New Problems with Satellite Transmissions

[XI Vanquish IX]

I'm fairly new to KSP so give me a little leeway with this question...

I have been trying to put this unmanned satellite probe into a contract orbit of Kerbin loaded with instruments.  I have the probe on top with a Comm. 88-88 and 4 Comm. 16's.  Underneath, I literally placed 1 Z-200 and 2 Z-1K's for power (2200) and I have 3 more Z-200's in a bay below that.  Attached to the main probe I also have (2) 1x6 solar panels and then (2) XL Solar Arrays attached to the service bay as well.  

So can someone explain to me why the heck when I get into any orbit of Kerbin, I can collect tons of science but when I go to transmit it says "0" percent science data will be transmitted.  The materials bay was the only thing giving me a 3% data success on transmission...

ive loaded this thing with all sorts of power and communication tools and yet nothing wants to transmit!  Everything is aligned properly and I have watched tons of videos with no luck figuring out what the deal is...

can anyone help?

[AlmostNASA]

1 hour ago, XI Vanquish IX said:

"0" percent science data will be transmitted.  The materials bay was the only thing giving me a 3% data success on transmission...

The zero percent means that you won't get science from transmitting it. If you recover the vessel (deorbiting and landing safely) you will get full science. The 3 percent data success means you might not get everything transmitted.

[bewing]

You can only get X number of science points for any particular experiment. That also usually goes for transmitting experiments. If you transmit them once, you've already gotten the science points for that experiment, and it won't let you get them again (by telling you that you will get 0 points for it). So from what you are saying, I'm pretty sure you've already done those experiments in that "biome". Which, in space, means "low over Kerbin" = <250km altitude or "high over Kerbin".

 

[XI Vanquish IX]

2 hours ago, bewing said:

You can only get X number of science points for any particular experiment. That also usually goes for transmitting experiments. If you transmit them once, you've already gotten the science points for that experiment, and it won't let you get them again (by telling you that you will get 0 points for it). So from what you are saying, I'm pretty sure you've already done those experiments in that "biome". Which, in space, means "low over Kerbin" = <250km altitude or "high over Kerbin".

 

It's interesting though because I honestly thought I had not done half of these experiments - and certainly not in the higher orbits.  Is it then, that we can or can't transmit each type successfully once in each biome or no?

[Alshain]

Not all experiments are per-biome.  Some are Global, and even that can depend on situation.  For example Crew Report Flying High is global, it doesn't matter what biome you are flying over, there is only 1 for each planet (with an atmosphere).  Crew Report Flying Low however is per-Biome so on Kerbin for example, there are 9 of those.

There is a grid here on the wiki that may clear it up (or confuse you more). http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Science

You can transmit as many times as you want, you just get diminishing returns each time.  Depending on the experiment the first transmission may send all transmittable data, so the next time you may get 0 and the only way that experiment in that biome, in that situation would get you more science is to return it manually.

Edited July 16, 2016 by Alshain

[bewing]

1 hour ago, XI Vanquish IX said:

It's interesting though because I honestly thought I had not done half of these experiments - and certainly not in the higher orbits.  Is it then, that we can or can't transmit each type successfully once in each biome or no?

Yes you are supposed to be able to -- at least once in low orbit for everything, and at least once in high orbit for everything. If you are absolutely certain that you have never done any of these experiments above 250km, then it's a bug. But you should look in the "sceince archives" just to see if it has experiments already listed as being performed at that location.

[XI Vanquish IX]

10 hours ago, Alshain said:

Not all experiments are per-biome.  Some are Global, and even that can depend on situation.  For example Crew Report Flying High is global, it doesn't matter what biome you are flying over, there is only 1 for each planet (with an atmosphere).  Crew Report Flying Low however is per-Biome so on Kerbin for example, there are 9 of those.

There is a grid here on the wiki that may clear it up (or confuse you more). http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Science

You can transmit as many times as you want, you just get diminishing returns each time.  Depending on the experiment the first transmission may send all transmittable data, so the next time you may get 0 and the only way that experiment in that biome, in that situation would get you more science is to return it manually.

Ok that link especially makes a lot more sense with your detailed explanation - very helpful.  

I guess I was using all of the listed "global" tools and devices in different orbit variations thinking I would get different results, but surprisingly it will only county if I can return the craft!  Although I don't agree with this mechanic because it makes satellites nearly useless without mods... still good to know.

thanks again you all

[FancyMouse]

45 minutes ago, XI Vanquish IX said:

because it makes satellites nearly useless without mods...

There's a stock contract called "Science from space around XXX"...