EVE New Citizens Q&A

EDIT: NM, I should actually look at screenshots before replying. ;)


Is it possible your probes are all too close together?

Hello Sein,

I noticed that your only using 5 probes typically the standard is 6 to really pin down something. One on top one below and 4 around. Making a Diamond formation, at least that is typically that I have seen done and usually to great success. CCP does have an official video that you can watch to learn more. I highly suggest it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heYfTA00Idg

Scanning is an art and takes time to learn how to do properly don't have your probes directly in the circle but just touching the edges of it.

I hope this helped out a little bit.

Hi Sein,

Scanning can take a bit of finesse and practice but you'll get better quickly. It can be especially difficult when your skills are very low, but stick with it!

In your first picture, the signature simply isn't in that sphere. Your largest probe has picked up the signature, which means it is actually somewhere in the 8AU scan range, not 4AU with the rest of your probes. It is smaller because it is a weak signal.

All signatures will spawn within 4AU of a celestial, so in your second picture, I would move all your probes over to the nearby planet and try again.

If you have low scanning skills, positioning is more crucial. The easiest way to maintain a proper scanning shape is to deploy all your probes and then move them into the desired shape.

For me it's easiest to make a cross pattern instead of a square + middle, just because I can line the points up faster. It makes no difference in the end, just a personal preference.

After that, simply hold Shift or Alt when dragging to move all the probes simultaneously. Shift will move all the probes, and Alt will contract or expand all the probes around a central probe.

You will also want to use a scanning-bonused ship. For Minmatar, that ship is the Probe. Use 2x gravity capacitor rigs (they are pretty cheap).

I have used 5 probes almost exclusively except for really weak signals, so you can do fine with only 5. Just keep in mind that more probes = more scan strength, and when your other skills are low you might want to use more.

Feel free to contact me in-game or send me an eve-mail if you have any other scanning questions.

Good luck!

It's the filters: http://www.swiftandbitter.com/eve/misc/Reset_Filters.jpg

... also don't mix and guns.

Thanks everyone, I'll give the suggestions a bash and see where that gets me.

No it wasn't the filter.
In the first screen, your using 4Au range on most probes, 8 Au range on a single one. The result you get is found by the 8Au probe. Dont mix ranges, except you know what you are doing.

On the second screen, the sig is found by a probe not beeing at the same z-axis than the others. rotate the view to check.

For pinpointing the position of a signature you should space your probes a bit more. When it comes to get the 100% hit, you may move them closer while using smaller ranges.

My money is on the filters.

I use 7. middle probe. top, bottom, and all 4 sides. I shift-click-drag the middle probe (like in this tutorial). You will cut your number of scans in half and get fewer red rings/double signals if you use 7 probes.

I've just found it difficult to monkey around with 7, having to rotate the screen to move the top and bottom probes up and down. With the 5 probe X pattern, You can keep your view top-down while honing in on your target.

However, I never thought to make the center probe one size smaller with the 7. I might have to give that another try.
How long from launching the probes to getting a scan down to 100% does it take you with that system in real time?