Let me tell you something straight up – when I first got the Communication Hideout quest from Shani in ARC Raiders, I thought it would be a piece of cake. I mean, how hard could it be to find a battery and power up some old equipment? Boy, was I in for a surprise! After spending way too much time wandering around the Red Tower area like a headless chicken, I finally figured out the exact steps to complete this quest efficiently. Today, I’m going to share everything I’ve learned so you can knock this quest out in minutes instead of hours.
What is the Communication Hideout Quest?
The Communication Hideout is one of those quests that seems simple on the surface but can really trip you up if you don’t know exactly where to look. Shani gives you this quest because they’ve been losing signals in parts of Buried City, and she needs someone skilled with repairs to check out the equipment. Your mission? Get the Red Tower in Old Town back online by finding a missing battery cell, installing it in a generator, powering everything up, and finally booting the antenna terminal.
Here’s the thing – you need to complete all these objectives in a single raid. No coming back later to finish up. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back with a step-by-step breakdown that’ll make this quest feel like a walk in the park.
Quest Overview and Objectives
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let me break down exactly what you need to accomplish:
| Objective | Location | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Reach the Red Tower in Old Town | Buried City, Southern Area | Easy |
| Find missing battery cell | Red Tower Courtyard | Medium |
| Install battery cell in Generator | Red Tower Courtyard | Easy |
| Enable power on Generator | Red Tower Courtyard | Easy |
| Boot antenna terminal near Red Tower | Top of Red Tower | Medium |
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Medium difficulty? That doesn’t sound too bad!” And honestly, it’s not. The tricky part is knowing exactly where to look for that battery cell and how to get up to the antenna terminal. I’ve seen so many players (including myself, I’ll admit) spend way too much time searching in the wrong spots.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Step 1: Getting to the Red Tower
First things first – you need to make your way to the Red Tower in Old Town. This is located in the southern part of Buried City. When I first started this quest, I made the mistake of heading to the wrong area entirely and wasted a good 15 minutes running around like an idiot. Don’t be like me!
The Red Tower is pretty hard to miss once you’re in the right area. It’s this tall, imposing structure that stands out from the surrounding buildings. You’ll want to head to the courtyard area at the base of the tower. This is where all the magic happens for this quest.
Pro tip: Before you start interacting with anything, take a quick look around the courtyard. ARC patrols and scanners love to sweep through this area, and nothing’s more annoying than getting interrupted mid-interaction by a bunch of angry robots. Clear the area first or time your movements when the coast is clear.
Step 2: Finding the Missing Battery Cell
Alright, here’s where things get interesting – and where most players get stuck. The missing battery cell is located in the Red Tower courtyard, but it’s not always in the exact same spot. I’ve completed this quest multiple times now, and I’ve noticed the battery can spawn in a couple of different locations.
Here’s what you’re looking for:
- A small bag or backpack on the ground (it’ll be highlighted in yellow when you get close)
- Sometimes it’s in a container near the generator
- It’s usually on the left side of the generator if you’re facing it
When I first tried this quest, I spent ages searching every nook and cranny of the courtyard before I realized the battery was literally sitting right next to the generator in a bright yellow bag. I felt pretty silly, but hey, we live and we learn!
The battery cell is pretty small, so keep your eyes peeled. Once you spot the yellow-highlighted bag or container, just walk up to it and interact to pick up the battery. It’ll automatically go into your inventory.
Step 3: Installing the Battery in the Generator
Now that you’ve got the battery cell, it’s time to put it to work. The generator is located in the same courtyard, usually pretty close to where you found the battery. I’ve found it’s typically on the right side if you’re facing the area where the battery spawns.
Walk up to the generator and you’ll see an option to install the battery cell. Just interact with it, and your character will automatically place the battery in the correct slot. The generator has an open panel where the battery goes, so you can’t miss it.
This part is super straightforward – no puzzles or complicated mechanics here. Just click and install. I’ve never had any issues with this step, and I doubt you will either.
Step 4: Powering Up the Generator
With the battery installed, it’s time to bring some juice back to this old equipment. You’ll need to enable the power on the generator, which is just another simple interaction.
Look for the control panel on the generator – it’s usually on the front or right side of the unit. You’ll see a clear interact prompt when you get close enough. Just click it, and the generator will whir to life. You’ll hear it power up, and you might even see some lights or sparks indicating that electricity is flowing again.
I always get a little satisfaction when I hear that generator kick on – it feels like I’m actually restoring power to this part of the city, even if it’s just in a video game. Small victories, right?
Step 5: Booting the Antenna Terminal
This is the final step, and honestly, it’s the one that gave me the most trouble when I first attempted this quest. The antenna terminal is located at the top of the Red Tower, but getting there isn’t immediately obvious.
Here’s exactly how to get there:
- From the generator, turn around and look for an open window leading into the building
- Vault through the window (it’s a quick action, no special skills needed)
- Once inside, take the staircase and turn right
- You’ll find a ladder – climb up it
- At the top, go straight and then turn right again
- You’ll see the antenna terminal – it’s usually a yellow control box
Interact with the antenna terminal, and congratulations! You’ve just completed the Communication Hideout quest. The game will give you a notification, and you’ll get your rewards immediately.
Personal experience: The first time I did this, I spent about 10 minutes running around inside the Red Tower trying to find the right path to the roof. I kept going up wrong staircases and hitting dead ends. The key is to turn right immediately after climbing through the window – that’s the path that leads to the ladder going up.
Rewards for Completing Communication Hideout
So, what do you get for all your hard work? Let me break down the rewards I’ve received from completing this quest:
| Reward | Quantity | Usefulness |
|---|---|---|
| Crimson Racer (Aviator Color) | 1 | Cosmetic outfit piece |
| Anvil III | 1 | Crafting material |
| Heavy Ammo | 40 | Combat resource |
The Crimson Racer cosmetic is pretty cool if you’re into customizing your character’s appearance. The Anvil III is a decent crafting material that you’ll definitely want to hang onto for later. And let’s be honest, you can never have too much heavy ammo in ARC Raiders.
Some sources I’ve seen mention different rewards like Ziplines or XP, but in my experience, I’ve consistently gotten the rewards listed above. It’s possible the rewards vary based on your level or current game updates, but these are what I’ve personally received.
Tips and Tricks for Success
After completing this quest multiple times, I’ve picked up some tips that can make your life easier:
Safety First
- Check the courtyard before interacting: As I mentioned earlier, ARC patrols love this area. Take a moment to scout the area and clear any threats before you start working on the generator.
- Listen for enemy audio cues: The sound design in ARC Raiders is fantastic for letting you know when enemies are nearby. If you hear mechanical whirring or footsteps, pause what you’re doing and reposition.
- Expect other Raiders: This is a multiplayer game, and other players might also be trying to complete this quest. If you see another squad in the courtyard, it might be worth waiting a bit or coming back. The interactables persist, so you won’t lose progress.
Efficiency Tips
- Approach from cover: Don’t just run straight into the courtyard. Use the surrounding buildings and debris as cover to approach safely.
- Have an escape route planned: Before you start the final antenna terminal interaction, know where you’ll go if things get hairy. The roof can be a dangerous place if enemies show up.
- Time your movements: Watch the patrol patterns of any ARC units in the area. They usually follow predictable routes, so time your interactions for when they’re furthest away.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made pretty much every mistake possible with this quest, so let me save you some trouble:
- Don’t leave the raid after powering the generator: I once thought the quest was complete after turning on the generator and extracted, only to realize I still needed to boot the antenna terminal. You need to do all steps in one raid.
- Don’t ignore the yellow highlights: The game gives you visual cues for important items. If something is glowing yellow, it’s probably quest-related.
- Don’t skip clearing the area: I got greedy once and tried to rush through the quest without clearing enemies first. Big mistake – I got interrupted multiple times and barely made it out alive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Communication Hideout quest take?
From my experience, once you know what you’re doing, this quest takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. The first time I did it, I spent closer to 30 minutes because I was searching in all the wrong places.
Do I need to extract after completing the quest?
Nope! The quest completes as soon as you interact with the antenna terminal. You don’t need to extract for credit, which is pretty nice. You can stick around to loot or do other objectives if you have time left in the raid.
Can I complete this quest solo?
Absolutely! I’ve completed this quest multiple times solo, and it’s definitely doable. In fact, I sometimes prefer doing it solo because there’s less chance of other players drawing attention to the area.
What happens if I die during the quest?
If you die, you’ll lose any progress you made on that raid attempt. You’ll need to start over in a new raid. That’s why I always recommend clearing the area first and being prepared for combat.
Is the battery location always the same?
Not exactly. I’ve noticed the battery can spawn in slightly different locations within the courtyard, but it’s always in that general area near the generator. Look for the yellow-highlighted bag or container.
Can other players steal the battery?
Technically, yes. If another player picks up the battery before you do, you’ll have to wait for it to respawn or try again in another raid. That’s why I suggest checking the area for other players first.
Related ARC Raiders Content
If you’re enjoying questing in ARC Raiders, you might want to check out some of the other guides I’ve written. I’ve spent countless hours exploring every corner of this game, and I love sharing what I’ve learned:
- How to Complete Out of the Shadows in ARC Raiders – Another Shani quest that’ll test your combat skills
- A Balanced Harvest Quest Guide – Celeste’s quest that had me wandering the Research & Administration building for hours
- Eyes in the Sky Mission Walkthrough – One of the most challenging quests I’ve encountered so far
- Finding Snitch Scanners in ARC Raiders – My guide to tracking down these elusive drones
Final Thoughts
Look, the Communication Hideout quest might seem a bit confusing at first, but once you know the steps, it’s actually one of the quicker and easier quests in ARC Raiders. I remember feeling so frustrated when I first attempted it, but now I can knock it out in my sleep.
The key takeaways are:
- Head to the Red Tower courtyard in Old Town
- Find the yellow-highlighted bag/container with the battery
- Install it in the nearby generator
- Power up the generator
- Climb to the roof via the window, stairs, and ladder
- Boot the antenna terminal to complete the quest
I hope this guide saves you some of the frustration I went through when I first started this quest. ARC Raiders is an amazing game with so much to explore, and quests like Communication Hideout are just the tip of the iceberg.
If you found this guide helpful, do me a favor and bookmark it for future reference. I’m always updating my guides with new tips and tricks as I discover them. And if you have any questions or want to share your own experiences with this quest, drop a comment below – I’d love to hear from you!
Happy raiding, and I’ll see you out there in the ruins of Buried City!