radio beacon

American  

noun

1. a radio station that sends a characteristic signal so as to enable ships or airplanes to determine their position or bearing by means of a radio compass.

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radio beacon British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: beacon.  a fixed radio transmitting station that broadcasts a characteristic signal by means of which a vessel or aircraft can determine its bearing or position

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Etymology

Origin of radio beacon

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

At about 12:48 p.m. the First Coast Guard District command center received an alert from an emergency radio beacon registered to the 55-foot commercial fishing vessel Miss Kara.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 8, 2023

Another thing to consider: Mercogliano said the Titan lacked an emergency radio beacon that could have floated to the surface and started beeping if there was an emergency.

From Washington Times • Jun. 22, 2023

A brief radio beacon can be very bright, and the briefer it is, the less it costs.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2015

The sailboat’s position had been relayed to authorities by an emergency radio beacon.

From Scientific American • Apr. 5, 2012

The radio beacon had been functioning all day, and they had received confirmation signals from the ship.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin