[Spaceships] Atmospheric Sensor and Comm Range?

Anthony · 10-15-2016, 01:34 PM

The problem has less to do with range than with processing power, though this isn't something GURPS handles well. In general you should divide range by 100-1,000 if the target isn't silhouetted against space.

Anaraxes · 10-15-2016, 03:08 PM

Also doctrine, or design philosophy. After all, the only reason to build OTH radar or HF comms is because there's a horizon in the way. And when you're a spaceship, there's usually not one. If there's some reason your ship has to operate bound to a fixed point on the surface, what does an OTH radar on the ship do that an LOS radar satellite (or two or three) or remote with satcomm links doesn't do better? If you're deploying spaceships, then space tech is cheap.

Flyndaran · 10-15-2016, 05:09 PM

Even 60s era Star Trek shot out probes to check around things they didn't want the ship proper to get near. Probes also allows specializing of sensors so you don't need to make your ship the Swiss Army Knife of abilities.

I think that there are tricks that can be done with UT processing power and numerous carefully spaced sensors to somewhat act like one giant sensor.
Interferometry and synthetic apertures make my head spin.

vicky_molokh · 10-15-2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony

The problem has less to do with range than with processing power, though this isn't something GURPS handles well. In general you should divide range by 100-1,000 if the target isn't silhouetted against space.

Silhouetting against space provides a +24 to the check, which is equivalent to a ×1,000 increase in detection range. Edit: oh wait, I think it's the passive section. So yeah, seems to make sense at first sight.

Flyndaran · 10-15-2016, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Silhouetting against space provides a +24 to the check, which is equivalent to a ×1,000 increase in detection range.

Shouldn't that also fit somewhat when the object is emitting a signal that the surrounding area does not at all?

Would the lone powerful radio emitter on Mars be that much harder to detect than if it were in orbit?

10-15-2016, 01:34 PM	#1
Anthony Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Berkeley, CA	Re: [Spaceships] Atmospheric Sensor and Comm Range? The problem has less to do with range than with processing power, though this isn't something GURPS handles well. In general you should divide range by 100-1,000 if the target isn't silhouetted against space. __________________ My GURPS site and Blog.

10-15-2016, 03:08 PM	#2
Anaraxes Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: [Spaceships] Atmospheric Sensor and Comm Range? Also doctrine, or design philosophy. After all, the only reason to build OTH radar or HF comms is because there's a horizon in the way. And when you're a spaceship, there's usually not one. If there's some reason your ship has to operate bound to a fixed point on the surface, what does an OTH radar on the ship do that an LOS radar satellite (or two or three) or remote with satcomm links doesn't do better? If you're deploying spaceships, then space tech is cheap.

10-15-2016, 05:09 PM	#3
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: [Spaceships] Atmospheric Sensor and Comm Range? Even 60s era Star Trek shot out probes to check around things they didn't want the ship proper to get near. Probes also allows specializing of sensors so you don't need to make your ship the Swiss Army Knife of abilities. I think that there are tricks that can be done with UT processing power and numerous carefully spaced sensors to somewhat act like one giant sensor. Interferometry and synthetic apertures make my head spin. __________________ Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.