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Refit vs. Retrofit

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Alright this has been doing my head in for days, somebody help me out here.

What's the difference between the definition of a "Refit" and a "Retrofit"? When is it appropriate to use one and not the other?

Like, the Enterprise in TMP is referred to as having been "Refit". Whereas the devs chose to label the Vice Admiral ships in STO "Retrofits". Aren't both essentially the same thing (old ships upgraded with newer technology)? What's the difference? Why call one a Refit and the other a Retrofit? Would the TMP NCC-1701 not qualify as a Retrofit, and are the T5 ships in STO not Refits?

I stay awake at night tearing myself apart over this. Please help.

Yours,

Linguistically Confused
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Retrofit generally refers to the upgrade of older equipment. Making it perform above its original specifications. Refit is usually more extensive than just upgrading, as it involves replacements / repairs, that sort of thing.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    In my mind a retrofit of any older item should never make its performance above top ranking items made in the present era. If that were the case then why make the new items just retrofit the older ones.

    A refit should either bring a present item (phaser or ship) either in-line with top ranking items or surpassing said items because you are working on improving what is essentially modern day technology.

    I.e.

    A Defiant refit should always be more powerful than a Miranda retrofit.

    Real life example:

    A 1960's Mustang retrofitted with modern suspension, engine, wheels, brakes and tyres, while arguably awesome should never be faster or a overall better drive than a modern day Mustang refitted with the most recent suspension, engine, wheels, brakes and tyres.

    The Modern mustang shell is stiffer, more accepting of and will get more performance out of modern day improvements than a 1960s mustang.

    Geek moment over.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Retrofit means you're replacing old equipment with newer more modern ones but not altering the superstucture. Refit you're replacing older equipment with newer more modern ones up to and including altering the superstructure. At least that's my concept of it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Refit: TOS - Enterprise ----> Movie Enterprise.

    Retrofit: Upgrades for ships weapons, sensors and so on...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Retrofit means you're replacing old equipment with newer more modern ones but not altering the superstucture. Refit you're replacing older equipment with newer more modern ones up to and including altering the superstructure. At least that's my concept of it.

    That's how I see it.


    Also hi fox :O
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Dondaddyd wrote: »
    In my mind a retrofit of any older item should never make its performance above top ranking items made in the present era. If that were the case then why make the new items just retrofit the older ones.

    A refit should either bring a present item (phaser or ship) either in-line with top ranking items or surpassing said items because you are working on improving what is essentially modern day technology.

    I.e.

    A Defiant refit should always be more powerful than a Miranda retrofit.

    Real life example:

    A 1960's Mustang retrofitted with modern suspension, engine, wheels, brakes and tyres, while arguably awesome should never be faster or a overall better drive than a modern day Mustang refitted with the most recent suspension, engine, wheels, brakes and tyres.

    The Modern mustang shell is stiffer, more accepting of and will get more performance out of modern day improvements than a 1960s mustang.

    Geek moment over.

    Except for the fact that the '60s Mustang, with all the upgrades will still be lighter than the modern era Mustang. Modern cars being bloated and heavy.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    I checked a dictionary and came to these conclusions.

    Refit: A ship made ready for service again by repairing and re-supplying and re-equipping it. For example, where a ship has been damaged in battle and goes back out to a similar standard as when launched new. Or a decommissioned ship brought back into service without extensive modifications.

    Retrofit: Fitting a ship with new equipment to a higher standard than at original launch. 50 year old ship hull with factory fresh computing systems, weaponry and other systems that were made available after the time of the original manufacturing of the ship. Or adding systems to a ship that weren't designed for it. As the case would be, putting a load of T5 weapons on a Miranda, that kind of thing. Or fitting a cloaking device to any federation ship.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    STO forums deliver.

    Thanks guys, I can sleep soundly, at last.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    As Caemos pointed out, the real world definition and the Star Trek version differ from each other. I've simply resorted to using "refit" as an abbreviation to "retrofit" to avoid the confusion as best as possible.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Dondaddyd wrote: »
    In my mind a retrofit of any older item should never make its performance above top ranking items made in the present era. If that were the case then why make the new items just retrofit the older ones.

    A refit should either bring a present item (phaser or ship) either in-line with top ranking items or surpassing said items because you are working on improving what is essentially modern day technology.

    I.e.

    A Defiant refit should always be more powerful than a Miranda retrofit.

    Real life example:

    A 1960's Mustang retrofitted with modern suspension, engine, wheels, brakes and tyres, while arguably awesome should never be faster or a overall better drive than a modern day Mustang refitted with the most recent suspension, engine, wheels, brakes and tyres.

    The Modern mustang shell is stiffer, more accepting of and will get more performance out of modern day improvements than a 1960s mustang.

    Geek moment over.

    Actually quite the opposite is true.

    A 60's car is not burdened with todays fuel econemy standards, emissions equipment etc.

    As an example...

    At work I drive an '06 frightliner with a turbo cat engine.
    In '07 the latest emissions regulations went into effect.
    Another guy drives an '07 version of the same truck.
    Both trucks are dual turbo cats.
    His engine is 100 cubic inches larger then mine yet makes less torque and horsepower.
    The newer emissions regulations eats up more than 100ci of engine capacity.
    Granted we're talking about 700ci+ diesels, but the basis holds true for smaller gasoline engines.

    A modern car has to be tuned far beyond what an older car was just to compensate for emissions and econemy laws. An older car has much more potential simply because it does not have to comply with todays opressive regulations.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    "Refit" reffers to replaching old fittings (weapons, computers, showers etc.) with new units of the same or an imporved model. Given the frequency of schedueled refits, and the pace of tehcology most refits involved upgrarded fittings (Today by the time a ship is launched the class that will replace it is usually about to begin construction).

    "Retrofit" refferes to adding a fitting that the ship was not originally designed to include.

    So for example:
    The Galaxy-X USS Enterprise - D was "Retrofitted" with an additional nacell and a phaser lance. However the Costitutiuon class USS Enterprise, was "Refitted" with newer warp nacells, phasers and torpedos.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Retrofit means you're replacing old equipment with newer more modern ones but not altering the superstucture. Refit you're replacing older equipment with newer more modern ones up to and including altering the superstructure. At least that's my concept of it.

    This ^ .

    /10char
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