The radios aren’t even digital, or even FM. They are AM so multiple can talk at once. Such an entrenched technology that would take decades to replace across the planet. Buffering could reduce some cross talk, but at the expense of possibly dangerous delays.
AM allows multiple to talk and also allows edge-case signals to be received. FM and digital is way more sensitive to weak signals being washed out where as even a washed out AM carrier can often be picked out of the noise enough to realize someone has a problem.
Nextel iDEN is a good example of a hyper low-latency digital mode that could be used, although likely a CDMA-based air-path would be a better choice as all radios can talk on the same channel at the same time without interfering.
Would be a very complex system to make durable, but remotely possible.
Such an entrenched technology that would take decades to replace across the planet.
I don’t think that it’d really be necessary to alter the underlying protocol (well, you could make something a lot more elaborate with designated “receivers” and acks of transmissions, but I’m talking about something analogous to what humans already do, retransmitting in the event of collision). Humans do have to figure out whether someone’s transmitting, but the reason you don’t hear static on analog radios constantly is because they have a squelch feature, detect when there’s a transmission present; the radio is already looking at the signal sufficiently to do the necessary work.
Unlike digital modes with control channels and parity bits, it would be pure analog. Not impossible, but the glitches causing risk of a failed transmission are likely not worth it. If you listen to AM with squelch off, it is a swirl of signal and noise. DSPs could do some filtering, but again adding a big risk factor.
Say plane A backs off and retransmits right when plane B transmits for the first time and plane C is on a path to collide with A. C might still suffer the same fate.
There really isn’t a protocol. One can build an AM radio with a Zener diode and some common electronic parts.
Not trying to internet neg on the idea, to be clear. Just statistically, adding variables equally adds potential problems.
The radios aren’t even digital, or even FM. They are AM so multiple can talk at once. Such an entrenched technology that would take decades to replace across the planet. Buffering could reduce some cross talk, but at the expense of possibly dangerous delays.
AM allows multiple to talk and also allows edge-case signals to be received. FM and digital is way more sensitive to weak signals being washed out where as even a washed out AM carrier can often be picked out of the noise enough to realize someone has a problem.
That’s what I said.
Nextel iDEN is a good example of a hyper low-latency digital mode that could be used, although likely a CDMA-based air-path would be a better choice as all radios can talk on the same channel at the same time without interfering.
Would be a very complex system to make durable, but remotely possible.
I don’t think that it’d really be necessary to alter the underlying protocol (well, you could make something a lot more elaborate with designated “receivers” and acks of transmissions, but I’m talking about something analogous to what humans already do, retransmitting in the event of collision). Humans do have to figure out whether someone’s transmitting, but the reason you don’t hear static on analog radios constantly is because they have a squelch feature, detect when there’s a transmission present; the radio is already looking at the signal sufficiently to do the necessary work.
Unlike digital modes with control channels and parity bits, it would be pure analog. Not impossible, but the glitches causing risk of a failed transmission are likely not worth it. If you listen to AM with squelch off, it is a swirl of signal and noise. DSPs could do some filtering, but again adding a big risk factor.
Say plane A backs off and retransmits right when plane B transmits for the first time and plane C is on a path to collide with A. C might still suffer the same fate.
There really isn’t a protocol. One can build an AM radio with a Zener diode and some common electronic parts.
Not trying to internet neg on the idea, to be clear. Just statistically, adding variables equally adds potential problems.