Better Equipment

[Archived Post]

can you trade radiation samples alien artifacts etc for mark 3+ equipment? memory alpha only has mark 2 stuff - or is there a better way of getting better weapons etc?

[Archived Post]

Other vendors have other stuff. You just have to unlock them. You do so by buying or upgrading a number of items with the lower level vendors (another thread here reports that as about 20 items from the prior vendor).

[Archived Post]

I can't find the post right off hand that explains this, but the level of weapons and consoles you can put on your ship is tied to your rank.

Lt. - Mk I & II
Lt. Cmdr. - Mk III & IV
Cmdr. - Mk. V & VI
Cpt. - Mk. VII & VIII
Adm. - Mk. IX & X

So if you're still a Lieutenant, you won't be able to put Mk III weapons on your ship. If you're a Lieutenant Commander, I know for sure you can find higher rated weapons at DS9, but I didn't get enough time in OB to find out where else to go for higher class items...

Hope this helps... :)