Radio Communicator
| Radio Communicator | |
|---|---|
| Type | Communications Gear |
| Tech Level | TL–5+ |
| Cost | varies |
| Size | varies |
| Weight | varies |
A Radio Communicator is a technological device for sending and receiving signals and messages.
- It is a communication device.
Description / Specifications
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.
- Radio transmitters generally broadcast a signal, though advanced designs may be able to transmit a tight beam transmission. A radio is an Active device.
- Radio broadcasts can be detected by many sensor systems.
- A radio can simply listen to signals and broadcasts: in such cases it is termed a "receiver" and is a Passive system.
Radio Direction Finder
A Radio Direction Finder specifically locates radio devices based on the radio waves that they emit. It consists of a receiving array (typically one or more aerials) and a control and interface unit.
- It is a passive sensor.
- A Radio Direction Finder can detect signals across a variety of wavelength bands.
- It is able to precisely pinpoint the source of a radio broadcast.
The sources of radio signals can be located and jammed.
- 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.
- Personal radio communicators are small and compact, making use of micro-electronics, Nanotechnology components, and very efficient lightweight batteries.
- Commdots are a commonly used form of personal radio communicator.
- Radio communicators fitted aboard vehicles and spacecraft are correspondingly larger and more powerful, with effective broadcast ranges measured in millions or even billions of km.
- 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 sensors will function as radio receivers.
History & Background / Dossier
Radio Communicators are available from TL-5 onwards.
Radio Direction Finders and Radio Jammers are available from TL-5 onwards.
References & Contributors / Sources
- 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