I'm wondering if anyone (staff?) has any comment on the availability/signal strength of wireless matrix, in the Barrens? Especially meeting hotspots and such.

Thats are to gauge, I would reckon. The barrens would be one of the few places where there /would/ most likley be a few static zones. I would doubt you' have many, if any dead zones... maybe in glow city or places where strife have made anything but the hardest living possible. But elsewhere, you'd probably have static zones unless in specific areas where buissnesses or ganger's have set up shop or headquarters. Touristville, where a lot of us 'townies' will be spending a lot time, should probably have full wireless integration, though. Likewise, living areas or apartment buildings in the Z Zones or D zones would probably be wired in someway, or runner's might have an encrypted wireless network of their own in a safehouse, waiting to be flicked on. Satelitte links are always an option for the high tech or survivalist character who needs to remain connected, and can probably emit their own wireless network of at least 4 meters, but most likley more.

They don't describe if you need to be subscribed to the satelitte or if you can just find a satelitte to link up with to get the matrix without much trouble, so I don't know the rules on that.

It's something we've discussed, but have yet to determine on a place-specific basis. We plan on having a Matrix reality level (along with a regular physical reality level and an astral reality level) for each location, but it hasn't been our highest priority.

Gotcha, thanks for the input.

I understand the level of priority. My mind is just racing with character concepts and it was a question that popped into my head.

Well, Rheiv has some good suggestions in the proper direction. The more input on where you guys think the most likely places for hotpots or static are, the faster we can work it up.

Really, from the descriptions, I would think any legal facility, or occupied building would have some sort of hardwired matrix connection emitting a wireless network in at least the range of that building's boundries. Any illiegal facility or runner's bar would most likley find a way for their networks too. And we can't forget that PAN's are /everywhere/.  Now, while we can assume that the 'mesh network' of an urban area is supplimented by some sort of system of municipal district wide wireless network, or something, this means that any Barren's network would be spotty at best, outside of touristville, or even non existent.

The limit to a barren's network would most likley be the lack of infrastracture to hardwire /into/ the matrix. Other then the existing hardware, no one would be able to tap in without a Sat Link or a large tower on the outskirts. Or maybe even from public Telecom's. Though in the Ren's, there arn't gonna be many of those in working order, newer then like, 2030s.

With routers or network access points, I would question as to if the rule about interacting with devices still applies. I mean.... if I'm within the range of a Signal 5 network, but my commlink doesn't reach that access point, does that mean I don't have matrix access?

But a commlink would still be useful for person to person communication or connection to the mesh network of individuals and wireless enabled nodes or computers in the barrens, however. Which might create a smaller 'mini-matrix' of its own.

Actually, I think this is probably underestimating the determination and ability of Barrens residents.  By 2070, Wireless has been around for about five years.  If they want in on the wireless matrix, that's plenty of time for the 'trickle-down' effect to get it to them.  Will they have the latest and greatest hosts, photo-realistic AR, perfect signal integrity EVERYWHERE, and all the really nice stuff you get in downtown?  No, of course not.  But the bar'll have a server in the back broadcasting the menu and letting ya make credit arrangements, and maybe be able to put up a low-quality trid signal into the center of the room for everyone to look at without actually having a trid there.  The bar's owner probably doesn't have a (legal) landline into the main hosts for all this, but he's paid a buddy of his enough to get a pirated signal passed around a few times to where the landline is, or if he's really lucky some bit of infrastructure runs under the building from before the Crash that he's gotten up and working again.  In fact, the latter is more likely since the Crash virus didn't have any particular effect on the infrastructure itself, just everything attached to it.

Just because the city isn't doing it doesn't mean it isn't getting done.  It just means it isn't getting done 'officially.'

To re-iterate the book a bit:

The wired world is gone, it is dead, put in a hackysack and kicked to the sun.

The wireless is all there is, and it is EVERYWHERE.

In 2070 the wired world is gone, everything is wireless.  How does this work?  Well, it’s a mesh network that makes up the matrix and that mesh network is made up of what?  Well, your commlink, your boyfriend’s commlink, your aunt selma’s dog’s collar which has a signal boost and matrix attachments to broadcast its  location across the matrix where you can track it when its lost.  All this stuff IS the matrix.  Its wireless, it connects to nodes, and it does it from almost everywhere.

When I go to sign on to a matrix club from my home, I don’t send my wireless signal all the way to the place that’s hosting it.  Instead, I send my signal which latches onto a signal of some wageslave checking his email, which than jumps to the caf? a few blocks away which in turn is hosting menus online for everyone and utilizing some of the truck driver who’s going past’s giant signal booster to jump their connection even further.  And it all piggy-backs upon piggy-backs its way till I get to the club 30 miles away which is hosting a mirror site on the ‘trix with all the rad-tad-wonderful matrix goers who like to jam it out virtually instead of in the meat.

This is regardless of whether or not the person is in active mode or not.  The only thing that stops this piggy-back effect is dead zones (where you have no one to piggy-back offa) or when you turn your stuff OFF.  Than, and only than, is your stuff no longer matrix accessible.  That’s why I can hack you even when you are in hidden mode.  What’s hidden mode than?  Instead of being able to go, “Commlink access that guy’s PAN” I have to say, “Commlink FIND that guy’s PAN.”  And than amid all the porn surfing, email sending, spam, and advertisements I have to find your solitary commlink… even if you are 10 feet away shooting at me with a gun.  I know where you are meat side, but the matrix is a lot more complicated than that.  Just like firewalls today, active mode is broadcasting your IP with your signal, Hidden mode is stealthing your IP. 

Because of this shift, and the overt use of AR in everyday life, commlinks are common.  They are so common, in fact, that 100 nuyen buys you one that can do more or less everything that the 8000 nuyen one does (just isn’t as secure).  Its just as fast though, can run programs too, it’s not a hacking beast, but it’ll play all your games, access all your favorite clubs, not really have memory limitations, and all that jazz just like the best of the best.  All of Seattle than, ought to have connections to the Matrix, all over the place.  Everyone has 100 nuyen to access radio, drive their car, communicate, etc.

The proposition than.  Touristville ought to be full-on matrix.  What with all the clubs, the more money flow and the rich people with all their more snazzy commlinks ought to make accessing the matrix there just as easy as anywhere else in Seattle.  However, the Barrens can be detailed out pretty easily too.  Just start at the area closest to Touristville and say -1 modifier, go out to the locations about middle of the road and call them -2, and the furthest -3 (-1 to -3 is modifiers listed for static zones as per the book).  No dead zones ought to exist by location on the grid, it doesn’t seem to make a whole lotta sense with a mesh based matrix system.  However, dead zones ought to be utilized as plot devices and for special circumstances.  For instance in a special bar that is way outta the way of anywhere because only technophobic mages go there.  And they don’t wanna be anywhere nearby any civilization or some such thing.

Where signal strength comes into play, most importantly, is for communications on runs when everyone is having their commlink subscribed to the hacker’s commlink, or for riggers who want to have their drones on their subscription list.  If I have a signal of 5 and my drone has a signal of 2, and we’re at the signal 5 range than I can send commands to the drone but I can’t watch it.  And if it wants to send information to me its got to access the mesh matrix and put all that information out in a very unsecure way just to get it to me.  Meaning I can’t really have it protected.  It also matters in situations of jamming, if my drones can’t communicate back to me than I have no clue what to send them as commands even if my signal will breach the jammers and the drone’s won’t.  That’s why it’s a good idea ot have the same sort of signal strengths and ECCMs on all the equipment you plan on using often.  So they have two-way communication which can become the most secure.  Same with if you wanna do radio transmissions for communication on runs, afterall you don’t want to put that stuff on ‘trix side, cause than someone in Germany could figure out what you guys were talking about.

Satellite Links, however, make static and dead zones moot for purposes of accessing the matrix.  You can do it from anywhere, anytime, without any modifications that I can find anywhere in the book.  You just shoot your commlink (with whatever signal strength) through the sat link up to a satellite, it beams it down to a nearby mesh network that’s got good connections and it washes out into the matrix to get you where you are going.  And than, naturally, back again.  Signal strength important for security via subscription lists, communication on runs, and drones.  Beyond that there’s little concern, which is why signal 1 commlinks that are sold in the books can access the matrix without concern.

The ‘backbone’ of the matrix is us.  We are the matrix, it has us, and its entirely made up of these little nodes everywhere that broadcast and receive constantly.  There is no more ‘backbone’ like the wired matrix had (or like our internet has today).  It is all a mesh.  The only exception is a corporate/security/military facility which wants everything wired internally, but it’ll need to jump that stuff to a wireless router if it wants any Matrix access outside of its own internal workings.  Just for clarification, there is no more HARDWIRING into THE Matrix, its all the mesh network.

Thematic pages 19, and the entire Wireless World chapter is my reference.  If you find discrediting information on anything I’ve mentioned, feel free to post it with page numbers so I can know I’m wrong.  But I’ve read that chapter pretty thoroughly a couple times, I’d like to think I’m not missing anything.  In addition, feel free to question for further information on anything.  Also, note I did enter in an idea about dead zones/static zones, so critic that if you like as well.  Thanks! And lets party!

Meh, the only big problem with all that is logic. 

First problem is speed.  Assuming that each packet is rebroadcast exactly as soon as it is recieved, that means that each time it will take as long as it takes to broadcast each packet for each hop it must make.  That puts a sharp limit on how far full VR can go before you simply can't get any useful hacking done, but by definition there /is/ no such limit.  Therefore, the number of hops packets need to take must be limited somehow, and the most reasonable solution is that once you get past your local area there is a backbone to carry your signal quickly to somewhere else. 

But let's assume for a moment that the wireless matrix is fast enough that this isn't an issue over terrestrial distances (it WILL come into play should SR ever go interplanetary, but that's an issue for the far future if ever.)  There's still another problem.

Wireless doesn't provide the power to run all this P2P-style coolness.  In the Wired world, all the infrastructure was linked together, thus, a power line was usually also carrying tons of 'trix signal.  Now, most of the Matrix traffic is wireless, but that's no reason to assume the old network has been totally discarded, especially since logically it MUST still be in use to power all the servers and provide recharge points for all those comlinks.  And since the network is still physically there, why wouldn't the backbone still see use, particularly since it's still useful?

That said, it's probably nowhere near as vital to the continued functioning of the Matrix as it was pre-Crash.  It's just a useful thing that's already there, so why not keep it working?

All good questions, logically speaking, perhaps even technically speaking.  They all sound legit.  However, two canon reasons disagree:

Page 19:  SETTINGS > The Matrix
"The Matrix is the sweeping term generally used to refer to the worldwide computer network and telecommunications grid---or, more accurately, the millions of wireless computer networks and devices, that together, comprise the Matrix---a mesh network with no central body."

Page 219:  Transfer Data
"You can transmit or receive data from one node to another--including uploading and downloading files, sending messages, and so on---with a Transfer Data Simple Action.  If the gamemaster calls for a test to accomplish this, use Computer + Edit program."

And beings as if you are in AR you get all your normal init passes (potentially up to 4), or while in the trix in hot sim you get 3, cold sim 2, etc.  You can do up to 8 simple actions.  Which means, that even if the 'larger files' took like 3 simple actions you can transfer those mega sized porn videos spanning hours and hours, in just under 1.5 seconds if you're good enough or interacting fast enough.

The Crash destroyed the importance and the trust of the wired world, the reason to get rid of it is because it can CRASH.  The Matrix as it is now is a living body of JELLO.  Hack out one part all the rest fill up the missing spot.  Commlinks plug into wired electrical outlets to get power, sure, some also are likely with sun powered chargers, some 'jogger specials' probably have gyro static electricity creators like the watches which charge themselves these days... etc.  BUT, the only place where the Wireless World doesn't exist in the super secure corporate facilities, as that's the only example they illustrate as not being hooked wirelessly.  And the REASON for doing that?  Is so that you CAN'T access them via the Matrix.  So, sorry, wired communication does not have matrix access anymore unless routed through a wireless medium.  And than that's open again for play.  Just like a skinlinked pair of goggles, they can't be hacked directly but if you want them to get information from your commlink, someone can hack your commlink and get access to them boy-howdy.

There's definitely city owned boosters, corp owned towers, etc.  But it all works seemlessly together and your commlink is doing some of the work too, and lots of it all the time.  That's the nature of a mesh network, the kinds of which the US thinks is too expensive just yet, and Japan is working on completing.  Blackberries used to bounce from one blackberry to another and from them to any home computer with one plugged in, in order to give you your email and such.  Now?  Nada, just through wireless stuff and than some wired stuff cause we still have the pre-crash system, but even then we were working off a similar kind of concept where wired infrastructures matter less and less.

You have to imagine that lots of things in 2070 don't have to be recharged after 5 hours of constant use, like my cordless phone.  Prolly just once a week, and its likely super fast, I mean my DS charges in under 3 hours usually and has 10 hours of game play on DS games, and LOTS more on GBA games (cause only one screen is in use).

A note on power consumption, is that, yes, for most purposes, rechargeing your devices should be rather painless, to the point where recharging might not be necessary at all. Of course Shadowrun doesn't consider much when it comes to going 2-3 days without civilization or power. Even in the barrens, you can plug your commlink in somewhere. Hell, it could be powered by the signal itself. (Thats a little iffy of course). Thing can even be powered by your own body, and I don't mean movement, I mean like, an implanted commlink would be connected to your own body's energy system (somehow). Meaning you'd have to eat more to power it. Or something.

Brave new world, though, in general.

As for no wired backbone to the wired matrix, I'd think that'd be a misnomer. There is a note that you have to pay for 'trix subscriptions, so you'd most likley still have some hardwired systems to plug into. Building's might still be hardwired to avoid the 'clutter' or simply be better prepared if someone decides to jam their wireless or there is interference from another signal.

Also, something to consider is how extended these mesh networks are. I mean, if we can hop anywhere, does that mean that if one big mesh network isn't connected to the bigger world wide network with anything but one personal Sat Link. All traffic goes through that Satlink. Are we to assume that this is possible? I don't think so.

And, is it possible to have one big seperate mesh network? As I mentioned before, areas of the Rens that are absent the big connections still might create one /big/ seperate mesh between all those people.

Its not a misnomer, as the wired matrix is gone.  It says so in the book.  That's not me, that's them.  You want to argue that part of theme take it up with Fanpro.  THEY however have said that THE MATRIX, is comprised of millions of wireless devices and networks.  That's all wireless baby.  Even if your corp office is wired together so each of the computers have cables connecting them through the infrastructure of the building (which is more time and effort than wireless) you still need wireless to connect to THE MATRIX.  As per the book.

Interference is mostly non-existant except in the event of purposeful jamming.  As per the book.  No where does someone talk about interference in reference to the Matrix with exceptions of jamming.

There are something like 135-140+ satellites revolving the earth right now, that are still operational and used, more than 1000 by some estimates of no longer likely useful satellites, (and I'm not talking about spaceships or nickels, but broadcast stations), so by 2070 there's gonna be a whole lot more.  And they'll be better, and stronger and more endurant.  All of them will be useable sans a few for public communications.  So no, not just one sat uplink would be used to connect to all these various satellites.  In fact, multiples would be connecting at any point in time.  Think about how many satellite broadband connections exist today and you'll figure by 2070 it'll be more and more and much more sophisticated versions.

So although it might not be possible that one giant mesh network goes through one sat link to connect to a satellite and do all the work, there isn't just one.  There are many many many.  And many more.  Plus, you are already talking that the barrens has dead zones.  I'd argue that the Barrens does not have dead zones, its fully wireless just static zones.  So much traffic is going through a few connections that link them to Touristville and the greater Seattle area, that you receive the -1 to -3 dice pool modifier.  That, is most likely to me, not that there are actual dead zones in the Barrens (what with the invention of sat links, and just power grids which could easily have a few signal boosters provided for continued networking through all of Seattle).  Unless I missed something where it talked about Dead Zones being in urban places, or even specifically in the Barrens?  I mean, even in the text about static and dead zones, it alots poor tech quality and/or extra lag for routing around holes in the network, all to static zones.  Which are maintained usually by: crime syndicates, tech gangs, and anarchist/tribal groups. All people whom could easily be found in areas all around the Barrens.  So I don't see why dead zones need be on grid except within special circumstances/situations.

My bad, the estimate on satellites was just LEO satellites.  THere are also MEO, and GEO, which added up they conservatively estimate 550+ operational.

The wired matrix is NOT gone. There's still plenty of hardlines out there. A careful reading of the relevant sections of System Failure and Wireless World turns up numerous references to wired connections and networks, most notably under Matrix Topology.

There have been serious upgrades in technology as well. Wireless is at least as fast as the old Wired networked Matrix or given the demands of the system loads they would have tried to fix the old wired world. The fact that everything in the matrix still works as quick as it ever did, shows that the Wireless system is more than fast enough to cover things.

Another note: There is special building walls that can block wireless signals, so it is not all that hard for a corporation to shield themselves from outside influence, which makes 'onsite' hacking once again a necessary thing. So no, the Wireless world does not make your hacker or technomage completely invulnerable. Otherwise, pretty nice post.