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Missions & Complexes

 
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Exploration: Fastest methods?
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Pinstar Colton
Sweet Asteroid Acres
#21 - 2012-08-28 17:36:59 UTC
Aaewen Hrothgarson wrote:
For me, the single mos UGE time safer was hen i figured out how to move the probe cluster at once (press shift and move one with a mouse) and diminish distance to the center equally (press alt and move one probe with the mouse).

The Video tutorials might have shown that, but didnt mention it. I fond this information distributed in some old threads.

Second - which comes with experience - its important to zoom and swipe the camera so you always have a good picture of the situation


That second part, where you can adjust all probes with the alt-drag, is new information to me. I think doing that manually was cause for a great deal of wasted time on my part trying to pin down these sites. I'm going to give these tips a try tonight.

In the cat-and-mouse game that is low sec, there is no shame in learning to be a better mouse.

Emperor Salazar
Remote Soviet Industries
Insidious Empire
#22 - 2012-08-29 16:35:38 UTC
BobFenner wrote:


Yes, he obviously thinks that just because you only 4 probes for quadrilateration that the extra probe is superfluous and adds nothing.

It does however improve the original sig hit if used at one scan size down.

Try it and see is all I can say. Smile


Thats not what I said at all. Try rereading it. Maybe ask a friend to help.

I'll reiterate. Yes, more than 4 probes will add to your strength. However, with sufficient skills (character and player) it is simply added effort and thus time.
Pinstar Colton
Sweet Asteroid Acres
#23 - 2012-08-29 16:57:30 UTC
I just want to report back on my experience after incorporating everyone's suggestions here.

I was able to get 3 signatures last night with an average time of ~3 minutes for each. I tried the 5 probe setup but ran into a situation where I had the 'twin red dots' effects...one up and one down from my probe cluster. When I added a full 7 probes, I was able to probe down the site much faster. My best was a Magnometric site that I nailed in 3 hits (8 AU > 2 AU > .5 AU) and just over 2 minutes in time.

As predicted, the alt-drag thing was indeed my biggest time saver.

I'll probably drop back down to 5 probes once I get a little more player experience with scanning down sites.

Thank you everyone in this thread for your suggestions and advice.

In the cat-and-mouse game that is low sec, there is no shame in learning to be a better mouse.

Nuela
WoT Misfits
#24 - 2012-08-29 17:31:46 UTC
You guys are all nubs!

I only use one probe.

Sheesh.
Lilan Kahn
The Littlest Hobos
The Whale Hunters Association
#25 - 2012-08-29 17:31:52 UTC
i run a 5 probe setup, takes around 2 mins to find a site unless its in the lowest scan bracket then it takes 3-4 mins, all lvl 5 skills
Jenn aSide
Worthless Carebears
The Initiative.
#26 - 2012-08-29 19:48:43 UTC
Only rarely to I use 4 probes with my scanning Tengu, but of course that alt has scanning implants so your milage my vary.
Chandaris
Immortalis Inc.
Shadow Cartel
#27 - 2012-08-29 20:02:21 UTC  |  Edited by: Chandaris
- train those skills to 5
- get a set of virtues
- get a scanning implant
- get your covops skill to 5 (or t3 sub skill depending which you're using)
- use DSP's (deep space scanner probe) for initial system sweep
- use the DSP exploration guide found here: http://swiftandbitter.com/eve/dsp/

practice, practice, practice.

you should be able to skip at least 1 range interval when down-shifting.. so from 8 au go to 2, from t to 0.5

if you get the skills all to 5, esp deviation you should be able to skip 2 range steps per range decrement.

i gotta stop giving out the secret sauce :P
Emperor Salazar
Remote Soviet Industries
Insidious Empire
#28 - 2012-08-30 11:46:17 UTC
Chandaris wrote:


you should be able to skip at least 1 range interval when down-shifting.. so from 8 au go to 2, from t to 0.5

if you get the skills all to 5, esp deviation you should be able to skip 2 range steps per range decrement.


Level 5 probing skills, master race reporting in.

I do exactly this:

-Drop DSP
-If Something I like, (last time I was scanning it was the lowest sig band for 10/10s) then drop 4x 8AU probes in a cross shape, overlapping properly, and situate over the main cluster of planets
-Move cross around to other planet areas if nothing found until I get a point
-Point found -> Drop down to 2AU
-Drop down to .5AU

Lvl 5 skills, sisters probes/launcher, tengu electronics to 5 and 6% implant.
Ginger Barbarella
#29 - 2012-08-30 15:25:11 UTC
As others have said, after skills a lot comes down to practice. My exploration alts have all Astrometrics at 4, usually run unbonused ships (Pilgrim) but use Grav Cap rig, Sisters Gear, and usually have a 5% Prospector or 5% scanning implant, and most scans run about 2-3 minutes (4 probes, RARELY use a fifth, never more). Practice makes perfect.

"Blow it all on Quafe and strippers." --- Sorlac
Hrothgar Nilsson
#30 - 2012-08-30 19:11:52 UTC  |  Edited by: Hrothgar Nilsson
Emperor Salazar wrote:
I'll reiterate. Yes, more than 4 probes will add to your strength. However, with sufficient skills (character and player) it is simply added effort and thus time.

Using the 3D cross method with 7 probes, each probe can be arranged in the time it takes the probe launcher to cycle. The 8th probe takes two more seconds. L4 astrometric acquisition will make up for time lost w/arrangement on the 5th through 8th probes.

I prefer being able to scan down carriers with 16AU bubbles and frigates at 4AU. Not sure if four probes can accomplish that.

I've... seen things you people wouldn't believe...

Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion...
Chandaris
Immortalis Inc.
Shadow Cartel
#31 - 2012-08-30 19:39:27 UTC
I use 7 probes as well.. Works well
Emperor Salazar
Remote Soviet Industries
Insidious Empire
#32 - 2012-08-31 02:40:18 UTC  |  Edited by: Emperor Salazar
Hrothgar Nilsson wrote:

I prefer being able to scan down carriers with 16AU bubbles and frigates at 4AU. Not sure if four probes can accomplish that.


Okay, talking about pvp probing in a thread about jewing in a Missions and Complexes subforum is just silly.

I use 8 probes on my scanning alt when I'm probing. Its absolutely amazing (scan multiple gates/safes/perches/etc).

And yes, considering my probing alt is has faction gear, lvl 5 skills, cov ops 5 and rigs, its plenty possible to limit to 4 probes and go after multiple locations like I do.
Mia Lang
Department of Planetary Services
Intergalatic Complex Specialist
#33 - 2012-09-01 11:04:17 UTC
If its speed and efficiency you are after, grab yourself a DSP and learn St Mio's guide. You can thank him later.
Barrak
The Painted Ones
#34 - 2012-09-01 14:37:10 UTC
Roime wrote:
I use 7, my alt 8.

7 in the normal formation of "star" with one above and one below. Balls are not only touching, they lovingly embrace each others.

I took a screenshot as I couldn't explain the amount of overlap, http://i.imgur.com/2ElKt.jpg




I do this ^, however the edge of the bubble will touch it's opposite bubbles centre point

Something to look out for is to establish where the sig first appears in relation to your probes. if it's out on the edge of a single large(ish) bubble then the chances are it will move quite a bit when you move the centre to it, in which case you might want to leave the bubbles at 8AU (my default). If however, you pick it up nicely and early and its close to a celestial then you can drop down the sizes pretty quick.

One ting that is worth doing is to establish what is acutaly in the system to start with AND ascertain it's sig strength. If its large to start with then you should be able to get it iwithin 2/3 scans and possibly pick it up at 4au.

however if its coming in at around 0.20-25% then its going to need a lot more scanning...... at least that is how it works in wormholes.

Regards
St Mio
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#35 - 2012-09-03 05:22:15 UTC
Mia Lang wrote:
If its speed and efficiency you are after, grab yourself a DSP and learn St Mio's guide. You can thank him later.

No no no you will thank Mia, I insist
chapter13
Lannisters
#36 - 2012-09-03 18:56:57 UTC
It's moot at this point, but I've been scanning for years and the two things that save the most time by far are holding shift to move the group and holding alt to expand and contract the group. It makes using 8 probes extremely easy and quick.
chapter13
Lannisters
#37 - 2012-09-03 18:58:03 UTC
Mia Lang wrote:
If its speed and efficiency you are after, grab yourself a DSP and learn St Mio's guide. You can thank him later.



I second (or third or fourth or whatever) this too. Huge difference for eliminating the sigs you don't want. Especially useful in WH's.
Sanitation Engineer
Doomheim
#38 - 2012-09-03 23:41:14 UTC
Or you could just figure it out using Sisters Core Probes instead of using the DSP method... I did.
St Mio
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#39 - 2012-09-04 06:13:41 UTC
chapter13 wrote:
It's moot at this point, but I've been scanning for years and the two things that save the most time by far are holding shift to move the group and holding alt to expand and contract the group. It makes using 8 probes extremely easy and quick.

All we need now is a keyboard shortcut for the Analyze button!
chapter13
Lannisters
#40 - 2012-09-04 13:25:07 UTC
Sanitation Engineer wrote:
Or you could just figure it out using Sisters Core Probes instead of using the DSP method... I did.



the point of using DSP's is to quickly identify what specific types of sigs are in the system. That can't be done with the core probes. If you're out there for everything, they aren't necessary. If you're looking for something specific, the DSP method is very helpful and time saving. Regardless, if you spend any sort of consistent time exploring, you should know all of these techniques.