Discover the settlements around you, then use researched ground radio to expand eligible contacts.
Reviewed build: 0.1.190.146 FULL FIXED R4 · October 26, 2026. Built against RimWorld 1.6.4871. DLC requirements are listed below.
Set up the system
- Research Radio after Microelectronics on the Tool Progression tab.
- Build the 100 W ground radio with 65 steel, three components and Construction 4.
- Select a colonist and right-click the powered radio to scan channels.
- Open Living factions from Mod options or a selected NPC settlement for the simulation view.
- Use the separate discovery and trader-journey options to control their visibility and behavior.
Current rules and limits
- A scan takes one game hour, then a completed scan has a 2.4-hour cooldown. Only unknown factions with radio technology are eligible.
- Ground radio cannot contact orbital traders. Use the native comms console for orbital trade.
- Hide undiscovered factions defaults ON. Showing all changes visibility but does not unlock Radio research or remote quests.
- Trader markers represent itineraries and cannot be treated as interceptable caravans. Current ground routes reject orbital endpoints.
Construction and scanning
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Research | Radio after Microelectronics; 600 research |
| Materials | 65 steel and 3 components |
| Builder | Construction 4 |
| Power | 100 W |
| Scan duration | One game hour |
| Completed-scan cooldown | 2.4 game hours |
Select a colonist and right-click the powered ground radio. Eligible scan discoveries are unknown factions with radio technology. A scan is not a universal reveal of every faction.
Visibility is not technology
Undiscovered factions are hidden by default. Discovery can follow contact, exploration, visits or trade under the system’s rules. Choosing show-all changes map visibility without completing Radio research or enabling remote quests early.
Orbital trade is separate
Ground radio cannot contact orbital traders. Use the native comms-console system for orbital trade. The .145 surface-route correction rejects orbital or invalid endpoints for ground journeys; a ground marker is not an orbital ship.
Related references
- Faction simulation and journeys
- Visibility settings
- Full development update
- Individual build notes
- Release and compatibility notes
Source builds: .128, .134-.135 and .145. These references describe packaged beta behavior; focused tests do not establish complete live-game validation.
These references describe the reviewed beta build. Check the installed package and later release notes for changed recipes, values, dependencies and compatibility. A documented fix is not a substitute for live colony testing.