EVE New Citizens Q&A

Grid - fu.

Concerning 'how many grids are there', the gist is there is at minimum one per static object in the solar system (planets, star, moons etc...). However, new grids are created and destroyed depending on many factors covered in the PDF I linked.

Personally I've only skimmed this stuff, it's fairly advanced and I haven't had much immediate use for it (I think?). Interesting though, even if it's not immediately useful.

D-SCAN.

EDIT: Beer and question answering don't go well together apparently.

One shows up in local the second the server recognizes a character as being in a solar system, the grid they are on in said solar system is inconsequential. The exception is WH space, where you show up in local, only if you actually post something in local chat. You will be visible in local for around 15 minutes I believe.

The grid is the way the server (and client) deals with the fact that space is big and empty. No point in loading into memory the absolutely empty space between the Earth and the Moon, when Earth Orbit and Moon Orbit are sufficient as points of interest. Unfortunately it's also a limitation, as you can see from the grid-fu link, where you can be within weapons range of a different ship but not able to target it because it's not in your overview. Or even visible.

Local = the solar system channel. There's also a Constellation and Region, but people don't use them. In normal space you appear in Local as soon as the gate deposits you into the solar system (which, by the way, may also be a transition from a server to another server).

D-scan is max 14 au (which is obviously bigger than your grid), and can be 360 degrees or focused down to 5 degrees in the direction that your camera is looking (not your ship). It's useful because just being on grid with certain enemies is almost instant death, so you can use d-scan from a nearby planet or location (off-grid) to see what may be in the grid by the gate or station. Or to see if anyone's coming to get you, before they actually land on top of you.

Yep. Odd things like your drones suddenly finding themselves in 'distant space' and going inactive. Like the tackle ceptor suddenly appearing within 20 km of you.