is the unit used to measure distance in the DW database?
Does 'detection curve' mean 'sensor range'?
Is there a reason why the convergence zones are grayed out? Does DW model CZs? (What does the second group of numbers in the Convergence Curves data field mean?)
In the 'accoustic sensors' field, what does 'Nrd' mean? (The one followed by [-127, ...-128])

Needless to say, I'll make it availabe for everyone to use once it's finished. Only I need some information to get started. I'd be glad for any help I can get. Until then, happy hunting

-shearwater-

The detection curve is a segmented line indicating detection threshholds. Each point on the line has a range (in m) and a SL. At ranges equal to or below the given range, you will detect a platform with the given (or greater) SL. These values aren't absolute though, they can be effected by things like aspect, target mass, daylight, ground clutter, etc. For ESM sensors, the detection curve works the other way around, it indicates that the sensor is sensitive enough to detect an emitter strong enough to detect an object of the corresponding SL at the given range (I think).

Nrd is sensitivity. It applies to passive and probably active sonars as well. The higher the magnitude, the more sensitive.