Typical Incoherent Scatter radars radiate effective powers measured in gigawatts, but the returned signals normally represent only picowatts.

Powerful multi-mega-watt transmitters, large high-gain antennas (typically at least 1000 m² in area), sensitive receivers and sophisticated radar control and data acquisition systems are all necessary for the successful detection and evaluation of the weak incoherent scatter echoes received from the ionosphere.

The EISCAT radars can currently make measurements covering all altitudes from about 50 km to more than 2500 km. Structures smaller than 200 m can be resolved and studied on time scales ranging from tens of minutes to well under a second, depending on the geophysical phenomena. The measurements describe many of the fundamental characteristics of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere and support a wide range of scientific investigations aimed at understanding the complex effects of the Sun on our environment.

Incoherent Scatter radar systems provide a wealth of observational data and are complemented by detailed observations from balloons, rockets and satellites as well as a wide range of ground-based instruments including magnetometers, all-sky cameras, ionosondes and coherent (auroral) backscatter radars. Incoherent Scatter radars have attracted many such instruments to their vicinity and will continue to provide the focus of substantial research efforts for the foreseeable future.