[@Coga19000] Wifi hotspots is probably best way to go about it with them! They have a bit of autonomy, but the point of the Mechy was not that he has robot armies doing battle, it is more like having a second set of hands to help and fight, not go out to town and do whatever. Reason for having such advanced things in a generally back age is because the magic powers them, not cause they just work on their own!

As far as their distance, I couldn't really put a number on them percentage of the ship size (That would mean having to measure out the ship, more work than its worth!) So, about 15-20 feet of distance. Walls and other ordinary objects are not a factor, but stuff more elemental based will definitely cut your 'connection'.