RemoteTech 2 - Basic satellite layout and usage?

[ScottyDoesKnow]

So I just installed RemoteTech 2, already have all the parts unlocked (it would be nice to start from the beginning, but I like my current career). My first step was putting 3 geostationary satellites in orbit, but I'm not sure I'm doing it right. The satellite closest to the KSC is connected to it by an omnidirectional antenna, then has directed antennas to the two other satellites. Those two are also connected to each other, but mainly just so it looks awesome in the map screen. Each has an unused dish on the top for actual connections.

My question comes when I want control elsewhere. Let's say I build another network around the mun, is there some way to make the closest satellites connect automatically? Or if I want 24/7 coverage, do I need an antenna from all my earth ones always pointed at the mun and an antenna from all my mun ones always pointed at the earth?

[Ralathon]

I tend to use omnidirectional antenna for the whole "Automatic connection thing" and only use dishes for munar communications.

I find it a lot easier to work with orbits much lower than geostat so I can simply use the 3Mm omni antenna to connect sats to one another.

Anyway, if you have 3 geostationary sats with dishes and you want a permanent link with the mun, you'll only need to point 2 at the mun. Geostationary orbit is so big that whenever a sat is eclipsed by the planet the other 2 sats should have free LOS. Same goes for your munar network.

[Mokmo]

Since one side of the moon always points at Kerbin, you can use a DTS-M1 antenna on a lander and point it at Kerbin (The DTS has a really great cone angle!) then put an omni and every sat will connect to mission control through it. Actually, if you use DTS antennas, you can just point them at the mun and back, they'll all connect!

[ddenis]

In "Select target" window for dishes there is a target "Active vessel". If you have 2 or 3 satellites on the geostationary orbit with spare dishes targeted to Active vessel and a dish which is targeted onto any of such satellites, then you will have connection almost everywhere and almost all the time in range of your dishes.

I use Omni for local control around "colonized" bodies and dished for connecting my colonials.

As for my... I have 3 satellites around Mun at Alt 1500, with 2 dishes DTS-M1 and 1 Omnidirectional for 5 Mm. One dish is pointed into Kerbin, another into Minmus.

Around Kerbin I have the same 3 satellites, with 2 dishes DTS-M1 and 1 Omnidirectional for 5 Mm. One dish is pointed into Kerbin, another into Minmus. And a bunch of smaller satellites with only Omni antenna.

On Mun, because of the Alt 1500, all satellites are connected by omni antennas, so even if the satellite on the dark side of Mun and don't see Kerbin, it has control.

With such layout I can send to Mun mission with only Omni antenna 2.5 Mm or 5 Mm range. Before it around Kerbin it controlled by local satellites, so I can adjust it course to Mun. Then during it flight to the Mun it will lose control until it riches Mun, where it connects to Munar satellites.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

So I've got a question.

Does anyone have an equation of a general rule of thumb for accurately timing the spacing of orbits?

For example, I want to place four sats in Keostationary. I have one in position already, I need to place 3 more 90 degrees apart.

Concept, procedure, maths? Could use those about now.

[blizzy78]

The easiest way to do that is to launch four satellites at once. Then, to space them exactly 90 degrees apart (regardless of orbit altitude), modify your vessel's orbit so that its period is now a fourth longer. For example, if your orbital period is four hours (which incidentally would be the orbital period of the final satellites), increase your orbit so that it is now 4 + 4/4 = 5 hours. Then, go around your orbit, and whenever you come to periapsis, you release one of the satellites. Go around once more, which takes you 5 hours, and the last satellite will be ahead 90 degrees, which is what you want. Release another satellite. And so on until all are released.

[match]

For timing single satellite launches into synchronous orbits, I used a Hohmann transfer from a mid orbit point. The detail on the target apoapsis includes the time it will reach that point.

i.e. I was launching three satellites and used an orbit (iirc, it was ~ 500 km) which would result in reaching the apoapsis 2 hours after the insertion burn. Timing the burn for the second and third satellites to coincide with the target satellite crossing the intended apoapsis allowed a fairly accurate placement. (Each satellite wound up about 2 hours behind the target satellite.) For four satellites, you would want to find a mid orbit that would give you a 1.5 hour travel time. Use the first satellite launch to step up your orbit until you find an insertion orbit that allows a 1.5 hour travel time from burn to apo. Set up subsequent transfer burns from this altitude and use the previously placed satellites as targets.

-This was one of the more fulfilling missions I accomplished. I was rather amazed that it worked so well once completed. Good luck!

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

There's a math equation for that somewhere. I need to find it. Because I'm fairly certain we have all the data to fill in the equation.

[SnappingTurtle]

I just have one at geosynchronous orbit over KSC and one at a very high polar orbit with the super long range dish. Two satellites and eclipsing is only a problem for like 1% of the time.

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Since one side of the moon always points at Kerbin, you can use a DTS-M1 antenna on a lander and point it at Kerbin (The DTS has a really great cone angle!) then put an omni and every sat will connect to mission control through it. Actually, if you use DTS antennas, you can just point them at the mun and back, they'll all connect!

Edit: Nevermind, it was the antennas targeting active craft that were creating the connection, I hadn't pointed anything at the moon yet. There is another issue though, the moon goes dark for a long time and 8000 power is not nearly enough to keep it running, probably need more like 50000.

That's a fantastic idea, but now I have a problem. Is there an issue where pointing at a planet instead of a satellite only works while the vessel is selected? I have a probe on the surface now pointed at kerbin, and when I select the probe it connects to kerbin and through an omnidirectional antenna to the satellites around the mun. When I switch to the satellite, the probe on the surface doesn't have a connection to kerbin.

Edited November 16, 2013 by ScottyDoesKnow

[ScottyDoesKnow]

So I sent a probe with 70k power, not nearly enough. Did a quick calculation to see I required about 180k to last the night. And here we are, with 210k to be safe:

[Mokmo]

All these to run a DTS-M1 and a Communotron 32 ?

Post before the photo: Do you have satellites around kerbin that have a dish pointing at the Mun ? Mission Control will only see it half of the time... A few will solve any blackout issues

That photo: Have you considered using RTGs ? 4 of them would probably provide enough power for the dish and omni i see on top (and i'm including the probe body that's smewhere in there).