Difference between revisions of "Beacon"

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{{itembox
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{{SimpleItembox|Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/LargeBlockBeacon
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| item = Beacon
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|Size|Mass|Integrity|BuildTimeSeconds|MaxBroadcastPowerDrainkW|MaxBroadcastRadius#km|ResourceSinkGroup|IsAirTight|PCU
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| description = Beacon that puts a marker on players HUDs, can be used to accurately measure distance.  
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}}{{SimpleItembox|Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/SmallBlockBeacon
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| tool = no
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|Size|Mass|Integrity|BuildTimeSeconds|MaxBroadcastPowerDrainkW|MaxBroadcastRadius#km|ResourceSinkGroup|IsAirTight|PCU
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| largeship = yes
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}}
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| smallship = yes
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{{CategorizeComponents|Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/LargeBlockBeacon}}
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| component = no
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{{CategorizeComponents|Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/SmallBlockBeacon}}
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| rawmaterial = no
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| material = no
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== Overview ==
 +
The beacon sends a signal of its location, range, and display name to who ever is within its broadcasting range. However limited its function, it can serve to be an inexpensive way to keep track of property, locations, and/or items.
 +
 
 +
== Usage ==
 +
It's purpose is simple, send out a broadcast signal from its origin to a specific range set by the player. This can be to keep track of various ships, to avoid getting lost when traveling far from your station, or to avoid crashing into the ground when approaching your planet-bound station at night. It is also capable of interacting with the relaying ability of the [[Antenna]] in which it can have its broadcast range increased. Currently, all factions (enemy or neutral) can see these signals.
 +
 
 +
Also, unlike the Antenna, power usage for the beacon is very low (even for maximum range setting). Similarly to antennas, small ship beacons have the same range as large ship beacons, with the same power drain.
 +
=== Broadcast ===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! scope="row" colspan="3"| The chart below shows the maximum ranges, as well as the power usage associated with it.
 +
|-
 +
| style="text-align:center;"| '''Type'''
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| style="text-align:center;"| '''Max Range'''
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| style="text-align:center;"| '''Power usage'''
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|-
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| style="text-align:center;"| Small Ship
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| style="text-align:center;"| {{#show:Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/SmallBlockBeacon|?MaxBroadcastRadius}}
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| style="text-align:center;"| {{#show:Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/SmallBlockBeacon|?MaxBroadcastPowerDrainkW}}
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|-
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| style="text-align:center;"| Large Ship / Station
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| style="text-align:center;"| {{#show:Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/LargeBlockBeacon|?MaxBroadcastRadius}}
 +
| style="text-align:center;"| {{#show:Mod:Vanilla/CubeBlock/LargeBlockBeacon|?MaxBroadcastPowerDrainkW}}
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Media ==
 +
{|
 +
|[[File:Beacon02.jpg|none|thumb|510px|An example of beacons in-use. The beacon will show information such as the display name, and its range in meters]]
 +
|[[File:Beacon01.jpg|thumb|none|380px|Large beacon (left), and Small beacon (right)]]
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Tips ==
 +
* On many servers a Beacon is a required component for a ship to mark it as "alive". If not present, certain server-side clean-up scripts might remove your ship. You should verify whether or not a Beacon is required on a server before you log out, otherwise you might lose your ship.
  
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| sbuildtime = 15
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* The power cost for the Beacon is exponential, so reducing the range greatly reduces the power cost. Also keep in mind that everyone can see the Beacon, including enemy PvP players on multi-player servers. For those reasons it is recommended to keep the range below 1km, unless you really need it.
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| scomponentstructure = 2
 
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| scomponent1 = Steel Plate
 
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| scomponent1amt = 1
 
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| scomponent2 = Computer
 
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| scomponent2amt = 1
 
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| scomponent3 = Small Steel Tube
 
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| scomponent3amt = 1
 
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| scomponent4 = Construction Component
 
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| scomponent4amt = 1
 
  
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| lbuildtime = 50
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* AI controlled ships do not react to Beacons at all, so it is safe to mark your ships and bases with long-range Beacons/Antennas in single-player.
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| lcomponentstructure = 3
 
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| lcomponent1 = Steel Plate
 
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| lcomponent1amt = 40
 
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| lcomponent2 = Construction Component
 
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| lcomponent2amt = 10
 
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| lcomponent3 = Radio-Communication Components
 
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| lcomponent3amt = 40
 
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| lcomponent4 = Computer
 
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| lcomponent4amt = 8
 
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| lcomponent5 = Large Steel Tube
 
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| lcomponent5amt = 40
 
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| lcomponent6 = Small Steel Tube
 
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| lcomponent6amt = 60
 
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| lcomponent7 = Construction Component
 
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| lcomponent7amt = 30
 
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| lcomponent8 = Steel Plate
 
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| lcomponent8amt = 40
 
  
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| version = 01.023.017
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* Right-clicking the range slider resets it back to 20000 meters.
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}}
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−
{{stub}}
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== Known Issues ==
−
Displays a piece of text on the players' [[HUD]] when turned on, as well as the distance from it to the player. HUD text is visible from everywhere, even if incredibly far away or behind other objects.
+
 
 +
== Related Items ==
 +
*[[Antenna]]
 +
*[[Laser Antenna]]
 +
 
 +
== Programming ==
 +
* [[Programming_Guide/Action_List#Beacon|Action List - Beacon]]
  
−
To change the text, access a control panel on the ship/station it is attached to. Find it in the components list, and change its name. The text will display the name you have set it to.
+
== Update History ==
 +
<div style="-webkit-border-image: none;-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.046875) 0px 1px 1px 0px inset;background-color: #eeeeee;border-bottom-color: #AFAFAF;border-bottom-left-radius: 3px;border-bottom-right-radius: 3px;border-bottom-style: solid;border-bottom-width: 1px;border-left-color: #AFAFAF;border-left-style: solid;border-left-width: 1px;border-right-color: #AFAFAF;border-right-style: solid;border-right-width: 1px;border-top-color: #AFAFAF;border-top-left-radius: 3px;border-top-right-radius: 3px;border-top-style: solid;border-top-width: 1px;box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.046875) 0px 1px 1px 0px inset;color: #333;display: block;font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 1em;height: auto;line-height: 20px;margin-bottom: 5px;margin-left: 8px;margin-right: 8px;margin-top: 0px;min-height: 20px;padding-bottom: 4px;padding-left: 4px;padding-right: 4px;padding-top: 4px;width: auto;">
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
 +
|style="text-align: left;width: 8%"| [[Update 01.007.005|Update 01.007]] ||style="padding-left: 10px;padding-right: 10px;"|
 +
*Beacon block introduced
 +
|}
  
−
[[File:Beacon_Example.jpg|500px|thumb|left|An example of beacons on the player's HUD]]
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</div>
 +
[[Category:Miscellaneous Blocks]]
 +
[[Category:Functional_Blocks]]

Latest revision as of 01:13, 8 February 2022

Beacon Icon.png
Large Ship / Station
Beacon
Large Ship Icon.png
ComponentsRequired
 Functional 
 Hack 
Dimensions (W,H,L)1,2,1
Mass2,662 kg
2,662,000 g
2,662,000,000 mg
2.662 t
Integrity10,710
Build time40 s
Max Broadcast Power Drain20 kW
20,000 W
0.02 MW
Max Broadcast Radius50 km
50,000 m
Power Consumer GroupUtility
Is AirtightNo
PCU Cost50
BrowseLast edit: 2020-04-08
Beacon Icon.png
Small Ship
Beacon
Small Ship Icon.png
ComponentsRequired
 Functional 
 Hack 
Dimensions (W,H,L)1,1,2
Mass84.2 kg
84,200 g
84,200,000 mg
0.0842 t
Integrity306
Build time15 s
Max Broadcast Power Drain20 kW
20,000 W
0.02 MW
Max Broadcast Radius50 km
50,000 m
Power Consumer GroupUtility
Is AirtightNo
PCU Cost50
BrowseLast edit: 2020-04-08

Overview

The beacon sends a signal of its location, range, and display name to who ever is within its broadcasting range. However limited its function, it can serve to be an inexpensive way to keep track of property, locations, and/or items.

Usage

It's purpose is simple, send out a broadcast signal from its origin to a specific range set by the player. This can be to keep track of various ships, to avoid getting lost when traveling far from your station, or to avoid crashing into the ground when approaching your planet-bound station at night. It is also capable of interacting with the relaying ability of the Antenna in which it can have its broadcast range increased. Currently, all factions (enemy or neutral) can see these signals.

Also, unlike the Antenna, power usage for the beacon is very low (even for maximum range setting). Similarly to antennas, small ship beacons have the same range as large ship beacons, with the same power drain.

Broadcast

The chart below shows the maximum ranges, as well as the power usage associated with it.
Type Max Range Power usage
Small Ship 50,000 m
50 km
 		20 kW
20,000 W
0.02 MW
Large Ship / Station 50,000 m
50 km
 		20 kW
20,000 W
0.02 MW

Media

An example of beacons in-use. The beacon will show information such as the display name, and its range in meters
Large beacon (left), and Small beacon (right)

Tips

  • On many servers a Beacon is a required component for a ship to mark it as "alive". If not present, certain server-side clean-up scripts might remove your ship. You should verify whether or not a Beacon is required on a server before you log out, otherwise you might lose your ship.
  • The power cost for the Beacon is exponential, so reducing the range greatly reduces the power cost. Also keep in mind that everyone can see the Beacon, including enemy PvP players on multi-player servers. For those reasons it is recommended to keep the range below 1km, unless you really need it.
  • AI controlled ships do not react to Beacons at all, so it is safe to mark your ships and bases with long-range Beacons/Antennas in single-player.
  • Right-clicking the range slider resets it back to 20000 meters.

Known Issues

Related Items

Programming

Update History

Update 01.007
  • Beacon block introduced
Retrieved from "http://spaceengineerswiki.com/index.php?title=Beacon&oldid=29943"