Turn your lights on when entering stations....

[SirScarecrow]

There are frontal lights in every spaceship, but basically, nobody ever uses it. Although the light is indeed useless for yourself in terms of seeing things better, it makes a great difference however in those darker environments inside stations. You can see other ships approaching from further out and be aware of them earlier on, so you can maneuver safer.

If you are into Role playing, then make sure you turn them off while descending vertically on the landing pad, because you do not want to blind the people in the control tower ahead of you.

Default key is "L"

 

[Executive]

Yeah, can't agree more.
I configured VoiceAttack accordingly, so after saying "prepare for docking", my ship drops the gear and turns on the lights, as well as boosting up the shields to maximum... you'll never know.

BTW, lights are handy when you are close to dark objects, like containers in space etc... but yeah, that's about it.

What I miss are beacons and strobe lights, like in aviation!
I am surprised they are not in already. They would help a lot to see ships from a far, I had some near-hits already just because both ships didn't see each other.

Space is dark. Light it up!

 

[MadDogMurdock]

When there's some kind of indication in the cockpit that the lights are on I'll start using them.

Otherwise I lose track if they are on or off.

 

[Executive]

When there's some kind of indication in the cockpit that the lights are on I'll start using them.

Otherwise I lose track if they are on or off.

I know what you mean it annoys me as well.
Lights stay on all time - until you jump/enter super cruise.

And of course, you can check the systems panels functions page to see if they are on or off, but that is not less annoying, I know.

+1 for Lights on/off indicator.
Don't see why it isn't there already anyways.

 

[Cdr. Setesh Jaeger]

My docking procedure consist of cruising (at max speed) within 7500km, requesting docking clearance (hopefully I get it immediately), when I get clearance I put full pips to shields (with 2 in engines), flip on my lights, line up on the green light side and slow to about 50. Then I pass through the slot and deploy my landing gear (slowing me down more). I use the compass and visual to line me up over my pad. Then I can descend straight vertically. Touch down, flip off the lights, enter hanger, then select station services as I'm descending into the hanger.

That is for a large ship. It is about the same for smaller ships but I don't bother with slowing down so much. Unless there is a lot of traffic.

I use a hotas, trackir, and CaptainKremmen's Roccat powergrid for the lights and gear (and a couple other things).

But yes, I completely agree with you about using your lights.

When I am flying the Type-9 or Anaconda, and there is a lot of traffic I'll send a message to the nearest PC, about to enter the station, that I am exiting. One time a PC in a Hauler failed to heed my warning and flew in (at high speed) and crashed right into my port side in the middle of the slot. His hologram looked like he had gotten wedged into the slot (he was facing perpendicular to the slot). Luckily, for him, he got out before he was destroyed. lol

Fly safe.

 

[Commander Blunthead]

It seems the lights turn themselves off every time you hyperspace too, and probably supercruise but not sure.

Also has anyone verified that we can actually see eachothers lights on or off? Should get right in front of someones face and ask them if they see a difference when I flick the light switch on and off sometime.

 

[Stressfest]

Once they tame these kamikaze AI craft life will be much better in the landing stakes.

I always take off and land with lights on and do a fly over before settling into a 'landing pattern'. I at the very least fly a downwind and base leg before lining up the slot for a final approach. Probably a little overkill for a space sim but anyone around the space station will see me at the very least.

 

[Johnny Alpha]

My docking procedure consist of cruising (at max speed) within 7500km, requesting docking clearance (hopefully I get it immediately), when I get clearance I put full pips to shields (with 2 in engines), flip on my lights, line up on the green light side and slow to about 50. Then I pass through the slot and deploy my landing gear (slowing me down more). I use the compass and visual to line me up over my pad. Then I can descend straight vertically. Touch down, flip off the lights, enter hanger, then select station services as I'm descending into the hanger.

This without using the compass, glide in as close to the pad as possible and I just leave my lights on until I'm clear of the station on exit.

 

[popuptoaster]

You can see other peoples light on, however they don't make you more visible, the computer has a maximum draw distance so unlike the real world where you can see a light in the darkness for miles in a game you wont see it until it's within the distance from you that the computer starts to render it.

Next time you approach a space station look at how it's rendered, it's basic shape appears and then as you get closer the finer details are filled in, including the lights, which in reality you should be able to see first.

I keep seeing threads about lights making you more visible but they don't, and if you can't see stuff coming at you through the docking port in time for you to move over then you or they are going to fast and lights wont help.

 

[chaseydog]

You can see other peoples light on, however they don't make you more visible, the computer has a maximum draw distance so unlike the real world where you can see a light in the darkness for miles in a game you wont see it until it's within the distance from you that the computer starts to render it.

Next time you approach a space station look at how it's rendered, it's basic shape appears and then as you get closer the finer details are filled in, including the lights, which in reality you should be able to see first.

I keep seeing threads about lights making you more visible but they don't, and if you can't see stuff coming at you through the docking port in time for you to move over then you or they are going to fast and lights wont help.

Agreed, it seems to me the lights are more of a RP element than having any real practical purpose.

 

[SirScarecrow]

When there's some kind of indication in the cockpit that the lights are on I'll start using them.

Otherwise I lose track if they are on or off.

In the cockpit there is no real indication for the light itself but you can check it out if they are ON or OFF by pressing 4 and checking it in the Functions tab.

That is what I usually do.

 

[Seonid]

I keep seeing threads about lights making you more visible but they don't, and if you can't see stuff coming at you through the docking port in time for you to move over then you or they are going to fast and lights wont help.

I can see ships approaching/leaving the station on my radar at far greater distances than I can see their lights.

 

[ArcAngelSlayer]

When there's some kind of indication in the cockpit that the lights are on I'll start using them.

Otherwise I lose track if they are on or off.

Yeah, I don't use them for this reason exactly. I don't want to forget the state of my lights when I'm trying to remain dark.

 

[spookytooth]

The lights on a Lakon 9 don't seem to show. You can normally tell when in dock because the hangar/blast shields get illuminated by them, but I couldn't see any sign