77 replies to this topic

[Stormkrow]

So i had a lil idea and ill be dead honest />

The Wifi range on modem is the BANE of my existence, so i was wondering would it perhaps be a alternative to make a simple satellite computer? Now when i say this, what i mean is ,hypothetically saying, that its basically a floating Computer in space (the sky) that has an advanced antenna.
Which has a limited (maybe limitless) range for broadcasting RedNet but on a larger scale than the Modems.

So what could happen is the player gets the necessary materials together to make, code and launch a simple satellite to handle small (this might be an understatement) tasks like redirecting Rednet traffic to a server farm ,or even just being the host for the GPS api.

I'm not exactly too sure of an idea as to how the satellite will look before a simple launch such as a rocket or whatever but once the satellite is actually launched once can perhaps save a lil CPU processing and maybe just add a tiny, tiny red light on the night skybox, which would indicate a satellite high above.

Personally I'd make the satellite an relatively expensive piece of tech to gather materials for />

Now one can try balance the Satellite so that people don't spam the living heck out of the heavens by :

• Making the computers have very little memory
  
• Or make the computers capable of only the simplest programs and API's
  
• Make the materials needed a bit rare (eg. Emeralds for antenna pieces)

A con to the satellite is that once its up, it stays up!!

Anyway /> this is my first suggestion so go easy on me
Thanks

[Sebra]

You can use current computer as a satellite. Just lift it up to 255 height. Modem range on this height is enough for most tasks. You can lift it by Turtle. Think of it as a rocket. It would be hardly noticeable up above.

[Stormkrow]

Yeah i know, but if you play tekkit or own/play a server it would be real nice if you can have a way larger range usual.
Like i mean, this would be a large scale use tool

[kazagistar]

There is a config file that lets you set range.

[Leo Verto]

Stormkrow, on 08 November 2012 - 03:06 AM, said:

Yeah i know, but if you play tekkit or own/play a server it would be real nice if you can have a way larger range usual.
Like i mean, this would be a large scale use tool

I don't get your point.
Tekkit uses an outdated version of CC, we are not supporting it anymore.

In my opinion, infinite modem range is just overpowered, limitations would just be bad attempts reducing it.

[immibis]

This is a cool idea.
Yes, you can send computers up to 255, but the idea is to send them far above 255 (obviously, they wouldn't be blocks any more, the mod would just remember there was a computer there) with a corresponding increase in modem range.

[sjonky]

i kind of like the idea too. I dont remeber exactly how long the longest possible range you can do with modems is. But i dont think it was that much. So it would be nice to have a way to send over a really long distance. linking city's on rednet internet /> I know this would also be possible with adding multiple computers with modems and have them forward the signal to the final recipient. but if the distance is big enough it get's kind of hard to keep all nodes up and running.

[ChunLing]

First, you can set the modem range higher if you're dead set on this. But really, you would need to use world chunk anchors to take advantage of much more range than you can already get at max height. So just place relays with the chunk anchors. It is not hard.

[immibis]

sjonky, on 08 November 2012 - 04:48 PM, said:

i kind of like the idea too. I dont remeber exactly how long the longest possible range you can do with modems is. But i dont think it was that much. So it would be nice to have a way to send over a really long distance. linking city's on rednet internet /> I know this would also be possible with adding multiple computers with modems and have them forward the signal to the final recipient. but if the distance is big enough it get's kind of hard to keep all nodes up and running.

It's 384, which gives you over 250 blocks at bedrock level (I don't remember the exact number), which is plenty if you're just using it to relay messages around your base.
But imagine using a satellite for long-distance communications, like between peoples' bases (without just giving infinite range to everything, which is less fun).
Especially if they run even while their chunks are unloaded, which is possible depending on how it was implemented.

[immibis]

ChunLing, on 08 November 2012 - 06:57 PM, said:

First, you can set the modem range higher if you're dead set on this. But really, you would need to use world chunk anchors to take advantage of much more range than you can already get at max height. So just place relays with the chunk anchors. It is not hard.

You might have two islands of loaded chunks with unloaded chunks in between - in multiplayer it's not hard to conceive of such a situation.
Editing configs isn't nearly as fun as launching satellites.

Edit: I thought those posts would auto-merge, oh well

[Stormkrow]

Yeah, i understand the higher you go up the longer the range but my reason for saying this is to make it simpler for people (like me />) who have bases faaaaaaar apart. And wheres as the chunk loaders work great, they to have a downside. I might be mistaken and correct me if im wrong but the chunk loaders have the exact same entity as players, which can cause some strain on servers if your player cap is lower than the amount of anchors or loaders. Also, ive seen loaders or anchors corrupt some chunks before so im a lil weary. . .

My friend had this problem on a small server he was running.

Yeah, editing the configs might a the easiest solution but immibis said it wouldnt be nearly as fun as launching a 'satellite'

[Sebra]

It would be cool to launch comp-satellite to height ~500. It will get ~1000 m modem radius with current formula. It would looks like a red static dot in revolving sky. It would be challenge to setup. It would work in unloaded chunk. But it would be not needed work for developers.

Another option is ask Chickenbone to make his wireless mod to work as Peripheral and Turtle Upgrade.

[matejdro]

ChunLing, on 08 November 2012 - 06:57 PM, said:

First, you can set the modem range higher if you're dead set on this. But really, you would need to use world chunk anchors to take advantage of much more range than you can already get at max height. So just place relays with the chunk anchors. It is not hard.

If you want to make connection between two distant locations, it means A LOT of chunkloaders. And if you play on public SMP server, it would mean huge strain on server from all those chunkloaders, especially if every player wants its own rednet network.

Changing config is just cheating if you ask me.



What about some king of rednet repeater block that would work even in unloaded chunks? CC would simply keep locations of all repeaters in the world regardless if they are loaded or not. That way rednet signal could transfer large distances, but you would still need to do something for it like now. Just without resource (I mean computing resources) heavy chunkloaders.

[Sebra]

matejdro, on 10 November 2012 - 07:58 AM, said:

What about some king of rednet repeater block that would work even in unloaded chunks? CC would simply keep locations of all repeaters in the world regardless if they are loaded or not. That way rednet signal could transfer large distances, but you would still need to do something for it like now. Just without resource (I mean computing resources) heavy chunkloaders.

This demands repeater (Computer) to be out of world. In the sky for example. Reason is forced inability to interact with the world.

[matejdro]

I don't really get your last post. Why repeater can't be a block?

[Sebra]

It can be...
But do you want to program it yourself? If so, it is a computer. If no it is too dumb for this mod.
Do you wan it to be computer, restricted to rednet only? If so, why not to place it in the sky? If no, it would work weird in unloaded chunk.

[MaHuJa]

Taking the idea a few steps further:

1) To communicate through satellites, a parabolic or similar antenna block is needed. This is of course a peripheral comparable to the wl modem - but cannot be attached to turtles. They could also have restrictions like sky view (checking angles?).
2) Who says the satellites has to be geostationary? If you don't launch a certain number of satellites, communications only work during certain parts of the (minecraft) day. (How would this go with range limitations?)

But the bigger problem is that now we're getting into the topic of a satellites mod; which would alone have a bigger scope than all of CC currently is.

[Sebra]

MaHuJa, on 16 November 2012 - 02:31 AM, said:

1) To communicate through satellites, a parabolic or similar antenna block is needed. This is of course a peripheral comparable to the wl modem - but cannot be attached to turtles. They could also have restrictions like sky view (checking angles?).

Paraboloid modem is a possible suggestion here as a Peripheral but not a Turtle Upgrade. Although possible to be used by turtle as any other Peripheral. Works as a modem but in direction it points only. May be with ten times range. May be allow normal modem <-> Paraboloid modem interaction with triple range. It can help to establish far connection too.
This reminds me about Phase Array Antenna. A Modem, able to increase its Range by pointing in specific direction. No need to turn in that direction phisically. Possible craft recipe is 9 (16 in Crafty) Modems.

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2) Who says the satellites has to be geostationary? If you don't launch a certain number of satellites, communications only work during certain parts of the (minecraft) day. (How would this go with range limitations?)

Not before you calculate Minecraft World Radius and point equator. />

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But the bigger problem is that now we're getting into the topic of a satellites mod; which would alone have a bigger scope than all of CC currently is.

LUA programming is big enough scope. Is any good satellites mod on horizon?

[kamnxt]

It could be similar to a normal computer, but without a screen and with a built in rednet modem, so to make it work you would first have to connect it to a computer to program it. When programming it, you would need to either make it possible to control it using rednet, or make a program that works alone and doesn't need to be modified.

And there could be a config option to make them have some TNT inside... It could be fun with the rednet frequencies suggestion... Someone could hack it and make it explode!
Or use creative to launch hundreds and... FIREWORKS!

[CoolisTheName007]

Hum, any idea if it is possible to make an add-on for ComputerCraft that implements this without upsetting the mod developers? Because this clearly can't be done with peripherals (or can it... maybe a computer can act as control station and the satellite just extends the rednet capabilities of said control station?), and may require creating a new type of computer.