Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)

Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)

Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is essentially transponder-based radio navigation technology. Its job is to calculate distance by timing the delay of either UHF or VHF radio signals.

These testers are meant to verify, calibrate, and troubleshoot navigation systems of airborne equipment (military aircraft, commercial aircraft, personal aircraft, and more). It does this by simulating pulse signals and transmitting them to a DME ground station, which responds with answering pulse signals designed for distance calculation. They measure velocity, slant range distance, and time-to-station. DME frequency stays within the 960 - 1215 MHz band.

DME equipment is a post-war progression of the IFF programs of World War II. DME was made to cover the distance between what was available and what was needed in this particular technological field.

The reason airplanes use DME is to find their distance from a DME station on the ground. With a pulse pair of fixed duration and separation, a pilot can know exactly where they are and how far they have to go. Keeping your aircraft equipped with functioning, trustworthy equipment is of the utmost importance because the distance information that it provides is invaluable. Choosing test equipment from a reputable supplier will help you determine what quality is. Through AvionTEq, you can choose to buy, rent, or even sell your own equipment. We have new and used options for you to choose from.