Subsector Communications Network?

[Spinward Scout]

So what does everyone do with their Communications Network IYTU? How does the information get distributed away from the X-Boat Stations? Does your subsector use surplus X-Boats to distribute information? Scout/Couriers? Freighters and cargo ships? Is it carried like mail? Do you just assume it gets where it needs to go?

 

[Timerover51]

From the X-Boat station, which I place at an A or B category starport, either regularly scheduled liners or subsided merchants take it to near-by A, B, and C starports. For D and E category spaceports I figure that Free Traders will pick up some extra money taking it there. Remember, just about all of the material will be in the form of computer files, so effectively no cargo space is used. At the most, you might be looking at a terabyte or two of data contained on an external drive which can be carried in the ship's vault.

 

[whulorigan]

So what does everyone do with their Communications Network IYTU? How does the information get distributed away from the X-Boat Stations? Does your subsector use surplus X-Boats to distribute information? Scout/Couriers? Freighters and cargo ships? Is it carried like mail? Do you just assume it gets where it needs to go?

From the X-Boat station, which I place at an A or B category starport, either regularly scheduled liners or subsided merchants take it to near-by A, B, and C starports. For D and E category spaceports I figure that Free Traders will pick up some extra money taking it there. Remember, just about all of the material will be in the form of computer files, so effectively no cargo space is used. At the most, you might be looking at a terabyte or two of data contained on an external drive which can be carried in the ship's vault.

I have always assumed that it was part of the task of the 100 ton Type-S in its "Courrier" role as part of the Communications Branch of the IISS. I would think that X-Mail would not necessarily be farmed out to non-IISS personnel except under special local circumstances.

OTOH, I do think that Subsidized Merchants & Liners for significant worlds, and the occasional Free/Far Trader for the backwaters of the Imperium are typical for the correspondence carried by the local "Postal Unions" that have popped up around Imperial Space.

 

[Vladika]

Type-S Couriers and ships with dedicated mail holds. Other than that the occasional free trader carrying rumors and private messages (per CT). Official Imperial decrees, orders and info are sent by Scout Couriers either going that way or tasked for the job/duty (part of the "free" use of the ship).

I like to keep the "frontier" flavor. If people want regular mail service, move to, or stay on, the Mains.

 

[mike wightman]

In addition to the scout/couriers carrying communications from the x-boat hubs to adjacent worlds individual worlds can subsidise merchants and insist they carry a mail vault to carry communications.

Mail and Incidentals: Subsidized merchants may receive mail delivery contracts,
usually as an adjunct to their established routes. Five tons of ship cargo capacity
must be committed to postal duty on a full time basis, the ship must be armed, and
a gunner must be a part of the crew. The starship is paid Cr25,OOO (Cr5,OOO per ton
of postal cargo area) for each trip made, regardless of the actual mail tonnage
carried. Such tonnage will not exceed 5 tons per trip.

A typical route for a subsidised merchant can be between 2 and 12 worlds:

These subsidized merchants are generally assigned a specific route connecting from
2 to 12 worlds of varying characteristics.

 

[McPerth]

I have always assumed that it was part of the task of the 100 ton Type-S in its "Courrier" role as part of the Communications Branch of the IISS. I would think that X-Mail would not necessarily be farmed out to non-IISS personnel except under special local circumstances.

I agree in this use of the scout/courrier (after all, hence thename), and yet it has only 3 tons of cargo capacity, while the standard mail vault amounts 5 tons ...

As for backwater planets, also remember many of them are in mains where jump 1 ships must stop just to refuel, even if not intending to stop there. Electronic data may be easily transferred then, so keeping those planets informed, and even some cargoes may if the planet has shuttles...

E.g. in route from Regina to Efate, a jump 1 ship must stop at Hefry, Forboldn, Knorbes, Whanga and either Alell or Uakyie. Most of the mare backwater planets, but the (probably subsized trader) j1 ship making the route will keep them informed just while passing by, even if it does not stop at them.

 

[rancke]

E.g. in route from Regina to Efate, a jump 1 ship must stop at Hefry, Forboldn, Knorbes, Whanga and either Alell or Uakyie. Most of the mare backwater planets, but the (probably subsized trader) j1 ship making the route will keep them informed just while passing by, even if it does not stop at them.

But there aren't going to be very many jump-1 ships travelling between Regina and Efate. They wouldn't be competetive. Nor jump-2 ships, because Whanga is a no-trade world, and a visit there represents a no-profit-just-loss jump. Most traffic between Regina and Efate should be jump-3 via Knorbes, but the absence of facilities at Knorbes may tip the balance into making jump-4 via Roup competetive (note the 'may'; I haven't actually done any calculations (I'm not sure what calculations to make)).

Granted, a subsidy would make a jump-1 ship viable, but how many ships would such a subsidy support? It will take about 120 days for a round trip between Regina and Efate, so if it's only one ship it will mean six visits a year (three either way) to each of the worlds in between.


Hans

 

[McPerth]

But there aren't going to be very many jump-1 ships travelling between Regina and Efate. They wouldn't be competetive. Nor jump-2 ships, because Whanga is a no-trade world, and a visit there represents a no-profit-just-loss jump. Most traffic between Regina and Efate should be jump-3 via Knorbes, but the absence of facilities at Knorbes may tip the balance into making jump-4 via Roup competetive (note the 'may'; I haven't actually done any calculations (I'm not sure what calculations to make)).

I just gave this example because Regina Subsector is probably one of the best known by everyone. Of course the route would not be the most profitable in the Imperium. That's why I said it would probably be a subsized trader.

Granted, a subsidy would make a jump-1 ship viable, but how many ships would such a subsidy support? It will take about 120 days for a round trip between Regina and Efate, so if it's only one ship it will mean six visits a year (three either way) to each of the worlds in between.

And just two those ships (not a big expense for the subsector government, or one subsized by each end of the route) will keep those planets visited once per month on average.

 

[whulorigan]

I agree in this use of the scout/courrier (after all, hence thename), and yet it has only 3 tons of cargo capacity, while the standard mail vault amounts 5 tons ...

Yes, but IIRC, the cargo capacity is distinct from the area set aside for the mission module/equipment (port-side aft) - on a Detached-Duty scout the area is usually used as a lounge. It looks about 5 dtons in size.

 

[rancke]

I assume that every duchy has a postal service that distributes mail internally between the duchy's systems. Mail to and from the duchy goes through the duchy's capital and reciprocal arrangements with neighboring duchies ensure that mail is passed from duchy capital to duchy capital.

How efficient each ducal mail service is and how extensive the coverage varies with the individual budgets. As long as a world has regular trade and passengers traffic, its mail service is likely to outperform the X-boats.

Official correspondence between duchy capitals and sector capitals and Capital goes by X-boat, because that's what Imperial Edict ??? says, but "copies" goes by Imperial Navy courier and reaches their destinations much faster than the originals do.


Hans

 

[aramis]

I assume that every duchy has a postal service that distributes mail internally between the duchy's systems. Mail to and from the duchy goes through the duchy's capital and reciprocal arrangements with neighboring duchies ensure that mail is passed from duchy capital to duchy capital.

How efficient each ducal mail service is and how extensive the coverage varies with the individual budgets. As long as a world has regular trade and passengers traffic, its mail service is likely to outperform the X-boats.

Official correspondence between duchy capitals and sector capitals and Capital goes by X-boat, because that's what Imperial Edict ??? says, but "copies" goes by Imperial Navy courier and reaches their destinations much faster than the originals do.


Hans

Bk 6 makes it clear almost all electronic mail ships via the X-mail system, and there are notes elsewhere in CT (IIRC, it's in TTA) that the man runs are the X-boats, but everywhere else is served by scout couriers from those.

 

[rancke]

Bk 6 makes it clear almost all electronic mail ships via the X-mail system, and there are notes elsewhere in CT (IIRC, it's in TTA) that the man runs are the X-boats, but everywhere else is served by scout couriers from those.

Well, the OP asked about our personal TUs, but as I do try to keep my TU as close to the OTU as I can, I accept the criticism.

The thing is, I consider it absolutely impossible to accept the X-boats, functioning as described in canon, as the main conveyor of information in the Classic Era, since the X-boat system is outclassed by various alternatives. So I can't keep my TU so close that almost all electronic mail ships via the X-mail system.

Note, however, that I do have all official correspondance going via X-boat. I just have the Imperial bureaucracy sending copies by IN couriers too.

As for civilian mail, perhaps the X-boat system is subsidized to such an extent that it is cheaper than any competition, despite its gross inefficiency. So people who don't care if their mail get through in seasons instead of in months use it and only those who want their mail to get through fast go by commercial alternatives. Sort of like air mail and surface mail.


Hans

 

[aramis]

Well, the OP asked about our personal TUs, but as I do try to keep my TU as close to the OTU as I can, I accept the criticism.

The thing is, I consider it absolutely impossible to accept the X-boats, functioning as described in canon, as the main conveyor of information in the Classic Era, since the X-boat system is outclassed by various alternatives. So I can't keep my TU so close that almost all electronic mail ships via the X-mail system.

Note, however, that I do have all official correspondance going via X-boat. I just have the Imperial bureaucracy sending copies by IN couriers too.

As for civilian mail, perhaps the X-boat system is subsidized to such an extent that it is cheaper than any competition, despite its gross inefficiency. So people who don't care if their mail get through in seasons instead of in months use it and only those who want their mail to get through fast go by commercial alternatives. Sort of like air mail and surface mail.


Hans

The costs of operating J6 couriers is well more than the savings in number of primary links. 50% more fuel, 50% more drives (and thus about 40% more hull cost), for a given hull size. And it requires a larger hull under any Traveller edition except MT, and thus more crew, as well, and a higher base cost. So, the difference is in opportunity costs

Spoiler:

But note also, if using Bk5 design, you don't need 800Td J6 couriers (those a bk2-ism); a 120Td J6 M1 courier is doable.
Using MgT, I can't get a smaller than 396Td J6 M1, or 392 M0 (and then only by applying "200 Rating Tons performance per letter" rather than using the table directly); by using the tables, I can't get it below 600.

IM-OTU-derived-TU, 99% of the traffic uses the X-mail system. The Navy doesn't have enough couriers for a J6 network in routine operation; they are for fleet dispatch traffic only. Since I use MT, The fleet's J6 couriers are only 100Td (Since they require only 35% Jfuel under MT), and the costs are low enough to justify a replacement effort. But I explain my mixed use of HG designs as an 1113 or so deployment of a new technique for JFuel use that reduced the needs; many warships have been refitted, many not, but most new construction is doing so in a hurry. (Navies don't generally optimize for cost; civilians do.)

 

[rancke]

The costs of operating J6 couriers is well more than the savings in number of primary links. 50% more fuel, 50% more drives (and thus about 40% more hull cost), for a given hull size. And it requires a larger hull under any Traveller edition except MT, and thus more crew, as well, and a higher base cost. So, the difference is in opportunity costs.

But the Imperial Navy has the couriers anyway. Its budget is more than enough to support many couriers and in wartime speedy communication is vital.

On top of that, the X-boats as their performance is described in canon (average of 2.6 parsecs/week) would be outclassed by any regular J4, 5, or 6 passenger liners that travel between high-population worlds and/or subsector capitals (they may or may not be able to compete with J3 traffic). All a ducal postmaster has to do is to pay a suitable selection of liners to carry mail, which has to be a LOT cheaper.

IM-OTU-derived-TU, 99% of the traffic uses the X-mail system. The Navy doesn't have enough couriers for a J6 network in routine operation; they are for fleet dispatch traffic only.

IMO fleet dispatch traffic is good enough to support duchy capital to duchy capital to Capital service since I assume that Admiralty to subsector fleet HQ traffic goes to the same places. The ducal seat is the place for his fleet admiral.

Since I use MT, The fleet's J6 couriers are only 100Td (Since they require only 35% Jfuel under MT), and the costs are low enough to justify a replacement effort. But I explain my mixed use of HG designs as an 1113 or so deployment of a new technique for JFuel use that reduced the needs; many warships have been refitted, many not, but most new construction is doing so in a hurry. (Navies don't generally optimize for cost; civilians do.)

Any replacement effort would have been over a century or more ago in 1105. J6 would have been available (at least to the IN) since the late 10th Century. (Year 1000 is when enough individual worlds had reached TL15 for Imperial historians to say that the Imperium had reached TL15).


Hans