What is a key characteristic of continuous wave radar?

Continuous wave radar is distinguished primarily by its emission of a continuous signal rather than pulses. This mode of operation makes it highly effective for certain applications, particularly in measuring speed through the Doppler effect. However, it does have limitations regarding range determination. Continuous wave radar systems do not provide the time-of-flight measurements necessary to calculate the distance to a target, as they continuously transmit a wave without interruption for pulse timing. Instead, range information typically comes from pulse systems that actively send out short bursts of energy and measure the return time.

The ability of continuous wave radar to provide high-resolution images is also not accurate, as it is more associated with pulsed radar systems that can distinguish between closely spaced objects based on timing. While it may operate at various frequencies, including high frequencies, this characteristic alone does not define continuous wave radar in the same way that its inability to determine range does.