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Pinstar Colton
Sweet Asteroid Acres
243
   |
Posted - 2012.08.27 13:06:00 -
[1] - Quote
So, I've trained up all my probing skills to IV, in a ship with a bonus to probing, have the probe bonus rigs fit, using a sister's launcher and sister's probes.... and it still takes me ~10 minutes to probe down a single site. (This is all in low sec) I *Know* there are people out there who can do it *much* faster.
Can anyone share techniques they use to speed up probing? How few re-adjustments can you get away with before getting a site to 100%? I'm using the technique shown on the tutorial video (but with 7 probes, rather than 4) and I can *eventually* find stuff, but not with any efficiency.
In the cat-and-mouse game that is low sec, there is no shame in learning to be a better mouse. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
Dead On Arrival Alliance
1103
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 13:23:00 -
[2] - Quote
I'd guess it's just a matter of practice since your skills and gear are just fine. You'll get faster with moving the probes and "reading" the sig indicators.
I use 2-4 scans to get most signatures, taking a few minutes if I'm not in a hurry, same skills and gear as you. On my prober alt I resolve more sigs with just two passes (8AU>2/1AU, depending on sig strength), but occasionally still need 3 or 4 (8AU>2AU>1/0.5AU) if I blunder with probe placement or the sig is really weak.
Gallente - the choice of the interstellar gentleman |
Pinstar Colton
Sweet Asteroid Acres
243
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 13:29:00 -
[3] - Quote
Roime wrote:I'd guess it's just a matter of practice since your skills and gear are just fine. You'll get faster with moving the probes and "reading" the sig indicators.
I use 2-4 scans to get most signatures, taking a few minutes if I'm not in a hurry, same skills and gear as you. On my prober alt I resolve more sigs with just two passes (8AU>2/1AU, depending on sig strength), but occasionally still need 3 or 4 (8AU>2AU>1/0.5AU) if I blunder with probe placement or the sig is really weak.
Can you give a few more details? How many probes do you use? What formation? How tightly do you inter-weave their scan ranges?. I'd love to be able to bulls-eye sites in 2-4 scans.
In the cat-and-mouse game that is low sec, there is no shame in learning to be a better mouse. |
Idris Helion
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
54
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 13:52:00 -
[4] - Quote
I do mostly probing in hisec, so I'm not sure if things are different in low/null, but I've found that using the simple "cross" method with 4 probes is almost always the best way to get a sig down to 80-90%.
My Astrometric acquisition, pinpointing, and rangefinding are all at IV; Science is at V. I fly a Heron rigged with 2 Small Gravity Capacitor Upgrades. With these skills and that ship, I can scan down a Radar site in about ten minutes (I get lucky sometimes and get one in five minutes). Mag and Grav sites I can get in about five minutes.
Some sigs, like Radar, are hard to pin down. I almost always have to use 6 instead of 4 probes for those once I've scanned them to 97.5%.
EDIT: I'm using Sisters scanners and probe launcher, btw. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
Dead On Arrival Alliance
1103
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 13:55:00 -
[5] - Quote
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
Gallente - the choice of the interstellar gentleman |
Pinstar Colton
Sweet Asteroid Acres
243
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 14:07:00 -
[6] - Quote
That's about as tight as I weave my probes...though it is hard to tell exactly without the Box + Arrows on each probe. (As a reference, I try to loop the edge of an outer probe so that it encases the opposite arrow of my central probe. )
I also use the star. (1 central probe with 2 probes at opposite ends of each X/Y/Z axis)
Also: How did you get rid of all those little boxes with other stuff in the system? (Like nearby stations/gates and such) I find they frequently interfere with me trying to re-position my probes while scanning.
In the cat-and-mouse game that is low sec, there is no shame in learning to be a better mouse. |
Emperor Salazar
Dreddit
Test Alliance Please Ignore
648
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 15:04:00 -
[7] - Quote
4 Probes, cross formation, make sure to use ctrl/alt when rearranging probes.
5th probe at the center if you are bad and need a safety net. |
Roime
Shiva Furnace
Dead On Arrival Alliance
1103
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 15:52:00 -
[8] - Quote
Pinstar Colton wrote:
Also: How did you get rid of all those little boxes with other stuff in the system? (Like nearby stations/gates and such) I find they frequently interfere with me trying to re-position my probes while scanning.
As much as I hate the celestials interfering with probing, I can't magick them away- the screenshot was taken in a wormhole system, which don't have gates or stations.
Gallente - the choice of the interstellar gentleman |
BobFenner
Black Hole Runners
25
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 16:46:00 -
[9] - Quote
Emperor Salazar wrote:4 Probes, cross formation, make sure to use ctrl/alt when rearranging probes.
5th probe at the center if you are bad and need a safety net.
The fifth probe in the center is NOT a safety net, you can use this probe at a lower scan range to help scan sigs quicker.
My missus thinks of EvE as 'the other woman'. :) |
Calisto Thellere
Klaatu Technologies
7
|
Posted - 2012.08.27 21:07:00 -
[10] - Quote
I probe and run sites in my tengu, so my scan strength isnt as good as it could be if say i was in a buzzard with grav rigs ect.
My skills are 5/5/5 and i always use just 4 probes, sisters probes ina sisters launcher too.
Look at it like a clock face, a probe at 12/3/6/9, overlap them approx 30% so it gives you a kind of cross over pocket in the center by all 4 probes.
Doing it like this i always 2 step my first scan from 32-8 and again from 8, once ive scanned again, down to 2 and 9 times out of ten i still have the sig locked down (now and again i;; lose it and get the red sphere/ring) at 2AU. From there say its a 4/10 sig, i can pin it 100% the next step (1AU)
Takes me 30-45 seconds to get 100 from start to finish, but i do explore full time and im pretty good with using 'shift' and 'alt' to move all my probes at once and to pull them in when stepping down too.
TL:DR
Just practice practice practice. |
Cage Man
Evil Guinea Pigs
1
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 00:15:00 -
[11] - Quote
I learn't from this CCP video and still use it with 5 probes. It takes a fair amount of practice, quickly learn't living in a wh :) to go from 10 mins to a few mins and skipping ranges. Sadly this is one skill a skill book is not going to make easier. 4 probes work, but since the changes all probes add to the scan strength so the 5th one is very helpful. Also using the shift and alt functions makes life easier. |
Ensign X
114
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 00:31:00 -
[12] - Quote
BobFenner wrote:Emperor Salazar wrote:4 Probes, cross formation, make sure to use ctrl/alt when rearranging probes.
5th probe at the center if you are bad and need a safety net. The fifth probe in the center is NOT a safety net, you can use this probe at a lower scan range to help scan sigs quicker.
You'll have to excuse Salazar. He's better than all of us, so sometimes it's painful for him to stoop to our level. He means well.  |
Ensign X
114
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 00:37:00 -
[13] - Quote
Pinstar Colton wrote:Also: How did you get rid of all those little boxes with other stuff in the system? (Like nearby stations/gates and such) I find they frequently interfere with me trying to re-position my probes while scanning.
When you open your Map with F10 or the Neocom, it also opens the "World Map Control Panel". The 3rd tab in that control panel labelled "Solar System Map" has a full list of all celestial types. From there you can click the eye next to each type to hide it in the map or hide the nameplates by clicking the indicator next to the eye.
Hope that helps! |
Hrothgar Nilsson
Black Guards
Black Core Alliance
97
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 08:42:00 -
[14] - Quote
Looks like you can use 7 probes.
Simply keep one in the center. That probe has 6 arrow tips, arrange the other 6 probes so they touch arrow tip to arrow tip.
ALT+click reduce/expand range while keeping the pattern, and SHIFT-click to move around in unison.
The two in the very middle of this picture should be just one centered in your 7 probe arrangement:
http://s19.postimage.org/spdal8gr5/probes.png
Just like this when arranging, except there should be another two probes touching the center probe's front and back arrow tips:
http://s19.postimage.org/5kkkj6lox/probes1.jpg
Viewing from the side or top should yield the same view:
http://s19.postimage.org/sz4bena33/arrangement.png
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTzA_xesrL8 |
Aaewen Hrothgarson
Jelly Baby Corporation
Fidelas Constans
13
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 08:51:00 -
[15] - Quote
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 |
Chimpy B
The Philosophy Of Two
8
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 09:42:00 -
[16] - Quote
Yup, press shift to move or resize the probes all together. I only recently found this out. |
Hrothgar Nilsson
Black Guards
Black Core Alliance
97
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 09:51:00 -
[17] - Quote
Chimpy B wrote:Yup, press shift to move or resize the probes all together. I only recently found this out.
Alt+click to resize. Unless you meant shrinking/expanding the probe's bubbles in unison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTzA_xesrL8 |
Chimpy B
The Philosophy Of Two
8
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 11:56:00 -
[18] - Quote
Hrothgar Nilsson wrote:Chimpy B wrote:Yup, press shift to move or resize the probes all together. I only recently found this out. Alt+click to resize the pattern. Unless you meant shift+clicking to shrink/expand the probe's bubbles in unison.
Yeah shift+click, typo.
|
Emperor Salazar
Dreddit
Test Alliance Please Ignore
651
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 11:59:00 -
[19] - Quote
BobFenner wrote:Emperor Salazar wrote:4 Probes, cross formation, make sure to use ctrl/alt when rearranging probes.
5th probe at the center if you are bad and need a safety net. The fifth probe in the center is NOT a safety net, you can use this probe at a lower scan range to help scan sigs quicker.
You need 4 probes to scan a sig. Anything more means either your skills/gear aren't good enough and/or your player skills at probing aren't quite up to par yet.
So yeah, fifth, sixth, seventh and eight probes are just support if you're not quite there yet. |
BobFenner
Black Hole Runners
27
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 17:22:00 -
[20] - Quote
Ensign X wrote:BobFenner wrote:Emperor Salazar wrote:4 Probes, cross formation, make sure to use ctrl/alt when rearranging probes.
5th probe at the center if you are bad and need a safety net. The fifth probe in the center is NOT a safety net, you can use this probe at a lower scan range to help scan sigs quicker. You'll have to excuse Salazar. He's better than all of us, so sometimes it's painful for him to stoop to our level. He means well.
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. 
My missus thinks of EvE as 'the other woman'. :) |
Pinstar Colton
Sweet Asteroid Acres
246
|
Posted - 2012.08.28 17:36:00 -
[21] - Quote
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
Dreddit
Test Alliance Please Ignore
653
|
Posted - 2012.08.29 16:35:00 -
[22] - Quote
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.
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
246
|
Posted - 2012.08.29 16:57:00 -
[23] - Quote
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
Beacon Light Corporation
Beacon Light Alliance
101
|
Posted - 2012.08.29 17:31:00 -
[24] - Quote
You guys are all nubs!
I only use one probe.
Sheesh. |
Lilan Kahn
The Littlest Hobos
En Garde
36
|
Posted - 2012.08.29 17:31:00 -
[25] - Quote
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
Smokin Aces.
186
|
Posted - 2012.08.29 19:48:00 -
[26] - Quote
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
80
|
Posted - 2012.08.29 20:02:00 -
[27] - Quote
- 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
Dreddit
Test Alliance Please Ignore
655
|
Posted - 2012.08.30 11:46:00 -
[28] - Quote
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
State War Academy
Caldari State
92
|
Posted - 2012.08.30 15:25:00 -
[29] - Quote
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. |
Hrothgar Nilsson
Black Guards
Black Core Alliance
99
|
Posted - 2012.08.30 19:11:00 -
[30] - Quote
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 that time.
I prefer being able to scan down carriers with 16AU bubbles. Not sure if four probes can accomplish that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTzA_xesrL8 |
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