Difference between revisions of "Probing In Simple Steps"

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To make it easier for new players to learn how to probe, I've decided to create this little picture guide on how to set up a series of probes to scan down targets.
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{{Exploration links}}
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This page describes in simple terms the equipment and techniques used to probe down [[exploration]] sites. For more details on the exact mechanics of probing, see [[probe scanning]].
  
IMPORTANT: When handling your probes using the following steps, '''only''' manipulate them using the arrows on the boxes; do '''not''' click the box and drag! As well, if a probe is positioned initially on the horizontal plane, do '''not''' move it on the vertical plane unless you are using CTRL+SHIFT+Drag to move the whole set. The same applies for your vertical probes and moving horizontally. Moving your probes using the wrong arrows, or clicking the box and dragging will throw off your alignment entirely, which will force you to recall and relaunch your probes! If you follow these steps correctly, moving your probes should be as simple as sliding them along a 'rail', tightening and expanding as needed. This should make probing both very quick, very efficient, and very effective.
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== Preparation ==
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Sensible preparation in character training and equipment makes probing much easier.
  
==Four Probe Setup==
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=== Skills ===
=====1. Deploy two probes.=====
 
  
[[File:P4-1.jpg]]
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==== Scanning skills ====
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* {{sk|Astrometrics}}: useful bonuses to scan strength(+5%), scan deviation(-5%) and scan time(-5%) per level. Level I unlocks the Core Probe Launchers and Core Scanner Probes, level II unlocks the Expanded Probe Launchers and the Combat Scanner Probes. Level IV is the prerequisite for Astrometric Pinpointing and should be a short-term priority for the aspiring explorer.
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* {{sk|Astrometric Pinpointing}}: 5% reduction in maximum scan deviation per level.
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** This skill is especially useful in the early phases of probing and makes life easier. Training high levels of this skill paired with high signal strength will allow you to reduce the scanning radius more aggressively. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan pinpointing arrays respectively.
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* {{sk|Astrometric Rangefinding}}: 5% increase in scan probe strength per level, making it the most important of these skills. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan rangefinding arrays respectively.
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* {{sk|Astrometric Acquisition}}: 5% reduction in scan time per level. This skill is useful for combat scanning, when every second counts, but is not hugely important otherwise. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan acquisition arrays respectively.
  
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==== Other skills ====
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* Racial Frigate: Level I is required for the Tech 1 scanning frigate of each faction ({{Sh|Magnate}}, {{Sh|Heron}}, {{Sh|Imicus}} and {{Sh|Probe}}) and the strong per-level bonus for scanner probe strength on these hulls make training it to IV worthwhile. Level V is a step towards covert ops ships.
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* {{sk|Covert Ops}}: together with racial frigate V, this skill unlocks the covert ops ships ({{Sh|Anathema}}, {{Sh|Buzzard}}, {{Sh|Helios}} and {{Sh|Cheetah}}). New players need not rush into these, but covert ops ships are a good medium-term goal for keen explorers.
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** Note that since the hull bonuses for scanner probe strength on the covert ops ships are per-level, a covert ops ship only outmatches a Tech 1 exploration frigate in probe strength at Covert Ops IV.
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* {{sk|Cloaking}}: level I is needed to use prototype cloaks, handy for Tech 1 exploration frigates; IV is necessary to fit covert ops cloaks and should be trained when a character is on their way to flying covert ops ships.
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* {{sk|High Speed Maneuvering}}: to fit MWD.
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* {{sk|Archaeology}}:  level III is a quick train and makes you useful, IV is a good short-term goal for dedicated explorers, V is needed to use the Tech 2 relic analyzer.
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* {{sk|Hacking}}:  level III is a quick train and makes you useful, IV is a good short-term goal for dedicated explorers V is needed to use the Tech 2 data analyzer.
  
=====2. CTRL+SHIFT+Drag them down-leftward.=====
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=== Equipment ===
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Any ship can be used for exploration, but the Tech 1 frigates mentioned above offer a bonus, and ultimately a Tech 2 covert ops frigate is optimal.
  
[[File:P4-2.jpg]]
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The first and most important pieces of equipment you need for scanning are a probe launcher and probes. The normal Core Probe Launcher I and Core Scanner Probe I are acceptable starting-points for scanning signatures. Later these can be upgraded to the Tech 2 or Sisters core probe launchers, and Sisters core scanner probes. Sisters probes are a relatively cheap way to improve your effectiveness in scanning.
  
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For scanning structures, ships, and drones, pilots need an Expanded Probe Launcher and combat scanner probes. Combat scan probes can also, technically, scan signatures, but they aren't as good for this use as core probes. Expanded probe launchers can use both core and combat probes, but are much harder to fit than core probe launchers.
  
=====3. Deploy two probes.=====
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The probe launcher and probes are the only mandatory equipment. Other useful equipment should be chosen to fit the job you want to do:
  
[[File:P4-3.jpg]]
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* Scan arrays in the mid slots and Gravity Capacitor Upgrade rigs in the rig slots increase your probe stats, making scanning easier.
 +
* If you are scanning for [[relic and data sites]], relic and data analyzers are necessary to do the sites once you've found them.
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* A prototype cloak lets even a Tech I frigate hide safely while scanning. A covert ops cloak on a covert ops ship lets the ship warp around while cloaked.
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* A cloak combined with a microwarp drive lets you perform the "[[cloak trick]]", increasing your survivability in hostile space.
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* Virtue pirate [[implants]] increase scan probe strength. Poteque "Prospector" implants decrease scan deviation, scan time or increase probe strength depending on which variant is used. Balance the benefits of using these against the potential cost of losing them if you are operating in nullsec, or wormhole space.
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* In a ship's low slots, you can also fit either nanofibers for speed and agility, inertial stabilizers for agility or warp core stabilizers for running away.
  
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For gas sites a gas cloud harvester is required and for combat sites you need to fit your ship with combat equipment. Unless you are using a [[Strategic Cruisers|strategic cruiser]], you might want to reship for both of these types of site.
  
=====4. Drag the first two outward from each other to form a triangle.=====
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== Probing ==
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[[image:Probe_window.png|thumb|440px|Probe scanner window with labels.]]
  
[[File:P4-4.jpg]]
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=== Launching probes ===
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To start probing launch your probes and open both the system map and probe scanner window.  
  
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Many players find it useful to undock the probe scanner window from the system map by clicking the square icon on the top right corner of the probe scanner window. This allows you to open and close both the system map and the probe scanner independently.
  
=====5. Drag the third probe down-leftward to the center of the triangle.=====
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With the probe scanner open, the system map now shows information relevant for probing. The red spheres are signatures that need to be probed with probes, green icons are anomalies or completely probed signatures, and the blue spheres are the areas scanned by each of your probes.
  
[[File:P4-5.jpg]]
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=== Initial placement ===
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You have several controls for your probes.
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* Drag the cube to move the whole probe formation.
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** Hold shift to move individual probes.
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** Hold control to adjust probe distance from center point.
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* Alt+scroll, alt+drag or slider in probe scanner window to alter probe range
  
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You can also move your probes to pinpoint formation, spread formation or your own saved custom formation in the probe scanner window. When scanning signatures, only pinpoint formation, formation move, and probe range changes are needed. Sometimes you may encounter a signature you can't get all the way to 100%. You can try moving your probes into a more tightly packed pinpoint formation to get 0.1% more signal, but placing them too close to each other will reduce scan results.
  
=====6. Drag the center probe vertically upward.=====
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To scan a signature, move your probe formation over the signature sphere. A good starting formation is the pinpoint formation, with range adjusted to cover the whole signature sphere. A trick to help with initial probe placement is to know that ''all'' signatures are within 4 AU from celestial objects. If there is only one celestial near the signature sphere, then the signature is near it and you can place your probes there.
  
[[File:P4-6.png]]
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Now refresh probe scan by clicking the "Analyze" button in the probe scanner window. Depending on your probe placement and probe stats, the marker of the signature will change, and you can then begin to narrow the signature down.
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{{Clear}}
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=== Refining the scan ===
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[[image:Probing_sphere.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as a sphere place the pinpoint formation to cover the whole sphere.]]
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[[image:Probing_celestial proximity.jpg|thumb|440px|The signature is always withing 4 AU from a celestial. If there is only one celestial in the area you can move your 4 AU pinpoint formation to cover only space near it.]]
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[[image:Probing_circle.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as a circle there is no good simple trick. Move the probes to cover the whole circle but closer to one of its sides.]]
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[[image:Probing_double.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as two points the point that is further away from your previous scan point is most likely the signature location.]]
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[[image:Probing_point.jpg|thumb|440px|When the signature is seen as single point move probe formation on it and decrease probe size.]]
  
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A number of different results can occur after an initial scan.
  
=====7. Set the scan resolution size to fit.=====
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# If only one probe overlapped with the signature, the result is a sphere. You know that the signature is inside that sphere in the region that overlaps with one probe only. Center your probe formation on the new sphere, adjust range, and scan again.
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# If two probes overlapped with the signature, the result is a circle. The signature is somewhere on the circle where only two probes overlap with each other. Make an educated guess, move your formation, resize and scan again.
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# If three probes overlapped with the signature, the result is two points connected by a line. The signature is near one of the points. Usually, it is on the point that is further away from your probe formation's center. Move your probes, adjust range, and scan again.
 +
# If four or more probes overlapped with the signature the result is one point. Center your formation on it, reduce probe range and scan again. At this point, and assuming your probe strength is sufficiently strong to scan the signature at all, you will probably be able to pinpoint the signature just by repeatedly re-centering the formation and reducing its range.
  
[[File:P4-7.png]]
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Repeat the above steps until the signature is scanned and you can warp to it.
 
 
 
 
=====8. Drag the probes in/out, and expand/contract the resolution size as needed, CTRL+SHIFT to move the entire group at once.=====
 
 
 
==Five Probe Setup==
 
Although it is possible to do a five probe setup, it is not recommended, due to the fact that it is time consuming and difficult to get the positioning accurate on the fifth probe, so it sits correctly in the middle of the four-sided polygonal triangle. Since it's far easier to do a six, seven or eight probe setup, and since it's so short to train, it's best to train the skills to do the 6+ probe steps instead.
 
 
 
That said, if you insist on going with this setup, or you're absolutely stuck with a tricky signature, you can do these slightly tweaked steps, based on the above four probe setup:
 
 
 
 
 
1. Deploy two probes.
 
 
 
2. CTRL+SHIFT+Drag them down-leftward.
 
 
 
3. Deploy three probes.
 
 
 
4. Drag the first two outward from each other to form a triangle
 
 
 
5. Drag the third probe to the top-right of the triangle, leaving two probes in the center. (Do '''not''' manually drag the two probes to the middle like the four-probe instructions described; this will make it extremely hard to line up later on when condensing!). Adjust the first two probes via expansion to align with the top probe you just dragged.
 
 
 
6. Drag one of the two center probe vertically, leaving the second center probe in the middle.
 
 
 
7. Drag the center probe slightly upward, to center it between the top point, and the three bottom points.
 
 
 
8. Set the scan resolution size to fit.
 
 
 
9. Drag the probes in/out, and expand/contract the resolution size as needed, CTRL+SHIFT to move the entire group at once.
 
 
 
...And ''that's'' why it's far easier to go with six or more probes!
 
 
 
==Six Probe Setup==
 
=====1. Deploy six probes.=====
 
 
 
[[File:P6-1.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
=====2. Drag one down-left and up-right.=====
 
 
 
[[File:P6-2.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
=====3. Drag one down-right and up-left.=====
 
 
 
[[File:P6-3.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
=====4. Drag one down.=====
 
 
 
[[File:P6-4.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
=====5. Drag one up.=====
 
 
 
[[File:P6-5.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
=====6. Set the scan resolution size to fit. Drag the probes in/out, and expand/contract the resolution size as needed, CTRL+SHIFT to move the entire group at once.=====
 
 
 
[[File:P6-6.png]]
 
 
 
 
 
==Seven or Eight Probe Setup==
 
=====Same as Six Probe, Except deploy eight probes, spread out six as per above, and leave two centered on top of each other.=====
 
 
 
IMPORTANT: Do '''not''' move the seventh and eighth probe under any circumstances; it should only ever move when using CTRL+SHIFT+Drag. These are your center point, and moving them will throw off your alignment entirely, which will force you to recall and relaunch your probes.
 
 
 
[[File:P8-1.png]]
 
 
 
=====Close-up=====
 
 
 
[[File:P8-2.png]]
 
 
 
==Links==
 
 
 
*A very good video guide on scanning with 5 probes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heYfTA00Idg
 
*Seamus's guide to scanning with 7 probes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTf4ZYPAX1s
 
*[Scanning & Probing]
 
*[Smurfprime's Probing Guide]
 
  
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[[Category:Exploration]]
 
[[Category:Guides]]
 
[[Category:Guides]]
[[Category:Exploration]]
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[[Category:Getting Started]]

Latest revision as of 18:20, 6 November 2022

This page describes in simple terms the equipment and techniques used to probe down exploration sites. For more details on the exact mechanics of probing, see probe scanning.

Preparation

Sensible preparation in character training and equipment makes probing much easier.

Skills

Scanning skills

  • Astrometrics: useful bonuses to scan strength(+5%), scan deviation(-5%) and scan time(-5%) per level. Level I unlocks the Core Probe Launchers and Core Scanner Probes, level II unlocks the Expanded Probe Launchers and the Combat Scanner Probes. Level IV is the prerequisite for Astrometric Pinpointing and should be a short-term priority for the aspiring explorer.
  • Astrometric Pinpointing: 5% reduction in maximum scan deviation per level.
    • This skill is especially useful in the early phases of probing and makes life easier. Training high levels of this skill paired with high signal strength will allow you to reduce the scanning radius more aggressively. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan pinpointing arrays respectively.
  • Astrometric Rangefinding: 5% increase in scan probe strength per level, making it the most important of these skills. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan rangefinding arrays respectively.
  • Astrometric Acquisition: 5% reduction in scan time per level. This skill is useful for combat scanning, when every second counts, but is not hugely important otherwise. Levels II and V allow use of Tech 1 and Tech 2 scan acquisition arrays respectively.

Other skills

  • Racial Frigate: Level I is required for the Tech 1 scanning frigate of each faction (AmarrMagnate, CaldariHeron, GallenteImicus and MinmatarProbe) and the strong per-level bonus for scanner probe strength on these hulls make training it to IV worthwhile. Level V is a step towards covert ops ships.
  • Covert Ops: together with racial frigate V, this skill unlocks the covert ops ships (AmarrAnathema, CaldariBuzzard, GallenteHelios and MinmatarCheetah). New players need not rush into these, but covert ops ships are a good medium-term goal for keen explorers.
    • Note that since the hull bonuses for scanner probe strength on the covert ops ships are per-level, a covert ops ship only outmatches a Tech 1 exploration frigate in probe strength at Covert Ops IV.
  • Cloaking: level I is needed to use prototype cloaks, handy for Tech 1 exploration frigates; IV is necessary to fit covert ops cloaks and should be trained when a character is on their way to flying covert ops ships.
  • High Speed Maneuvering: to fit MWD.
  • Archaeology: level III is a quick train and makes you useful, IV is a good short-term goal for dedicated explorers, V is needed to use the Tech 2 relic analyzer.
  • Hacking: level III is a quick train and makes you useful, IV is a good short-term goal for dedicated explorers V is needed to use the Tech 2 data analyzer.

Equipment

Any ship can be used for exploration, but the Tech 1 frigates mentioned above offer a bonus, and ultimately a Tech 2 covert ops frigate is optimal.

The first and most important pieces of equipment you need for scanning are a probe launcher and probes. The normal Core Probe Launcher I and Core Scanner Probe I are acceptable starting-points for scanning signatures. Later these can be upgraded to the Tech 2 or Sisters core probe launchers, and Sisters core scanner probes. Sisters probes are a relatively cheap way to improve your effectiveness in scanning.

For scanning structures, ships, and drones, pilots need an Expanded Probe Launcher and combat scanner probes. Combat scan probes can also, technically, scan signatures, but they aren't as good for this use as core probes. Expanded probe launchers can use both core and combat probes, but are much harder to fit than core probe launchers.

The probe launcher and probes are the only mandatory equipment. Other useful equipment should be chosen to fit the job you want to do:

  • Scan arrays in the mid slots and Gravity Capacitor Upgrade rigs in the rig slots increase your probe stats, making scanning easier.
  • If you are scanning for relic and data sites, relic and data analyzers are necessary to do the sites once you've found them.
  • A prototype cloak lets even a Tech I frigate hide safely while scanning. A covert ops cloak on a covert ops ship lets the ship warp around while cloaked.
  • A cloak combined with a microwarp drive lets you perform the "cloak trick", increasing your survivability in hostile space.
  • Virtue pirate implants increase scan probe strength. Poteque "Prospector" implants decrease scan deviation, scan time or increase probe strength depending on which variant is used. Balance the benefits of using these against the potential cost of losing them if you are operating in nullsec, or wormhole space.
  • In a ship's low slots, you can also fit either nanofibers for speed and agility, inertial stabilizers for agility or warp core stabilizers for running away.

For gas sites a gas cloud harvester is required and for combat sites you need to fit your ship with combat equipment. Unless you are using a strategic cruiser, you might want to reship for both of these types of site.

Probing

Probe scanner window with labels.

Launching probes

To start probing launch your probes and open both the system map and probe scanner window.

Many players find it useful to undock the probe scanner window from the system map by clicking the square icon on the top right corner of the probe scanner window. This allows you to open and close both the system map and the probe scanner independently.

With the probe scanner open, the system map now shows information relevant for probing. The red spheres are signatures that need to be probed with probes, green icons are anomalies or completely probed signatures, and the blue spheres are the areas scanned by each of your probes.

Initial placement

You have several controls for your probes.

  • Drag the cube to move the whole probe formation.
    • Hold shift to move individual probes.
    • Hold control to adjust probe distance from center point.
  • Alt+scroll, alt+drag or slider in probe scanner window to alter probe range

You can also move your probes to pinpoint formation, spread formation or your own saved custom formation in the probe scanner window. When scanning signatures, only pinpoint formation, formation move, and probe range changes are needed. Sometimes you may encounter a signature you can't get all the way to 100%. You can try moving your probes into a more tightly packed pinpoint formation to get 0.1% more signal, but placing them too close to each other will reduce scan results.

To scan a signature, move your probe formation over the signature sphere. A good starting formation is the pinpoint formation, with range adjusted to cover the whole signature sphere. A trick to help with initial probe placement is to know that all signatures are within 4 AU from celestial objects. If there is only one celestial near the signature sphere, then the signature is near it and you can place your probes there.

Now refresh probe scan by clicking the "Analyze" button in the probe scanner window. Depending on your probe placement and probe stats, the marker of the signature will change, and you can then begin to narrow the signature down.

Refining the scan

When the signature is seen as a sphere place the pinpoint formation to cover the whole sphere.
The signature is always withing 4 AU from a celestial. If there is only one celestial in the area you can move your 4 AU pinpoint formation to cover only space near it.
When the signature is seen as a circle there is no good simple trick. Move the probes to cover the whole circle but closer to one of its sides.
When the signature is seen as two points the point that is further away from your previous scan point is most likely the signature location.
When the signature is seen as single point move probe formation on it and decrease probe size.

A number of different results can occur after an initial scan.

  1. If only one probe overlapped with the signature, the result is a sphere. You know that the signature is inside that sphere in the region that overlaps with one probe only. Center your probe formation on the new sphere, adjust range, and scan again.
  2. If two probes overlapped with the signature, the result is a circle. The signature is somewhere on the circle where only two probes overlap with each other. Make an educated guess, move your formation, resize and scan again.
  3. If three probes overlapped with the signature, the result is two points connected by a line. The signature is near one of the points. Usually, it is on the point that is further away from your probe formation's center. Move your probes, adjust range, and scan again.
  4. If four or more probes overlapped with the signature the result is one point. Center your formation on it, reduce probe range and scan again. At this point, and assuming your probe strength is sufficiently strong to scan the signature at all, you will probably be able to pinpoint the signature just by repeatedly re-centering the formation and reducing its range.

Repeat the above steps until the signature is scanned and you can warp to it.