Jamming Equipment
| Jamming Equipment | |
|---|---|
 Electronic Countermeasure | |
| Type | Sensor Equipment |
| Tech Level | TL–5 |
| Cost | Varies |
| Size | varies |
| Weight | varies |
| Manufacturer | Various |
| - | |
Jamming Equipment is any device designed to confuse or overwhelm Sensors or Communications Equipment.
- It is a type of sensor.
- It is a type of electronic countermeasure.
- Jamming equipment relies on accurate metrics.
- It may be a component of a Ship Sensor Suite.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
Jamming equipment normally functions by emitting an electromagnetic disturbance, sometimes called ‘noise’, on a wavelength at an intensity that overwhelms the target receiver, making reception impossible. Jammers are designed to affect specific services (such as radio communications) or devices (such as RADAR).
- A jammer is a type of electronic countermeasure (ECM).
- Jamming can usually be distinguished from background and natural interference or device malfunctions.
- Jamming can be used as a form of censorship in authoritarian states, in order to prevent the inflow of broadcast data (such as news services) from other sources.
Image Repository[edit]
No information yet available.
Radio Jammers[edit]
Radio transmitters generally broadcast a signal by systematically modulating properties of electromagnetic energy waves. Radio jammers generally work by the transmission of electromagnetic noise that disrupts communications by decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio. Radio receivers hear static, noise, pops, clicks, tones, and other random sounds instead of an intelligible signal.
- It is an active countermeasure.
- A Radio Jammer may itself be disrupted or countered by electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM).
RADAR Jammers[edit]
RADAR is a sensor system that bounces radio waves (electromagnetic energy) off of a target and detects the reflection. A RADAR jammer interferes with the operation of a RADAR by saturating its receiver with noise or false information or by blocking the receiver with highly concentrated energy signals.
- It is an active countermeasure.
- RADAR and RADAR Jammer broadcasts can be detected by many types of sensor systems.
- A RADAR Jammer may itself be disrupted or countered by electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM).
Noisemakers[edit]
SONAR is a sensor system that bounces sound waves (sound energy) off a target and detects the echo. A Noisemaker interferes with the operation of a SONAR by saturating the receiver with noise or creating false noises or by concentrating sound on the receiver overwhelms its ability to discern the target noise.
- It is an active countermeasure
- It is included in the scope of Electronic Warfare even though it isn't an electronic signal
SONAR maskers[edit]
A SONAR masker operates by changing the properties of the medium through which the sound is passing so as to dampen the sound transmission
- It is an active passive countermeasure
- It is included in the scope of Electronic Warfare even though it isn't an electronic signal
Jamming Techniques[edit]
Jamming equipment can be used in a number of ways:
- Spot jamming occurs when a jamming device focuses all of its power on a single frequency. Spot jamming is powerful but an "agile" RADAR can hop frequencies, rendering the jamming ineffective.
- Multiple jammers can spot jam a range of frequencies: this is a form of barrage jamming.
- Sweep jamming is when a jammer's full power is shifted from one frequency to another. It is able to jam multiple frequencies in quick succession but it does not affect them all at the same time. This disrupts rather than blocks the target.
- Barrage jamming is the jamming of multiple frequencies at once by a single jammer. It is most commonly employed by ships mounting an EMS Jammer package.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
The power of jamming equipment determines its effective broadcast range – the distance to which a broadcast will carry before it is sufficiently degraded to be incapable of affecting the targeted sensors or communications systems.
- A jamming broadcast must be sufficiently powerful to disrupt or overwhelm its target. The intensity of a jamming broadcast gives jamming equipment relatively large energy demands.
Jamming equipment is limited by realspace physics. The EM broadcasts that a jamming device produces take time to reach their target.
- A broadcast travels at approximately 300,000 km per second. For example, a RADAR jammer attempting to disrupt broadcasts from a target at a distance of 900,000 km will have a signal delay of 3 seconds (3 seconds for its own EM jamming broadcast to reach the target).
Technological Overview of Jamming Equipment[edit]
Jamming equipment becomes widely available from TL-5 onwards.
- The technology is generally consider to mature in the TL:4-6 Technological Epoch.
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
- MegaTraveller Referee's Manual, (Game Designers Workshop 1987) pg. 68
- Fire, Fusion, & Steel, Traveller The New Era, (Game Designers Workshop 1987) pg. 50
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science