Am I missing something about Silent Running?

crashland

crashland
I've been trying out a few of the smuggling missions in my a-rated Cobra. On the first run I turned on silent running, got scanned as I approached the station and picked up a 19k CR fine. Second run, I got inside the No Fire Zone ,turned on silent running and got as far as the slot before being scanned.
"Heh," thought I. "You're too late."
But no. I got a 13k CR fine as I entered the station.
Third run, I didn't bother going cold, didn't get scanned either.
Now, I'm not whining about the fines. I made far more than I lost, but here's the thing. Using silent running didn't seem to raise the ship's temperature noticeably and didn't even report that my shields were offline until I hit the landing bay. It's like it didn't kick in for a minute or so.
Am I missing something obvious?
Fly safe.
 

777Driver

777Driver
Silent running is not an invisibility cloak. If a ship is close enough it will still pick you up on scanners. AI ships are also able to detect cold/silent running ships further out.

Whilst smuggling I tend to drop out early, watch the police patrols and run cold/silent during a gap in the patrol.

You can always use the brute force technique and burn your way in at max thrust, if you fly a perfect approach the cops will never finish the scan in time. You basically need to be at the mailbox before the scan starts, otherwise you will still be caught.
 
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Jacob Marshall

Jacob Marshall
777Driver said:
Silent running is not an invisibility cloak. If a ship is close enough it will still pick you up on scanners. AI ships are also able to detect cold/silent running ships further out
Click to expand...

Also, the station itself (not Outposts) can scan you as you approach to enter; this scan cancels as you enter the slot. Be aware that with outposts, you land on the surface so can be scanned so enter the hanger to be sure.

EDIT:

Dodgy info there!
 
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CMDR Weatherwax

C
crashland said:
I've been trying out a few of the smuggling missions in my a-rated Cobra. On the first run I turned on silent running, got scanned as I approached the station and picked up a 19k CR fine. Second run, I got inside the No Fire Zone ,turned on silent running and got as far as the slot before being scanned.
"Heh," thought I. "You're too late."
But no. I got a 13k CR fine as I entered the station.
Third run, I didn't bother going cold, didn't get scanned either.
Now, I'm not whining about the fines. I made far more than I lost, but here's the thing. Using silent running didn't seem to raise the ship's temperature noticeably and didn't even report that my shields were offline until I hit the landing bay. It's like it didn't kick in for a minute or so.
Am I missing something obvious?
Fly safe.
Click to expand...

Might be worth checking if you have the toggle or hold setting in your key binds for silent running set. Sounds like it's set to hold so maybe never activated in the first place if it was a quick key press.
 

Bokugo

B
I think it would be nice if it didn't completely wipe out the shield. Maybe just that delay that happens right when it goes out but before it starts charging would be enough, then the shield is restored to what it was before.
That or let shields recharge/cooldown while in silent mode. Idk I just feel something needs to be done about this awesome but completely useless mechanic.
 

giomania

giomania
also, try to make "tidy" flying. don't hit anything and try to keep straight line. use heat sinks to keep cool
 

Jacob Marshall

Jacob Marshall
777Driver said:
Stations never perform a scan - Unless that was changed in 1.3 Only police patrols can perform scans
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Marra said:
Nah, stations don't scan you. It's the security patrols that do the scanning.

EDIT: Ninja'd by Mr 777Driver!
Click to expand...

Really? Sure I read somewhere that they did and found it easy to accept as it paired up with what I was seeing on the radar; i.e nothing in range and being scanned.

I'll have to prod this, cheers.
 
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Bortas

Bortas
777Driver said:
Silent running is not an invisibility cloak.
Click to expand...

Some commanders seem to be mistaking it for that. Yesterday, a commander in a shieldless silent-running-DBScout interdictd me in my Combat-Python... Sure, I couldn't get a target lock most of the time, but since I'm using fixed weapons anyway it didn't take more than a few seconds until he started to run with 30% hull or so left.

Silent running might be useful for smuggling but definetely not for combat.
 

X-Terminator

Banned
X-Terminator
That. Also becoming Friendly with the station helps. Boost to line up at 7km but don't boost in after. Just use full thrusters. You get more out os SR after you are allied though and try entering closer at slower speeds.
 

Jukelo

Jukelo
Don't use silent running for smuggling. It's easier and less risky to just go for the mailslot at fullspeed right after entering the instance. It's actually failsafe in that the police can never finish a scan in time.
 
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Wolfzx12r

Wolfzx12r
Station security relay on line of sight to scan you as you approach a station, I get my Docking request done at 7.5km out or as soon as they will take it, line up with the letter box at 5km out and keep your speed up above 190kmh + as soon as you reach and go through the letter box thrusters to full revers and drop your landing gear to slow you down. Forget silent running and trying chaff or heat sinks they just inform the security you are worth scanning "if they see you".

Oh and that is in a Python :)
 
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zombieapocalypse

zombieapocalypse
As others point out silent running doesn't make you invisible - you appear as a unresolved contact on scanners and at close range you will resolve, allowing you to be targeted and scanned.

For smuggling, speed is your friend. Get through the letterbox as quickly as possible - you're safe once your inside. And, as far as I know, you never get scanned at outposts.

To be honest, considering the drawbacks (heat build up and shield shutdown), silent running seems to be a little underpowered. I think it needs tweaking to make it a more viable and interesting mechanic/tactic.
 
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777Driver

777Driver
Jukelo said:
Don't use silent running for smuggling. It's easier and less risky to just go for the mailslot at fullspeed right after entering the instance. It's actually failsafe in that the police can never finish a scan in time.
Click to expand...

Personally I reckon the best option is to use all three methods. Watch for patrols/fly the approach at max speed/Run cold & silent.
 

babelfisch

babelfisch
Jukelo said:
Don't use silent running for smuggling. It's easier and less risky to just go for the mailslot at fullspeed right after entering the instance. It's actually failsafe in that the police can never finish a scan in time.
Click to expand...

I always do both, silent running and boosting at 7 km, then full throttle to the letterbox. I usually throttle to zero and deploy landing gears as soon as I reach the toaster. Never got scanned so far.
 

zombieapocalypse

zombieapocalypse
babelfisch said:
I always do both, silent running and boosting at 7 km, then full throttle to the letterbox. I usually throttle to zero and deploy landing gears as soon as I reach the toaster. Never got scanned so far.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I do both just to be on the safe side. Though it's annoying having to wait for your shields to recharge when you land.
 

Marra Morgan

Marra Morgan
777Driver said:
Personally I reckon the best option is to use all three methods. Watch for patrols/fly the approach at max speed/Run cold & silent.
Click to expand...

babelfisch said:
I always do both, silent running and boosting at 7 km, then full throttle to the letterbox. I usually throttle to zero and deploy landing gears as soon as I reach the toaster. Never got scanned so far.
Click to expand...

I'm another one who combines fast and silent. No scans, no fines, all good :)


Firestarter said:
I read debate over whether chaff slows down a scan, prevents it or does nothing to stop scans.

Never tested it myself but would be nice to know.
Click to expand...

I read the same stuff so did my own test, just after 1.2 was deployed. Chaff has no effect on NPC security scans.
 
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