Finally, in orbit of Duna, but...

[ray.mcdonough]

I can't transmit data and complete the contract!

Kerbin and Duna are almost opposite each other in their orbits, and I have a bunch of sats up around Kerbin, Mun, and Minmus, so if I waited till they came closer, I should get a link, right?

[Jupiter3927]

It's going to take a while but as long as you have the tier 2 communications antennas, it should work.

[Elementus]

Originally posted by Jupiter3927:

It's going to take a while but as long as you have the tier 2 communications antennas, it should work.

and a level 3 tracking station

[ray.mcdonough]

I have both of those, so I should be good.

I'm just still operating under a misconception, perhaps. Is there no penalty for just allowing time to pass, and not taking new contracts?

I know there are penalties for allowing the time for a contract to lapse, but what about just letting time pass, and not taking any new ones? No problemo?

In that case, I should allow time to pass for planetary alignments.

[Elementus]

Originally posted by ray.mcdonough:

I have both of those, so I should be good.

I'm just still operating under a misconception, perhaps. Is there no penalty for just allowing time to pass, and not taking new contracts?

I know there are penalties for allowing the time for a contract to lapse, but what about just letting time pass, and not taking any new ones? No problemo?

In that case, I should allow time to pass for planetary alignments.

if you have both of those then you shouldn't be having a communication problem

[ray.mcdonough]

Tier two comm antennas and level three tracking station, Elementus? I have a fully upgraded Space Center, including the tracking station, and tier 7 and some 8 tech.

[12lambes]

By tiers, we don't mean each node of the research branch.

Tier one comms are the Communotron 16-S and the Communotron 16. Tier two is the HG-5 High Gain Antenna. Tier three are the Communotron DTS-M1 and RA-2 Relay Antenna. Tier four are the Communotron HG-55 and the RA-15 Relay Antenna. Communotron 88-88 and RA-100 Relay Antenna are the final tier.

see: http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Parts

I find the calculation of signal strength rather difficult to know off the top off your head, but as a general rule I don't go interplanetary without a pilot until after I have landed on that planet with a manned mission or two. It usually takes a few game years of grinding out money making contracts to get the top level tracking station.

Once I have that, I know that 4 Communotron HG-55s can get me out to Jool and the closer half of Eleoo's orbit. With a single Communotron 88-88, and a couple backup comms, you can do way beyond Eleoo, and if you are playing an expanded solar system mod like OPM, multiple Communotron 88-88s paired with a Jool relay are pretty good usually.

It sounds like you should just stuff a bunch more antennas onto your ship and you'll be ok.

[ray.mcdonough]

Originally posted by 12lambes:

By tiers, we don't mean each node of the research branch.

Tier one comms are the Communotron 16-S and the Communotron 16. Tier two is the HG-5 High Gain Antenna. Tier three are the Communotron DTS-M1 and RA-2 Relay Antenna. Tier four are the Communotron HG-55 and the RA-15 Relay Antenna. Communotron 88-88 and RA-100 Relay Antenna are the final tier.

see: http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Parts

I find the calculation of signal strength rather difficult to know off the top off your head, but as a general rule I don't go interplanetary without a pilot until after I have landed on that planet with a manned mission or two. It usually takes a few game years of grinding out money making contracts to get the top level tracking station.

Once I have that, I know that 4 Communotron HG-55s can get me out to Jool and the closer half of Eleoo's orbit. With a single Communotron 88-88, and a couple backup comms, you can do way beyond Eleoo, and if you are playing an expanded solar system mod like OPM, multiple Communotron 88-88s paired with a Jool relay are pretty good usually.

It sounds like you should just stuff a bunch more antennas onto your ship and you'll be ok.

Uh, Sir?

Can I be a recruit on your spaceship?

[Jupiter3927]

I suggest bringing the science back to Kerbin.
That will always give the most rewards for the science you collected.

[ray.mcdonough]

Originally posted by Jupiter3927:

I suggest bringing the science back to Kerbin.
That will always give the most rewards for the science you collected.

Yeah, I've been doing that...from Mun and Minmus. Duna is going to require more planning.

[Cato]

Maximum extension distance Duna from Kerbin is if I remember rightly 35Gm (i think the minimum is 10 gm

You can't do that with tier 2 or even with tier 3

Tier 4 (RA15) is what you need Tier 3 (Ra -2) will get you to Duna ONLY when Duna is very close

[Finalsurvivur]

You can accept more contracts, they don't interact with each other. However, it is important for you to not accept too many contracts, or you could gets bogged down with too much stuff to do and turn KSP from a game into real life. Also, while you are waiting for duna and kerbin to orbit closer together, you should do other missions, and not just wait.

[Lucky]

You could always setup a communications network to bounce the signal off of. Place several rings of comm relays in orbit around the main star to fill in the gap. Think of the star as just another planet and place comm relays in orbit around it between the planet orbits this way you can get signal converage regardless of where Kerbin is.

[ray.mcdonough]

I have the DTS M1 antenna on board, not the RA 2