Bandwidth pack

Bandwidth pack

A backpack containing bandwidth-expansion computer and antenna. It can increase a mechanitor's maximum total bandwidth.

Base Stats

Type

Gear – Utility

Tech Level

Spacer

Market Value

1360  ^[Note]

Mass

3 kg

Apparel

Coverage

Waist

Layer

Belt

Creation

Crafted At

Required Research

Standard mechtech

Skill Required

Crafting 4

Work To Make

3,200 ticks (53.33 secs)

Resources to make

50 + 8 + 2

The bandwidth pack is a piece of utility item added by the Biotech DLC. As its name suggests, it provides the mechanitor wearing it additional bandwidth.

Acquisition

Bandwidth packs can be crafted at a Machining table once the Standard mechtech research project has been completed. They require  50 Steel,  8 Components,  2 Signal chips, 3,200 ticks (53.33 secs) of work, and a Crafting skill of 4.

Summary

When worn, they give a mechanitor wearing it +9 bandwidth, allowing you to control more allied mechanoids. They have no quality.

Like all utility items, a bandwidth pack is treated largely like any piece of apparel, however some exceptions exist. Utility items are worn on the waist and are mutually exclusive only with each other, regardless of the layer or coverage of other apparel worn. Additionally, utility items never become tainted, deteriorate from being worn, or inflict a worn-out or tattered mood debuff when damaged.

Analysis

Bandwidth packs are unique in that they are an indefinte and 100% stable means of gaining bandwidth. Band nodes stop working when the power goes out, and apparel items will degrade when damaged and over time. Bandwidth packs never deteriorate when worn and do not require power. So long as the mechanitor wears the pack and remains alive, it will persist forever.

The ability to field 9 bandwidth worth of mechanoids is certainly powerful. Almost any dedicated mechanitor should acquire a bandwidth pack eventually. The loss of the utility slot can be made up for by fielding additional mechanoids. Further, as mechanitors become more specialized, they will likely also equip the mechanitor armor and apparel, which either offers no protection or actively degrades the mechanitors combat skill. As such, they can take more and more of a backline approach to combat and allow their mechanoids and other colonists to carry the battle.

Two signal chips are quite difficult to obtain, at least early on, as it requires you to defeat 2 diabolus mechs. While studying a signal chip does not consume it, they can be used for other useful implants, such as a standard control sublinks. But, generally speaking, a bandwidth pack is the highest priority of all the options for the chips.

Version history

• Biotech DLC Release - Added.

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Utility

Utility

Firefoam pop pack • Orbital bombardment targeter • Orbital power beam targeter • Psychic shock lance • Psychic insanity lance • Shield belt • Smokepop pack • Tornado generator • Low-shield pack • Jump pack • Orbital mech cluster targeter • Bandwidth pack • Control pack • Tox pack • Biomutation lance • Biomutation pulser • Deadlife pack • Disruptor flare pack • Shard animal pulser • Shard insanity lance • Shard shock lance • Turret pack