Limited Remote Control

[Daddy Cecil]

Hi All!

I just had a thought that for probes you HAVE to have at least one antenna to communicate with it. Otherwise it's a dead probe...

For instance, I was thinking of three tiers of communication. 1 is Low Kerbin Orbit, 2 is Kerbin's Sphere of Influence, and 3 is everywhere else in the solar system. The Communotron 16 would serve for LKO, the Comms DTS-M1 for Kerbin's SOI, and the Communotron 88-88 for everywhere else. Of course, this doesn't mean that you absolutely have to use the communotron for LKO, you could use the 88-88 for LKO. PS. There would be no light speed delay, for the sake of convenience.

Thoughts, suggestions?

Cheers!

EDIT: Yes I know about Remote Tech, just saying a very limited version of it could be pretty cool for stock.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Daddy Cecil

[Sirrobert]

Remote Tech Mod is for you than

[Guest]

I thought this was about having to use comm satellites but, since it's not, I actually like the idea. It's a good halfway point between useless craft (as in, I'm never going to fly them again but for some reason I need them in orbit) and nothing. Given sufficient variation between the antenna it might also be nice to allow "relay" craft with larger antenna act as focal points for craft with smaller antenna. So a lander could use a smaller, lighter, less power-intensive antenna while the orbiter carries the heavy, power-intensive long-range antenna. In this way all the relays and such can be mission-specific (if desired), they don't require extensive networks to provide line-of-sight, and they provide a satisfying mechanic.

[Tery215]

In theory, KSP probe cores could function independently as they have the very same thing that controls them as Kerbals do. Except they require constant electricity to function.

What benefit is this? Making interplanetary spacecraft heavier?

[Luis]

In theory, KSP probe cores could function independently as they have the very same thing that controls them as Kerbals do. Except they require constant electricity to function.

What benefit is this? Making interplanetary spacecraft heavier?

Making interplanetary craft more interesting. The extra weight is pretty trivial since even the umbrella antenna is very light but a mechanic that rewarded you for having a relay satellite around Duna, so that your tiny lander probe could bounce signals off it, would be very satisfying to me. Ideally, I'd like line of sight calculations to take into account whether the signal is blocked by a planet, but I'd settle for a simple range check.

[Kasuha]

Not bad suggestion. I would add tier 0 - probe does not need any antenna as long as it stays within limits of KSC.

[Yoha]

Well, that's all things RemoteTech does. Additionally, it also takes into account signal delay (negligible within Kerbin SoI) and differentiates between two kinds of antennas: omni-directional have short range but can communicate with any other omni-directional antenna in range while dish antenna must be targeted at a specific direction (Active Vessel, Kerbin, that probe, etc).

https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/comments/1rml0r/tutorial_complete_novices_guide_to_remotetech_2/

[Guest]

I'd like line of sight calculations to take into account whether the signal is blocked by a planet, but I'd settle for a simple range check.

I don't like that because you end up with extensive arrays of craft whose sole purpose is allowing you to fly another. It also introduces a level of tedium and clutter to the base game which I don't think should be the focus of KSP; this suggestion is best left to mods like Remote Tech to implement.

[Yoha]

I don't like that because you end up with extensive arrays of craft whose sole purpose is allowing you to fly another. It also introduces a level of tedium and clutter to the base game which I don't think should be the focus of KSP; this suggestion is best left to mods like Remote Tech to implement.

Well, actually, you would only need two satellites around the planet to transmit data. Three is better as it allows you to have them regularly spaced and to cover all the surface (for allowing connections to KSC for example). For the design, you just put one omni-directional antenna for communications with the surface, between the satellite of the planet and close ships, and as many dish antennas as you want targets. For instance, you could just put one dish antenna to track your active vessel; I usually put two so that my probes can target the Mün as well.

Edited April 12, 2014 by Yoha
typo

[LethalDose]

I'd like to see some data (like temperature readings and gravity scans) have the ability to be moved between vessels using using antennae

Other data (Materials, goo, surface samples) would still have to be moved manually.

[coolitic]

Maybe probes already have built in signalling, hence why we dont need antennas. Antennas only for larger amounts of data such as science.

[Supernovy]

AntennaRange does this, but only for transmitting data, not probe control.

It even has the simple relay mechanic.

[Beetlecat]

I don't like that because you end up with extensive arrays of craft whose sole purpose is allowing you to fly another. It also introduces a level of tedium and clutter to the base game which I don't think should be the focus of KSP; this suggestion is best left to mods like Remote Tech to implement.

Tedium and clutter?? That's what this game is about! Have you seen some of those 20-stage asparagus craft?