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Subspace transmitter

carrying a subspace transmitter on his back.

Odo carrying a subspace transmitter on his back.

A subspace transmitter was a long-range technology for communications between star systems in space. It utilized subspace as the medium for sending subspace transmissions. It was the outgoing component of a subspace transceiver.

Specifics[]

A subspace transmitter.

A Borg subspace transmitter.

Its functions required transtator technology. (TOS comic: "Prisoners")

Its range depended on the size of its subspace relay coil. (VAN novel: Harbinger)

In the late 23rd century, a subspace transmitter could generate various types of broadband or pinpoint communications signals, including clear, coded, and scrambled. Any clear broadband signal could be picked up by any subspace antenna in range. A pinpoint signal required a stationary antenna at the destination. A coded or ciphered message required a decryption algorithm, and a scrambled message – one that is deliberately disguised and garbled – required the recipient to use specific unscrambling technology. (FASA RPG module: Star Fleet Intelligence Manual)

In the 2370s decade, the range of a shuttle's emergency beacon could be extended five light years if it was linked to the craft's subspace transmitter. (Last Unicorn RPG module: Star Trek: The Next Generation Players' Guide)

A high-gain subspace transmitter broadcasting at close range could overload tricorder data links and the frequency modulator of communicators. (TNG novel: Imbalance)

Andorian antennae tingled in the presence of a strong subspace transmitter. (DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Cathedral)

In the 2150s decade, Enterprise left a trail of subspace buoys containing subspace amplifiers that enabled the Earth Starfleet starship's transmitter to maintain contact with Earth. (ENT episodes: "Silent Enemy", "Shuttlepod One", "Fusion")

Because tightbeam transmissions required knowing the recipient's exact coordinates, it was deemed less practical for all of the Federation Starfleet than using omnidirectional subspace transmitters boosted by a network of subspace relay stations. (TNG novel: Engines of Destiny) By the 24th century, a large network of relay stations extended communications throughout the Federation, with relay beacons being dropped by exploring starships. (TNG reference: Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual)

Subspace transmitters were also an essential component of starship astrogation. (Decipher RPG module: Starfleet Operations Manual)

Environmental suits stored in 23rd century shuttlecraft were equipped with an emergency subspace transmitter in the backpack. (TOS novel: Heart of the Sun)

In the 2360s, the small, low-power subspace transmitter in a combadge had a range of only 500 kilometers, its range necessarily extended by the subspace transceivers of the user's orbiting starship. (TNG reference: Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual)

History[]

On 9 December 2151, with their subspace transmitter offline and believing Enterprise to be wrecked, Malcolm Reed and Charles Tucker III thought they were marooned aboard Shuttlepod 1. (ENT episode: "Shuttlepod One")

In the 2270s or 2280s, a Romulan ambush wrecked the subspace transmitter of the D7-class light cruiser IKS K'vinta. Left marooned with just their command boom, survivors had no other option except to use a backup impulse engine to travel to the nearest class M planet, Essai. (FASA RPG module: The Barrier of Essai)

In 2267, Captain James T. Kirk gave a subspace transmitter to Zefram Cochrane and the Companion in case they needed it while marooned on Gamma Canaris N. They used it to send a distress signal several months later. (TOS novel: Federation)

When the USS Enterprise made first contact with Plixes, its ruler Gokran claimed that they had invented powerful long-range scanners, but not warp drive or a long-range subspace transmitter. They knew about the existence of the Federation, but couldn't contact anyone outside of their system. (TOS comic: "To Rule the Universe")

In 2269, the Enterprise disabled Shaal's battlecruiser, but the battle left both ships without operational subspace transmitters. In order to contact the drifting Stormbird-class ship, Nyota Uhura had to hail with old-style radio. (TOS comic: "Deadlock")

In 2270, Red Leland carried a scrambler and small subspace transmitter on her belt which Jeffrey Adams thought might have very long-range capabilities. (TOS novel: Bloodthirst)

In 2285, a faulty subspace transmitter used by Mikil Hartewicce on Arcanis IV led to incomplete information why Starfleet needed to dispatch the USS Cooper there. (FASA RPG module: Return to Axanar)

In 2288, while attempting to recover the USS Defiant in an alternate universe, the USS Enterprise-A used a probe equipped with a subspace transmitter to maintain their lock on the prime reality. (TOS - Star Trek Special, Issue 2 comic: "Raise the Defiant")

In the 2360s, the Orion Syndicate provided agents with a narrow-beam, long-range subspace transmitter that could be disassembled and carried in a suitcase. (TNG - Double Helix novel: Infection)

In 2373, after the USS Rio Grande crashed on a class L planet, its subspace transmitter's signal booster was damaged. Quark and Odo ended up having to heft the transmitter atop a mountain so that its emergency beacon could transmit through the atmosphere. (DS9 episode: "The Ascent")

While being held prisoner in Internment Camp 371 in 2373, Enabran Tain altered life support circuitry behind the walls of their prison into a subspace transmitter to send a coded message to Deep Space 9. (DS9 episode: "In Purgatory's Shadow")

Alternate realities[]

On Vanguard in 2277, Ming Xiong used a tight-beam encrypted subspace transmitter to communicate with his handler, but was nervous as to whether the station's multi-spectrum array might be able to detect the message. (VAN - Mirror Universe - Shards and Shadows novella: The Black Flag)

First Splinter timeline[]

In 2381, with USS Titan and USS Aventine's transmitters damaged, USS Enterprise-E's subspace transmitter and deflector dish formed a subspace microtunnel for Erika Hernandez to connect with the Caeliar in hopes of stopping the Borg Invasion of 2381. (ST - Destiny novel: Lost Souls)

In 2373, atmospheric effects interfered with shields and communications, preventing the shuttle Kepler's subspace transmitter from linking to a combadge even at close range. (TNG - S31 novel: Rogue)

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