[Sengir]

To be fair, Datajacks in SR4 did require a physical connection, and that would certainly be taking Crash 2.0 and the aftermath into account.

They allowed a physical connection, but had the same option for wireless connectivity as all other "active" cyberware. The whole point of the wireless matrix (both in 4th and 5th) is that you can have the trodes or datajack on your head, the sim module in your left pocket, and the commlink/deck in the right next to your smartgun. All connected, but without a single cable.

So to answer the OP's question: Yes, totally. The connection between your datajack and deck follows the same rules as any other connection between devices, unless somebody can provide a quote to the contrary.

[Namikaze]

So what you guys are saying is that a person with a datajack can remotely connect to a device hundreds of meters away and establish DNI with it, then use that device to perform more remote hacking hundreds of meters away from that position?  Good luck with maintaining some semblance of balance in your games if that's the case.  Cause every hacker in the world would be leaving their deck in a secure location that they're not at, so that GOD can't find them.

[Sengir]

So what you guys the rules are saying

FTFY

I'd also point out the rules on noise/decreased signal rating...and the fact that you want your deck at hand when it's time to bail

[Xenon]

yes, it seem as if you can remotely connect to a device (such as a grenade) and use your brain interface to control it (or in this case detonate it as a free action).

SR5 p. 181 Wireless Link
This is the safest way to throw a grenade in some aspects, but it also comes with some risk and effort. The thrower (or anyone else who has a mark on the grenade) can detonate it by a wireless link. This requires the attacker to have a direct neural interface to the linked device and use the Change Wireless Device Mode Free Action. This method also reduces scatter. Without a DNI the attacker must use the Change Linked Device Mode Simple Action in their next or any of their subsequent Action Phases to detonate the grenade and scatter is not reduced.

but i would probably never want to leave my deck undefended if my persona is traced. that thing is the single most valuable item i owe. you also want your deck at hand when you want to establish a physical direct connection to a slaved device.... but it does open up a strange situation where you hand over the cyberdeck to your B&E expert that goes in and connect it to a slaved device(!)

I agree with Namikaze that somehow it feel very "wrong" and not very SRish that you don't need to have the cyberdeck or commlink on your body (but I honestly can't find anything substantial that indicate that you are forced to do it; quite the opposite...)

[RHat]

So what you guys are saying is that a person with a datajack can remotely connect to a device hundreds of meters away and establish DNI with it, then use that device to perform more remote hacking hundreds of meters away from that position?  Good luck with maintaining some semblance of balance in your games if that's the case.  Cause every hacker in the world would be leaving their deck in a secure location that they're not at, so that GOD can't find them.

They'd probably suffer noise for both locations, as well as both the distance from the deck and the distance between the deck and the target, but in this case the rules would need to specifically disallow it as it would be an exception to the general rule.

As for where Convergence hits, I'd need to reread that section to be certain.

[Sengir]

but it does open up a strange situation where you hand over the cyberdeck to your B&E expert that goes in and connect it to a slaved device(!)

If you had to plug the deck directly into your head, you could just give the B&E guy a commlink to plug into the target system, same result.

[Namikaze]

So what you guys the rules are saying

FTFY

I'd also point out the rules on noise/decreased signal rating...and the fact that you want your deck at hand when it's time to bail

Technically speaking, that's not the rules that are saying this.  It's an omission of clarity, and a completely different way to look at datajacks.  A similar situation has happened in the thread about summoning multiple unbound spirits.  In every other edition of SR, the summoner can only summon one spirit.  In SR5, there is no such rule listed.  It's not likely that the functionality of a common element of the franchise would change so dramatically, but this is the way that it is.

Also, please don't be snarky with me.

[Sengir]

and a completely different way to look at datajacks

Only different from what you wish the rules to be.

Making cables between your personal electronics go away was the whole point of the PAN concept introduced in 4th edition, and there is absolutely nothing in the rules or fluff of either edition suggesting that datajacks, trode nets, or implanted sim modules should be different. They connect to your neural system on one end (that's the DNI), on the other end it's a bog-standard device with wireless functionality and everything. Also, as others have pointed out, your interpretation would render several pieces of gear unusable.

[Namikaze]

Only different from what you wish the rules to be.

Not different from what I wish the rules to be.  Different from the rules of the previous four editions of the game.  Seriously, why are you intentionally trying to antagonize me?  Please don't assume anything about me, because you know not of what you speak.

there is absolutely nothing in the rules or fluff of either edition

Are you sure about that, Sengir?  Because here's the first sentence of the description of a datajack from 4th edition:

Datajack: A datajack allows a user to directly interface with any electronic device via a fiberoptic cable.

And here's the description of the Jack Out action, which specifically mentions "unplugging":

In VR, it means removing your connection from your commlink, either by removing trodes, unplugging a datajack, or shutting off a neural connection.

Look, as I stated, it's entirely possible that the point of these omissions that are turning up were intentional.  And if that's the case, then I'll roll with it.  But having omitted the rule on datajacks requiring a wire, and unbound spirits being limited to one, seems to be completely counter to every other editions of the game.  So, in an effort to get some sort of official word on the matter, I've asked Bull to look into it via the Missions forum.  Because I think that an issue like this requires some clarity.

[RHat]

Here's the real thing, Namikaze:  Your reasoning is simply not sufficient for a flat "no".  You can argue that RAI might be one way, but certainly you must acknowledge that it is debatable, yes?

[Xenon]

but it does open up a strange situation where you hand over the cyberdeck to your B&E expert that goes in and connect it to a slaved device(!)

If you had to plug the deck directly into your head, you could just give the B&E guy a commlink to plug into the target system, same result.

Commlink does not have attack or sleaze attributes.
B&E expert might not have the required hacking skills to do the job.

To get a physical direct connection to bypass host ratings you need to physically connect the cyberdeck to the slaved device. Connecting the deck wireless to the slaved device let you hack it, but not bypassing master ratings.

[Namikaze]

Here's the real thing, Namikaze:  Your reasoning is simply not sufficient for a flat "no".  You can argue that RAI might be one way, but certainly you must acknowledge that it is debatable, yes?

Which is why I stated that I have asked for some sort of quasi-official clarification.  There are two issues that are both raised in separate threads regarding essentially the same thing: an omission of detail.  Maybe the changes are supposed to have taken place.  Maybe not.  Yes, I agree that it's debatable.  But Sengir isn't debating - he's trying to get a rise out of me, for whatever reason.

[Namikaze]

Here's the real thing, Namikaze:  Your reasoning is simply not sufficient for a flat "no".  You can argue that RAI might be one way, but certainly you must acknowledge that it is debatable, yes?

I've stated twice now that I agree that by RAW, this is possible.  I have also stated, repeatedly, that the rules are weirdly different.  The text between editions is almost identical, which leads me to believe the omission is more likely the result of copy-pasta rather than actual intent.

Which is why I stated that I have asked for some sort of quasi-official clarification.  There are two issues that are both raised in separate threads regarding essentially the same thing: an omission of detail.  Maybe the changes are supposed to have taken place.  Maybe not.  Yes, I agree that it's debatable.  But Sengir isn't debating - he's trying to get a rise out of me, for whatever reason.

[Csjarrat]

guys, what the hell are we even arguing about here?
this is SR5, everything is wireless, including your underpants, can of coke and your trode net.
Of course you can leave your stuff elsewhere and connect through it, you're just subject to noise; which as anyone who has seen the noise table will confirm, is a really bad idea.

[Sengir]

Different from the rules of the previous four editions of the game.

For the first three editions, being different was the whole point. People running cables from their heads to their smartguns and comically oversized decks was simply no longer deemed realistic.

As for the fourth:

Are you sure about that, Sengir?  Because here's the first sentence of the description of a datajack from 4th edition:

Datajack: A datajack allows a user to directly interface with any electronic device via a fiberoptic cable.

Keyword "allows". A datajack allows you to plug in a cable. A sim module allows you to interpret simsense data. None of that says anything about their wireless capabilities.

@Xenon

To get a physical direct connection to bypass host ratings you need to physically connect the cyberdeck to the slaved device. Connecting the deck wireless to the slaved device let you hack it, but not bypassing master ratings.

Admittedly this is influenced by real-world computer logic, but my reading of the rules for direct connections is that the defining question reads "does the signal come in over the UDC?". Therefore,
Target<---- Wire ----> Deck
is no different from
Target<--- Wire --->[Wireless retransmission]<--- Wire --->Deck