Difference between revisions of "Laser Communicator"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
* Small portable laser communicators are available. They are usually equipped with tripods or other stabilization gear. | * Small portable laser communicators are available. They are usually equipped with tripods or other stabilization gear. | ||
* Larger laser communicator systems may be fitted aboard [[vehicle]]s and [[spacecraft]], with effective beam transmission ranges measured in millions or even billions of km. | * Larger laser communicator systems may be fitted aboard [[vehicle]]s and [[spacecraft]], with effective beam transmission ranges measured in millions or even billions of km. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A laser communicator is limited by realspace physics. The laser beam that the device produces takes time to reach its target. | ||
| + | * A beam travels at approximately 300,000 km per second. For example, a laser communicator attempting to conduct a conversation with a target at a distance of 6 million km will have a signal delay of 20 seconds (20 seconds for the laser beam to reach the target). | ||
Devices almost identical to Laser Communicators in function have applications in security, construction, surveying and a range of other industries. | Devices almost identical to Laser Communicators in function have applications in security, construction, surveying and a range of other industries. | ||
Revision as of 13:23, 4 October 2018
| Laser Communicator | |
|---|---|
| Type | Communications Gear |
| Tech Level | TL–8 |
| Cost | varies |
| Size | varies |
| Weight | varies |
A Laser Communicator is a technological device for sending and receiving signals and messages.
- It is a type of Communications Equipment.
Description / Specifications
A laser communicator is an optical communicator in which the light source is a laser whose beam is modulated for voice, video, or data communication over wide information bandwidths.
- A laser communicator is an Active device.
- Laser communicators transmit a tight beam signal.
- A laser communicator is a line of sight device.
- The transmitter must know the precise position of the receiver in order to conduct communications.
- Laser communicators receive transmissions via a Laser Sensor receiving array.
- Transmissions can be disrupted or blocked by intervening terrain such as weather systems, mountains, stars and Sandcaster clouds.
- Prismatic aerosols specifically block lasers, including laser communications.
History & Background / Dossier
Laser Communicators are available from TL-8 onwards.
The power of a laser communicator determines its effective broadcast range – the distance to which a signal beam will carry before it is sufficiently degraded to be indistinguishable from natural background noise and static.
- Small portable laser communicators are available. They are usually equipped with tripods or other stabilization gear.
- Larger laser communicator systems may be fitted aboard vehicles and spacecraft, with effective beam transmission ranges measured in millions or even billions of km.
A laser communicator is limited by realspace physics. The laser beam that the device produces takes time to reach its target.
- A beam travels at approximately 300,000 km per second. For example, a laser communicator attempting to conduct a conversation with a target at a distance of 6 million km will have a signal delay of 20 seconds (20 seconds for the laser beam to reach the target).
Devices almost identical to Laser Communicators in function have applications in security, construction, surveying and a range of other industries.
References & Contributors / Sources
This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
- MegaTraveller Referee's Manual, (Game Designers Workshop 1987)
- Traveller The New Era: Fire, Fusion, & Steel, (Game Designers Workshop 1994)
- T5 Core Rules, Far Future Enterprises 2013
- 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