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

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

If its speed and efficiency you are after, grab yourself a DSP and learn St Mio's guide. You can thank him later.

If its speed and efficiency you are after, grab yourself a DSP and learn St Mio's guide. You can thank him later.

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.

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.

If you read what I posted, I was supporting what you were saying.

But the fact is, DSP make it easier and less prone to error. Simple as that.

And thats you know, not even taking into account the whole 32 AU limitation.

But you obviously have a very efficient way to account for that without using deep space probes.

Then I must be doing something differently. 2 billion in deadspace modules yesterday can't be wrong.

And by experienced. We're talking 3+ years right?

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.

I've looked at the list, and it seems to me that the DSP scan strength elimination thing isn't worthwhile if I'm hunting grav sites, because grav sites occur in almost all the bands.

Have I misunderstood something?

It can be done with core probes, but the deviation is much higher and prone to errors, even when done by more experienced explorers.

I've looked at the list, and it seems to me that the DSP scan strength elimination thing isn't worthwhile if I'm hunting grav sites, because grav sites occur in almost all the bands.

Have I misunderstood something?

I don't think the error factor is much higher, rather you are looking at different numbers. I don't have much experiece with deep space probes, mind you, but i am telling signature bands all the time with normal probes.

The only things that i can think of that make people not want to use normal probes are system coverage and the fact that returned scan results are a bit more influenced by distance when you use core probes (people seem to want definate answers and the deep space probe 'charts' provide those, with variances that are very low in pure digits). But you can control that by launching more probes (if need be) to cover the system and by looking at the red sphere diameters on initial scan - if the sphere is large, reported strength will be a bit lower (in fact you mostly don't even need to look at this, because the bands are separated enough).

Anyway, the general tone in exploration ("all hail DSPs" and so on) seems to suggest that people like this whole thing, even tho most of them are just blindly using the mechanics without actually having an understanding why it works - and this is not because of deep space probes, but because of the underlying game mechanic of signature strengths.

Maybe some more randomness is in order for our beloved activity again? Mio will spank me for saying this random thing out aloud, but in a way i think 'exploration' should somehow be more nudged towards stray encounters and all the like again.