Use two direct antenna as one relay antenna?

[Jestersage]

As title. Is it possible to use two direct antennas as one relay or not? The reason I am asking is because there are only one foldable antenna, and I want to make a powerful TDRS third gen.

[xtoro]

If it's like the pre-release, then no.  You need a relay dish.

[Jestersage]

What's the test to confirm this hypothesis? (I will build one, but I need to know how to tell if they kept it as pre-release or not.)

My idea for the test is this:

1. Build a satilitte with 3x Direct Antenna (I will use the 88)
2. Launch it to 120k
3. Launch a Probe with only 1x direct
4. Check communication when it's out of range of space center.

Would that work for the test?

[Aragosnat]

No. Direct only talks with Kerbin Regardless ofg how many direct you have. Weird yes... But, that is how it works for the game. So you still need one that says it can relay...

[Jestersage]

3 minutes ago, Aragosnat said:

No. Direct only talks with Kerbin Regardless ofg how many direct you have. Weird yes... But, that is how it works for the game. So you still need one that says it can relay...

Okay.

Instead of a new thread, I want to know: Is it sufficent to use 3 of that foldable relay antenna per satilliate, using a network of 3 x 3 cluster at KEO?

[Greenfire32]

It doesn't work, but it should.

But I guess that would mean that dish alignment would have to be a thing and I suppose the devs made the right call in not making that a requirement. It would be very boring/tedious/not fun if we had to constantly adjust where the dish is pointing just to get a signal.

I suspect this same decision is what led to "relay" antennae and "transmit" antennae.

[TheKosanianMethod]

I'm guessing relay antennas can talk to Kerbin. Am I correct?

If so, can you use just one relay for everything?

Edited October 12, 2016 by TheKosanianMethod

[Aragosnat]

 

7 minutes ago, Jestersage said:

Okay.

Instead of a new thread, I want to know: Is it sufficent to use 3 of that foldable relay antenna per satilliate, using a network of 3 x 3 cluster at KEO?

 

Using more then one depends on the relay. As if I remember right. Having multiple just extends the relay range of said craft.

[magnemoe]

17 minutes ago, TheKosanianMethod said:

I'm guessing relay antennas can talk to Kerbin. Am I correct?

If so, can you use just one relay for everything?

Yes, you can use relay for everything, downside is that they are heavier and can not be folded down. Mostly an issue for interplanetary probes. 
 

[Jestersage]

2 hours ago, magnemoe said:

Yes, you can use relay for everything, downside is that they are heavier and can not be folded down.

Except one particular model, but I think it's weaker than the Communtron 16. Nonetheless will be testing it for my TDRS cluster.

[Archgeek]

That invokes an interesting question -- can a bunch of direct antennae boost the range of a relay antenna on the same commsat?

[Deddly]

Moved to Gameplay Questions.