Originally posted by: rummyPPG
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Originally posted by: bwanaaa
I dont understand the rationale behind looking for analog signals. We have evolved to a highly effecient packet switched global network. When anaolg tv goes 'dark' in 2009, we will have effectively stopped broadcasting into space - that's perhaps 70 years of broadcasting. Done. no more. Why would any advanced civilization surviving thousands of years still be analog? why are we not looking for a packet switched network? The algorithm behind SETI is ancient and unlikely to help us find a helpful civilization. In fact, any civilization that is still analog is likely fascist, centralized and hierarchical.. Not worth knowing.
Pretty much one of the main points in the video I linked above.
Aren't analog signals exactly what we'd want to be looking for? I.e. we don't want to find civilization's who have our latest technology finally reach us from far away, they'd be ridiculously far ahead of us when we finally recieved those newer signals it'd be unrealistic to interface with them; we'd want to recieve an old technology from a far place so that they are currently somewhere near where we are, whether that's ahead or behind some, right? I.e. a civilization who's analog signals take 70 years to reach us that arrived now would indicate they're roughly where we are, 1000 years to reach us and they're roughly 1000 years ahead, etc. I'd be interested in finding a packet switched signals (or other technologies) in the future but not right now, not unless the civilization is really near our location.
Side question, what's the transmission rate of the radio signals SETI is listening for through space? I.e. if 20-30 light years is a small distance away, how long does it take for us to hear signals from that distance?