Signal Router

J Roberson (RJR96326@vax1.utulsa.edu)
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The signal router sends and receives signals. It can be plugged into any
commline and functions as a node, of sorts. Cyberdecks, phones, Trid
broadcasts, virtually anything that can be transmitted over the Matrix can
send their signal to the LTG# of the router, which will then send the signal
on to final destination. In the case of two-way transmission, the router
also routes the return signal back to the source (i.e., when decking).

When used, the signal router serves to confuse the Trace. Its primary
application is in decking.The Trace will go to the router before it finds
the decker. The Trace will get past the router, but it takes time:

a number of actions equal to the rating of the router, divided by the number
of successes determined by rolling the Trace's dice against the router's
rating.

Routers also serve to slow down any IC which must affect the intruder's
deck; Killer, Blaster, Tar Baby and similar programs follow the same
procedure as above, unless another program has already succeeded in getting
past the router.

The advantage, obviously, is time. A decker can continue to operate while
the IC tries to nail him. The disadvantage is that the router slows down the
decker's speed, equal to rating. For instance, a rating 6 router would
subtract 6 from a decker's Initiative.

A number of routers may be used, but the effects for both IC and the decker
are cumulative.

BUYING A ROUTER

These are illegal. They are used only by government and corporate deckers to
crack illegal systems; the police vs. the Mafia, the government vs. another
government, corp vs. whoever has the most geld. But they are also relatively
easy to make, so a request for one usually won't take more than three weeks.

Cost:           5000xRating
Availability:   4+Rating/12+Rating in days

BUILDING A ROUTER

The parts are available in most repair kits and at Radio Hut. The knowledge
to build them is easy to figure out but not generally taught below the
college level. The expensive part of the list price is the LTG ID codes and
numbers; these are difficult to obtain and make Routers expensive.

Parts Cost:     1500xRating
                Note: Cost not lowered by # of
                successes.
Base Time:      6+Rating in days
Target #:       2+Rating

Notes: You probably don't want the parts cost to be lowered by # of
successes because either you have the parts or you don't. Most of cost
covers the LTG hardware anyway.