ModuleRTAntennaPassive isn't actually allowing connection.

[Tahvohck]

ModuleRTAntennaPassive based devices still require a normal omni or dish antenna to work. This is most obvious with Breaking Ground's deployable science. The ground station gets a passive antenna and then never connects. This isn't a fully clean save, so here's my module config for the ground control station:

PART
{
    name = DeployedCentralStation
    module = Part
    author = Squad
    rescaleFactor = 1
    TechRequired = advancedSupport
    entryCost = 3000
    cost = 800
    category = Cargo
    subcategory = 0
    title = Probodobodyne Experiment Control Station
    manufacturer = Probodobodyne Inc
    description = The Probodobodyne Experiment Control Station coordinates and controls both power and data from nearby deployed parts, and coordinates sending it back to Kerbin.\n\nBe sure to use one, if you want to generate any useful data.\n\nCan be left to gather data over long periods of time, as the loneliness circuits were disabled during testing. <color=orange>Needs a deployed power unit to operate.</color>
    attachRules = 0,0,0,0,0
    mass = 0.05
    dragModelType = default
    maximum_drag = 0.1
    minimum_drag = 0.1
    angularDrag = 2
    crashTolerance = 10
    maxTemp = 1200
    tags = control core science cargo deploy
    description = <color=orange>Class 3 RT Antenna PASSIVE.</color> The Probodobodyne Experiment Control Station coordinates and controls both power and data from nearby deployed parts, and coordinates sending it back to Kerbin.\n\nBe sure to use one, if you want to generate any useful data.\n\nCan be left to gather data over long periods of time, as the loneliness circuits were disabled during testing. <color=orange>Needs a deployed power unit to operate.</color>
    MODEL
    {
        model = SquadExpansion/Serenity/Parts/DeployedScience/Assets/CentralStation
    }
    EFFECTS
    {
        Deploy
        {
            AUDIO
            {
                channel = Ship
                clip = SquadExpansion/Serenity/Sounds/sfx_deployable_central_station_start
                maxVolumeDistance = 150
            }
        }
        Active
        {
            AUDIO
            {
                channel = Ship
                clip = SquadExpansion/Serenity/Sounds/sfx_deployable_central_station_loop
                loop = true
                volume = 0.0 0.0
                volume = 1.0 1.0
                maxVolumeDistance = 150
            }
        }
        Retract
        {
            AUDIO
            {
                channel = Ship
                clip = SquadExpansion/Serenity/Sounds/sfx_deployable_central_station_end
                maxVolumeDistance = 150
            }
        }
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = ModuleGroundExpControl
        powerUnitsProduced = 0
        powerUnitsRequired = 1
        antennaType = DIRECT
        antennaPower = 500000
        antennaCombinable = True
        antennaCombinableExponent = 1
        placementAllowXRotation = false
        placementAllowZRotation = false
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = ModuleAnimationGroup
        deployAnimationName = CSDeploy
        activeAnimationName = CSIdle
        suppressActionsEvents = true
        displayActions = false
        stopActiveAnimIfDisabled = true
        deployEffectName = Deploy
        activeEffectName = Active
        retractEffectName = Retract
        realTimeAnimation = true
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = FMRS_PM
        parent_vessel = 0
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = HardDrive
        title = Central Station Storage
        dataCapacity = 250
        sampleCapacity = 0
        UPGRADES
        {
            UPGRADE
            {
                name__ = HDD-Upgrade1
                techRequired__ = basicScience
                dataCapacity = 500
            }
            UPGRADE
            {
                name__ = HDD-Upgrade2
                techRequired__ = electrics
                dataCapacity = 2000
            }
            UPGRADE
            {
                name__ = HDD-Upgrade3
                techRequired__ = electronics
                title = Solid State Drive
                dataCapacity = 32000
            }
        }
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = KOSNameTag
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = ModuleSPU
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = ModuleRTAntennaPassive
        TechRequired = spaceExploration
        OmniRange = 400000
        TRANSMITTER
        {
            PacketInterval = 0.3
            PacketSize = 2
            PacketResourceCost = 15.0
        }
    }
    MODULE
    {
        name = Reliability
        type = Antenna
        title = Antenna
        redundancy = Communication
        repair = Engineer
        mtbf = 72576000
        extra_cost = 1.0
        extra_mass = 0.1
    }
}

As far as I know this should be working. It's possible that Kerbalism's Reliability module might be affecting this, but other than that I can't see any modules that would block the antenna. And to be clear, this is all passive antennas, it's just most clear on ground stations since they can't be worked around.

[KSP-TaxiService]

Hi,

Just to understand this issue correctly, you observed that a vessel with probe core and without any antenna part is unable to connect to a comm satellite/ground station. It is expected that this vessel should be able to connect. Is this correct?

In addition, please assist to provide the output_log.txt at C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\Squad\Kerbal Space Program for further investigation.

Thanks!

[Tahvohck]

That's correct. Here's an example probe:

Here's the log: KSP.log

[KSP-TaxiService]

Hi,

I reproduced and traced your issue to Kerbalism. However, I am not sure if this issue is an intended behaviour of Kerbalism. Initially, ModuleRTAntennaPassive is disabled or set to 0 km when started under Kerbalism.

It is resolved when the tech node of "Unmanned Tech" is researched.

So I think you need to research this tech node.

[Tahvohck]

I was worried that it might be a mod issue. Thanks for taking the time to debug. In a way this is also an issue with the Tetrix Tech Tree, which I'll forward to them (since the order the ground experiments get unlocked in means they're useless until that node, or until you unlock the dish).