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Message no. 1
From: John Stawarz aka Chaos Manager <jstawarz@******.GMU.EDU>
Subject: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 1994 21:25:44 -0400
Hmmm... This argument about grounding and quickening is getting to the
point of resorting to "DID TOO!" "DID NOT!" "DID TOO!"
Redundant,
pointless, and absolutely childish.

Anyways, I've a couple of questions about cyberdecks:

1. What kind of power source do decks use? Are they internal or
external? The reason I ask is because in the
_Choose_Your_Enemies_Carefully_ novel, Hart has Jenny check the power
consumption of the apartment before she goes in. Yet, in other places,
it refers to Dodger decking from the forest in Tir Tairngir(sp?).

2. Are cyberdecks capable of accessing the Matrix via the cellular
phone network? Or are they limited to hardwired telecom lines?

-----> Chaos <-----
--
*****************************************************************
* John Stawarz aka Chaos Manager *
* jstawarz@******.gmu.edu jstawarz@***.edu *
*****************************************************************
* Dawn: The time when men of reason go to bed. *
*****************************************************************

Geek Code (1.0.1) GCS/O -d+ p c++(c---) l u+ e+ m+(*) s+/++ n---(!n) h--
f? g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
Message no. 2
From: What's this button do? <GRAFF85@********.CORTLAND.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 1994 21:56:15 -0400
> 1. What kind of power source do decks use? Are they internal or
>external? The reason I ask is because in the
>_Choose_Your_Enemies_Carefully_ novel, Hart has Jenny check the power
>consumption of the apartment before she goes in. Yet, in other places,
>it refers to Dodger decking from the forest in Tir Tairngir(sp?).
>
We had similar questions dealing with cyber ware itself...I just go on
the assumption that the deck was externally powered, relying on the
communications system was technologically advanced enough that power could be
sent via light on the optical fibre...in _Never_Make_A_Deal_With_A_Dragon_ he
was using a sat link to access the matrix, therfore i would think that dodger
would either have a large battery pack or a small generator.....


> 2. Are cyberdecks capable of accessing the Matrix via the cellular
>phone network? Or are they limited to hardwired telecom lines?

umm cellular was claimed as being tooo unstable for matrix access...sat
links were better but had lag depending on sidelinks and hardwired was the best
but had a problem with tracing...

--Phlatline
----v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^-
David Graff | GEEK CODE v1.0.1
339 Randall Hall | GS(CS)@ d+(---) p(-p+) c+(+++) l u- e* m---(*) s !n(n---)
Cortland, Ny 13045| h* f+(--) g++ w+++ t++(---) r(++) y+
607.753.2783 |
--------------------------------------------------------Phlatline-------------
Message no. 3
From: J Gavigan <csc086@*****.LANCS.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 1994 16:25:06 +0100
> We had similar questions dealing with cyber ware itself...I just go on
> the assumption that the deck was externally powered, relying on the
> communications system was technologically advanced enough that power could be
> sent via light on the optical fibre...in _Never_Make_A_Deal_With_A_Dragon_ he
> was using a sat link to access the matrix, therfore i would think that dodger
> would either have a large battery pack or a small generator.....

Hmmm, I would doubt "that power could be sent via light on the
optical fibre". This would mean that a simple laser could be
used to supply power. No, I don't think that that is either
feasible or plausible.
As for the "large battery pack", how would you define "large"?


Jacked in.

Dodger
Message no. 4
From: What's this button do? <GRAFF85@********.CORTLAND.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 1994 17:08:30 -0400
> Hmmm, I would doubt "that power could be sent via light on the
> optical fibre". This would mean that a simple laser could be
> used to supply power. No, I don't think that that is either
> feasible or plausible.

Ok then in that case: that's the way it is because FA$A said it was
like that so deal with it :-/

> As for the "large battery pack", how would you define
"large"?
>

Oh i don't know.....i was only speculating....


----v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^---v^-
David Graff | GEEK CODE v1.0.1
339 Randall Hall | GS(CS)@ d+(---) p(-p+) c+(+++) l u- e* m---(*) s !n(n---)
Cortland, Ny 13045| h* f+(--) g++ w+++ t++(---) r(++) y+
607.753.2783 |
--------------------------------------------------------Phlatline-------------
Message no. 5
From: J Gavigan <csc086@*****.LANCS.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 1994 22:17:39 +0100
> Ok then in that case: that's the way it is because FA$A said it was
> like that so deal with it :-/

Chill. Where'd they say this?

/>
/<
O[\\\\\\(O):::<======================================-
\<
\> Dodger - csc086 @ cent1.lancs.ac.uk

-----===*===-----
Message no. 6
From: What's this button do? <GRAFF85@********.CORTLAND.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sat, 16 Apr 1994 18:43:53 -0400
>> Ok then in that case: that's the way it is because FA$A said it was
>> like that so deal with it :-/
>
> Chill. Where'd they say this?

dunno....:-)
Message no. 7
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 22:45:24 +0930
>
>Hmmm... This argument about grounding and quickening is getting to the
>point of resorting to "DID TOO!" "DID NOT!" "DID TOO!"
Redundant,
>pointless, and absolutely childish.
>
>Anyways, I've a couple of questions about cyberdecks:
>
> 1. What kind of power source do decks use? Are they internal or
>external? The reason I ask is because in the
>_Choose_Your_Enemies_Carefully_ novel, Hart has Jenny check the power
>consumption of the apartment before she goes in. Yet, in other places,
>it refers to Dodger decking from the forest in Tir Tairngir(sp?).
>
Ever seen a laptop computer? Run it off batteries for a while, then you
need a recharge. (Far as I'm concerned, a while is long enough for standard
activities. I did make one decker bring along a solar power array for an
extended stay in the Australian outback, though

> 2. Are cyberdecks capable of accessing the Matrix via the cellular
>phone network? Or are they limited to hardwired telecom lines?
>
Yes, no, maybe. *shrug*
It says in one of the sourcebooks (Shadowbeat?) that even standard telecom
lines won't give you full Matrix access. I'd imagine that cellular phones
give the same kind of access as standard phones.

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers are around at 9 am,
it's because they were up all night.
Message no. 8
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 22:59:56 +0930
>> Hmmm, I would doubt "that power could be sent via light on the
>> optical fibre". This would mean that a simple laser could be
>> used to supply power. No, I don't think that that is either
>> feasible or plausible.
>
> Ok then in that case: that's the way it is because FA$A said it was
> like that so deal with it :-/
>
Well...a cable, and for that matter, a plug, can have lots of wires in it.
Why not have a power cable running in parallel to the fibre-optic?

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers are around at 9 am,
it's because they were up all night.
Message no. 9
From: J Gavigan <csc086@*****.LANCS.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 15:07:49 +0100
> Well...a cable, and for that matter, a plug, can have lots of wires in it.
> Why not have a power cable running in parallel to the fibre-optic?

That would make a _lot_ more sense alright...

Dodger
Message no. 10
From: Gian-Paolo Musumeci <musumeci@***.LIS.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 09:13:05 -0500
What kind of power sources do they have in ShadowRun, anyways? Fusion? Fissionstill? Or
fossil fuels?
Message no. 11
From: J Gavigan <csc086@*****.LANCS.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 15:23:09 +0100
> What kind of power sources do they have in ShadowRun, anyways? Fusion?
Fission
> still? Or fossil fuels?

Search me. I'm a decker, not a physicist! ;)
*accesses a few databases*
Well, cold fusion was developed, so it looks as though that may be the main
source of power...

Dodger
Message no. 12
From: Gian-Paolo Musumeci <musumeci@***.LIS.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 09:24:21 -0500
So why not just make a small cold-fusion power module that'd click into place
on the deck?
Message no. 13
From: J Gavigan <csc086@*****.LANCS.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 15:31:04 +0100
> So why not just make a small cold-fusion power module that'd click into place
> on the deck?

Because "the visions of desktop cold fusion generators was not to be. However,
the first cold fusion power plant came on line in..." Whenever.
Bleah.
Read SRII "And so it came to pass.." I think it was around 2010, or so.

Jackin' out..

/> Dodger
/<
O[\\\\\\(O):::<======================================-
\<
\> Dodger - csc086 @ cent1.lancs.ac.uk

-----===*===-----
Message no. 14
From: Gian-Paolo Musumeci <musumeci@***.LIS.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 09:35:56 -0500
Oh well. =)
Message no. 15
From: "Brian W. Allison" <bwa550s@***.SMSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 11:56:35 -0500
On Sun, 17 Apr 1994, Gian-Paolo Musumeci wrote:

> What kind of power sources do they have in ShadowRun, anyways? Fusion?
Fission
> still? Or fossil fuels?

I'm extrapolating mostly from the novels here, but I'd say fusion and
fission are part of the tech that was lost in the Crash. I suggest that
because in the trilogy the nuclear weapons were considered lost tech. If
reactors are still operable, then there would exist ample source for
low-grade uranium.

I'd suggest fossil fuels, hydroelectric, solar and even geothermal make
up the bulk of the power sources. Since most people in Seattle "ride the
tube", the average power consumption per person (at least in Seattle)
must be much lower than the 1990's. These days its uncommon to see a
family without a car. I doubt that bikes make up a significant amount of
consumption. They might exist in any two-bit (or more) gang, most Runners
might own them, but considering the small percentage of Seattle which is
either Runners or other shadow-types.....

Face it, most of the world in SR is made up of cattle. Just waiting to
crap on your foot. er....

Or, the power plants could be run by meta-squirrels! Yea... big
squirrels!! *cackle* *cough* *cackle*

------------------------------------------
Brian (bwa550s@***.smsu.edu)
<<Lone Star, when it absolutely, positively, has to be screwed up.>>
(GEEK CODE) GCS d@ -p+ c++++!!!!! l u+(++) e+(++) m@(+/++/---) s@/@
!n--- h*(+) f+(?) !g(20/12) w+ t+ r+(++) y?
Message no. 16
From: What's this button do? <GRAFF85@********.CORTLAND.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 13:41:55 -0400
>So why not just make a small cold-fusion power module that'd click into place
>on the deck?

because in the Rule book intro history they said that cold fusion had come
about but was not table-top as hoped...

--Phlatline
Message no. 17
From: "Willard M. Cottrell" <UGCOTTRE@******.BITNET>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 14:50:56 EDT
> Are cyberdecks capable of accessing the Matrix via the cellular phone
> network? Or are they limited to hardwired telecom lines?

As I understand the cellular network...When sationary the cellular phone
will link to the nearest access point and then the regular phone network
(in the 2050's this is the Matrix). Each access point has a specific
range that it covers and receives signals from cellular phone's anywhere
in that area.

But, when moving between access point territories. The adjoining access
point picks up the signal and the first access point drops it. In gaming
terms this means that when going between points there will be a lag that
will leave the decker disoriented for X number of rounds and the
possibility of a gap in the information the decker might be
downloading...If the GM allows cellular hookups.

I'm no authority on cellular, phones so the terminology and all the
information presented here could be totally bogus.
Please, No flames only corrective critisism.
My two bits,
Will
Message no. 18
From: Timothy Skirvin <tskirvin@********.UNI.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 14:31:40 -0500
> So why not just make a small cold-fusion power module that'd click
> into place on the deck?

What, let's see JUST HOW MUCH POWER WE CAN GET IN THIS DECK?

I COULD RUN A CITY WITH THIS THING...

<grin>

----------------------- "Well, you see, they took the Bible literally.
Tim Skirvin Adam and Eve, the snake and the apple...took
(tskirvin@ it word for word. Unfortunately, their
superdec.uni.uiuc.edu) version had a misprint."
----------------------- - Rimmer, Red Dwarf (The Last Day)
Message no. 19
From: Jai Tao <jdfalk@****.COM>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 17:54:30 -0400
On Sat, 16 Apr 1994, What's this button do? wrote:

> > Hmmm, I would doubt "that power could be sent via light on the
> > optical fibre". This would mean that a simple laser could be
> > used to supply power. No, I don't think that that is either
> > feasible or plausible.
>
> Ok then in that case: that's the way it is because FA$A said it was
> like that so deal with it :-/
>
If so, here's a thought, based both on currently known technology
and reading way too many sci-fi novels. Perhaps the wall connection is
multi-purpose -- i.e., power would be provided on two (or more) leads,
Matrix connection on two (or more) seperate leads, and other leads could
be for I/O from be building's control system, or whatever.
Try this "rules clarification" on for size. Each plug has, say,
eight wires: two are dedicated to power, and two are dedicated to Matrix
(used by telephone, video unit, terminal, and cyberdeck.) The leftover
four can be switched by the control system to be used for whatever's
needed, be it commands like "start brewing coffee" or the feed from a
security camera.
I saw a show on PBS which showed something much like this, only
without the Matrix connection, being developed by General Electric.
Message no. 20
From: J Gavigan <csc086@*****.LANCS.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 23:50:56 +0100
> If so, here's a thought, based both on currently known technology
> and reading way too many sci-fi novels. Perhaps the wall connection is
> multi-purpose -- i.e., power would be provided on two (or more) leads,
> Matrix connection on two (or more) seperate leads, and other leads could
> be for I/O from be building's control system, or whatever.

I could have sworn I said that... ie. about the multi-purpose
connection, that is...

> Try this "rules clarification" on for size. Each plug has, say,
> eight wires: two are dedicated to power, and two are dedicated to Matrix
> (used by telephone, video unit, terminal, and cyberdeck.) The leftover
> four can be switched by the control system to be used for whatever's
> needed, be it commands like "start brewing coffee" or the feed from a
> security camera.

IMHO, all you would need would be the mormal number of connections
for a phone, plus the two cables needed to provide the power.
Reason?
Ok. Right now, I'm using an X-terminal, connected to an Ethernetwork,
and then into cent1, the main computer here at Lancaster.
Cent1 is linked to an Internet node in London by a leased phone line,
which means it's using a modem.
Right, now I've just been watching TV from the states on this Xterm,
and, if it had a speaker, like Sparcs do, I'd be able to listen to
it as well...
Admittedly, the screen is small (indeed, the smaller you make it, the
faster it refreshes.) and the quality isn't perfect, but I'm still
watching live TV from America. It comes from a cable into the machine,
and from there across the Internet to me.
The reason that I can't watch full screen TV, with 30 frames per
second, or whatever is because the Internet won't let me transfer that
amount of info. However, if the Internet were better, I would be able
watch TV. Or, even, play a 3-D game. Or, even! jack into cyberspace.

My point is that, as far as the hardware for connecting computers to the
network goes, we've already got it, but it cost too much to install it
at the moment (fibre optic, etc.), so, in reality, we don't need the extra
lines for video or control systems - the computer can do everything.


Jackin' out...

/> Dodger
/<
O[\\\\\\(O):::<======================================-
\<
\> Dodger - csc086 @ cent1.lancs.ac.uk

-----===*===-----
Message no. 21
From: Jai Tao <jdfalk@****.COM>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 18:56:03 -0400
On Sun, 17 Apr 1994, Gian-Paolo Musumeci wrote:

> So why not just make a small cold-fusion power module that'd click into place
> on the deck?

*light THWAP!*
Just because it was developed doesn't mean its mass-market,
y'know. Besides, with the corps running everything they possibly can,
governments running everything else, and Shadowrunners living in the
cracks inbetween, chances are no corp would want just anybody being able
to set up their own power source.
Message no. 22
From: Gian-Paolo Musumeci <musumeci@***.LIS.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 18:09:37 -0500
Hell, I dunno. The Government runs most of the stuff in the US. Yet I still
have a generator. That I built.
Message no. 23
From: Necromancer <shilberg@********.UNI.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 21:42:46 -0500
[G-P asks about power sources in Shadowrun]

Most power for big cities comes from fusion reactors <Seattle gets its power
from Gaeatronics' fusion plant in Salish>, but a lot of smaller cities also
use solar power from orbiting solar energy platforms <big solar panels in
space that beam power to the ground via microwaves>. Fission plants are in
operation, but several have had accidents or been attacked by ecoterrorists
<a French one had a meltdown, irradiating Luxembourg, Alsace, and the
Saarland, and Cherenobyl (sp) was blown up by Greenwar, I think>. Fossil fuels
are still in use, I would suspect, but are not the primary means of providing
power anymore.

--
Steve Hilberg <Necromancer> "Only the insane have enough strength
<shilberg@********.uni.uiuc.edu> enough to prosper. Only those who
prosper can truly judge what is sane."
- Proverb
Message no. 24
From: Necromancer <shilberg@********.UNI.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 1994 21:46:09 -0500
[G-P suggests putting a fusion reactor on a deck]

Are you loony? You need a large area just to accelerate the particles. The
days of palm sized fusion reactors are a long way off, G-P. It is not cold
fusion per se, they smash the particles together with superconducting magnets,
I think. Ask Jeremy <Uni's prospective nuclear engineer> about it. He knows
how it is done exactly.

--
Steve Hilberg <Necromancer> "Only the insane have enough strength
<shilberg@********.uni.uiuc.edu> enough to prosper. Only those who
prosper can truly judge what is sane."
- Proverb
Message no. 25
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 1994 16:02:25 +0930
>
>So why not just make a small cold-fusion power module that'd click into place
>on the deck?
>

Cause they only have cold-fusion on a massive scale... ie, city power
generators.



--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers are around at 9 am,
it's because they were up all night.
Message no. 26
From: Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: A coupla 'deck questions.
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 1994 16:06:53 +0930
>
>Hell, I dunno. The Government runs most of the stuff in the US. Yet I still
>have a generator. That I built.
>

Ah... cold-fusion generators are in a slightly different league to a diesel
or petrol generator that you hobble together out of an old car engine.
(Was that how you did it?)

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
Real Programmers never work 9 to 5. If any real programmers are around at 9 am,
it's because they were up all night.

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