[noob] TIL something important that I did not realize before about the FSS: I was under the mistaken impression that the FSS reveals all of the USS in a system. It does not. All it does is reveal the LOCATION of all USS that are detected. Everything we know about where to find mats is still valid, it is apparently only the number and frequency of HGE-USS drops that has been greatly reduced.
I did not realize this until today when, after having tried the same (Outbreak) system every day this week and not finding any HGE-USS I decided to try the old method of finding HGE-USS i.e.: fly out a certain distance and just turn circles around the star to see if any HGE-USS popped up and after a while (about 20 minutes), one did. Not near me, and not in front of me like they used to, I simply got a "New Unidentified Signal Source Detected" message in the INFO window, which is also how it displayed in the (filtered for USS) NAV window. Only when I slowed, opened the FSS, found the USS in the FSS and zoomed to it did it finally display as "High Grade Emission" and then I was able to go there and farm it for mats.
I did this in several systems to confirm and the effect is consistent: Go to an appropriate system and HONK, go to and scan the NAV beacon to see if any HGE-USS are already available and if not, fly out a ways and start turning circles around the star, keeping an eye on the INFO panel for any "Unidentified Signal Source Detected" messages. When the message is received slow down to zero throttle, open the FSS, find the new USS and identify it. If it is not the desired type simply rinse and repeat. If it is the desired type, fly to it as fast as possible and open a farm.
I did this today and topped out all my high-level mats, then went to a technology trader and traded down to max out everything down-level from level 5 mats. All I have to do now is top up again on level-5 mats and I am full up on manufactured mats. o7
I did not realize this until today when, after having tried the same (Outbreak) system every day this week and not finding any HGE-USS I decided to try the old method of finding HGE-USS i.e.: fly out a certain distance and just turn circles around the star to see if any HGE-USS popped up and after a while (about 20 minutes), one did. Not near me, and not in front of me like they used to, I simply got a "New Unidentified Signal Source Detected" message in the INFO window, which is also how it displayed in the (filtered for USS) NAV window. Only when I slowed, opened the FSS, found the USS in the FSS and zoomed to it did it finally display as "High Grade Emission" and then I was able to go there and farm it for mats.
I did this in several systems to confirm and the effect is consistent: Go to an appropriate system and HONK, go to and scan the NAV beacon to see if any HGE-USS are already available and if not, fly out a ways and start turning circles around the star, keeping an eye on the INFO panel for any "Unidentified Signal Source Detected" messages. When the message is received slow down to zero throttle, open the FSS, find the new USS and identify it. If it is not the desired type simply rinse and repeat. If it is the desired type, fly to it as fast as possible and open a farm.
I did this today and topped out all my high-level mats, then went to a technology trader and traded down to max out everything down-level from level 5 mats. All I have to do now is top up again on level-5 mats and I am full up on manufactured mats. o7
