Band node

Band node

A mechanoid-band signal amplifier. Band nodes must be tuned to a specific mechanitor. This will add 1 bandwidth to that mechanitor's total bandwidth, allowing them to control more mechanoids.
Once a band node is constructed, it can be quickly tuned to a mechanitor. However, retuning a band node to a different mechanitor takes significantly longer.

Base Stats

Type

Building

Market Value

535  ^[Note]

Mass

25 kg

HP

150

Flammability

50%

Building

Size

2 × 2

"PassThroughOnly" is not in the list (impassable, pass through only, standable) of allowed values for the "Passability" property.

Passability

PassThroughOnly

Cover Effectiveness

40%

Blocks Wind

False

Power

-300 W

Creation

Required Research

Basic mechtech

Skill Required

Construction 4

Work To Make

8,000 ticks (2.22 mins)

Resources to make

200 + 4

Deconstruct yield

100 + 2

Destroy yield

50 + 1

A band nodes is a building added by the Biotech DLC that increases the bandwidth of the mechanitor tuned to it.

Acquisition

Band nodes can be constructed once the Basic mechtech research project has been completed. Each requires  200 Steel,  4 Components, 8,000 ticks (2.22 mins) of work, and a Construction skill of 4.

Summary

When tuned to a mechanitor, a band node gives +1 bandwidth at the cost of 300 W of power. If the node is turned off, then the bandwidth will be retracted. If bandwidth is reduced below a mechanitor's current bandwidth demand, then any unsupported mechs will enter the Uncontrolled state. After 24 hours of being Uncontrolled, mechs have a chance of going feral and permanently leaving the player.

Band nodes start untuned. When untuned, you can tune the node to any present mechanitor in 300 ticks (5 secs) of time. This process is activated by the player and requires no colonist interaction. If the band node is already tuned, then retuning it instead takes 3 days of time. In the untuned state, band nodes only consume 100 W of power.

Analysis

Band nodes are the only scalable means of obtaining bandwidth. That is, if you already have a mechlord helmet, mechlord suit, and bandwidth pack, band nodes are your only option to further increase bandwidth. In a more general sense, having more bandwidth equates to more mechs at any time. No matter what stage in the game you are in, having extra mechs can be a large help.

Combat mechs can be very useful for defense. Getting that 1-2 extra bandwidth to build a centipede can go a long way. 300 W and some steel/components for an extra agrihand, fabricor, etc. is useful in a different manner.

• Heavy on both power and resources. Large quantities of nodes are heavy on space.
• Risk of wild mechs during long bouts of power loss, such as EMI condition causers or disruption to infrastructure.
  • Solar flares are never long enough to have mechs go feral, though you'll lose command of any affected mechs for its duration.
• Does not block wind turbines.

Version history

• Biotech DLC Release - Added.

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Architect

Misc

Caravan hitching spot • Egg box • Grave • Marriage spot • Party spot • Pen marker • Sarcophagus • Tool cabinet • Meditation spot • Nature shrine (Large, Small)

(research)

Comms console • Cryptosleep casket • Firefoam popper • Ground-penetrating scanner • Long-range mineral scanner • Moisture pump • Multi-analyzer • Orbital trade beacon • Pod launcher • Stele (Large, Grand) • Transport pod • Vitals monitor • Ship landing beacon