Does an active radio aid stealth in Fallout 4?

Does an active radio aid stealth in Fallout 4? - Adorable dog in life jacket swimming in water

To be clear:

  • I am not asking about listening to the radio on the Pip-Boy.
  • I am also not asking about the HAM radios.
  • I am asking about stationary radios, already activated, found throughout the wasteland, and whether or not they affect an enemy's ability to detect the sole survivor. Another way of asking might be, "Do non-Pip-Boy radios distract enemies?" or "Do regular radios hinder enemy perception?"

Checking out Carl's Fallout 4 Guide, the entry regarding noise says:

Like above, gunshots without silencers/suppressors will make a lot of noise, and alert others to your presence.

As a test, I have both shot into the ground and shot vertically into the sky, both alerting enemies the same. This suggests that gunshots affect the detection mechanic auditorily, not as a result of movement or item collision (bullet impacting the ground; bullet traveling through the air).

Further down, Carl notes:

All of these contribute based on the Perception of the enemy you're sneaking up on. They may have better hearing and vision, or even sense of smell as with the Wasteland's wildlife. Certain foes have horrible perception, like Ghouls. Others, like Deathclaws - and even worse - Yao Guai, have very high perception. Human opponents that you encounter when your level rises - the harder ones - will have higher perception than a basic raider. Their senses are generally not as in tune as that of beasts, but they tend to be more intelligent and patrol.

Clearly, noise is experienced by enemies (or at least the appearance of such is given). While these are helpful insights, Carl makes no mention of stationary radios. Similarly, the Fandom page for these radios was also vacant of relevant information.

This question asks whether using the Pip-Boy radio alerts enemies to the sole survivor's presence. The accepted answer and at least one comment, as well as personal experience, all indicate that the inhabitants of the wasteland are oblivious to the sole survivor's Pip-Boy radio.

My wondering in regard to this, though, is whether this is a localized immunity to detection or a universal phenomenon applied to all radios. If it is universal, then great - question answered (no, an active radio does not aid stealth). If it is not, then the question remains.

This question asks what affects how fast the sole survivor is spotted by enemies. Though the accepted answer here also touches on enemy perception and loud weapons, as well as noting the lack of effect by the Pip-Boy, the answer does not elaborate any further than already discussed.






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Does an active radio aid stealth in Fallout 4? - A Paramedic Using a Radio Inside an Ambulance



Does radio affect stealth in Fallout 4?

As confirmed on the Steam Forums, using the radio does not appear to impact on your ability to sneak.

Does radio affect sneak?

Radio doesn't affect sneak.

Can enemies hear my radio Fallout 4?

They do not. It took me playing 3, NV, and then 4 until someone finally told me it does not affect Stealth.

Does the flashlight affect stealth Fallout 4?

Your pip-boy (includes the torchlight) do not affect stealth at all as you already found out. You can also listen to radio while sneaking and nobody will notice.



Fallout 4 in depth stealth/sneak explanation/guide




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