Okay so slightly confused about what area the passive scan actually covers. Is it the viewing angle you describe, or is it actually the full radius around you?

360 degrees. LOS is the front 60 degrees.

I think people rely on their scanners to much, I can spot people moving around in the hills from way far out and rarely get snuck up on because i actualy pay atention to my suroundings.

I think people rely on their scanners to much, I can spot people moving around in the hills from way far out and rarely get snuck up on because i actualy pay atention to my suroundings.

First off I would like to thank Reav Hannari for being as inquisitive as I on this subject and helping me test this illusive subject out.
Your Minimap is composed of 3 rings.
1st Ring = 20 meters
2nd Ring = 65 meters
3rd Ring = 100 meters
Viewing Angle 60 Degrees (30 Degrees on either side of the median)
Reav's Profile and Precision are both higher than Bojo's (Logi vs Scout)



The Passive Scanning occurs inside whatever your scan radius is. My radius for the test was 18.2 meters. Reav walked all around me, where I was looking and where I was not. Regardless of where I was looking, he always appeared on my minimap at a range of 17 meters. I never appeared on his radar because I had a lower profile than his precision, as long as he could not see me on his screen or as long as I didn't touch him. Nothing you do (actions) effects passive scanning; shooting a weapon or sprinting does not raise your profile.


Anything that you can see will appear on your radar within 80 meters. So regardless of my lower profile, I popped up on Reav's radar as long as he saw me within 80 meters. However if I dropped behind something I disappear.

Blip Brightness Effect

Passive: As something enters your passive scan radius (that is above your precision) and approaches you, the blip on your radar will get brighter as the distance closes.

LOS: The same as passive but with an interesting twist. As they leave your LOS they get dimmer. So when I was aiming at Reav and he began to walk sideways, his blip got dimmer the farther from my cross hairs he got. Aiming at a target instantly makes the Blip at it's brightest intensity.

The Radar Compression Effect

When you initiate a sprint, your radar will lurch objects in it forward (as you are moving), but they will appear to be closer then they are. Once you stop, you will see the blips revert slightly outward, returning to their normal and actual positions. The opposite effect (expansion) occurs when the object is behind you.

The Sum Up

• LOS defeats Profile
• Passive Scan will pick up anything around you with a higher profile than your precision
• LOS Scan drops off at 80 meters
• Blip Brightness correlates to distance, the brighter the closer.

I look forward to doing more dynamic tests on this subject, such as closing precision and profile gaps. If you feel interested in helping me (and reav if he wishes) to test more dynamic fittings to solidify this information please feel free to contact me. In the meantime please take this information and use it! We didn't test this for nothing!

Thanks for the info, Bojo. But I have a question.

Have you tested to see how much material (walls, crates, CRUs, barricades, etc.) the passive scan can see through before losing its effectiveness to see an enemy merc on the other side (both with and without LOS)?

I ask this because I have an alt training up to go into complex range amplifiers in the Gallente Scout dropsuit and on several occassions I have been able to see through thick walls on where the enemy is at without even looking at them directly. But it wouuld be nice if I had a second person confirm it for me.

This is all very interesting but kind of hard to visualize in my head. But really good work.

Same. If I'm not in combat, I look on my radar and move using my side vision.

I also got to see the aim assist adhesion affect during our tests but Bojo kept jumping and it would lose track of him. It's not very sticky which is a good thing.

And the thread has been cursed

/Sprinkling holy water

And the power of Christ compels you!

I have sinned. Forgive me.

Remembered one test: active scanners do not make you appear on the enemy TACNET. I think this was intended at one point. Not sure if it was ever in game.

Great info. Would like to see an addendum with active scanning as well :)