The Ultimate Silent Docking run : Need help !

Ripper

R
Ship: Anaconda, coming home after 30.000ly of exploring with 4 secretive passenger cabins. I have 87 mil (in optional reward) riding on docking without getting scanned even once. But, way too much exploration data on board to be any riskier than no shield in order to run silent while docking. Auto-dock is pretty much a must.

Checklist:
- All non-essential modules: off
- 10+km Drop out of SC, facing entrance. Silent running: on, life support: off, FSD: Off, purge heat sink.
- Line up, set throttle to just under 100m/s (for no attention for speeding)
- 7.5km request docking,(?)sensors: off(?), purge heat sink, heat sink rack 1: off. Abort if there's any traffic in the way.
- 3km (point of no return) purge heat sink. FA: Off, auto dock enabled
- pray and cook
- If scanned, purge heat sink immediately (or no? Just try and make it into the mail slot before the scan finishes?).

Questions:
- Any corrections to my checklist?
- Does autodock require sensors to be on ?
- I can request docking while running silent, right? Without it revealing me to the coppers?
- Will auto-dock turn off silent running ?
- Is it known if security are more likely to scan speeders? Or is high speed always preferable?

Help is much appreciated... I can't test things out on my own
 

Kingston@#

Kingston@#
depending were you drop the data ect. what your rep is with the controlling faction, depends on how long before the npc's scan you. if your rep is good just go in as normal.

I have never used silent running. how to do that, I still don't know after 2.5yrs. :)
 

IceFire122

IceFire122
Ripper said:
Checklist:
- All non-essential modules: off
- 10+km Drop out of SC, facing entrance. Silent running: on, life support: off, FSD: Off, purge heat sink.
- Line up, set throttle to just under 100m/s (for no attention for speeding)
- 7.5km request docking,(?)sensors: off(?), purge heat sink, heat sink rack 1: off. Abort if there's any traffic in the way.
- 3km (point of no return) purge heat sink. FA: Off, auto dock enabled
- pray and cook
- If scanned, purge heat sink immediately (or no? Just try and make it into the mail slot before the scan finishes?).
Click to expand...
I think your Checklist is a bit complicated.
I found speed more important than going fully silent. Even with coming in very cool, the NPCs might spot you with their eyes and start scanning. The only thing helping you in this case is getting in the slot and below/above it inside to break the line of sight.
As you use a Conda, aka Sidey crusher, you might thing about keeping your speed below 100 around the slot, unless you are actively scanned to avoid fines/bounties or station retaliation.

Basically, I do no longer switch to silent running, as regular heat sink popping keeps your ship as cool, but your shield up. The latter is important, as you should come in quickly and the shields give you some room for error in the slot.
By doing so, I get scanned from time to time, but the scans usually break, when I enter the slot.

- I can request docking while running silent, right? Without it revealing me to the coppers?
Yes you can, the flight controller might give you some remark, that he can't see you (happened to me once).
 
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CMDR Harada

CMDR Harada
Yes, yes. I'll park my Corvette near the station entrance. I'll have torpedoes ready to fight off the less reputable... Just tell me when and what station.

Seriously, Silent running should do it. And one scan won't cause the passengers to eject. So as long as you haven't been scanned yet, you're golden.

You also might do it in SOLO, or at least during non-peak hours to avoid idiots who may take great joy in your loss of data.
 

ThriveInDark

T
Honestly, your best and probably safest bet if using auto dock is just to pop a heat sink every 5-7 seconds as you're going through the procedure until you clear the slot. I would NOT use Silent Running, because if the authorities are near the slot you will be within auto-resolve range anyway, and then unshielded/unable to boost through the slot to break LOS. Silent Running has some very specific rules about when it works.

In fact, as soon as you kick on auto-dock the thrusters will fire and your heat signature (because it is a big ship) will probably be instantly visible anyway. I wouldn't trust the auto dock on an unshielded large ship in the first place personally but I don't run docking computer on anything other than a trade ship.

Maybe someone who's a true expert on Silent Running can chime in, but that's my 2 cents man. Good luck, I'd be happy to get in a distraction though haha

One last note on the auto-dock, it used to be it would pick up wherever you left off. So the way I used to speed up the process was do all the flying and alignment to the slot and just let it take me through and then thrust up/down to break LOS of the mailslot if smuggling, though I really used the computer for trading and was trying to shave time and speed up cr/hr (the season 1 slave trades). My point is, 3km of auto docking seems excessive, and I don't know that auto-dock works with FA-Off, since it is by definition a computer assist, and the reason to go FA off is to turn your thrusters off and keep momentum once aligned.
 
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Morbad

Morbad
I'd just fly through the slot at maximum speed, dumping one sink at ~6km, and another as that one is ejected. No need to bother with silent running.
 

Factabulous

Factabulous
Hmm, I thought autodock switched off silent running - though since no-one else has mentioned it maybe I was dreaming...

Does the passenger bonus go down with each scan? I've had passengers complain about a single scan, but didn't notice the bonus go down, usually they just decode to leave after 2-3.

Good luck anyway!
 

Noctover

Noctover
Ripper said:
Ship: Anaconda, coming home after 30.000ly of exploring with 4 secretive passenger cabins. I have 87 mil (in optional reward) riding on docking without getting scanned even once. But, way too much exploration data on board to be any riskier than no shield in order to run silent while docking. Auto-dock is pretty much a must.

Checklist:
- All non-essential modules: off
- 10+km Drop out of SC, facing entrance. Silent running: on, life support: off, FSD: Off, purge heat sink.
- Line up, set throttle to just under 100m/s (for no attention for speeding)
- 7.5km request docking,(?)sensors: off(?), purge heat sink, heat sink rack 1: off. Abort if there's any traffic in the way.
- 3km (point of no return) purge heat sink. FA: Off, auto dock enabled
- pray and cook
- If scanned, purge heat sink immediately (or no? Just try and make it into the mail slot before the scan finishes?).

Questions:
- Any corrections to my checklist?
- Does autodock require sensors to be on ?
- I can request docking while running silent, right? Without it revealing me to the coppers?
- Will auto-dock turn off silent running ?
- Is it known if security are more likely to scan speeders? Or is high speed always preferable?

Help is much appreciated... I can't test things out on my own
Click to expand...

Wait for "Ship Scan Detected" and pop a heatsink. Will interrupt the scan. Rinse Repeat, do it all the time, no need for silent running.

Why is auto dock a must?
 

Factabulous

Factabulous
Just confirmed - switch on Silent Running: shields off, silent running marker up
Slow to zero for auto-dock: Silent running marker off, shields start to recharge
QED: No auto-dock in Silent Running :)
 

goemon

goemon
Factabulous said:
Hmm, I thought autodock switched off silent running - though since no-one else has mentioned it maybe I was dreaming...

Does the passenger bonus go down with each scan? I've had passengers complain about a single scan, but didn't notice the bonus go down, usually they just decode to leave after 2-3.

Good luck anyway!
Click to expand...

this.

no auto dock when running silent.

if you have not been scanned once, take the scan - your missions won't fail.
 

ThriveInDark

T
Factabulous said:
Hmm, I thought autodock switched off silent running - though since no-one else has mentioned it maybe I was dreaming...

Does the passenger bonus go down with each scan? I've had passengers complain about a single scan, but didn't notice the bonus go down, usually they just decode to leave after 2-3.

Good luck anyway!
Click to expand...

Yeah I mentioned it above but I didn't put a TL;DR so no one read it... ah well
 

Drelthar

Drelthar
I use silent running quite a bit, and when I don't, I get scanned more often.

Speed alone is generally enough, but for extra security, I silent run.
 

VR Jay Le Chardon

VR Jay Le Chardon
If you are allied with the controlling faction you are almost guaranteed not to be scanned on your apporach. If you are not allied, contact Iridium Wing, we can escort you in to your destination and distract the local authorities by pew pewing them at the mail slot, then while they are engaging us you can stroll in all casual like.

NOTE: Leave the wing before the escort pilots start shooting cops, otherwise the station and its cops will light you up as you are incriminated by the actions of your wingmen, obviously once you leave the wing, what they start after you have left has nothing to do with ytou, but what they were doing while you were winged with them is still on your rap sheet even after you leave the wing..
 

DNA-Decay

DNA-Decay
Iridium Wing are old and respectable.

This explorer escort bizzo is what they do.

As others have said, pop a heat sink when a scan starts.
And don't over complicate your checklist. If you haven't got the airmanship to dock by hand the chances of turning off something vital are high.
Best of luck, enjoy the adrenaline.
 

Schmack

Schmack
ThriveInDark said:
Honestly, your best and probably safest bet if using auto dock is just to pop a heat sink every 5-7 seconds as you're going through the procedure until you clear the slot. I would NOT use Silent Running, because if the authorities are near the slot you will be within auto-resolve range anyway, and then unshielded/unable to boost through the slot to break LOS. Silent Running has some very specific rules about when it works.

In fact, as soon as you kick on auto-dock the thrusters will fire and your heat signature (because it is a big ship) will probably be instantly visible anyway. I wouldn't trust the auto dock on an unshielded large ship in the first place personally but I don't run docking computer on anything other than a trade ship.

Maybe someone who's a true expert on Silent Running can chime in, but that's my 2 cents man. Good luck, I'd be happy to get in a distraction though haha

One last note on the auto-dock, it used to be it would pick up wherever you left off. So the way I used to speed up the process was do all the flying and alignment to the slot and just let it take me through and then thrust up/down to break LOS of the mailslot if smuggling, though I really used the computer for trading and was trying to shave time and speed up cr/hr (the season 1 slave trades). My point is, 3km of auto docking seems excessive, and I don't know that auto-dock works with FA-Off, since it is by definition a computer assist, and the reason to go FA off is to turn your thrusters off and keep momentum once aligned.
Click to expand...
The DC doesn't work with FA off. It needs FA to dock. It *is* FA.

Get the nose going in pretty well and time it, then go full stop and DC will take over. You're golden from there.

btw, if they cannot take a scan, I cannot take them with me. Just say no to criminals. Makes it harder to stack missions, but you'll eventually get the cabins filled with legal, paying customers.
 
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Limoncello Lizard

Limoncello Lizard
If you are ever worried about a scan, wait well in front of the station for a while and pay attention to the coms from the authority ships. They often say they are going off for lunch, or repairs. if you sneak in then, you won't get scanned. this works for ground bases as well.
 

ThriveInDark

T
Limoncello Lizard said:
If you are ever worried about a scan, wait well in front of the station for a while and pay attention to the coms from the authority ships. They often say they are going off for lunch, or repairs. if you sneak in then, you won't get scanned. this works for ground bases as well.
Click to expand...

That's pretty brilliant, I never noticed that before. I always take the bat out of hell approach.
 
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