[firebug]

So, okay.  As per the rules, having a UDC is a "global standard" for devices.  This means, unless stated otherwise, it's not unreasonable to assume every device has one.  Obviously cameras have them, since a decker being able to plug his cyberdeck into one is pretty clearly established to be possible.  Drones would also have one, since riggers are supposed to be able to rig straight into a drone via the meter of UDC cable the control rig comes with.

So my question is, if I wanted to use a drone to connect itself to another device and then wirelessly connect through the drone to that device (essentially using the drone as a mobile data tap) would it be possible?  Assuming you were using something like the MCT Fly-Spy, that several limbs, could you get it to plug itself in?  Would you absolutely need to bring a meter of cable, or would it be possible to get a smaller (like a few centimeters only) cord for the drone to use?

Finally, if it is possible, could you perhaps design a drone that simply is a flying data tap?  That has to exist in the setting; I'm certain one of the upcoming books will include one.

[Solarious]

I like this idea and don't see why it wouldn't work.
I think you're gonna have to wait for a bit to make anything officially legal but til then I would just add a small price increase in price for the cable add on and maybe a 'soft for being able to do that kinda task.

PS- I want a drone that specifically is designed to haul around a magesite goggle cable for remote spell throwing. 
I think all it would take is a little spool on the drone for the cable to wind and unwind as it crawls to or away from the controlling Mage.

[Sendaz]

PS- I want a drone that specifically is designed to haul around a magesite goggle cable for remote spell throwing. 
I think all it would take is a little spool on the drone for the cable to wind and unwind as it crawls to or away from the controlling Mage.

Oh I think may have to try that one out on the mage. 

[Namikaze]

Finally, if it is possible, could you perhaps design a drone that simply is a flying data tap?  That has to exist in the setting; I'm certain one of the upcoming books will include one.

There was a small crawler drone in 4th edition that did just this.  I'm fully expecting that drone data taps exist.

[Xenon]

You can connect to a wireless OFF device by accessing it's universal access port or if you can tap the cable between two wireless OFF devices. For example with a data tap. You can also access them wireless if for example your data tap is wireless ON.

You might or might not get to utilize the direct connection exploit, but since you still have to go through all the trouble of getting the physical connection and since this is one of the few openings that would allow for a technomancer to exploit the direct connection imo I think it would be okay (but since you don't have a physical connection all the way to your cyber deck a gm can tell you no).

If you let your drone (or the team's B&E expert) attach a long retractable cable,  then the Decker can establish a wired physical direct connection which will let him exploit the weakness.

[Namikaze]

I remember there was some fluff about a team of runners that needed to assassinate a guy that liked to gamble.  The hacker couldn't get physical access because she was 15, and the building had wifi-negating paint.  So they attached a data tap to the line and gave her wifi access to the data tap.

This was definitely in 4th edition, but it seems reasonable enough to assume something similar would work in 5th edition even with the changes to the wireless Matrix.

[firebug]

So what would be required to get this done, mechanically?  Like, would it require a roll to get a drone to properly attach a data tap, assuming it's not designed to do it?  Or if I just wanted a drone to plug itself into something?

[Namikaze]

The drone from 4th edition had a piercing device to penetrate the rubber insulation of fiber-optic cabling.  It then installed the tap (which wasn't described in detail) and the drone would either record the data being transferred, or could be used to perform certain matrix actions.

Obviously with the changes to matrix actions in 5th edition, I think the last part might be complicated by rules lawyers, but the way I interpreted the function of the drone was that it was a way to remotely access a hardline connection so I wouldn't go much more complicated than that.

[martinchaen]

Neat idea. I'd allow a control device/pilot *craft if a remote/jumped in rigger, respectively, wanted to make the drone plug in, or a pilot + Maneuver autosoft if the drone was on autopilot.

I wouldn't necessarily add any cost to the drone itself, though. If it has a universal data connector, I'd say that it could be purchased with a female-to-male adapter, so to speak. It would just have to maneuver itself in such a way that it could line up it's UDC with the UDC of the object you're trying to connect to.

Looking at the Vehicle Test Threshold table, I'd likely assign a Threshold of 2 (Maneuvering through a tight spot) for such a task, which a Pilot 3 + Maneuvering Autosoft 3 should be relatively capable of succeeding at. If the rigger was jumped into the drone, the Threshold could be reduced to 1.

[Xenon]

I remember there was some fluff about a team of runners that needed to assassinate a guy that liked to gamble.  The hacker couldn't get physical access because she was 15, and the building had wifi-negating paint.  So they attached a data tap to the line and gave her wifi access to the data tap.

This was definitely in 4th edition, but it seems reasonable enough to assume something similar would work in 5th edition even with the changes to the wireless Matrix.

SR5 p 360-361 Wired Security
...Wired networks are still vulnerable in many of the same ways as wireless networks. If a wire is breached and tapped anywhere along its length, the signals can be intercepted and retransmitted via wireless anyway...


SR5 p 440 Communication and countermeasures
Data Tap: You use this hacking tool by attaching it to a data cable... Wireless: The data-tap can be wirelessly commanded to...

[Namikaze]

Hey cool, I didn't remember seeing the Data Tap item in the book.  I don't have the PDF handy right now (at a job site, lol) so could you put up the remainder of the item description, please? 

[firebug]

Hey cool, I didn't remember seeing the Data Tap item in the book.  I don't have the PDF handy right now (at a job site, lol) so could you put up the remainder of the item description, please? 

Data Tap: You use this hacking tool by attaching it to a data cable. Once it’s clamped onto the cable, you can use it via universal data connector. Any device directly connected to the data tap also has a direct connection with the devices on either end of the cable (see Direct Connections, p. 232) and vice versa. The tap can be removed without damaging the cable.

Wireless: The data-tap can be wirelessly commanded  to  self-destruct  as  a  Free  Action,  immediately  and instantly severing the direct connection. This does not harm the cable.

[Insaniac99]

While I think the intention is that datatap can give you direct connection through wireless; it seems like RAW it doesn't.

Direct Connections
Devices have a universal data connector, which is the global standard for connecting devices together for power and data exchange. If you have a cable, you can connect to the device directly. Cyberdecks and datajacks come with a meter of built-in retractable microfilament data cable, or you can always buy a cable for about five nuyen per meter (some devices, especially those installed in buildings, are connected by cables to mitigate noise).

It seems that RAW the only thing that creates a direct connection is a physical cable plugged in.

This will be houseruled in my games.

[Dakka]

Datatap's intention isn't to allow direct connection.  It's to allow connection at all to non wireless systems.  You find a wire, place the tap, and suddenly you have access to the basement servers without having to kill 4 levels worth of guards.

[Insaniac99]

Datatap's intention isn't to allow direct connection.  It's to allow connection at all to non wireless systems.  You find a wire, place the tap, and suddenly you have access to the basement servers without having to kill 4 levels worth of guards.

Fair enough but this reading of the Direct Connection would mean you can't get a direct connection in anyway (Including the drone, commlink wireless hop, and data tap) except having a cable plugged in directly from you brain or deck without any sort of wireless used.