Instantaneous Communication

[Thomas Kelvin]

I've read about several methods of proposed superluminal communication, and the one that interests me the most use quantum entanglement. Both ships (or stations or starbases or whatever) have some sort of container with particles that are quantum-ly entangled with the other ship's. Somehow the particles are manipulated in a way that can be read by the other vessel (instantly), and that can then be translated back into a communication. Of course, there are a multitude of problems that (as of now) can only be solved by technobabble, but let's disregard that for now.

This works great for whatever network of ships have the technology implemented, but you can't just run into a Cardassian ship and use it. I suppose you could just use some "old style" radio or microwave transmission, but that would only be applicable if you were within a hundred thousand kilometers or so. There's got to be some other form of communication that would work better. Thoughts?

 

[Tosk]

You just need to access subspace (whatever that is) ...problem solved.

 

[Thomas Kelvin]

Yeah, just to clarify - this is excluding subspace.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Of course, there are a multitude of problems that (as of now) can only be solved by technobabble...

So let's NOT do that, then.

 

[psCargile]

The problem is that entangled particles can "communicate" instantly, but we can't measure the change of the state instantly.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-communication_theorem

 

[Go-Captain]

To read the entangled state involves sending a speed of light signal, so it ends up slow as light anyway, but the real question is what is used off (entangled) network.

Assuming entangled particle networks just work faster than light, then the best solution would be to have relay nodes on foreign planets. At those relays the different networks would link up, so Starfleet Ship could talk to Cardassian Ship by both sending signals to Cardassia, or Earth since both would have foreign relays. That still leaves communications with unknown ships in first contact scenarios.

The only thing better than radio would be packets of radio or laser light shot out in warp bubbles. The bubbles could then splash against a target and release the signal. That assumes the the bubble can splash harmlessly, and that it can self sustain even briefly. It also assumes amazing precision. Otherwise little courier drones could be better, but don't offer real time communication unless you have a bunch running in a constant circuit.

Courier drones might be handy for near-real time email/texting when a few light minutes apart.

Ideally, two parties really would want to be ~300,000 km apart, at just over 1 light second, for very nearly real time communication. Once a message is sent, assuming instant response, the minimum time to hear back is 2 seconds. The big problem with that for Star Trek is the maximum weapon ranges stated are roughly in that range. I imagine most parties would feel safer with a minimum 5 second response time, so 750,000 km. Although, the other problem is, Star Trek has near instant acceleration to significant fractions of light speed, and if communication is light speed, then an ambush could be possible at even that distance.

If you want a fully hard scifi sensor and communication environment then you should use radio, lasers, drone couriers, and probe swarms. For first contact you might have to resort or analog radio and laser standards linked to a physically isolated computer system.

 

[Spot261]

Obviously it's just a question of shouting loud enough

 

[Crazy Eddie]

THE WOMEN!!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

CHECK THE CIRCUIT! ALL OPERATING, SIR! CAN'T BE THE SCREEN, THEN!