Yeah, that's the easiest (and probably best) solution.

Sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to my GM first, though - because if I can avoid shelling out another 500 nuyen on something, that's a good thing

... !

LoL blakkie - exactly what I thought when I read it...

Not if your commlink is set to not transmit/receive on wireless.

The rules aren't clear about whether a standard Skinlinked enabled device has that as a selectable mode. However at the least it should be no more than a Hardware + Logic Extended Test away to add that mode of operation in.

Not if all the devices you are concerned about at that moment skinlinked.

Because once they've hacked your commlink, they have access to everything else that's skinlinked. If you commlink can access the skinlink, and the hacker can access your commlink, then they can access your skinlink.

However unless SL is in cybereyes it becomes decidedly dumb if you aren't hooked up to it via DJ/trode, the easiest way of which is to go through the commlink/sim module. Without that you don't have the control of it.

In fact would appear that Smartlink NEEDS your commlink as all the devices must be part of a PAN, which the commlink acts as a hub.

A totally skinlink PAN can function with no wireless what-so-ever. Thus you have access to your various 'softs, SL, and various other goodies.

Which does bring to mind the possiblity of layered commlinks. A wireless commlink skinlinked to a skinlink only commlink, the later of which runs all of your equipment, the former which access anything external to your PAN.

That way, to get to your smartlink and the like, they would need to hack through two commlinks

Yep, I agree this is the way to go.

Link them because otherwise things get messy, you need two datajacks or two trode rigs (is that even possible) if you want a simlink interface with both, and if you don't interface with both, you either miss out on AR cues that come wirelessly, or you miss out on the advantages your skinlinked devices are showing you.

Even if you get past that problem, then they still have to share devices. Now, I'm not sure if you can have one device subscribed to multiple devices, but if you can't, it means that only one commlink is able to send data to say your vision linked glasses. And even if you can subscribe one device to two commlinks, that device then becomes an access point to both commlinks, effectively linking them anyway.

Much better to link the two commlinks, with all of your devices hung off the skinlinked second commlink, that way you can turn off the first wireless commlink if needed. Should a hacker trigger an alarm trying to get in to your wireless commlink, just shut it off. You'll stop him before he ever gets to your 2nd commlink with all the devices

True, you'd have to sink several grand into an ECCM program instead of just a grand or so.

What single extra pistol die? You mean level 2 Improved Attribute: Pistols?

If so, I'm not sure. My GM is contemplating changing or getting rid of the 1.5 cap. I can't say for sure, but he doesn't like it, so... yeah.

Getting rid of Aptitude: Pistols would make my 6 in the Pistols skill cost double, thus only getting me 2 more BPs, and no more growth in the skill in game. Tat would be kind of sucky.

It says explicitly in the text that they are usable without cybereyes. There are two entries for them - one in cosmetics cyberware, one in eyeware - both on the same page. Same stats, as well.

Actually, I meant his single level of IA: Handgun.

A single extra die of Handgun for a .5 cost is a pretty small return for the other perks you could pick up, IMHO.

Example: the meaningful difference between Handgun 5 and Handgun 6 dice versus Infiltration 2 and Infiltration 4.

-Siege

It's IA Pistols 2, not 1.

I -could- drop my 2 points of Perception at chargen, and pick up Pistols 7. I kind of dislike that, because then my character is nearly the best in the world at shooting a revolver. There's nowhere to go. BUT, on the other hand, in terms of saving karma, I would save a cubic buttload ( doing it that way. Because perception 2 would cost 6 karma to raise from 0 to 2.

Or, I could drop aptitude pistols, and go for another skill group, or something. IN which case, I'd probably drop Athletics down to 1, and up Stealth by 2, making it 4. Again, more cost effective Karmically speaking.

Yeah yeah. Too many windows open, and I didn't refresh. When will I learn?

It's up to you. Karma/BP cost-wise, it's much cheaper to pick up both Aptitude and the linked Skill at 7 during chargen, if the is your ultimate intent for the character.