usefulness of different antennas?

[kurja]

Have any of the antennas in the game become distinctly more or less useful relative to each other? The big ones transmit faster than the small ones, but consume at least the same ec / data unit, is that the only difference?

Edited May 22, 2015 by kurja

[mackadelik]

As far as I can tell its only the rate of data transmitted that improves. I haven't had any issues transmitting from far reaching planets with the basic antenna. Its the only one I use with the exception of the largest on my space station because they look cool

[Prepper-Jack]

Transmission rate is the big thing. If you have a probe (or even a lander) with a ton of experiments, and want to (or have to) move on to the next biome asap, it can be helpful to transmit more quickly. Of course, this comes at a cost. The highest end antenna expends almost twice as much energy per packet spent as the prior models.

I typically use the original antenna for most missions - and then really only to transmit EVA and crew reports. Interplanetary probes get the second option.

[kurja]

I find transmit speed to be hardly ever critical, so I use the tiny one - because it's simply the best in every other way, small crafts actually benefit from the lower transmit speed / ec cost per packet. And ofc it's cheaper, smaller, lighter and can be placed pretty much anywhere. I was kinda hoping there would be some incentive to use the other antennas because they look good

[NASAHireMe]

If you want to make those antennas useful (and give you a nice big challenge to boot), play RemoteTech! I started playing it a few weeks ago and it's really not as hard as it seems.

[Snark]

+1 for RemoteTech. It's really fun, gives the antennas a reason for existence (plus adds a bunch more), and adds a whole new dimension to strategy.

[Grumman]

There is another mod called AntennaRange which as the name suggests gives antennas non-infinite range, with bigger antennas working better at longer distances, plus the ability to use satellites with big antennas as relays for satellites with little antennas.

I haven't actually tested it, though, so YMMV.

[FancyMouse]

Just a reminder if you want to do RemoteTech - it will immediately break almost all your existing unmanned flights so probably start fresh or at least complete all ongoing unmanned missions before installing RT.

But right, RT is really fun.