A Beacon is a block in Space Engineers that acts as a waypoint or navigation marker that appears as a visible signal on other players' HUDs.
In contrast to the similar antenna, a beacon does not relay remote access and uses much less power. In contrast to a static, private, zero power cost GPS marker, the Beacon can be attached to a mobile grid and is visible to anyone in range.
Recipe[]
The Beacon and the Round Beacon have the same recipe.
Then type your desired name into the HUD Text field.
This text will be visible to anyone -- and will attract attention on PvP servers.
Pros and cons[]
Beacons have the advantage that they can be placed on stations, large-grid ships, as well as small-grid craft. Leaving named beacons behind lets players publicly mark planetary and asteroid stations, resources, or keep track of mobile spacecraft or rovers on route.
The beacons' disadvantage is that they broadcast their signal to everyone in range, including enemies. Beacons have a logarithmic slider to adjust their maximum Broadcast Radius between 0 and 200,000 meters. All players within this range will see the beacon's name as a signal on their HUD, while only those beyond this radius will not.
Usage[]
Beacons can be used to keep track of easily lost mobile grids, such as Autopiloted drones.
Used together with Timer Blocks or Event Controllers that switch on a named beacon signal on your HUD under certain conditions, you can alert everyone in viewing range to events at one of your remote bases.
Secondarily, beacons also provide light, about 1.5 times as much as interior lights, but at a much larger construction cost.
Power[]
The beacon draws a variable amount of power based on the distance it broadcasts, with no power drawn when it is off. For every 5km of Broadcast Radius added, the beacon will draw an additional kilowatt of power.
A beacon with a broadcast range of 5km will draw 1kW of power, whereas one with the default 20km range will draw 2kW of power. Power draw at 50,000 meters is 10kW, and eveb at 200,000 metres it's only 20kW.
Placement[]
The Beacon exists for large and small grids and requires a 1x1x2 block space. It will attach to other blocks on its top and bottom faces, as well as the four smooth surfaces on the sides of its cubic lower half. The sides of the upper half (with the shining rings) will not attach to other blocks.
DLC Variants[]
The Round Beacon is a shape variant with the same functionality, size, and cost. You can build it if you have purchased the Decorative Pack 3. The only difference is that the standard Beacon has an attachment point on the top face and the Round Beacon doesn't.
(The small grid version lets you build on the sides of the antenna on two of the upper sides, not clear whether that's intended.)
Beacon is a block in Space Engineers that acts as a waypoint or navigation marker that appears as a visible signal on other players' HUDs.
Steel Plate
Small Steel Tube
Radio-comm Comp.
Large Steel Tube
Construction Comp.
Computer
