Datajack vs Implanted Comms, or 'Are those Wires Coming from your Skull?' Options

[ProfGast]

Implanted Commlink is about 4x more expensive than a Datajack (which is about 10x more expensive than trodes but who's counting).

Is there any real advantage to having an implanted comm over a datajack for DNI Access?

Also, I'm getting mixed responses on where a datajack's outlet can be. The lines in engraved datajacks in Augmentation seem to imply it HAS to be sticking out of the head region (since it's headware), but there's a line somewhere in arsenal that talks about attaching a weapon to a fiber optic line in a datajack coming out of someone's hand (and using it as a poor man's lanyard at the same time). What's the ruling on that?

Because having a neat little hole in the back of your head for jacking in is cool. but having them mounted somewhere more aesthetically pleasing, or being able to incorporate them into your outfit is much more stylish.

Lastly, can each datajack support only one wired-in or chipped device?

[Yerameyahu]

There's really no reason to get *either*, when there's trodes (and skinlink). Literally everything supports chips in 2070, and nothing's really *on* chips anyway.

You can get 'abnormally-placed' datajacks, yes.

[Zyerne]

Only time I've ever implanted a commlink was in a rigger, same with the sim module. Just seemed to fit there.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

Is there any real advantage to having an implanted comm over a datajack for DNI Access?

You can't lose it and on high grade, get it through scanners.

That's about it.

[Summerstorm]

And it has always power (yeah-yeah i know all comlinks magically never have any energy problems), can not be destroyed with a called shot (well... except someone shoots you in the head *g*).

AND has an insanely low latency for inputs and feedback. ALL COOL hackers have it internal *g*

[Karoline]

There's really no reason to get *either*, when there's trodes (and skinlink). Literally everything supports chips in 2070, and nothing's really *on* chips anyway.

You can get 'abnormally-placed' datajacks, yes.

Discreetness? A trode is fairly easy to notice, a datajack is fairly hard to notice depending on where it is and what you're wearing, and an implanted commlink is impossible to notice without x-ray or something comparable.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Discreetness? A trode is fairly easy to notice, a datajack is fairly hard to notice depending on where it is and what you're wearing, and an implanted commlink is impossible to notice without x-ray or something comparable.

This ^^^

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smokin.gif)

[Zyerne]

Works with a decoy commlink too, have one they can find and the implanted one that you use for the important stuff.

[Yerameyahu]

Trodes are discreet, and utterly unremarkable anyway. It's like wearing a belt or eyeglasses.

[Squinky]

What I always like about internal comms is that you know flat out you have DNI connectivity.

[WhiskeyJohnny]

Another thing about internal comms - you can buy a metalink for (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 100 and Vector Xim OS for (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) 200 and then run your nice internal comms in hidden mode without attracting undue attention. Also, a guy walking around with a metalink isn't gonna get pegged for a hacker.

[Yerameyahu]

You can do that with any comms, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Karoline]

Trodes are discreet, and utterly unremarkable anyway. It's like wearing a belt or eyeglasses.

Mmm, I'd say it'd draw a bit more attention than a belt, but you are right, people don't take that much note of it. Of course, there is also asthetics to take into account (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

You can do that with any comms, though.

True, hidden mode with decoy works just as well with internal as external. I suppose we could get into some things like getting picked up by the cops. They can't take your implanted commlink, but they could take your fancy external commlink. Still, that is a fairly extraordinary circumstances case.

[WhiskeyJohnny]

You can do that with any comms, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Can you conceal your high end external comms?

[Yerameyahu]

Yup. They're tiny.

[Karoline]

Yup. They're tiny.

How tiny are they actually? SR constantly talks about them being small but what are they, cellphone size? iPad size? Netbook size?

Even cellphone size would get found during a search, but if they're that small, easy to conceal from sight under normal circumstances.

[Yerameyahu]

Why are you getting searched? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[WhiskeyJohnny]

Either you screwed up, or it's a necessary part of the plan. Though there are those who believe the second clause falls under the purview of the first.

[Zyerne]

How tiny are they actually? SR constantly talks about them being small but what are they, cellphone size? iPad size? Netbook size?

Even cellphone size would get found during a search, but if they're that small, easy to conceal from sight under normal circumstances.

From the concealability table..

+0 Heavy pistol, taser, grenade, goggles, commlink

As to getting searched, a paranoid Johnson and getting through corp security are 2 that immediately spring to mind.

[Critias]

Having an implanted datajack -- especially if it's custom chrome, or even just engraved or something -- is more than always having access to it, or not having to worry about running out of nanopaste, or worrying about the wind blowing your trode-hat off. It's a badge. A statement of dedication and purpose. If you want to be "in" in the Matrix crowd -- really in -- then you should have a datajack, dammit. It's a stylistic thing. It's a theme thing, a setting thing, a cool thing. A cyberpunk thing. It's an "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right" thing.

You ain't a console cowboy if you're worrying about paste or a headband, buddy. Get some plugs. Do it right.

[Yerameyahu]

*shrug* I feel like a situation where they're checking for a commlink (cell phone) will be a situation in which they can scan for hidden nodes, cyber, etc. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Psh. That's so last decade. Move over, dinosaur. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

[Karoline]

How about we add this? Every reason you would get cybereyes/cyberears instead of goggles/glasses/contacts and earbuds.

And from the concealability chart, they're heavy pistol size, which is a bit big for a cellphone. That sounds like something close to netbook size to me. And remember, if you know you're getting searched like that, you could always shut off your internal commlink's wireless entirely for a few seconds so they can't find the hidden node.

[Yerameyahu]

And the cyberware scanner. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And I'd say, every reason you'd get goggles/glasses/contacts and earbuds instead of cyber-things, except that you can drop that commlink into a limb. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Anyway, serious for moment: yes, implants are better in those rare circumstances where you're totally screwed already.

[Zyerne]

Also grenade sized, so maybe not quite as big as a netbook. You can fit 2 in a cyberhand.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

Anyway, serious for moment: yes, implants are better in those rare circumstances where you're totally screwed already.

High grade implants, that is. And if playing by RAW concerning cyber scanner efficiency and price, you are totally screwed 24/7.