HyperWave Broadcaster

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A HyperWave Broadcaster or Caster for short is a device capable of communication and detection at great distances using HyperWave, radiation of unknown composition that presumably propagates via HyperSpace.

A HyperWave transmission travels at superluminal speeds from a TrueSpace perspective and allows near-instantaneous communication from within TrueSpace. While HyperWave transmissions are distinct from and used much more commonly than traditional electromagnetic transmissions through TrueSpace or HyperSpace, they can be jammed by transmissions on the same frequency, blocked by force fields like an Ur-Quan slave shield (though a very sensitive receiver, such as those contained naturally within Chenjesu bodies, can detect transmissions from inside a slave shield if the transmission is sufficiently powerful) and tend to lose coherence and disperse over long distances.

Aside from the very subtle ability to detect and transmit HyperWave that evolved naturally within the Chenjesu's crystalline biology, which other species have been unable to reproduce, all spacefaring species use essentially the same principles in HyperWave communication and detection. Powerful HyperWave 'Casters tend to be relatively large, expensive pieces of equipment and are therefore standard for planetary or orbital installations but smaller devices appear to be able to be installed on many starships; most ships tend to use a combination of HyperWave and electromagnetic communication devices.

Most high-power HyperWave Casters broadcast on certain predetermined frequencies, sometimes referred to as channels or bands, within a limited range for information, advertising or entertainment. While HyperWave has proved useful for this kind of long-range communication, both the Ur-Quan Kzer-Za and Kohr-Ah have exploited other races' use of HyperWave in order to locate new sentient species to be conquered or eradicated.

It is possible that a ship's Hyper-Radar uses HyperWave radiation to detect and track squadrons of starships travelling through HyperSpace similar to traditional radar. However it is incapable of identifying the type and number of starships within the squadron. It is also unknown whether HyperWave receivers can be used to monitor transmissions in the ordinary electromagnetic spectrum, or if traditional radio apparatus is built into the devices separately.

See also: Burvixese HyperWave Broadcaster, Umgah HyperWave Broadcaster

Gameplay notes

Uses

• Using a Caster in HyperSpace will cause a Melnorme Trader to appear nearby the next day (unless you made them hostile to you).
• A Caster can be used to communicate with the slave-shielded proto-Chmmr while in orbit of Procyon II.
• In the Alpha Tauri star system a Caster can be used to impersonate the Ilwrath gods Dogar and Kazon.