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

Coast Guard teams were notified of the vessel, the FV Ethel May, sinking by an emergency position-indicating radio beacon that began broadcasting a signal as it went down around 7:30 p.m.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2023

“We also want to highlight the importance of proper safety equipment … Having an emergency position indicating radio beacon, or ‘EPIRB,’ allows mariners to immediately make contact with first responders in an emergency,” he said.

From Washington Times • Dec. 14, 2022

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