Difference between revisions of "Radio Communicator"

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A [[Radio Communicator]] is a technological device for sending and receiving signals and messages.
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{{InfoboxGoods
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* It is a communication device.
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|name    = Radio Communicator
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|caption =
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|cost    = Cr75
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|footnote=
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|image  =
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|TL      = 5
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|size    = 10 liters
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|Type    = Communications Gear
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|Volume  = Varies
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|weight  = 20kg
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|manufacturer=
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}}
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A [[Radio Communicator|communicator]] is defined as a radio transmitter/receiver combination capable of operating off an internal power source; it is portable in the sense that it need not be connected to a power supply. It may transmit and receive voice, video,  and data. Communicators 0.2 liters and under can be worn as earpieces, which are unnoticeable to the casual observer.
  
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== Description / Specifications ==
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Communicators can be either broadcast or tight beam. Radio is the principal form of broadcast communications. 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. Tight beam radio communicators require an antenna designed for focusing the transmission which adds both weight and cost.
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Radio communicators use radio waves to carry information, such as sound, by systematically modulating properties of electromagnetic energy waves. The information in the waves can be extracted and transformed back into its original form by another radio communicator.
 
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* Radio transmitters generally broadcast a signal. A radio is an Active device.
 
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* A radio can simply listen to signals and broadcasts: in such cases it is a Passive system.
 
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* A Radio Direction Finder can precisely locate the source of a radio broadcast.
 
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* A radio broadcast (and the ability to receive a broadcast) can be disrupted or blocked by a Radio Jammer.
 
  
 
The power of a radio communicator determines its effective broadcast range – the distance to which a clear signal will carry before it is sufficiently degraded to be indistinguishable from natural background noise and static.
 
The power of a radio communicator determines its effective broadcast range – the distance to which a clear signal will carry before it is sufficiently degraded to be indistinguishable from natural background noise and static.
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* Personal radio communicators are small and compact, making use of micro- and nanoelectronics and very efficient lightweight batteries.
 
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** [[Commdot]]s are a commonly used form of personal radio communicator
 
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* Radio communicators fitted aboard [[vehicle]]s and [[spacecraft]] are correspondingly larger and more powerful, with effective broadcast ranges measured in millions or even billions of km.
 
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* All [[spacecraft]] are automatically equipped with radio receivers integral to the hull. In the event of these receivers being destroyed, the receiver arrays of many other types of electromagnetic [[sensor]]s will function as radio receivers.
 
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== History & Background / Dossier ==
 
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Radio Communicators are available from [[TL-5]] onwards.
 
  
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Radio Direction Finders and Radio Jammers are available from [[TL-5]] onwards.
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All [[spacecraft]], and many vehicles, are automatically equipped with radio receivers integral to their hulls. These allow reception of radio broadcasts. There are hand-held versions of these same receiver radio systems for personal use. In the event of these receivers being destroyed, the receiver arrays of many other types of electromagnetic [[sensor]]s will function adequately as radio receivers.
  
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== References & Contributors / Sources ==
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{{Basic}}
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{{Intermediate}}
 
 
{{Sources
 
{{Sources
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|S1= [[MegaTraveller]] [[Referee's Manual]], ([[Game Designers Workshop]] 1987)
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| {{Ludography cite|name= Imperial Encyclopedia|page=55}}
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|S2= [[Traveller The New Era]]: [[Fire, Fusion, & Steel]], ([[Game Designers Workshop]] 1994)
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| {{Ludography cite|name= Referee's Manual |page= 68}}
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|S3= [[T5 Core Rules]], [[Far Future Enterprises]] 2013
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| {{Ludography cite|name= Fire, Fusion, & Steel |page= 49}}
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|S4= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
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| {{Ludography cite|name= Starships|version=Traveller 5th|page=144}}
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|S5= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus [[User: Alagoric|Adie Alegoric Stewart]] of the [[IISS]]
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| {{Ludography cite|name= Worlds and Adventures|version= Traveller 5th|page=174}}
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|S6= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[User:Maksim-Smelchak|Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]]  
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| Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus [[Adie Alegoric Stewart]] of the [[IISS]]
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| Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]]  
 
}}
 
}}
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{{LE}}
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{{LEN|}}
 

Latest revision as of 01:04, 13 June 2021

Radio Communicator
Type Communications Gear
Tech Level TL–5
Cost Cr75
Size 10 liters
Weight 20kg

A communicator is defined as a radio transmitter/receiver combination capable of operating off an internal power source; it is portable in the sense that it need not be connected to a power supply. It may transmit and receive voice, video, and data. Communicators 0.2 liters and under can be worn as earpieces, which are unnoticeable to the casual observer.

Communicators can be either broadcast or tight beam. Radio is the principal form of broadcast communications. 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. Tight beam radio communicators require an antenna designed for focusing the transmission which adds both weight and cost.

The power of a radio communicator determines its effective broadcast range – the distance to which a clear signal will carry before it is sufficiently degraded to be indistinguishable from natural background noise and static.

All spacecraft, and many vehicles, are automatically equipped with radio receivers integral to their hulls. These allow reception of radio broadcasts. There are hand-held versions of these same receiver radio systems for personal use. In the event of these receivers being destroyed, the receiver arrays of many other types of electromagnetic sensors will function adequately as radio receivers.

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.
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