[Michael Chandra]

That's bringing SR5 terminology and rumors in. Normal interpretation of 'physical hardware at a specific location' would indicate the hardware and the host are at the same location.

[taukarrie]

If you transfer that to Shadowrun, yes Jammers are very good. They have no Device rating listed tough that could mean their Device Rating is 1 and when the Opposition has a Jammer too they cancel their Wireless of each other and you are standing in 6 Noise both ... (presuming they dont stack then)

They generate a noise level equal to their rating. purchase cost is rating x 200
and buying a decent fake license to legally carry one isnt much of an investment

B) Why don't shadowrunners ALWAYS carry around active jammers?  Imagine knocking out every camera in the area!  Ok, imagine it again, from a Security goon's perspective. "Huh, all the cameras just went out in C block. I wonder if that means anything's going on there, or if they all just suddenly broke at the same time in a miraculous coincidence?"  And again, from the perspective of a crowded scene where you knock every civilian's commlink offline.  Think anyone will notice?   If you want to be SUBTLE, Jamming isn't it.  (tho sometimes subtlety isn't what you care about, granted...)

I was more thinking of every time they plan to enter into a combat situation rather than walking around town. If decker opposition is expected, neutralizing it completely with jammers might be worth any other attention you might draw

I would consider a jammer at the spot of the device you're trying to hack to count as active interference, just like you can't easily reach a device that's underwater or behind wireless negating wallpaper. Or for that matter, a device in a faraday cage.

And yes, you're not constantly wearing an active jammer because those things don't discriminate. Plus usually you need that wireless connection yourself, so no point in jamming yourself. Again, a jammer is an offensive tool, which only in the worst case can be used defensively.

This is basically how I envision the jammer with the exception that it is very much a defensive tool for an non-decker who needs protection from hacking. In fact, the only decent defense option a single runner seems to have against a decker is using a jammer. Without it most would have to reboot their devices to eject hackers, if they even get a chance. If the intent is for non-deckers to be mostly vulnerable to deckers I can understand that. Also, how can you jam yourself when you can use the wireless bonus to designate personas and devices as exempt?

 In the jammer's description it specifically states that "The jammer only affects devices that are within the jamming area, but it affects all of them.[except for designated devices using the wireless bonus]" So that reads the way Devil Rat says, that a decker not physically in its area is not affected. But I agree with Michael that a field must create interference for any signal trying to get through it from outside of it. The extent of existing rules that apply to using sensors like this are limited to the 1-paragraph description of the jammer in the gear section.  Additionally, the exact nature of how it functions seems debatable as well. So is this another one of those things that are up to the GM? Generally i'm ok with that but I feel like everyone should be on the same page with how the gadgets work.

[Michael Chandra]

If the decker is already hacked into your device, would the jammer even obstruct them when your own device is shielded against the effect, though?

[CigarSmoker]

[...]
This is basically how I envision the jammer with the exception that it is very much a defensive tool for an non-decker who needs protection from hacking. In fact, the only decent defense option a single runner seems to have against a decker is using a jammer. Without it most would have to reboot their devices to eject hackers, if they even get a chance. If the intent is for non-deckers to be mostly vulnerable to deckers I can understand that. Also, how can you jam yourself when you can use the wireless bonus to designate personas and devices as exempt?
[...]

Turn your Device off is a Minor Anytime Action. As i stated in another Thread i think being percepted in the Matrix is something you notice. Even in real life you can notice if someone is "knocking" at your Firewall.
So in that case as long as you have a Minor Action left it would be like that:

- you have for example an active Smartgun Weapon running silent
- Opposition-Hacker matrix-percepts your Weapon in the Opposed test
- next you use the anytime Action to turn the Wireless off

-> Hacker cant start Data-Spiking

the RAW neither says that works nor if it doesnt work.

Another interpretation is the anytime Action is some kind of "interrupt" (known from other games) and it stops the DataSpike from happening.

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

So is this another one of those things that are up to the GM?

For whatever worth you give (or not): in 5e you would only measure Noise affecting the actor, added to distance.  Since that came via clarification on these very forums rather than in the 5e CRB, it's perhaps unsurprising the 6we neglected to clarify this as well.  It's possible this could see formal clarification via errata, but there's no promise of that.  Until such time, I'll reiterate the following advice: "Noise only comes from conditions local to the actor and from distance to target, and nothing else".  Deviating from that is a slope down which matrix actions become unusable.  If you're a Rigger, you do NOT want to start seeing Noise coming from your area, your drone's area, and from every area between you and your drone.

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

[...]
This is basically how I envision the jammer with the exception that it is very much a defensive tool for an non-decker who needs protection from hacking. In fact, the only decent defense option a single runner seems to have against a decker is using a jammer. Without it most would have to reboot their devices to eject hackers, if they even get a chance. If the intent is for non-deckers to be mostly vulnerable to deckers I can understand that. Also, how can you jam yourself when you can use the wireless bonus to designate personas and devices as exempt?
[...]

Turn your Device off is a Minor Anytime Action. As i stated in another Thread i think being percepted in the Matrix is something you notice. Even in real life you can notice if someone is "knocking" at your Firewall.
So in that case as long as you have a Minor Action left it would be like that:

- you have for example an active Smartgun Weapon running silent
- Opposition-Hacker matrix-percepts your Weapon in the Opposed test
- next you use the anytime Action to turn the Wireless off

-> Hacker cant start Data-Spiking

the RAW neither says that works nor if it doesnt work.

Another interpretation is the anytime Action is some kind of "interrupt" (known from other games) and it stops the DataSpike from happening.

There's no indication that a silent running icon is given any notice that someone has successfully spotted it.  In an out of character sense, perhaps the player knows because the player had to roll a defense test against it and he can probably guess the outcome if he had few hits.  But the CHARACTER has no reason to know.

[CigarSmoker]

Yeah i know you wrote that in the other thread and it was convincing, but some official example would be good to clarify.

edit: Added that to Errata thread

[taukarrie]

[...]
This is basically how I envision the jammer with the exception that it is very much a defensive tool for an non-decker who needs protection from hacking. In fact, the only decent defense option a single runner seems to have against a decker is using a jammer. Without it most would have to reboot their devices to eject hackers, if they even get a chance. If the intent is for non-deckers to be mostly vulnerable to deckers I can understand that. Also, how can you jam yourself when you can use the wireless bonus to designate personas and devices as exempt?
[...]

Turn your Device off is a Minor Anytime Action. As i stated in another Thread i think being percepted in the Matrix is something you notice. Even in real life you can notice if someone is "knocking" at your Firewall.
So in that case as long as you have a Minor Action left it would be like that:

- you have for example an active Smartgun Weapon running silent
- Opposition-Hacker matrix-percepts your Weapon in the Opposed test
- next you use the anytime Action to turn the Wireless off

-> Hacker cant start Data-Spiking

the RAW neither says that works nor if it doesnt work.

Another interpretation is the anytime Action is some kind of "interrupt" (known from other games) and it stops the DataSpike from happening.

Interesting. I had assumed that a simple matrix perception check wouldnt alert the target icon, especially since you can probe someone without calling attention to yourself. And every other matrix action does pretty obviously raises flags.

For whatever worth you give (or not): in 5e you would only measure Noise affecting the actor, added to distance.  Since that came via clarification on these very forums rather than in the 5e CRB, it's perhaps unsurprising the 6we neglected to clarify this as well.  It's possible this could see formal clarification via errata, but there's no promise of that.  Until such time, I'll reiterate the following advice: "Noise only comes from conditions local to the actor and from distance to target, and nothing else".  Deviating from that is a slope down which matrix actions become unusable.  If you're a Rigger, you do NOT want to start seeing Noise coming from your area, your drone's area, and from every area between you and your drone.

This makes sense to me and I wish i could just run with it. But unfortunately the description of the jammer fouls this all up.

"This device floods the airwaves with electromagnetic jamming signals to block out wireless and radio communication. The jammer generates noise equal to its Device Rating. The area jammer affects a spherical area—its rating is reduced by 1 for every 10 meters from the center. The directional jammer affects a conical area with a thirty-degree spread—its rating is reduced by 1 for every 30 meters from the center. The jammer only affects devices that are within the jamming area, but it affects all of them. Walls and other obstacles may prevent the jamming signal from spreading or reduce its effect (gamemaster’s discretion). Jammers are available with ratings from 1 to 6. Wireless bonus: You can set your jammer to not interfere with devices and personas you designate."

Weve got noise coming directly from the jammer and weve got a wireless bonus that allows an unlimited amount of devices and personas that can be set to ignore the jamming. So theoretically a rigger wouldnt have to worry about a thing as long as the RCC and all the drones are on that whitelist.

Ive got a group of 7 teenagers, all first timers coming off a DnD game, about to start running and no one wanted to be a decker. So now theyre all digging through the options to make themselves as deckerproof as possible. the Jammer is the favorite option so far so I need to decide how im going to allow this device to be used as an active countermeasure, if at all.

[CigarSmoker]

Interesting. I had assumed that a simple matrix perception check wouldnt alert the target icon, especially since you can probe someone without calling attention to yourself. And every other matrix action does pretty obviously raises flags.

Important is thats a pure "Meta"-Level point of view. In a perfect Group the StreetSam lets the Opponent-Hacker brick his Smartgun weapon. Next turn the sam drops the Main Weapon and draws a Backup Weapon without Smartgun.

edit:

Ive got a group of 7 teenagers, all first timers coming off a DnD game, about to start running and no one wanted to be a decker. So now theyre all digging through the options to make themselves as deckerproof as possible. the Jammer is the favorite option so far so I need to decide how im going to allow this device to be used as an active countermeasure, if at all.

thats sad, hackers can be very powerful. By RAW you can easily use at least one ONI Drone as little Helper. The ONI has Pilot rating 3 so he can run 3/2 = 2 Programs, thats 3 with Virtual Machine. So enough for Weapon, Evasion, Maneuver (switch Weapon with Stealth if needed). Slaved to the Deck the ONI can be controlled with 1 Minor Action and has like all Drones 4 Initative Dice giving him 1 Major +4 Minor Actions.

Like that a Hacker can stand his ground in Combat without using a RCC together with Deck (which is presumably not intended to work)

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

If you want to be hackerproof, but don't want to have a hacker yourself, the built-in defense is to forfeit your wireless bonuses and just go wireless off.

You shouldn't be allowing Jammers to fill in for someone playing a matrix specialist for several reasons, but of course your game is your game.

EDIT: Since an official clarification is something that you're seeking but isn't going to happen (at least anytime soon), let me try pointing something else out.
Let's go back to the jammer text, copypasta'd from your own quote:

"This device floods the airwaves with electromagnetic jamming signals to block out wireless and radio communication. The jammer generates noise equal to its Device Rating. The area jammer affects a spherical area—its rating is reduced by 1 for every 10 meters from the center. The directional jammer affects a conical area with a thirty-degree spread—its rating is reduced by 1 for every 30 meters from the center. The jammer only affects devices that are within the jamming area, but it affects all of them. Walls and other obstacles may prevent the jamming signal from spreading or reduce its effect (gamemaster’s discretion). Jammers are available with ratings from 1 to 6. Wireless bonus: You can set your jammer to not interfere with devices and personas you designate."

Is the decker inside the area? It's a binary yes/no.  Let's assume no, since if were yes there'd be no conflict of opinion.
Is the device the decker is trying to hack in the area? Presumably yes, BUT: if you're using the wireless bonus you are exempting certain devices from the Jamming noise.  Ergo, the Noise is not affecting them.  Ergo, the Noise is not affecting them.  The hacker has a clean connection via the Matrix since the device's signal is being exempted from the Jamming...

[ZeroSum]

Another question is if noise stacks.

If I activate a Rating 6 Jammer in a Rating 4 Spam Zone, is the effective Noise Rating 6 or 10 within 10 meters of my jammer?

[Hobbes]

Until such time, I'll reiterate the following advice: "Noise only comes from conditions local to the actor and from distance to target, and nothing else".  Deviating from that is a slope down which matrix actions become unusable.

Decker in a Van, needs to hack an interior door lock (or whatever), building has Anti-wireless paint on the exterior.  No penalty to the Decker though since they are outside the building?  Seems wrong. 

I totally get what you're saying, Local Noise plus Distance is sane and easy.  And trying to figure out how many spam zones or salt water fish tanks (Hacking around Seaworld is just impossible I'd guess) are between you and your target a couple klicks away isn't something a sane GM would want to fiddle with.  But some of the more common Matrix counter measures are things like Jammers and Anti-Wireless paint, they just don't work if the Hacker is a block away?  I should think Jammers and Anti-Wireless paint would fall under the specific trumps general clause.  YMMV.

And to Michael's point upthread, if you except your own devices is the Jammer doing you any good defensively?    Asked and answered.

[CigarSmoker]

Is the decker inside the area? It's a binary yes/no.  Let's assume no, since if were yes there'd be no conflict of opinion.
Is the device the decker is trying to hack in the area? Presumably yes, BUT: if you're using the wireless bonus you are exempting certain devices from the Jamming noise.  Ergo, the Noise is not affecting them.  Ergo, the Noise is not affecting them.  The hacker has a clean connection via the Matrix since the device's signal is being exempted from the Jamming...

Thats genius level i hope this makes it into some kind of offical FAQ

[Stainless Steel Devil Rat]

Until such time, I'll reiterate the following advice: "Noise only comes from conditions local to the actor and from distance to target, and nothing else".  Deviating from that is a slope down which matrix actions become unusable.

Decker in a Van, needs to hack an interior door lock (or whatever), building has Anti-wireless paint on the exterior.  No penalty to the Decker though since they are outside the building?  Seems wrong. 

I totally get what you're saying, Local Noise plus Distance is sane and easy.  And trying to figure out how many spam zones or salt water fish tanks (Hacking around Seaworld is just impossible I'd guess) are between you and your target a couple klicks away isn't something a sane GM would want to fiddle with.  But some of the more common Matrix counter measures are things like Jammers and Anti-Wireless paint, they just don't work if the Hacker is a block away?  I should think Jammers and Anti-Wireless paint would fall under the specific trumps general clause.  YMMV.

Anti-wireless negation is mentioned in the CRB, but never defined (sigh).  In light of that, plus the spirit in what it's supposed to mean, yeah I can see that being a potential exception to the general rule of "Local conditions plus distance, only".  But as discussed with Jammers... if the signal isn't being jammed, the signal isn't being jammed.

[taukarrie]

Is the decker inside the area? It's a binary yes/no.  Let's assume no, since if were yes there'd be no conflict of opinion.
Is the device the decker is trying to hack in the area? Presumably yes, BUT: if you're using the wireless bonus you are exempting certain devices from the Jamming noise.  Ergo, the Noise is not affecting them.  Ergo, the Noise is not affecting them.  The hacker has a clean connection via the Matrix since the device's signal is being exempted from the Jamming...

Thats actually a great way to handle jammers in general. Thanks for this idea.

thats sad, hackers can be very powerful. By RAW you can easily use at least one ONI Drone as little Helper. The ONI has Pilot rating 3 so he can run 3/2 = 2 Programs, thats 3 with Virtual Machine. So enough for Weapon, Evasion, Maneuver (switch Weapon with Stealth if needed). Slaved to the Deck the ONI can be controlled with 1 Minor Action and has like all Drones 4 Initative Dice giving him 1 Major +4 Minor Actions.

I'd like to know more about this? I'm not familiar with ONI. Can you direct me to some sources?