Ship sensors
Ship sensors are used to acquire a target lock on an enemy ship. The strength of a ship's sensors can be modified by a variety of Modules.
Types of Sensors
There are 4 types of ship sensors, based on the race of the ship. They are:
- Gravimetric sensors (used by Caldari)
- Magnetometric sensors (used by Gallente)
- LADAR sensors (used by Minmatar)
- RADAR sensors (used by Amarr)
This can be important to know when using Electronic Counter Measures.
Sensor Strength
Every ship has a sensor strength attribute. Larger ships generally have higher sensor strength than small ships. This attribute is used when calculating the chance of being jammed by an Electronic Counter Measure module. Knowing the type of sensors used by an opponent can help in determining which type of ECM jamming device to use.
Sensor strength can be improved using Electronic Counter, Counter Measures or Sensor Backup Arrays.
Scan Resolution
Every ship has a scan resolution attribute. This determines how quickly the ship can lock on to a particular target. A higher scan resolution means that the ship's sensors can target a ship faster. Larger ships tend to have a lower scan resolution, so it takes them longer to target other ships; for more details see targeting.
Improving your scan resolution
Your ship's scan resolution can be improved by:
- Modules:
- Sensor Booster (XX slot): Increases your ship's targeting range and scan resolution. Can be loaded with scripts to give either a bonus to both, or a larger bonus to one (at the expense of no bonus to the other); for more details, see sensor booster.
- Signal Amplifier (XX slot): Gives a 10% (Signal Amplifier I) or 15% (Signal Amplifier II) bonus to scan resolution, while also increasing your maximum targeting range and and the maximum number of locked targets.
- Rigs
- Targeting System Subcontroller: Increases your scan resolution at the expense of shield strength.
- Implants
- Zainou 'Gypsy' Signature Analysis: Provides a 1%-6% bonus to scan resolution
- Help from fleetmates (using remote sensor boosters)
Reducing an enemy's scan resolution
You can handicap an opponent by decreasing their scan resolution using remote sensor dampening (making them take longer to lock on to you). Like sensor dampeners, remote sensor dampeners can be loaded with scripts, to affect either your target's targeting range and their scan resolution, or just one (but to a much greater degree).
