Gain
What is gain? In engineering the term refers to amplification and that is pretty much what the gain control on a radar does, it determines the amplification of the beam. But that isn't what it does from a pilot's perspective. What gain really does is change the focus of the beam, thereby changing the color calibration of what you see on the radar. Radar guru Archie Trammell says we should change the label from "GAIN" to "CAL" for calibration. The Honeywell Radar Training Course says we should think of it as a squelch control for the radar.
On most modern aircraft the gain control is preset to calibrated standards that make what you see on the scope easier to interpret and consistent with what the manufacturer intended.
Yes, there are times adjusting the gain will give you extra knowledge of what lurks ahead, but as soon as you're done return the gain to its automatic setting.
On most modern aircraft the gain control is preset to calibrated standards that make what you see on the scope easier to interpret and consistent with what the manufacturer intended.
Yes, there are times adjusting the gain will give you extra knowledge of what lurks ahead, but as soon as you're done return the gain to its automatic setting.