Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'

h a l f b a k e r y
Get half a life.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: Browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

User:
Pass:
Login
Create account.


                        Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.

Super long wave radio communications.
Through space.
  (+2, -1)
(+2, -1)
  [vote for,
against]


Several world gov'ts use long wave radio communication to talk through the earth. The US can send a signal to a submarine on the other side of the world, with long radio waves. I think the longest antanae is about a mile or so long.

I propose that the world builds a gigantic radio array in space that would be 100 miles long. The radio "message" itself would be short, but would repeat itself so that its wavelength is 100 miles long.

This way, with one array we can search space in a much more effective way. We could also explore super long wave communications. Since Long waves can pass through the earth, who knows what super long waves could pass through.


Antegrity, Nov 09 2005


Short name, e.g., Bob's Coffee

Destination URL. E.g., http://www.coffee.com/

Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)







       Wouldnt they just pass through anything? This would be a bit pointless.   

       They also would have the same velocity as light or any other radio wave, meaning we would still have to wait 8-9 years for a signal to return from alpha centauri. When it comes to space we are, to all intents and purposes, alone.

miasere, Nov 09 2005
  

       "This way, with one array we can search space in a much more effective way" - for what, exactly? Aliens with very large transistor radios?

DrCurry, Nov 09 2005
  

       Building it in space would be a big waste of time too. Dish antennas spread across several continents can already be joined up to create 'virtual antennas' several thousand miles across. The same principle could be used to create big transmitters.

hippo, Nov 09 2005
  

       //the longest antanae is about a mile or so long// It’s about 125 miles long.   

       //The radio "message" itself would be short// It would be slow, not necessarily short.   

       //but would repeat itself so that its wavelength is 100 miles long// Yer joking, right?

Shz, Nov 09 2005
  

       As you increase the wavelength you decrease the scatter of a radio wave. So an ultra-long wavelength radio might be good for intergalactic communication. (an ULW radio-telescope is mentioned in a book I half-remember. May have been Asimov. The plotline is about a martian settler going to earth to clone the next generation of his sterile body. Can't remember the title, though.)   

       Unfortunately, as the wavelength increases, so the frequency decreases, and with it the amount of information the wave can carry. I'm guessing that your message will have to be significantly longer than a wavelength otherwise, all you are transmitting is, "hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..." Hardly an exciting message.

st3f, Nov 09 2005
  

       No, but it is at least the most common thing that lifeforms throughout the universe say to themselves.

Ian Tindale, Nov 09 2005
  

       As this collection of thoughts tend to indicate.

bristolz, Nov 09 2005
  

       The point is that super long radio waves would pass through spacial bodies and systems, thus a good search pattern could be laid out.

Antegrity, Nov 24 2005
  

       Test match cricket on 198 (Hz) perhaps?

bibliotaphist, Nov 24 2005
  

       In space, no-one can hear you "Hmmmmmmmmmm"

coprocephalous, Nov 24 2005
  


 
back: main index
 business 
 computer 
 culture 
 fashion 
 food 
 halfbakery 
 home 
 other 
 product 
 public 
 science 
 sport 
 vehicle