I was confused about how to farm High Grade Emissions with the new Full-Spectrum Scanner and signal source changes. After reading several threads here, I see that I'm not alone. But collecting others' hints and tips together, I was able to rake in the rares faster than before the update, after some initial fumbling. So for others out there with the same problem, here's the method I'm now using:
The upshot: signal sources persist between sessions until their time runs out. This has two consequences: (1) if you don't see a HGE in a system, give up on that system right away and move on. You might circle back to it in >20 minutes. And (2) if you do see a HGE in a system, stay there farm the hell out of it!
Thanks all those who have discussed the issue in the beta forums and put these tips out there. I'm just putting them in bullet point form.
- Consult the Materials tab of the excellent Scavenger spreadsheet to determine the type of system you're looking for.
For example: Proto Heat Radiators -> Boom (Independent/Alliance) - In game, enter the Galaxy Map and set the system filter to the desired state. Pick one and set a course.
Previously I would have used eddb.io to locate a high-population system fitting the required parameters. However, the update has reset all system states, so the database is very inaccurate right now and will take a while to catch up. Furthermore, I haven't seen any need to seek out high-population systems since the update: they don't seem to have a higher prevalence of HGE signals, nor does having a lot of them in one system do much good anymore. You'll see why shortly. Finally, just finding one system doesn't do a lot of good; you may need to visit several systems to find a HGE signal. Waiting around a system hoping for a HGE to pop up doesn't really work anymore. So the Galaxy Map is a much more efficient way to go about this. - Once you've jumped into the system, target the Nav Beacon and head for it. Drop out of supercruise and scan the Nav Beacon to identify every Unidentified Signal Source in the system. (This is a lot faster than using the Full-Spectrum Scanner!)
- Return to supercruise, then check the Target panel for High Grade Emissions signals. If you don't see any, go back to step 2 and select a different system to visit.
- If you do see one or more High Grade Emissions signals, select one and head for it.
- Once you're out of supercruise at the HGE site, take a peek at the Contacts tab on the Target panel to see if it has the type of materials you want.
Note that some material types may coexist randomly at a site, e.g. Proprietary Composites and Core Dynamics Composites. If you are looking for CDC but see only PC when you first drop in, that's OK... stick with that site. - If the site has the wrong kind of materials, pick a different HGE site (if one exists in the system) or a different system. (Return to step 4 or step 2.)
- If you do see the right kind of materials, scoop them up quickly and immediately relog. You are on a time limit (the signal lifetime is usually ~20 minutes) so efficiency matters now.
- Once logged back in, immediately boost and enter supercruise; during the final 5-second countdown before entering supercruise, set your throttle to zero. Otherwise, you will move quickly away from the signal site and lose time getting back to it.
- If you see an Unidentified Signal Source right in front of you and close by (~1 Mm or less), select it and drop out of supercruise ASAP.
- If you don't see the USS in front of you, enter the Target panel and select the closest one. It should be very close... possibly close enough to just point your nose to it and immediately drop out.
- You'll be back at the same HGE site with the same type of materials. Continue from step 8 and keep scooping up those mats until time runs out!
The upshot: signal sources persist between sessions until their time runs out. This has two consequences: (1) if you don't see a HGE in a system, give up on that system right away and move on. You might circle back to it in >20 minutes. And (2) if you do see a HGE in a system, stay there farm the hell out of it!
Thanks all those who have discussed the issue in the beta forums and put these tips out there. I'm just putting them in bullet point form.
