Comms DTS-M1 or Communotron 16?

[Invader Jim]

Why should I spend the money on the more expensive one? The only advantage I see is that it uses less power to transmit data bits. The difference in power consumption seems irrelevant to me since transmissions are brief and infrequent.

Am I missing something?

[KatzOhki]

Why should I spend the money on the more expensive one? The only advantage I see is that it uses less power to transmit data bits. The difference in power consumption seems irrelevant to me since transmissions are brief and infrequent.

Am I missing something?

I think it's also faster. I thought maybe you were supposed to get a better science rate out of it, but I'm not sure.

[Invader Jim]

I think it's also faster. I thought maybe you were supposed to get a better science rate out of it, but I'm not sure.

If it gave a bonus to science than I think it would be worth it. Otherwise I just don't see the value.

[SkyRender]

The fast transmission rate is very useful in certain situations. Most notably, if you have a probe on a suicide drop into Jool's atmosphere or on a super-fast fly-by of a celestial body, being able to transmit faster can make a huge difference.

[KatzOhki]

I guess looks plays into it as well. I like the big dish (88-88?) for some things, but the little red/white antennas look neat in some places too.

[Shadows2b]

Would be interesting if it was distance related.

Like the first one on kerbin soi, second up to duna and the third for jool or farther

[X-SR71]

Why should I spend the money on the more expensive one? The only advantage I see is that it uses less power to transmit data bits. The difference in power consumption seems irrelevant to me since transmissions are brief and infrequent.

Am I missing something?

Try transmitting from a full 500 science lab and you'll be glad you used the big dished Communotron 88

[Holyvision]

I always play with the transmission range mod or remote tech, so that gives it a reason for me

[mekasha]

Try transmitting from a full 500 science lab and you'll be glad you used the big dished Communotron 88

I'd have to second this as mobile processing labs being the one place the difference really matters, ignoring mods like RemoteTech. Sending off 500 data with the little red/white antenna takes several real-time minutes, which you can't time-warp to speed up or switch to another ship. The dish takes probably under 30 seconds.

[Endersmens]

So they finally fixed it to where the bigger antennae work better and aren't more inefficient than the small one?