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I just don't get antennas and the relay network


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OK, so I have a manned interplanetary transfer tug in Duna orbit with 5 kerbals aboard, and a manned lander/rover on the surface.  The interplanetary transfer tug has an unmanned probe core also.  The transfer tug has a RA-15 relay antenna, a Communotron HG-55, AND a Communotron-16.  It has a 1% direct connection back to Kerbin.  The lander/rover has a HG-5 High Gain antenna, AND a Communotron-16.  The transfer tug is DIRECTLY OVERHEAD of the rover, only about 100 km away, the transfer tug has a connection to the KSC, and yet I have no connection from the rover, relayed through the transfer tug, back to the KSC.  If the transfer tug can talk to KSC, why in the world can the rover not talk to KSC?!  It's only 100 km away from the transfer ship!  This makes no sense.

To be honest, I have never ONCE see a relay connection work.

The mods I have installed are Mechjeb.  I also installed visual enhancements 1.2, but I had the same problem with never being able to relay signals before.

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Oh yea, this is the x64 exe.  And nothing's out of electricity.  I've been playing KSP since 2013, so I wouldn't make a mistake like that.  However, I don't understand the new antenna/comm relay system, so there could be something involved specifically with that that I am missing.

Oh yes, this is career mode and my tracking station is level 2.

I will try x86 exe next.

Edited by -Velocity-
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OK, so I just started up the x86 exe.  The TRACKING STATION shows that my rover is speaking to KSC by using the transfer tug as a relay.  But if I actually take control of the rover, it says it is not connected to KSC.

I just discovered the "CommNet" button, and I was able to turn it on so that relays were shown in the map. However, it didn't help anything. See the screenshot below.  How am I "Not Connected" when I clearly AM connected?!?!?!  The red line goes to Kerbin.

 

9ijLCLg.jpg

Edited by -Velocity-
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Well, to ask the obvious, is the HG-5 antenna on the rover deployed? It has to be extended to work.

Also, the network connection lines you see in the tracking station will show all possible lines of communication, not necessarily the active relay paths currently in use. To see which link the ship is actually using to communicate you need to go into map mode while in control of the ship and toggle the CommNet icon in the upper left (end of the bar near the clock) until it says "CommNet: Path". This should show you all of the links your ship is actually using at that moment.

Based on what you've described I think that you should be getting a relay connection from your rover through your transfer vehicle back to the KSC, assuming that the rover is otherwise operational and within range and line of sight of the tug.

25 minutes ago, -Velocity- said:

OK, so I just started up the x86 exe.  The TRACKING STATION shows that my rover is speaking to KSC by using the transfer tug as a relay.  But if I actually take control of the rover, it says it is not connected to KSC.

Can you post screenshots of those two screens? Edit: OK I see your screenshot... this is odd... thinking.

Edited by HvP
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Well, as far as understanding commnet goes -- the first thing that needs clarification is that relay antennas only add with other relay antennas, and direct antennas only add with other direct antennas. So your relay ship has both a relay antenna with 15G power, and a direct antenna with 15G power, and the HG55 (the direct antenna) isn't doing you any good at all. The Communutron on the relay is also not doing the teeniest bit of good.

To begin to understand what's going on, you should probably try retracting the HG55 and see what your new signal level is. Because that antenna is just confusing the issue.

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Ok so what I see appears normal. if you mouse over the wireless signal it will show you a drop down in which you should see it isn't direct but it has a strong signal to the lower item your relay, if there are multiple connections each will be on the list. it isn't so obvious to do

also to talk to Duna, I place a relay around Kerbin out near muns orbit to assist in my connections from blank spots from orbit's

hope this helps

Jammer

Edited by Jammer-TD
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@-Velocity- Is it the orbiting tug you are controlling in that screenshot or the probe on the surface? If it's the orbiting craft then I think you may actually be out of range of Kerbin. The icons in the top left are saying (from left to right): pilot in control, no signal strength, can't transmit science, no connection to KSC, all possible connections displayed.

The red line I think is simply showing you where you COULD have a connection to Kerbin, but you are just out of range. What number does it give if you hover your mouse over those signal bars? Is that red line still there if you toggle the CommNet: Network icon to show Path instead?

Are you still not able to control your rover?

I wonder if what we are seeing is the pilot on your orbital ship remote controlling your rover. That will be the strongest signal and you seem to have everything on that ship needed to use remote piloting.

Edited by HvP
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1 hour ago, bewing said:

Well, as far as understanding commnet goes -- the first thing that needs clarification is that relay antennas only add with other relay antennas, and direct antennas only add with other direct antennas.

Not exactly this. 

There is two kind of antennas. 

Direct antennas can transmit/receive to/from ground station or relays 

Relay antennas do everything a direct antenna do and also intermediate a communication between KSC and another vessel. 

 

The case there is that the tug have enough range for direct contact (HG-55 and RA-15) but not for relay(only the RA-15).  Incidentally the for the rover the communotron 16 is enough to reach the tug's RA-15. 

1 hour ago, -Velocity- said:

 I've been playing KSP since 2013, so I wouldn't make a mistake like that. 

Assuming you can't fail is often warranty you'll. Everyone can make a mistake. 

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