Automation Broadcaster

Automation Broadcaster is an automation building that relays a received automation signal to one or more Automation Receivers on the asteroid or in space. It belongs to the automation system’s signal-routing tools, alongside other logic buildings, and costs a uniform 25 kg of Refined Metal to construct.

Unlike ordinary logic components, the Automation Broadcaster does not directly control a local mechanism. Instead, it takes a signal through its automation input port and broadcasts that signal as a named channel. Each broadcaster is treated as a separate channel, and the channel can be renamed to keep multiple broadcasts organized. Any number of Automation Receivers can listen to the same broadcaster at once.

To function, the Automation Broadcaster must be exposed to space. Its line-of-sight area is shown when the building is selected or being placed: obstructed cells appear red, and clear cells appear green. It broadcasts only within 5 tiles on the starmap, so only receivers within that range can connect to it. If a receiver tries to target a broadcaster that is out of range, it will show an out-of-range warning and will not work.

Its visibility rules are important when building around it:

• Airflow Tiles and Mesh Tiles in a vacuum do not block its line of sight.
• Window Tiles, liquids, and gases can block it depending on cumulative light absorption; once absorption reaches 100%, the broadcaster loses sight.
• Automation Broadcasters placed inside a Spacefarer Module or Solo Spacefarer Nosecone are always treated as unobstructed.
• It can operate while submerged, as long as its line of sight is not blocked.
• If it was broadcasting green immediately before being obscured, connected receivers continue outputting green until the broadcaster can operate normally again, and the same applies for red.

Because it is a relay rather than a logic processor, the Automation Broadcaster is especially useful for extending automation across sealed spaces, separated habitats, and large space installations. It allows automation signals to be sent to distant receivers without running conventional wire through every intervening area, provided the broadcaster has a valid exposed position and the receiver stays within range.