I started playing this game about a week ago, so lots of learning going on. I'm playing as a bounty hunter which usually leads to some smuggling as well. Been hearing that entering stations with stolen goods can be tricky but I'm finding that if I just stay out 7.5 Km's, and get docking clearance, all I have to do is punch it and get in there fast. No powering down systems and coasting in required. Usually don't get scanned at all or if I do I'm inside before it completes. The only drawback so far is slowing down once inside and not splattering myself on the far wall inside the station, lol.
Getting scanned entering stations with stolen goods
- Thread starter Flywheel Shyster
- Start date
This is the way to do it, but be aware that sooner or later something will go wrong. And the fines are heavy but the reputation penalties are far worse. It is harder in larger ships. Get your approach messed up once and you will be a long time recovering the rep loss.
If you dock on an outpost you negate the risk.
The only time I got busted was leaving a station. I thought I'd sold l my black market stuff but turned out there was still stuff in my cargo hold. Set me back 11,000 credits. Lesson learned.
Silent running has been working well for me. The only thing is that if you are in line of sight, authority can complete scan.
Here was my experience. I just got an Asp and started doing a 76 system rare trade route. I want' choosy...narcotic, tobacco and liqour, I'll move it all. Using silent running, I completed about 30 or so docks without a single scan. Then I come to one federation station, and I'm full of onionhead and various illegal drugs. I do the usual, boost around till im facing the letter box, engage silent running and fly on in. This time, however, I didn't pay attention to the authorites...they were sitting right there staring at the letterbox. I saw them at the last minute, started to panic and began to drift to the side, risking a crash. SCAN DETECTED....Oh crap. I thought for sure I was going to get fined. Usually when I just miss the box, I just full stop and thrust around like a bumbling idiot until I can get in. I couldn't do that this time, I was being scanned. So, I pitched up and boosted, damn the hull damage. Somehow, I must have gotten out of the view of whomever was scanning me. After I got some distance, cooled things down, I tried again...this time with success.
So, yes, I think Silent Running is working it just isn't the invisibility cloak it was back in early beta.
I also launch Chaff on the way in now too. Not sure if it has any real effect but it sure makes me look special when I enter the station
Here was my experience. I just got an Asp and started doing a 76 system rare trade route. I want' choosy...narcotic, tobacco and liqour, I'll move it all. Using silent running, I completed about 30 or so docks without a single scan. Then I come to one federation station, and I'm full of onionhead and various illegal drugs. I do the usual, boost around till im facing the letter box, engage silent running and fly on in. This time, however, I didn't pay attention to the authorites...they were sitting right there staring at the letterbox. I saw them at the last minute, started to panic and began to drift to the side, risking a crash. SCAN DETECTED....Oh crap. I thought for sure I was going to get fined. Usually when I just miss the box, I just full stop and thrust around like a bumbling idiot until I can get in. I couldn't do that this time, I was being scanned. So, I pitched up and boosted, damn the hull damage. Somehow, I must have gotten out of the view of whomever was scanning me. After I got some distance, cooled things down, I tried again...this time with success.
So, yes, I think Silent Running is working it just isn't the invisibility cloak it was back in early beta.
I also launch Chaff on the way in now too. Not sure if it has any real effect but it sure makes me look special when I enter the station
Last edited:
Is the amount of the fine determined by the amount of stolen goods you're carrying, the type of goods or just that you are carrying contraband period? Or is it a combination of the above. Running a Viper with an 8 slot cargo hold so it's not like I can carry all that much anyway.
If you are worried about being scanned, try to find and orbital pad rather than a station, they wont scan you, you just need to find one with a black market.
Yeah, that makes sense but sometimes if going to an outpost is a lot farther than a station, I'm willing to take the risk in order to save time.
If you filter the anarchy systems you will find quite a few with large stations, police don't patrol these big stations so you can cruise in and out without any hassle, very nice if you are using a big ship. I use the system Reddot as my mind hub for illegal goods. All the big anarchy stations I have found operate black markets.
Good to know.
nah if there's an outpost available and you can land on small/medium pad it's a no-brainer. ONE scan with illegal cargo will get you negative rep moving you from Neutral to Unfriendly. One more and you find your status Hostile in every Federation station and get shot at on sight. To move your rep UP is a massive grind (e.g. 25 zero-money rep gain missions) and if you're hostile the situation is really difficult because you're not offered many missions.
Or, option 2... get yourself negative rep and find out for yourself the pain involved.
Or, option 2... get yourself negative rep and find out for yourself the pain involved.