What is the purpose of Comms DTS-M1?

[ghost314]

I unlocked the Comms DTS-M1 a while ago, but comparing it to the more primitive Communotron 16, I can't see any reason why I would want to use the Comms DTS, the wiki seems to indicate that the Comms DTS is supposed to transmit data faster, but the in-game tooltips say it has a lower bandwidth. It also has more mass and requires more electricity to run, so what's it supposed to be good for?

[Vanamonde]

Several of the game's parts are first drafts and so their capabilities don't entirely make sense. Right now, for example, the Communotron 16 is actually better than the two alternatives that become available later.

[RocketPilot573]

I believe is does transmit faster, but it takes more power.

[Iridium616]

On the future, antennae will have a range. The small one will have a shorter range than other antennae. Thats it.

I'm not 100% sure of this, but I think that's the reason.

Right now, the small antennae is the best one.

[BlackBicycle]

Besides the obvious idea that you will HAVE to use more power-hungry antennae in the future, for range reasons, I actually found a use for those.

Unfortunately, the visuals go quite against my idea, but...

When you send a probe to Jool, to be incinerated on entry (or plain float down and be destroyed, as it is in the current version), how do you manage to transmit all that data from the Atmospheric Cone before you are crushed by Jools pressure (let's pretend it is that)?

So, even though deploying that umbrella does look ridiculous in the conditions that rip off your chutes, it IS the way to quickly transmit your atmospheric data back to Earth... erm.. Kerbin, while your probe still has power and is slowly descending into Jools abyss. The cheapest antenna will still be transmitting the thing (and the gravioli data. And the temperature. And the pressure) when it already sinks and is crushed by pressure.

I understand in future those antennae will have a certain range. I mean, they do look like that. But for now, a speedy data transmission, especially the atmospheric (which is a lot to transmit), makes sence when your probe is entering the alien atmosphere with a 100 percent chance to die, and soon. Make sure you have plenty of batteries with you for that last stage though. 4000 electric units total should be enough to transmit everything you would want to, in the last minute of your probes life.

Give it a thought : )

[Sunsparc]

The real difference is seen for those of us who have RemoteTech2 installed. They serve two different purposes. The Communotron functions as an omniantenna while the Comms is a dish that has to be pointed.

[BlackBicycle]

The real difference is seen ...

We were not discussing mods. That said, I am all for people making mods to differentiate antennae uses between different purposes. Myself, I just "roleplay" (?) and send anything over Kerbin sphere with the second antenna, and anything further than Dune with the largest one (even though she IS a b***ch when it comes to power). I take it as an extra challenge, power-wise.

[CattyNebulart]

I unlocked the Comms DTS-M1 a while ago, but comparing it to the more primitive Communotron 16, I can't see any reason why I would want to use the Comms DTS, the wiki seems to indicate that the Comms DTS is supposed to transmit data faster, but the in-game tooltips say it has a lower bandwidth. It also has more mass and requires more electricity to run, so what's it supposed to be good for?

The bandwith is wrong, the calculation the game seems to do is sec/Mits... so the inverse of bandwith (bandnarrow?) So the later bigger coms are faster.