[kyoto kid]

...I was wondering about the trusty ol' micro transceiver, once the most important piece of gear a runner could carry as it kept him or her in direct communication with the rest of the team.  Today, this is of course all handled via commlinks and subscribing to each other's PANs, slaving to the Deckers deck etc. The micro transceiver on the other hand is a standalone piece of gear separate from and not dependent on a commlink to function.

Basically the way I see it, the transceiver is a simple radio transmitter that like it's predecessor uses old fashioned radio waves (FM most likely) instead of the bands that commlinks use (16G or whatever it is called)  for discrete localised communication. So since this is a direct radio signal, it can be jammed, but can it be hacked like other wireless devices by a decker, as it doesn't necessarily need the matrix to function?

I am curious about this as I have a demolitions character who looks to use this instead of her commlink to arm and trigger explosives.

[Medicineman]

a microtranceiver has a WiFi Off function ( Communication at a Range of up to 1 Kilometer)
and a WiFi On function ( Worldwide Comm.)
Devices which are WiFi Off are by RAW NOT Hackable or Brickable (unless plugged in by cable)

Hough!
Medicinemna

[kyoto kid]

...thank you. 

So do radio detonators have the same WiFi off function or are they just simple radio receivers?  The description in Run N Gun mentions only that modern radio detonators are "wireless enabled" but doesn't say if they also have the straight old school radio mode. 

In the beginning of the gear section it mentions about "throwback" gear so I would imagine a radio detonator of this type could only be triggered by a standard radio wave/command.

The only other option I could see would be to fig a second Micro Transceiver set to WiFi off as the detonator  The character does have the Juryrigging quality as well.

[Herr Brackhaus]

I'd say a radio detonator could easily be bought as a throwback without Matrix capabilities. Or, even if it has Matrix capabilities, these are optional; i.e. the radio part of it will always work and cannot be hacked but has limited range, while the Matrix function leaves the device open to hacking but provides greater range.

Radio also isn't subject to noise, so there's that.

[kyoto kid]

...thank you.  I'll have to bring this information up with my missions group.  Makes absolute sense to me.

[Herr Brackhaus]

If this is for missions, a similar question was already asked about micro-transceivers. The answer should be in the current or next version of the Missions FAQ.

[kyoto kid]

...cool, thank you.

I was told by one person that while the signal is not hackable it  can still be spoofed.  I asked "how" detailing what I learned here but never received an answer.  Another person said that it could be possible (though difficult)  for someone to set off the charges, but If I haven't yet sent the arming code I don't see  how that would work. It would also require someone else with a Micro Transceiver to override what my character put in.

[kyoto kid]

...cool, thank you.

I was told by one person that while the signal is not hackable it  can still be spoofed.  I asked "how" detailing what I learned here but never received an answer.  Another person said that it could be possible (though difficult)  for someone to set off the charges, but If I haven't yet sent the arming code I don't see  how that would work. It would also require someone else with a Micro Transceiver to override what my character put in.

I think what it is really coming down to is people are pulling the "wireless card" to take from away character ingenuity that sidesteps it.  In RL, I cannot use my 4G phone to interfere with a radio station's broadcast so likewise a decker should have no means possible  to interfere with an "old school" radio connection unless they have an actual radio jammer (and again all that will do is prohibit the signal from triggering the detonator).

[Herr Brackhaus]

Yeah, the rules as written do not contain any provisions for spoofing a non-Matrix device. Simply ask them this question: how do you use the Spoof Matrix Action on a device that does not have an icon in the Matrix?

Now, if you enable wireless on your micro-transceiver, all bets are off, but without wireless and using the default 1km range the device does not exist on the Matrix.

[kyoto kid]

...that's what I would think.

About the only way I could see to prematurely detonate a device would be if someone else with a Micro Transceiver happened to be on the same frequency and knew both the arming and triggering code words (which the character of course changes and does not keep on her commlink).

As she has a Farilight Caliban with an 8 Firewall (Had a Decker she knew upgrade it) it would be tough though not impossible to break however having grown up in a war zone where the latest and greatest was not often available, she's was very resourceful at using older, simpler tech to her advantage (also has the Juryrigger quality).

[Novocrane]

if someone else with a Micro Transceiver happened to be on the same frequency

it just lets you communicate by voice with other micro-transceivers and commlinks that you (and the other person) choose

Communication only happens on a double positive result - both users have to explicitly decide to talk with each other's devices. Sounds more complex than simply tuning to a frequency.

[Herr Brackhaus]

And even if it was just a matter of finding the right frequency, there is no RAW for how to accomplish such a thing meaning for Missions at least it's not possible.

[kyoto kid]

....yeah I figured going "old school" would be pretty "safe".  True the range is more limited but for the most part that 1 KM is sufficient.

What would be really fun is to make it look like a grenade that was tossed fizzled or just emit some smoke and when the oppos let down their guard then set it off. Too bad there are no Dual Charge grenades like we had in 3rd ed.