Which signal serves as the master timing source for all radar functions?

• A. The Reference Clock
• B. The Local Oscillator
• C. The Range Gate
• D. The Master Trigger

Answer: (D)

Timing in radar systems is coordinated by a single signal that starts and synchronizes every action across the radar. The master trigger serves this role, providing the overarching timing reference that initiates the transmitter pulses, gates the receiver at the precise moments to sample echoes, and keeps data processing and displays in sync.

A stable reference clock supplies the frequency backbone, but it doesn’t by itself schedule the radar’s sequence of events. The local oscillator handles frequency translation for the RF/IF signals, not the timing of when those events occur. The range gate defines the actual sampling window for echoes and is driven by the master timing to ensure echoes from the correct range are captured, rather than setting the overall timing.

So the master trigger is the signal that acts as the unified timing source for all radar functions.