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--- ae2_mechanics_channel [2025/09/14 18:55] – created jack
+++ ae2_mechanics_channel [2025/09/14 19:41] (current) – jack
@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ^ Category | Storage & Automation |
-Channels are the lifeblood of ME Networks. They determine how many devices can be connected and powered.
+Applied Energistics 2's ME Networks require **Channels** to support devices that use networked storage or other network services.
+Think of channels like USB cables for your devices. A computer only has so many USB ports, and can only support so many devices at once.
+Most machines, full-block devices, and standard cables can pass **up to 8 channels**. Dense cables can carry **up to 32 channels**. The only other devices capable of transmitting 32 are **ME P2P Tunnel** and the **Quantum Network Bridge**.
+Each device that uses a channel removes one "wire" from the bundle, leaving fewer wires available further down the line.
 ----
-===== Basics =====
+===== Cable Limits =====
-* Each device usually consumes **1 channel**.
+^ Cable Type       ^ Channel Capacity ^ Notes                   |
-* A network without a controller supports up to **8 channels** total.
+| Glass / Covered  | 8                | Standard throughput      |
-* To exceed 8, an **ME Controller** must be added.
+| Smart Cable      | 8                | Shows channel usage      |
+| Dense Cable      | 32               | Dense or dense smart     |
-===== Routing =====
+Smart cables visually display how many channels are flowing through them.
-* Channels travel along cables and devices.
-* Each cable can only carry a certain number:
-  * **Glass/covered cables** – up to 8
-  * **Smart cables** – up to 8, with channel indicators
-  * **Dense cables** – up to 32
-* Use **Smart Cables** to visualize usage during setup.
-===== Network Design =====
+----
-* Networks must remain **treelike**. Loops can cause routing failures.
-* Splitting devices across multiple branches reduces congestion.
-* Controllers can balance and shorten paths, reducing power draw.
-===== Tips =====
+===== Power Consumption =====
-* Place **ME Controllers** strategically to distribute channels.
+Channels consume **1⁄128 AE/t per node** they traverse.
-* Group devices in sets of 8 on small networks.
+In some cases, adding a **ME Controller** can actually *decrease* power consumption because of how channels get reallocated.
-* Use **Dense Cables** to connect larger device clusters.
+----
+===== Channel Routing =====
+When using a ME Controller, channels route in 3 steps:
+. Shortest path through adjacent machines to the nearest normal cable (glass, covered, smart).
+. Shortest path through normal cable to the nearest dense cable (dense or dense smart).
+. Shortest path through dense cable to the ME Controller.
+If the shortest path is maxed out, some devices will not receive channels.
+Use **colored cables**, **cable anchors**, and **tunnels** to force channels down specific paths.
+Networks should be **treelike** or bushlike. Loops and ambiguous paths cause problems.
+----
+===== Ad-Hoc Networks =====
+A network without a ME Controller is considered **Ad-Hoc**.
+* Supports up to 8 channel-using devices.
+* If you exceed 8 devices, all channel-using devices shut down.
+* Smart cables show **network-wide channel count**, not per-cable usage.
+* Each device uses 1 channel network-wide.
+* Controller-based routing is different, as it allocates channels based on shortest route.
+----
+===== Design Guidelines =====
+**Bad Example:**
+Immediately exiting the controller to the right, the drive bottlenecks the path to 8 channels because drives act like normal cables.
+Without smart cables, you cannot see usage. Channels run out quickly, leaving later devices unpowered.
+**Good Example:**
+Use **dense cables branching from the controller**, then regular cables branching from those, with devices in clusters of 8 or fewer.
+This ensures full channel distribution without bottlenecks.
+----
+===== Channel Modes =====
+Starting in AE2 **10.0.0 for Minecraft 1.18**, channels can be configured with different modes.
+Operators can use commands:
+  * **/ae2 channelmode <mode>** – change the mode.
+  * **/ae2 channelmode** – show the current mode.
+Changing modes will reboot all existing grids.
+^ Setting   ^ Description                                                                 |
+| default   | Standard channel rules (as described above).                                |
+| x2        | Double capacity (16 on normal cable, 64 on dense, 16 on ad-hoc).            |
+| x3        | Triple capacity (24 on normal cable, 92 on dense, 24 on ad-hoc).            |
+| x4        | Quadruple capacity (32 on normal cable, 128 on dense, 32 on ad-hoc).        |
+| infinite  | Removes all channel restrictions. Controllers still reduce power usage.     |
+Smart cables in **infinite** mode only toggle between off (0 channels) and on (1+ channels).
+----

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