Radio beacons
This page is to explain the differences between things like VOR VORTAC VOR-DME RDF ADF NDB etc with links towards wikipedia. This page should also start a new category named navigation that can be used to link related nav articles. Where possible I will gather stubs and include them.
Other articles in this hierarchy should be Map and Compass. This article shall not describe how to use the beacons, that should be the top hierarchy article.
This is Work in Progress. PH-JBO 08:41, 11 September 2011 (EDT)
Introduction
Standing blindfolded in the middle of a field. In a distance a friend is shouting "I am here!". You turn around till you hear the your friend best and start walking towards the sound.
When there are two friends (with distinctive voices) and a map telling you where they stand you can even figure out about where you are on that map.
The above describes how a Non Directional Beacon (NDB) works.
If the friends do not like to shout all the time they can lay down numbered ropes around them. Each rope leads directly towards a friend. The numbers on the rope are the same numbers as the degrees on a compass.
So by comparing the numbers on the ropes that cross the place where you are standing you know where you are.
The above describes how a VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) works.
But what if you want to know where you are and you have just one friend? Then the friend had to make knots in the ropes telling how far away you are.
The above describes how a VOR-Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR-DME) works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_navigation
NDB
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_direction_finder
RDF
ADF
VOR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF_omnidirectional_range
VOR-DME
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_measuring_equipment