Transporter Coordinates

davidant32 · November 10 2008, 12:39 AM

Sometimes, an episode made a big deal about the characters "getting back to the transporter coordinates" while in other episodes, people/objects were transported directly to and fro various locations.

What's the deal?

The Wormhole · November 10 2008, 12:52 AM

Dramatic effect. If it's more dramatic for the characters to haul ass back to the spot they beamed down at, then that's what they'll do. If not, then they can be beamed up from where they are at.

sbk1234 · November 10 2008, 02:00 AM

I suppose if you're looking for an in-universe explaination, there could occasionally be atmospheric interferance and such which would require them to get back to specific coordinates.

Timo · November 10 2008, 08:15 AM

"Transporter coordinates" are AFAIK only really mentioned once, in TOS "Mark of Gideon" where the people at the receiving end are assholistic stickers to protocol and want to dictate by the millimeter where our heroes beam down, without allowing them to scan the destination.

Apart from that, yes, they generally do scan where they are going, and sometimes they have to be more careful about it than is usual. Say, when they are beaming indoors, and the destination doesn't have a nice Federation-standard beacon to guide them. When the life of our heroes depends on accurate delivery, dialogue may warrant a reference or two to this targeting issue...

Timo Saloniemi

davidant32 · November 11 2008, 06:21 AM

Follow-up question:

Why even have transporter rooms/pads at all? By the 24th Century, it seemed that every other episode had characters beaming from location to location, bypassing the transporter pads entirely. Why not just integrate the transporter technology into the ship's computer systems and be rid of the room and pads altogether?

Timo · November 11 2008, 08:05 AM

One usually needs to assemble a landing party, brief it, and equip it for the mission. A dedicated room is needed in any case, so why not have it be the same as the room where the transporter machinery is? After all, the machinery has to be concentrated somewhere, for ease of repairs, and as long as the transporter operators are also the principal repair and maintenance personnel...

That is the technological-operational excuse, that is. The real reasons are of course dramatical, as it just wouldn't do if our heroes and villains got from A to B without spending some time walking and talking.

Timo Saloniemi

Johnny · November 11 2008, 12:16 PM

can I just add...why steps up to the pads?

think · November 11 2008, 01:09 PM

What kind of technology would be used to create transporters and what is up with the buffer thing? could we not just keep reconstructing replicas of the individual that beams over sorta like that good and evil cap Kirk episode?

How long does a person stay in transport inside the "beam" really? cause maybe they should play transporter musics sorta like elevator music.

And while I am asking questions do the ever play elevator music any more ... in elevators and the like?

Timo · November 11 2008, 01:58 PM

Hmm.. Stepping up to the pads lets the transporter operator get a better view of what is being moved, now doesn't it? Granted that it's a damn inconvenience when one is moving heavy items that have to be carted out: those TNG antigrav carts don't look like they could cope with stairs.

Timo Saloniemi

The Wormhole · November 11 2008, 02:58 PM

davidant32 wrote:

Follow-up question:

Why even have transporter rooms/pads at all? By the 24th Century, it seemed that every other episode had characters beaming from location to location, bypassing the transporter pads entirely. Why not just integrate the transporter technology into the ship's computer systems and be rid of the room and pads altogether?

Roddenberry felt having the characters have convesations while they walked to the transporter room was essential to Star Trek (I'm not kidding).

Johnny · November 12 2008, 08:31 AM

You see, if it was me, I'd put them in the same room as all the cargo and...
oh, wait a minute..

I'm guessing that anything that has problems with steps goes via the cargo bay.

Timo · November 12 2008, 08:36 AM

Or, alternately, those hovercarts aren't quite as Dalek-hobbled as they seem. After all, Mark Jameison in his hovering nowheelchair was beamed onto the raised platform, and somehow still managed to get down (conveniently off-camera, of course).

When we saw a cargo transporter in "Datalore", that structure, too, was significantly elevated. It just had a ramp instead of stairs...

Timo Saloniemi

nx1701g · November 13 2008, 12:10 AM

I remember in the tech manual (not canon) it said that during site to site transports the people using the transporters momentarily materialize inside the transporter room then are instantly beamed back out and to their destination.

davidant32 · November 13 2008, 02:48 AM

nx1701g wrote:

I remember in the tech manual (not canon) it said that during site to site transports the people using the transporters momentarily materialize inside the transporter room then are instantly beamed back out and to their destination.

Didn't we see something like that, albeit manually, in an episode of Enterprise? I think the episode was "Civilization."

November 10 2008, 12:39 AM	#1
davidant32 Commodore	Transporter Coordinates Sometimes, an episode made a big deal about the characters "getting back to the transporter coordinates" while in other episodes, people/objects were transported directly to and fro various locations. What's the deal? __________________ Space, time, and thought are not the separate things they appear to be.

November 10 2008, 12:52 AM	#2
The Wormhole Admiral	Re: Transporter Coordinates Dramatic effect. If it's more dramatic for the characters to haul ass back to the spot they beamed down at, then that's what they'll do. If not, then they can be beamed up from where they are at. __________________ "Internet message boards aren't as funny today as they were ten years ago. I've stopped reading new posts." -The Simpsons 20th anniversary special.

November 10 2008, 02:00 AM	#3
sbk1234 Rear Admiral Location: Los Angeles	Re: Transporter Coordinates I suppose if you're looking for an in-universe explaination, there could occasionally be atmospheric interferance and such which would require them to get back to specific coordinates. __________________ In all the history of the world, a riot has NEVER broken out at a Sci-Fi convention. "It's a fucking TV show!" - Gary Lockwood

November 10 2008, 08:15 AM	#4
Timo Admiral	Re: Transporter Coordinates "Transporter coordinates" are AFAIK only really mentioned once, in TOS "Mark of Gideon" where the people at the receiving end are assholistic stickers to protocol and want to dictate by the millimeter where our heroes beam down, without allowing them to scan the destination. Apart from that, yes, they generally do scan where they are going, and sometimes they have to be more careful about it than is usual. Say, when they are beaming indoors, and the destination doesn't have a nice Federation-standard beacon to guide them. When the life of our heroes depends on accurate delivery, dialogue may warrant a reference or two to this targeting issue... Timo Saloniemi

November 11 2008, 06:21 AM	#5
davidant32 Commodore	Re: Transporter Coordinates Follow-up question: Why even have transporter rooms/pads at all? By the 24th Century, it seemed that every other episode had characters beaming from location to location, bypassing the transporter pads entirely. Why not just integrate the transporter technology into the ship's computer systems and be rid of the room and pads altogether? __________________ Space, time, and thought are not the separate things they appear to be.

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November 11 2008, 08:05 AM	#6
Timo Admiral	Re: Transporter Coordinates One usually needs to assemble a landing party, brief it, and equip it for the mission. A dedicated room is needed in any case, so why not have it be the same as the room where the transporter machinery is? After all, the machinery has to be concentrated somewhere, for ease of repairs, and as long as the transporter operators are also the principal repair and maintenance personnel... That is the technological-operational excuse, that is. The real reasons are of course dramatical, as it just wouldn't do if our heroes and villains got from A to B without spending some time walking and talking. Timo Saloniemi

November 11 2008, 12:16 PM	#7
Johnny Commander Location: Birmingham, UK.	Re: Transporter Coordinates can I just add...why steps up to the pads? __________________ www.digitalfilmworks.co.uk

November 11 2008, 01:09 PM	#8
think Rear Admiral Location: In Alien Laboratory Experimental Centrifuge	Re: Transporter Coordinates What kind of technology would be used to create transporters and what is up with the buffer thing? could we not just keep reconstructing replicas of the individual that beams over sorta like that good and evil cap Kirk episode? How long does a person stay in transport inside the "beam" really? cause maybe they should play transporter musics sorta like elevator music. And while I am asking questions do the ever play elevator music any more ... in elevators and the like? __________________ I am experiencing a psychotic break from thinking correctly please stand by as a type this thought incorrectly. goto universe 9 and join, and comment?/or-not\

November 11 2008, 01:58 PM	#9
Timo Admiral	Re: Transporter Coordinates Hmm.. Stepping up to the pads lets the transporter operator get a better view of what is being moved, now doesn't it? Granted that it's a damn inconvenience when one is moving heavy items that have to be carted out: those TNG antigrav carts don't look like they could cope with stairs. Timo Saloniemi

November 12 2008, 08:31 AM	#11
Johnny Commander Location: Birmingham, UK.	Re: Transporter Coordinates You see, if it was me, I'd put them in the same room as all the cargo and... oh, wait a minute.. I'm guessing that anything that has problems with steps goes via the cargo bay. __________________ www.digitalfilmworks.co.uk

November 12 2008, 08:36 AM	#12
Timo Admiral	Re: Transporter Coordinates Or, alternately, those hovercarts aren't quite as Dalek-hobbled as they seem. After all, Mark Jameison in his hovering nowheelchair was beamed onto the raised platform, and somehow still managed to get down (conveniently off-camera, of course). When we saw a cargo transporter in "Datalore", that structure, too, was significantly elevated. It just had a ramp instead of stairs... Timo Saloniemi

November 13 2008, 12:10 AM	#13
nx1701g Admiral Location: Aboard the Executor...	Re: Transporter Coordinates I remember in the tech manual (not canon) it said that during site to site transports the people using the transporters momentarily materialize inside the transporter room then are instantly beamed back out and to their destination. __________________ Star Trek: The Continuing Voyages RPG - Recruiting New Players! The Terminator Chronicles - The Sarah Connor Chronicles Continue! Not Dead Yet.