Electric beacon

radio transmitter to identify a location for navigation aid

In navigation, an electric beacon (or electromagnetic beacon) is a kind of beacon, as a device which sends a signal and marks a fixed location and allows direction finding equipment to find relative bearing, as the direction to the beacon. The most common are radio beacons, which broadcast a radio signal which is picked up by radio direction finding systems on ships, aircraft or cars to determine the bearing to the beacon.[1] However, the term "beacon" also covers infrared and sonar beacons.

Telegraph Signal Tower at Cobb's Hill, near New Market, Virginia, 1864.

References

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  1. Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 220. ISBN 9780850451634.