Beaming ones and zeros is a lot of work. The energy required is proportional
to the square root of the number of logarithms that are converted to electrons
at a transmitter's anode. Einsteins' Law of Relativity states that an anode
traveling at zero speed inherently loses logarithms, regardless of the power
emitted. This degrades signal quality. If not controlled it results in
distored images in galleries, prompting an exodus of subscribers.
The only satisfactory way to mitigate this problem is by using an antenna array,
a collection of individual antennae acting as one. Elevation above sea level is
another, though less influential, mitigator. The facility pictured here
incorporates both methods. It is an array of about twenty separate elements
and is sited 3000 feet (ca. 950m) above sea level, where lesser air pressure
aids in controlling the aforementioned problem.
Like any critical piece of the infrastructure, this array is disguised. It's
made to look like a winter ski area, but this is a ruse to fool the public,
minimizing problems such as vandalism and terrorist attacks (ski areas are
low on every terrorist organization's "hit list"). To ensure the ruse's
success, employees of PBase's Special Services Group pose as skiers and lift
personnel on a regular basis during the winter months. On the hill is what
appears to be a patch of snow, but is actually an attenuator.
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