Radios anyone?

[Jos Elkink]

Moreover, try to write a computer program that cracks that one in 2 sec ...

[Savanik]

Agreed, Jos, using pre-arranged codes are fairly hard to crack as long as codebooks remain secure. However, it has a fairly limited usability - you can only transmit things listed in your codebook. Also, it doesn't guard against repeated codes. Suppose somebody writes down 'The three suprisingly green today', and retransmits that next month. And the next, and the next... It'd be a bad year for Siom.

Secure communications has far more usability than simple wartime orders. For instance, with my system, Capt. Hobbes could transmit a digitally signed copy of the recent updates to his encyclopedia from any town with a radio he docks in. Everyone who received a copy could be assured of both the source and accuracy of that message. Without some form of strong, unique encryption, neither can be ensured.

Sav

[Nick]

Why is everyone worried about forgery?
That will not be a problem for a long time, if ever.
Do any transmitters even exist yet?

[nitefyre]

I'm out of my league here, admittedly. Though, from reading the example in the wikipedia, I think we're using terms and ancronyms I'm just not aware of, in order to fulfill some very practical and sensical requirements.

The mumbo-jumbo about encryption and programs and all that stuff seems a little far fetched and unnecessary. You'll be more concerned about your radio-operator not lounging outside or having fallen asleep in his room.

Frequency jumping on pre-determined command seems another easy way to avoid being overheard, and pre-designated codewords seem sufficient.

I don't understand Sav, what you mean by being able to send one signal island end to island end.If you mean transmit, pick up, re-transmit, from another station, that makes perfect sense. Otherwise, erm...?

@ Nick, well, two of my character's are interested in radios thusfar. One is already building the units. The other can only dream of one, at the moment.

I see radios making a good enough impact on certain high-infrastructure areas of Cantr, especially to replace current Pony-Express like tandem bike riders.

[The Industriallist]

If we could get transmitters and recievers that could be built on ships, that would be pretty revolutionary...

I mean even more than just having radios is, of course.

[creepyguyinblack]

We have a receiver for vehicles programmed, but we are stuck on another programming issue pertaining to choosing specific vehicle types that it could be built on. I'm just averse to having panel mounted radios on bicycles and rikshaws.

[mordiken]

Instead of characters why don’t you guys just substitute words for words, carrots mean bike, sassafras means kriff. Once you both come up with a key you could use a very simple program to decipher the text from each message. To others it would look like a random string of words in no logical order.
Nevermind you guys already stole my idea, in the past heh. I should learn to not skip ahead.

[Nick]

We have a receiver for vehicles programmed, but we are stuck on another programming issue pertaining to choosing specific vehicle types that it could be built on. I'm just averse to having panel mounted radios on bicycles and rikshaws.

Why not? Radios on bicycles aren't unheard of.

[nitefyre]

We have a receiver for vehicles programmed, but we are stuck on another programming issue pertaining to choosing specific vehicle types that it could be built on. I'm just averse to having panel mounted radios on bicycles and rikshaws.

Why not? Radios on bicycles aren't unheard of.

The bike itself certainly has enough storage room for a radio unit, (especially since I'm thinking the vehicle one would be slightly smaller?)

[wichita]

It will be just one more motivation to work your way up to a car.

[Agar]

*wipes frost off the monitor*

I agree with Nick. If I can have a dinghy with a stone table, primitive smelter, salting barrel, and a smoker, why not a radio? I haven't built the lathe yet. Need planks or something.

As far as bikes go, the radios I'm envisioning are not neato little transistor dealy-bobs, untill someone adds silicate. I'm thinking more like the big old "wireless" sets with vacume tubes. Think back to 30s and 40s, fireside chats, and radios twice the size of your printer. That is a bit imposing to heave on a bike. However, most all bikes have something like ten to thirty kilos of extra space on them. That's something like half a cantrian, provided we can saw a woman in half and then hide the parts. I don't see any problem with having a bike carry a radio, what ever the in game numbers.

[creepyguyinblack]

I'm thinking more like the big old "wireless" sets with vacume tubes. Think back to 30s and 40s, fireside chats, and radios twice the size of your printer. That is a bit imposing to heave on a bike.

This is why I am waiting for code to specify which vehicles can contain car/boat receivers. Same goes for car transmitters, I am thinking that those will require an even larger vehicle to hold them. Eg: receivers may be allowed for motorcycles and smaller boats, but the transmitters will have to be in cars and medium/large boats.

[Jos Elkink]

This is why I am waiting for code to specify which vehicles can contain car/boat receivers.

Didn't Anthony say that already exists? Well, this is an internal RD issue, but just because you said it here ...

[El_Skwidd]

I like that idea. Makes more of an incentive to build larger boats as flagships for your naval fleets...

...or pirate fleets...

Either way, I like it.

[creepyguyinblack]

People may wish to check electronics available.