Difference between revisions of "Laser Communicator"

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{{InfoboxGoods
 
{{InfoboxGoods
 
|name    = Laser Communicator
 
|name    = Laser Communicator
|caption = Communications Device
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|caption =  
|cost    = Varies
+
|cost    = Cr2,500
|footnote= -
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|footnote=
|group  = Communications gear
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|image  =  
|image  = [[File: Imperial Sunburst-Sun-IISS-Traveller.gif]]
 
 
|TL      = 8
 
|TL      = 8
|size    = Varies
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|size    = 5 liters
|Type    = Communications gear
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|Type    = Communications Gear
|volume  = Varies
+
|volume  =  
|weight  = Varies
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|weight  = 1.5 kg
|manufacturer= Various
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|manufacturer=
 
}}
 
}}
A [[Laser Communicator]] is a technological device for sending and receiving signals and messages.
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A [[Laser Communicator]] is an line-of-sight optical communicator using a modulated laser for voice, video, or data communication. Tight beam communicators are much more difficult to intercept or jam but are also somewhat more complex and require that the transmitter know the precise location of the receiver. They are adversely affected by weather, smoke, and anti-laser aerosols.  
* 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, [[star]]s and [[Sandcaster]] clouds.
 
** Prismatic aerosols specifically block lasers, including laser communications.
 
  
== History & Background / Dossier ==
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Portable laser communicators are available. They are usually equipped with tripods, stabilization gear, and tracking system. The communicator as a range of 500km, though this distance is seldom needed on a world’s surface since the distance to the horizon limits the range first, but this range often allows contact with an orbiting ship.
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.
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{{Basic}}
* 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.
 
 
 
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 3 million km will have a signal delay of 10 seconds (10 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 ==
 
{{Intermediate}}
 
 
{{Sources
 
{{Sources
|S1= [[MegaTraveller]] [[Referee's Manual]], ([[Game Designers Workshop]] 1987)
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| {{Ludography cite|name=Imperial Encyclopedia|page=55}}
|S2= [[Traveller The New Era]]: [[Fire, Fusion, & Steel]], ([[Game Designers Workshop]] 1994)
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| {{Ludography cite|name=Referee's Manual|page=67}}
|S3= [[T5 Core Rules]], [[Far Future Enterprises]] 2013
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| {{Ludography cite|name=Fire, Fusion, & Steel|page=49}}
|S4= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
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| {{Ludography cite|name=Fire, Fusion & Steel|page=109}}
|S5= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus [[User: Alagoric|Adie Alegoric Stewart]] of the [[IISS]]
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| {{Ludography cite|name=First In|page=28}}
|S6= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[User:Maksim-Smelchak|Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]]  
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| Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus [[User: Alagoric|Adie Alegoric Stewart]] of the [[IISS]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
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{{LE}}
 
 
[[Category: Communications gear]]
 
{{LE|Technology}}
 

Latest revision as of 10:42, 6 July 2020

Laser Communicator
Type Communications Gear
Tech Level TL–8
Cost Cr2,500
Size 5 liters
Weight 1.5 kg

A Laser Communicator is an line-of-sight optical communicator using a modulated laser for voice, video, or data communication. Tight beam communicators are much more difficult to intercept or jam but are also somewhat more complex and require that the transmitter know the precise location of the receiver. They are adversely affected by weather, smoke, and anti-laser aerosols.

Portable laser communicators are available. They are usually equipped with tripods, stabilization gear, and tracking system. The communicator as a range of 500km, though this distance is seldom needed on a world’s surface since the distance to the horizon limits the range first, but this range often allows contact with an orbiting ship.

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.