I've progressed enough through the tech tree in Kerbal Space Program 0.25 to unlock the 60Gm communications antenna (KR-14) and the 5Mm Comm-32 antenna.

From left to right, here are the directional antennas that I have unlocked:
  • KR-7 (90Mm range)
  • DTS-M1 (50Mm range)
  • KR-14 (60Gm range)

As can be seen, the KR-14 is huge compared to the KR-7.  I can barely get (3) of them inside the ZeroPoint payload fairing on the 1.25m sized parts.  It works as long as you use the extended width fairing and mount them on Z-200 battery packs in the middle.



This particular satellite is very over-engineered with 4600 battery capacity, six of the 1x6 solar panels (4 at top, 2 down by engines), an RCS system, three of the KR-14 antenna, and two DTS-M1, and one Comm-32.  Payload weight is 7.2t with a cost of 28.5k funds.

Total launch cost is 68360, 100.2t of mass, and a booster DV of 4769 m/s.  The lifter stage is all a single stage that burns only SRBs for the first 2 minutes, then lets three LV-T45s take over.  It is not the most cost effective, but it is reliable for 6-8t payload weights.

This monster is designed to be parked in keosynchronous orbit (KEO) in a 2869km altitude orbit.  There will be two of them parked in KEO as far ahead/behind of KSC as possible.  It can then maintain the following links:
  • Comm-32 links to Mission Control at KSC (and other LKO/KEO sats)
  • DTS-M1 points at Mun's SoI
  • DTS-M1 pointing at Minimus
  • KR-14 pointing at Moho
  • KR-14 pointing at Duna
  • KR-14 pointing at Eve
With the Remote Tech mod, pointing a satellite in one SoI (sphere of influence) at a planet/moon in another SoI means that any vehicles within the target's SoI will be able to automatically form a network between the two SoI's.

For example, satellite #1 is orbiting in KEO with an antenna link back to Mission Control (usually a DTS-M1 or Comm-32) and a directional antenna is pointed at Minimus.  A satellite at Minimus has a directional antenna pointed at Kerbin.  The two satellites will form a two-way link, without having to specifically point #1 at #2 and vice versa.

The caveats of just pointing the antenna at another SoI are:
  • The two satellites must be in different SoI's.  So this works best for satellites that orbit one planet/moon to create a network with satellites orbiting a different plant/moon.
  • Line of sight rules still apply (on both satellites).
  • The longer range antennas have very restrictive cone widths, so use the right one for the expected distance.  The DTS-M1 and KR-7 are the right ones to use for links between Mun/Minimus/Kerbin.
Because of the LoS (line of sight) issues, my plan is to setup two more of these monsters, one at the Mun and one at Minimus.

The Mun/Minimus versions will need to swap out the DTS-M1s for KR-7s.  The planned links will then be:
  • Comm-32 linking to other sats around Mun/Minimus
  • KR-7 pointing at either Mun or Minimus
  • KR-7 pointing at Kerbin's SoI
  • KR-14s point at Moho, Eve and Duna
Note - what I really need in order to handle all tasking inside of Duna's orbit is about (6) of these KR-14 antennas setup at Kerbin's SoI.  The targets would be:
  • Sun
  • Moho
  • Eve
  • Duna
  • Active Vessel
  • Dres (sometimes out of 60Gm range)

Missions inside of Kerbin's orbit could get away with using a Comm 88-88 (40 Gm range) to link back to Kerbin.  Missions to Dres would need a KR-14.