Signal chip

Signal chip

A mechanoid-band synchronization micro-organ. It is necessary to produce certain advanced types of mechanoids and equipment.
A mechanitor can study this chip to help unlock higher tiers of mechtech research.

Base Stats

Type

[[]]

Market Value

500 

Stack Limit

10

Mass

1 kg

Beauty

0.25

HP

100

Deterioration Rate

2.0

Flammability

0%

Technical

defName

SignalChip

thingCategories

Manufactured

Signal chips are a resource added by the Biotech DLC.

Acquisition

A single signal chip will be dropped by a hostile diabolus upon death, regardless of whether the diabolus is summoned by the comms console or spawned naturally as part of a raid. It is not relevant who kills the diabolus - a diabolus killed by other factions, wild animals, or berserk mechanoids still drop the signal chip. Player controlled diaboli will not drop a powerfocus chip.

Usage

Signal chips are used to create various mechanitor items, and studying one at a research bench is required to research Standard Mechtech. The chip is not consumed in the process of studying it.

They are used in the following crafting recipes:

Product	Ingredients	Type [ExpandCollapse]
Mechcommander helmet	60 +  6 +  1	Gear - Armor
Bandwidth pack	50 +  8 +  2	Gear - Utility
Diabolus	300 +  300 +  2 +  1	Mechanoid
Control sublink (standard)	1 +  4	Medical Items - Body Parts
Mech gestation processor	1 +  6	Medical Items - Body Parts

Analysis

For strategies on defeating a diabolus, see Diabolus.

Signal chips are the main reason to call in and fight a diabolus. Standard Mechtech gives access to a variety of mechs (pikeman, scyther, scorcher, tunneler), and a few mechanitor items.

Once you have studied a signal chip, bandwidth packs are often the most helpful use of signal chips. For  50 Steel,  8 Components,  2 Signal chips, this item gives +9 bandwidth and never degrades, nor can it shut down like a band node. Compared to other signal chip items:

• The mechcommander helmet gives +6 bandwidth for 1 signal chip. However, the array headset also gives +6 bandwidth and occupies the head slot. The advantage of the mechcommander helmet is that it gives the protection of a flak helmet while also giving bandwidth. For mechanitors hiding in the backlines, this helmet doesn't see too much use.
• Standard control sublinks give +6% Global Work Speed to all labor mechs, for 1 signal chip. The bandwidth pack can give up to 9 more labor mechs, which usually results in more productivity; basic mechs aren't very expensive. Once you have bandwidth packs on all available mechanitors, further signal chips can be used to make control sublinks. You can install up to 3 standard sublinks per mechanitor, with high sublinks instead using powerfocus chips.
• You can gestate a friendly diabolus using 2 signal chips and some other resources. Diaboli can be very powerful as allies, but are expensive for both materials and bandwidth. They also require High Mechtech to create.

In the lategame/endgame, diaboli can be summoned and farmed for their steel. Any excess signal chips can be sold to exotic goods traders.

Version history

• Biotech DLC Release - Added.
• 1.4.3531 - Flammability reduced to 0%.
• 1.4.3555 - Updated textures for all super-mechanoid chips to look more appropriately ultratech than archotech.

• 

  Texture between Biotech Release until 1.4.3555

See also

• Powerfocus chip - A similar resource dropped by War queens.
• Nano structuring chip - A similar resource dropped by Apocritons.