Use Magic Device Skill with Staves (Emulate caster level?)

[Bronsonfu]

Was wondering how UMD works with a staff. It's clear in RAW that you simply need to make the DC of 20 to active the wand (or in this case staff) as long as you already know what spell is in the magic item you are about to use. However, what if you want to have a higher casting level for a staff? Is it possible to emulate a caster level necessary to have the staff operate at higher level or will it simply be stuck at the default caster level of 8?

I think there was a post asking my question about this a while ago. Just thought I would start up a fresh post though.

[Joey Cote]

Using Staves: Staves use the wielder's ability score and relevant feats to set the DC for saves against their spells. Unlike with other sorts of magic items, the wielder can use his caster level when activating the power of the staff if it's higher than the caster level of the staff.

Copied out of Ultimate Equipment. So if your using UMD, and your a higher caster level then the staff, it uses your level.

[Gauss]

No you cannot do this. There is NO rule in UMD that gives you a caster level. What there is is a rule that gives you an effective level in the emulated class. That is not the same thing.

Relevant quote:

CRB p109 wrote:

Emulate a Class Feature: Sometimes you need to use a class feature to activate a magic item. In this case, your effective level in the emulated class equals your Use Magic Device check result minus 20. This skill does not let you actually use the class feature of another class. It just lets you activate items as if you had that class feature. If the class whose feature you are emulating has an alignment requirement, you must meet it, either honestly or by emulating an appropriate alignment with a separate Use Magic Device check (see above).

If an a magic item gives you a bonus based on the class level (example, Holy Avenger gives SR 5+level of the paladin) then you count your level as UMD result-20.

But that still does not give you a caster level.