To calculate the theoretical search area given an antenna height and LOB, which equation is used?

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Multiple Choice

To calculate the theoretical search area given an antenna height and LOB, which equation is used?

Explanation:
The key idea is turning an angular error into a straight-line width at a given range. If the line of bearing can be off by DF error angle on either side, the lateral offset at ground distance d is d tan(DF error angle) for one side. Since the error can occur on both sides of the bearing, you double that offset. So the total theoretical search width is W = 2 × d × tan(DF error angle). Using only d × tan(DF error angle) would give half the width, and using sine would relate to the hypotenuse instead of the ground range, which isn’t correct for this width calculation.

The key idea is turning an angular error into a straight-line width at a given range. If the line of bearing can be off by DF error angle on either side, the lateral offset at ground distance d is d tan(DF error angle) for one side. Since the error can occur on both sides of the bearing, you double that offset. So the total theoretical search width is W = 2 × d × tan(DF error angle).

Using only d × tan(DF error angle) would give half the width, and using sine would relate to the hypotenuse instead of the ground range, which isn’t correct for this width calculation.

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