Noob. Discovery (Stock) Scanner how to use it?

[Lost_in_Tactics]

I'm new to E.D and its franchise. Amazing game!

I've watched many E.D YouTube videos - tutorials, races, cqc, lore, ship walkthroughs, system management, let's plays.. Etc. (I take my sims serious so I prepare best I can) Forza 6 is my other sim baby - bought a Thrustmaster TX wheel, TH8A Shifter, T3PA Pro Pedals and a GT Omega race rig for it. Too bad no Hotas for XB1

That said, I do invest myself and consider myself familiar with E.D even if I just started playing. (Still learning of course - I have no idea what's interdict)

Discovery (Stock) Scanner:
In many videos I've watched guys just scan the Sun with their basic (stock) discovery scanner and in moments they have intel on that entire system.

My Issue:
I equip it to the second column of fire group and assign it as 2. I'm close to the sun about a Ly (enough to where I'm not catching heat) all that happens when I press the left trigger, my laser hard points get drawn and starts shooting?

I am locked on to the sun and its in the middle of my compass. I thought these were the prerequisites that would activate the scanner?

So what am I doing wrong?

Thanks.

 

[Comrade Error]

There are two types of scanners, discovery scanners and detailed surface scanner. Discovery scanners are used to scan a system of stellar bodies, once you figure out what stellar bodies are in the system you can do a detailed surface scan by targeting a star or planet facing the star or planet and let the scan do its thing. With discovery scanners you simply give them a firegroup hold down the trigger until the horn sounds and you have found the planets in the discovery scanners range. Discovery scanners come in 3 varients, basic intermediate and advanced. Basic has a range of 500 light seconds, intermediate has a range of a thousand light seconds and an advanced has an infinet range in that system. (Advanced is pretty much a must as you won't find much with a 1000 light second range. The detailed surface scanner comes only in one varient and its range depends of the size of the stellar body. You don't have to be in normal space for any of these to work.

This infographic should also help. http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...Dubardo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150302224634

Edit: You do know how to change firegroups right? Because that might be your problem, I belive by default changing firegroups is X + LB/RB or if you are using the classic control scheme it is A

Edit2: Cross refference the infographic with your system map once you've done a discovery scan.

 

[Lost_in_Tactics]

There are two types of scanners, discovery scanners and detailed surface scanner. Discovery scanners are used to scan a system of stellar bodies, once you figure out what stellar bodies are in the system you can do a detailed surface scan by targeting a star or planet facing the star or planet and let the scan do its thing. With discovery scanners you simply give them a firegroup hold down the trigger until the horn sounds and you have found the planets in the discovery scanners range. Discovery scanners come in 3 varients, basic intermediate and advanced. Basic has a range of 500 light seconds, intermediate has a range of a thousand light seconds and an advanced has an infinet range in that system. (Advanced is pretty much a must as you won't find much with a 1000 light second range. The detailed surface scanner comes only in one varient and its range depends of the size of the stellar body. You don't have to be in normal space for any of these to work.

This infographic should also help. http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...Dubardo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150302224634

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...Dubardo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150302224634

Edit: You do know how to change firegroups right? Because that might be your problem, I belive by default changing firegroups is X + LB/RB or if you are using the classic control scheme it is A

Edit2: Cross refference the infographic with your system map once you've done a discovery scan.

Thanks. Yes, I know how assign to fire groups, I've described in my OP that I placed it in fire group 2

Thanks for the breakdown of the other variants. But before I go out and buy a better version...

I need to learn how to use the "stock" discovery scanner that comes with the sidewinder the free ship (I forget if this is the name to that ship)

I know you are trying to help me. And I greatly appreciate your detailed breakdown and the effort you put into that post, that knowledge will definitely come in handy at some point - but right now, with my current situation, this is not helping me. (Or maybe your info is solid and I'm just not able for some reason, to translate it appropriately, onto my situation)

I think I need a detailed *go about* on how to actually operate this thing. Thanks.

 

[OZYMANDlUS]

There are two types of scanners, discovery scanners and detailed surface scanner. Discovery scanners are used to scan a system of stellar bodies, once you figure out what stellar bodies are in the system you can do a detailed surface scan by targeting a star or planet facing the star or planet and let the scan do its thing. With discovery scanners you simply give them a firegroup hold down the trigger until the horn sounds and you have found the planets in the discovery scanners range. Discovery scanners come in 3 varients, basic intermediate and advanced. Basic has a range of 500 light seconds, intermediate has a range of a thousand light seconds and an advanced has an infinet range in that system. (Advanced is pretty much a must as you won't find much with a 1000 light second range. The detailed surface scanner comes only in one varient and its range depends of the size of the stellar body. You don't have to be in normal space for any of these to work.

This infographic should also help. http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...Dubardo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150302224634

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...Dubardo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150302224634

Edit: You do know how to change firegroups right? Because that might be your problem, I belive by default changing firegroups is X + LB/RB or if you are using the classic control scheme it is A

Edit2: Cross refference the infographic with your system map once you've done a discovery scan.

+1 rep for you. Whoever said pirates, can't be helpful? LoL

 

[Shamefaced]

Don't forget to also select "UNEXPLORED" as a target to start auto scanning.

 

[Clanky Munge]

+1 rep for you. Whoever said pirates, can't be helpful? LoL

OP died from shock lol

 

[Lost_in_Tactics]

Don't forget to also select "UNEXPLORED" as a target to start auto scanning.

Ah, now this is new to me. Where do I locate this.

OP died from shock lol

Lol. Indeed.

@Error

I will try it again. But when I was trying out what you said it just keeps bringing up my lasers and shooting. I am pressing and holding (not pressing releasing then holding)

When I get home I'll give try it out again.

 

[Shamefaced]

Ah, now this is new to me. Where do I locate this.

Navigation panel.

 

[L0CI]

Is the scanner visible on your HUD? You should see it there, if you are in the correct fire group. You have to hold down the assigned button for around 5 seconds ish for the scan to complete. You should see a progress bar filling up during this time. If the scanner ia not working at all, is it powered? Check your modules tab and ensure the box is ticked.

 

[Jeroboam]

It's sounds like you have your scanner in a different fire-group from your weapons (2 different columns.)

You could assign the scanner to the same fire-group (column) as your lasers; lasers at 1 and scanner at 2 so that lasers fire with RT and scanner fires with LT, held.
Or you can assign it into a whole separate fire-group. If doing the latter, you'll need to hold down X and press RB to cycle from your first fire group to your second.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[CentrumSilver]

Here's how I do it: Open up your fire groups, place your guns with a number 1, the scanner place it with a 2, now whenever you jump to a system and are at the sun just sitting there, squeeze your LEFT trigger, you will see the discovery scanner scanning (a little blue line that grows from right to left) up on your display. You might not get much at first with the basic discovery scanner, but when you do, you can then sell the data at station with a Cartographic services office, just click the cartographic ans it will bring up all the data you have that is usable to sell.

A quick note, DATA is sold after you are 20 LY's away from where you discovered it the first time, so try any station 20LY's away from where you discovered whatever celestial bodies etc. Good luck!

 

[markkuk]

Ah, now this is new to me. Where do I locate this.

You don't need to target anything to use the discovery scanner. Actually, the UNEXPLORED astronomical objects appear only after a discovery scan, and you choose them for a surface scan.

I will try it again. But when I was trying out what you said it just keeps bringing up my lasers and shooting.

You wrote that you assigned the discovery scanner to trigger 2 in the second fire group. Did you switch fire groups before pressing the trigger? Your HUD should show D-SCANNER as your secondary weapon.

 

[Lost_in_Tactics]

Don't forget to also select "UNEXPLORED" as a target to start auto scanning.

Is the scanner visible on your HUD? You should see it there, if you are in the correct fire group. You have to hold down the assigned button for around 5 seconds ish for the scan to complete. You should see a progress bar filling up during this time. If the scanner ia not working at all, is it powered? Check your modules tab and ensure the box is ticked.

It's sounds like you have your scanner in a different fire-group from your weapons (2 different columns.)

You could assign the scanner to the same fire-group (column) as your lasers; lasers at 1 and scanner at 2 so that lasers fire with RT and scanner fires with LT, held.
Or you can assign it into a whole separate fire-group. If doing the latter, you'll need to hold down X and press RB to cycle from your first fire group to your second.

Hope that makes sense.

Here's how I do it: Open up your fire groups, place your guns with a number 1, the scanner place it with a 2, now whenever you jump to a system and are at the sun just sitting there, squeeze your LEFT trigger, you will see the discovery scanner scanning (a little blue line that grows from right to left) up on your display. You might not get much at first with the basic discovery scanner, but when you do, you can then sell the data at station with a Cartographic services office, just click the cartographic ans it will bring up all the data you have that is usable to sell.

A quick note, DATA is sold after you are 20 LY's away from where you discovered it the first time, so try any station 20LY's away from where you discovered whatever celestial bodies etc. Good luck!

You guys hit the nail on the head! Especially Jeroboam. That's exactly what it was. I had it in the "second column" not in the same column with the lasers. I fixed it. Now it works.

Now to figure out where is this UNEXPLORED. @Shamefaced mentioned its in the navigation. I looked but didn't see it. I'll have to search again. Navigation, so I'm assuming he means the panel which houses contacts, Galaxy map.. etc.

I'll check later when I get back in.

All you guys have been a GREAT help. Thanks.

 

[Comrade Error]

Ah, now this is new to me. Where do I locate this.

Lol. Indeed.

@Error

I will try it again. But when I was trying out what you said it just keeps bringing up my lasers and shooting. I am pressing and holding (not pressing releasing then holding)

When I get home I'll give try it out again.

I didn't say you didn't assign it to a firegroup but that the active firegroup is the wrong one, as others have said you have to switch to that second colum by either pressing A or X + LB/RB

- - - Updated - - -

You guys hit the nail on the head! Especially Jeroboam. That's exactly what it was. I had it in the "second column" not in the same column with the lasers. I fixed it. Now it works.

Now to figure out where is this UNEXPLORED. @Shamefaced mentioned its in the navigation. I looked but didn't see it. I'll have to search again. Navigation, so I'm assuming he means the panel which houses contacts, Galaxy map.. etc.

I'll check later when I get back in.

All you guys have been a GREAT help. Thanks.

Not all systems have any unexplored parts. You have to either find a system with maybe 1 outpost that is probably a research station or just go outside of colonized space, out in the black everything will show up as unexplored but of course you cannot actually explore lets say the Sol system.