The Poke Radar is something that was only available in Gen IV (DPPt), and it's used to seek out Pokemon hiding in tall grass. It's also used to "chain" Pokemon in order to increase the chances of finding a shiny Pokemon.
You get it after you've been upgraded to the national dex (for seeing every Pokemon in the Sinnoh Dex) from Oak, and then Rowan will give you the Poke Radar.
Poke Radar - Bulbapedia will explain more.