Can the radio noise of a civilization decrease over time?

[Line_112]

TL;DR Summary: Increased energy efficiency of radio technology could potentially make our civilization less detectable to potential aliens. However, there is very little information on the Internet about this.

This question is important in the context of the search for extraterrestrial civilizations. Relatively little time has passed since the invention of radio until now. During this time, the sensitivity of equipment has increased dramatically, which obviously allows us to reduce the power of the signals we emit and make us less detectable to potential aliens. However, there is very little information on this issue on the Internet. It is easy to find how the energy efficiency of lamps and cars is growing, but regarding, for example, cell towers or radars, there is almost no information. Is there progress in energy efficiency that could lead to a decrease in the detectability of our civilization in the future?

 

[Borek]

One thing is power of emissions, another thing is changes in the frequencies used (basically we are emitting in the shorter and shorter wave ranges, so you need to take into account how these propagate). Some frequencies are easier to detect at the distance, some will be masked by the natural noise.

But yes, that's an interesting question, one that I tried to find some reliable answers to years ago (to no avail).

 

[Baluncore]

Is there progress in energy efficiency that could lead to a decrease in the detectability of our civilization in the future?

Statistics and history, show that we should fear the nearest totalitarian state. Whatever civilisation we pretend to have will be, given the chance, dragged back down, by the nearest barbarians.

A little bit of paranoia is necessary for community survival. Too much paranoia is a psychotic liability. Any fear of our detection, by unknown potential ET aliens, is misplaced. There are many greater cataclysms, now stalking us on this planet.

 

[berkeman]

Statistics and history, show that we should fear the nearest totalitarian state. Whatever civilisation we pretend to have will be, given the chance, dragged back down, by the nearest barbarians.

A little bit of paranoia is necessary for community survival. Too much paranoia is a psychotic liability. Any fear of our detection, by unknown potential ET aliens, is misplaced. There are many greater cataclysms, now stalking us on this planet.

My read of the OP is that they would like to remain detectable, not that they are worried about detection. Of course, I could be misreading the OP.

 

[berkeman]

This question is important in the context of the search for extraterrestrial civilizations.

In your searching, what frequency bands are best used for communicating in SETI? What frequencies are best for getting through interstellar dust and have the least natural interference sources? Knowing those frequencies will help to guide your searching for how our emissions in those bands may have changed over time.

During this time, the sensitivity of equipment has increased dramatically, which obviously allows us to reduce the power of the signals we emit and make us less detectable

Just because you can make a receive (Rx) circuit that is a little more sensitive, doesn't mean you will automatically reduce the transmit (Tx) power.

 

[Baluncore]

My read of the OP is that they would like to remain detectable, not that they are worried about detection. Of course, I could be misreading the OP.

To be found, we would need only one single-frequency carrier, modulated by a slow repeating numerical pattern, like an emergency beacon. Every other transmission is irrelevant, simply part of the background noise floor.

To remain hidden, we would need to spread every carrier across the spectrum, down into the thermal or ionospheric noise. We would need to turn off all broadcast, satellite, and navigation stations. Changing all broadcast distribution to a network of optic fibre, or space laser links, would reduce our profile.

 

[Borek]

To be found, we would need only one single-frequency carrier

From my understanding Earth is a radio source in no way similar to natural sources, so we are already detectable without trying to emit any special signal. Earth emissions have 24h cycle defined by the geography and demographics, and emission spectrum is defined by legalese, not by natural emission processes. That makes us a rather unique source.

In the last 100 years technology and emissions changed a lot, so the spectrum we emit (power, frequencies) changed too. I see nothing paranoid about the question "how did it change ease of detecting Earth as a non natural source from the distance".