i'm a bit confused as well, well somewhat. I think though you should set up a network of them that covers the whole length of that trade route, and that way the economic bonus is given to your freighter the entire length of his trip. Someone correct me if i'm wrong here.

I think that simply by having the trade route run through the starbase's influence radius you get the percentage bonus. I don't think it matters where the freighter is on its route. I think you get the revenue from the route each turn, not just when the freighter reaches a planet. The point of the freighter is to give you something to attack.

The length of the trade route is a factor in determining the income per turn. It does not matter where on the route the starbase is placed.

As starbase effects are apperently cumulative, it does sound like having several along a route would give you a nice boost, but it does not matter where on the route they are.

Tony

And a follow-up question!

If a planet is partially covered by the influence radius of an economic starbase, but it's square is only, say, 1/3 shaded by it, does the planet receive full benefits of the starbase?

Thanks Mormegil!

And is Tony correct then that a traderoute "touched at all" by such a starbase receives the trade route bonuses as well? Regardless of where on the route it, or the tradeship, happen to be?