Janet's Star Trek Voyager Site

SHIP U.S.S. VOYAGER:
COMMUNICATIONS

screenshots by Janet

INTRASHIP COMMUNICATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Communications aboard USS Voyager take two basic forms: voice and data transmissions. Both are handled by the onboard computer system (LCARS) and dedicated peripheral hardware nodes. Although those sections of the computer normally allocated to communications tasks are named the communications system, the metaphor of the human central nervous system is more applicable in this situation. The sheer mass of adaptable links radiating outward from the main computers virtually assures that all information within the spacecraft will be rapidly transmitted to the correct destination, and will be received with little or no detectable loss of that information. While the multitude of communications functions are directly traceable to the same hardware, the operating modes and protocols around which they are based are distinctly different and are noted below.

 

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

The hardware configuration for dedicated intraship communications involves many thousand allocated data line sets and terminal node devices distributed throughout the starship (aboard the larger Galaxy-class starships which are larger than Intrepid-class such as USS Voyager there is a minimum of 12,000), in parallel with the pure hardware telemetry links of the optical data network (ODN). This is the primary route for voice and data signals. An equal number of radio frequency (RF)-based terminal node devices are distributed throughout the ship as a first backup layer. A second backup layer runs parallel to the electroplasma system and consists of several thousand kilometres (7,550 kilometres in the larger Galaxy-class starships) of copper-yttrium-barium superconducting strands. This layer utilises the same terminal node devices. Each terminal node device is a disk measuring 11.5 cm in diameter and 2 cm thick. The casing is constructed of moulded polykeiyurium, the internal arrangement consisting of a voice section and a data relay section. The voice section contains an analogue-to-digital voice pickup/speaker wafer, preprocessor amplifier, optical fibre modulation input/output subcircuit, and digital-to-analogue return processor. The data relay section contains two nested circuits consisting of a standard subspace transceiver assembly (STA), found most prominently in Starfleet-issue communicator badges, and short-range RF pickup and emitter. Handheld devices and transportable devices not hardwired to the ODN send and receive data via this part of the terminal node. While duplicate RF pickups exist in the backup system, their function in the primary system is to manipulate data signals for transmission over the optical fibres.

 

OPERATION

During voice operations, the normal procedure involves a crewmember stating his or her name, plus the party or ship area being called, in a form that can be understood by the computer for proper routing. Examples: "Janeway to Torres" or "Chakotay to Engineering" or "Bridge to Engineering". The artificial intelligence (AI) routines in the main computer listen for intraship calls, perform analyses on the message opening content, attempt to locate the message recipient, and then activate the audio speakers at the recipient's location. During the initial message routing, there may be a slight processing delay until the computer has heard the entire name of the recipient and located same. From that point on, all transmissions are real-time. When both parties have concluded their conversation, the channel may be actively closed with the word "out," which will be detected in context by the computer. If both parties discontinue without formally breaking the channel, and no other contextual cues have been offered to keep the line open, the computer will continue listening for ten seconds, and then close the line. When using the communicator badge to initiate a call aboard ship, the computer will consider the badge-tap to be force of habit, or simply a confirmatory signal. In the event that the recipient is unavailable for a routine voice call, a system flag will be set in the computer and will alert the recipient that a waiting message has been stored. Emergency voice transmissions are prioritised and controlled by command authority instructions within the computer, and can be redefined by command personnel according to the situation.

comms. signalcomms. signal (ship's intercom)

[#155 Flesh and Blood, Part One]
On the bridge, Kim's ops station signals an alert and he contacts Janeway in the ready room via comms: "Bridge to Captain Janeway. Someone's tapping into a com. relay in the messhall."
Janeway: "Shut it down."
Kim: "I can't. I've been locked out."
Janeway, now on the bridge, contacts Tuvok as he hurries to the messhall. "Bridge to Tuvok. One of the Hirogen is accessing our com. system. Stop him."
Tuvok: "Acknowledged."
click for audio clip from the episodenote the change from ordinary voice to how the voice sounds over the comms. channel		 [#57 Coda]
Janeway, who is "dead", moves in front of Kes so that she goes through her in the hope that Kes will be able to sense her presence. Kes turns and looks back, having sensed something: "Captain?"
Janeway: "Did you feel that, Kes? It was me."
Kes activates her combadge. "Kes to Commander Chakotay. I need to talk to you right away."
click for audio clip from the episode
Note that Kes speaks as she clicks her combadge. If intra-ship comms. depended solely on the combadge tap for activation, Chakotay would miss the first part of the message.

During most Alert conditions, the communications system is automatically switched over to high-speed operations optimised to afford the Bridge uninterruptable links to the res of the ship for contact with otherdepartments and assessment of possible damage. At this time, routine channel operations are disabled. Data transmissions may be established between any standard Starfleet hardware units equipped with RF or STA devices, either by manual keypresses or by vocally commanding the computer to handle the data transfers. In most cases, the computer will automatically execute the desired functions. Occasionally the computer may request identification keypresses for specific pieces of hardware, usually for verification of device type, data transmission protocols, or sequencing of multiple devices. During both voice and data transmissions, channels may be secured by either manual inputs or vocal request, depending on the respective locations of the parties or devices involved.

[#130 Pathfinder]
Aboard the holo-simulation of USS Voyager at Project Pathfinder laboratory, Starfleet Headquarters, Earth, when the computer warns that a warp core breach will occur in 20 seconds holo-Janeway gives the order, "Captain to all hands. Abandon ship."
click for audio clip from the episode
[#32 Meld]
After a violent mind-meld, Tuvok collapses and Suder activates Tuvok's combadge.
Suder: "Crewman Suder to the bridge."
Chakotay: "Suder, what are you doing with a combadge?"
Suder: "You'd better get down here, Chakotay. Lieutenant Tuvok needs help."
click for audio clip from the episode
Suder activates Tuvok's combadge.