Multi-channel receivers

[Piscator]

"Split" from the radio triangualation thread.

On a somewhat related note, multi-channel receivers (allowing you to set multiple frequencies you want to listen to) might help a lot with reducing radio noise, since it would lessen the pressure to use the common band. The weather forecast could then use a different frequency without reducing it's chances of being heard and those who don't want to hear it could simply remove that frequency from their listening list.

But could someone then add all 200 frequencies to their list of channels and then there would be no way of having private conversations over the radio?

I think there should be a maximum of 10-20 channels.

[Doug R.]

Nay. Just build more receivers. They're not that expensive if you have the material. All my towns have at least two.

[Piscator]

The problem with that, is that there is insufficient motivation to build more receivers. It doesn't offer you much of an immediate benefit and if people don't develop their receiver infrastructure, senders will see no reason to switch to other frequencies, which means that we're stuck.

This idea would work best as a free upgrade, since it's main goal is to increase the usability of the radio network as a whole.

[Doug R.]

Well, I vote no. I see a serious danger to radio privacy. The dangers far outweigh any benefit of this.

[Piscator]

Well, if we raise the number of available radio frequencies, privacy shouldn't be a problem.

[the_antisocial_hermit]

I would say yes to this, so long as the maximum channels were 3-5 but no more.

[Comy]

I'd say yes to this, with a maximum of five.

[Doug R.]

The problem with that, is that there is insufficient motivation to build more receivers.

Then there's no need for this suggestion. If towns were forced to build 5-10 receivers to make the radio network usable, I could see the utility of this suggestion. However, since this is clearly not happening, it's addressing a non-existent problem.

[SumBum]

The most I've seen is two receivers. One kept on the "public" channel and the other for that group's private communication. Seems to be enough for most places. I'd suggest allowing receivers to be built outdoors if you really want to make them more user-friendly. I know that has been batted around, shot down and resurrected often, but I still would like to see it. Requiring a building for transmitting balances things well enough.

[RedQueen.exe]

I, like Doug, am not sold on the usefulness, but one of the prohibiting factors to people building additional radios may be clutter and cost. I'd just like to float the idea of increasing the channel cap a receiver at a reduced cost, effectively housing it in the same enclosure. Again, not sure of it's usefulness.

I'm not going to propose it as a suggestion, as I believe it has already been shot down, but to resolve the privacy issue, it would be nice if an encryption key could be entered into the radio to encode and decode broadcasts to allow coded communications without creating busywork for the players.

[Piscator]

The problem with that, is that there is insufficient motivation to build more receivers.

Then there's no need for this suggestion. If towns were forced to build 5-10 receivers to make the radio network usable, I could see the utility of this suggestion. However, since this is clearly not happening, it's addressing a non-existent problem.

I think you're missing the point. This is not about increasing consumption for a change. It's about making the radio network more convenient to use. If every radio user were able to monitor several frequencies, there wouldn't be the need to send all public messages on the more and more overcrowding common frequency. Instead, characters could organize and for example reserve one frequency for business talk, another one for emergencies and yet another one for general chit-chat. Radio stations could have their own frequencies as well.
In short, the intention of this idea is to allow listeners to choose what they want to listen to.

[Doug R.]

Um...If you have everyone using the common frequency, and then split things onto 5 frequencies, but still monitor those frequencies, what changes? You still have the same amount of noise. Most towns can only afford to man one indoor location, so they'll need to listen to all the channels.

[Piscator]

Only if you listen to all five channels. If you are a serious trader and don't care about chit-chat you could switch this frequency off. If you're generally annoyed by the radio, you might want to switch off everything but the frequency for emergency calls. If you just want to stay in contact with other chars, you might not be interested in resource requests.

I just realized though, that we would also need broadband-repeaters for this to work.

[Doug R.]

Well, I guess we won't agree, so I'll stop here.

[Addicted]

I don't see everyone 'obeying' or even knowing the rules for the separate channels. People will broadcast on all channels for nuisance factor and we'll still have to listen to all just in case what is useful is on the wrong channel.