Enterprise 2x09 Singularity

[Mike DiCenso]

That's not simply a minor improvement, that's the addition of a capability completely unlike anything a phase pistol or cannon has. A phase modulated weapon is for the most part a DET weapon on all settings, a phaser is not.
-Mike

[Lucky]

That's not simply a minor improvement, that's the addition of a capability completely unlike anything a phase pistol or cannon has. A phase modulated weapon is for the most part a DET weapon on all settings, a phaser is not.
-Mike

We don't know why Phase pistols used by Mirror Archer don't have a disintegrate setting. All we know is that Phase pistols and Phasers act the same until you reach certain settings.

It could have something to do with the force field technology we see phasers implied to have.

It could be a matter of power requirements.

It could be any number of things, and that is why I said the quote was ambiguous.

[Lucky]

Lucky, "similar" is not "identical"...
I too assume that the Phase Cannons are older Phasers, yet there may still be great differences between the two...
The modern gasoline engines, after all, are vastly different from the earlier models, even though they retain the basic configurations, like spark plugs, pistons and other parts...

I never said Phase weapons and Phasers are the same. I was talking about blanket claims as to how Star Trek weapons in general work.