Final answer:
When selecting effective transmitter power and frequency to locate a target facility, it's crucial to consider factors like frequency suitability for communication, channel width, signal strength, and continuity, direction of the signal, and safety and biological impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When selecting the most effective transmitter power and frequency to locate a target facility, several critical factors must be considered. Firstly, the frequency of the transmission is important because higher frequencies can carry more information per unit time, making microwaves very suitable for communications, especially for satellites and land-based long-distance transmissions. However, a clear line of sight is crucial due to the short wavelengths of high frequencies.
The channel width in frequency is also a key factor as it determines the bandwidth available for the transmission. Signal strength must be sufficient for detection by the receiving instruments, like radio telescopes. Moreover, it is essential to know whether the signal is continuous or intermittent, which affects the detection and decoding process.
Additional considerations include the direction from which the signal originates, as the cosmic haystack problem illustrates the difficulty in predicting and searching for extraterrestrial messages among the numerous possibilities. Lastly, the safety and biological impact of the transmission, such as the intensity and power radiated from sources, like power lines, should be addressed to ensure no harmful effects.