New block: Laser transceiver/antenna

[MrPARAJ0INTZ]

This block would allow you to transmit a datastream over any possible distance as long as you know the location of the position you are transmitting to and you have enough power. For instance this block would allow you to transmit data from one station to another and let them communicate. No need multiple relays that could possibly be hacked.

Leave any function changes/suggestions in the comments.

 

[Verbatos]

isnt there already a transmitter and reciever ingame?

 

[XenoCow]

Would the difference between this and the radio receivers be directional signals, and the unlimited (or longer at least) transmission distance?

One feature of this might be that it takes more power to send signals farther. So, station to station would likely be the only use case. Also, how would you align the two ends? Would you manually or programmatically scan in the direction that you want to send/receive the signal from until you get a connection? This would require players to be at both ends adjusting until the connection is made.

Another consideration would be if the beam could be blocked by stations, ships, asteroids, or Eos. Also, how wide is the beam's diameter?

 

[MrPARAJ0INTZ]

Would the difference between this and the radio receivers be directional signals, and the unlimited (or longer at least) transmission distance?

One feature of this might be that it takes more power to send signals farther. So, station to station would likely be the only use case. Also, how would you align the two ends? Would you manually or programmatically scan in the direction that you want to send/receive the signal from until you get a connection? This would require players to be at both ends adjusting until the connection is made.

Another consideration would be if the beam could be blocked by stations, ships, asteroids, or Eos. Also, how wide is the beam's diameter?

Yeah the main difference would be directional signals and the way longer distance indeed. With the feature of using more power for longer distances I also agree and yeah the main idea was indeed for station to station communication.

In terms of alignment we could give the receiver a special identifier that is unique to that specific one. You would need to enter that specific identifier into the transmitter and it would then auto align to the receiver location.

I think it would be interesting if you could indeed block the beam with a ship, but a side-effect of the beam would be like a scrambler/jammer that locks up the ships control that is in the way (beam would be on an invisible wavelength so can only be blocked on accident or when transmitter or receiver gets destroyed and not close to the station).

In terms of beam diameter I have no idea what would be balanced.