It would be quite possible to receive a “radio” communication from an advanced civilization 11 light years away. Earth has been broadcasting radio waves for the past 120 years first in analog and for the past fifty years digitally intelligent messages. An alien civilization as close as 11 light years would over the past 100 years could have received huge amounts of information about earth’s civilization and learn our languages. It is not inconceivable that the alien civilization is in turn linked with other distant civilizations by radio receptions. However if Einstein is correct, then it is virtually impossible for an alien mechanical or biological entity to cross the beyond imaginable distances and physically reach earth or other alien civilizations with whom they may have established contact. Suspect they could use our atmosphere to screen “videos” of UFO images moving at incredible speeds if they for whatever reason chose to do so. Perhaps one day soon our computers may receive some truly wondrous communications.
“if Einstein is correct, then it is virtually impossible for an alien mechanical or biological entity to cross the beyond imaginable distances and physically reach earth”
Einstein is right; however, there is nothing whatsoever in his theories of special or general relativity that precludes wormholes or warping of spacetime. In fact, his work facilitates them.
This isn’t radio and the distance is irrelevant to latency. At 11 light years or 11 billion light years, the comms would be full duplex, like using a telephone.
Colossus and The Crab. Terrible writing but that’s the concept.