when a ship is cloaked, why dont weapons work?

[IcyNeko]

Its all in the hands of the writers.

Not really. Shields operate on frequencies. And scientifically, you can't have both systems operational. One system will block out the other. And there's no way to integrate both at the same time.

[First]

Some good ideas there IcyNeko. Perhaps the cloak simply doesn't let anything out. Light and all wavelengths of EM radiation, solid objects etc, so the end result is much like a black hole (without the huge gravity). You can't detect the ship because nothing is getting out. (including all types of weapons)

But then we can only guess at how a cloak really works. Actually I think it's more the writers trying to keep things fair and not make any one ship too powerful.

[Jimbo-DR]

Not really. Shields operate on frequencies. And scientifically, you can't have both systems operational. One system will block out the other. And there's no way to integrate both at the same time.

He's right to a point. Every single thing in the show is in the hands of the writers. Even though they try to follow some physics they can still bend and twist things to fit how they want.
Also, remember ST: Nemesis? The Scimitar could raise shields AND fire weapons while cloaked.

[Kingomon]

I'm not carter but:
Maybe when you fire your weapon it disrupts the cloak and makes the cloak loss control of the field it is cloaking. which either the cloak falls or the cloak loses it's effectiveness and make the one you are attacking able to pick you up on sensors

though I am no Carter

[garhkal]

A better question would be asking how they can still use their radios while the ship is cloaked. If a cloak neutralised EM fields, how can you get a radio signal through? Or if the cloak works by some other method, how come the enemy never picks up the radio waves? It aint exactly rocket science to detect one

That is actually a pretty good question. Same thing applies to sensors.

[talyn2k1]

A better question would be asking how they can still use their radios while the ship is cloaked. If a cloak neutralised EM fields, how can you get a radio signal through? Or if the cloak works by some other method, how come the enemy never picks up the radio waves? It aint exactly rocket science to detect one

IIRC, the Goa`uld have never been able to detect our radio signals. We don't know for certain that it does neutralise EM fields. No one knows how the cloak works.

If we use the concept of Trek cloaks, the light is bent around the cloak bubble. So as no light is bouncing off the ship it appears to not be there. Everything else is probably hidden by that same bubble and only something specifically aimed to exit the field, such as a radio signal, can escape.

You never know, one day they might explain how the cloak works. But I wouldn't get your hopes up.

[StevenCaldwell]

I'm not carter but:
Maybe when you fire your weapon it disrupts the cloak and makes the cloak loss control of the field it is cloaking. which either the cloak falls or the cloak loses it's effectiveness and make the one you are attacking able to pick you up on sensors

though I am no Carter

Yeah your right, if we where to fire our wepons whilst cloaked then it would not only effect our cloak but would give our Position aswell. and just like i said they would just start fireing blind and distroy us!

[Agent_Dark]

IIRC, the Goa`uld have never been able to detect our radio signals. We don't know for certain that it does neutralise EM fields. No one knows how the cloak works.

So they can detect "lifesigns" on a ship/planet, but not a radio wave?

[Avatar28]

Maybe they just aren't looking for it and just never considered that someone might choose to use crappy radio waves instead of nice subspace signals to communicate over distances.

[garhkal]

Another point for our backward ways...

[Col. Matarrese]

Another point for our backward ways...

wow, first projectile weapons, then radio waves? This is nuts!

[wise one]

i think i have to agree with some of these points, maybe if they fire it will give their position away just like when u touch a cloaked ship(in stargate or whatever) its flutuates.

plus shields are very power draining and are only activated when there is a threat, so with a cloaked ship it would be easier to shoot the bridge or control station and then the ship would be dead

[Buba uognarf]

Ok i've said this once before but no one payed attention so listen this time lol.


Everyones saying they don't fire when cloaked because it will give away their position and they'd be more susceptable to damage. WRONG! It wouldn't make a difference because Alkesh don't have shields therefore it would be in their best interests to stay cloaked while attacking. Thus proving cloaking and weapons can't work together.

[TKG]

theres a way to combine sheilds and stealth... you apply physical stealth and standard sheilding. Btw Physical stealth is essentially the effort to make the hull of a given vessel give as little a sensor return as is possible on enemy sensors.

[garhkal]

Hows about an easy reason..

When the cloak is engaged, the 'link' from the console to the weapons is disengaged..