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A personal comm unit is pocket-sized device that combines a minor portable computer (treat as a tier-0 computer with no upgrades or modules) and a cellular communication device, allowing wireless communication with other comm units in both audio- and text-based formats at planetary range (see page 272). A personal comm unit also includes a calculator, a flashlight (increases the light level one step in a 15-foot cone), and several entertainment options (including games and access to any local infospheres). You can upgrade a personal comm unit to function as some other devices (such as full computers and scanners) by spending credits equal to 110% of the additional device’s price.
I have a couple of questions about how the bolded section works:
- Does the comm unit take on the addtional device's Usage and Capacity? Bulk? Hands?
- Can you upgrade the comm unit to function as multiple other devices? Would that increase its Bulk additively? Use the heaviest? Make the additional device lighter?
Additionally, it seems weird that you would only be able to build new devices into a comm unit. Can you upgrade computers and datapads like this too? I feel like I should be able to build a Chemalyzer into either of those if I wanted to. There is this passage for the computer Range module which maybe implies that comm units are special in this way... (or it could be saying that you can't control a comm unit to automatically gain secure, remote connections to other devices which I don't think was ever in question in the first place)
While most computers have access to remote systems and local infospheres, this connection does not necessarily extend to other devices. A computer that controls a comm unit can use that comm unit to send and receive messages but cannot use it to control devices. The range upgrade provides a secure, remote connection to a device which allows it to be controlled from a distance. Without this upgrade, a computer must be physically connected to the devices it controls with its control modules. Range I allows the computer to control a device wirelessly within 100 feet, and costs 5 credits (this includes the adjustments to both the computer and the connected device). Extending this range to 1 mile (Range I) costs 50 credits, while increasing it to planetwide (Range III) costs 100 credits (requiring an infosphere connection for both the computer and device).
Personally, I'm just trying to figure out a way to combine a Video Camera Scanner and a miniaturized Tier-1 Computer so my envoy can livestream using her fancy AbadarCorp smartphone.
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A comm unit is essentially just a Tier 0 Computer with the Miniaturization Upgrade.
So just bolt on other upgrades using that as your base frame.
IIRC, when I was adding a custom comm unit to my Technomancer in Society, there was a point where I wasn't sure of the exact price of something. Some Upgrades are a percentage increase and others are a flat cost. In those cases either consult your GM (in a homegame) or go with the higher cost (Society) and you should be fine. It doesn't cost much more in the long run.