It is worth noting that both Scan Profile and Scan Precision are given in dB (decibels). Originally, I thought this might have to do with radar, since dB is used in tuning radar equipment, but it turns out that it is used the to determine the difference between input and output power.

So, the next most likely candidate is sound. Thus, your Scan Profile is the amount of noise your suit makes and its Scan Precision is its ability to hear sound and interpret its location.

So, as near as I can figure, Scan Precision is the amount of Scan Profile that you suit can accurately map at some distance (maybe Scan Range, but probably at some fraction thereof based on my experience).

This would also explain why running enlarges your Profile. You make more noise- which raises the question of whether in the future different surfaces will affect it as well, soft turf versus gravel, for instance.

However, there are definitely more complicating factors. Line-of-sight is a factor, as mapping behind cover is much more limited. I was doing the hidey dance with an Assault yesterday and he would only map out if I was near the edge of the shipping container. So clearly cover dampened his Profile, but I could still "see" around corners.

It is worth noting that both Scan Profile and Scan Precision are given in dB (decibels). Originally, I thought this might have to do with radar, since dB is used in tuning radar equipment, but it turns out that it is used the to determine the difference between input and output power.

So, the next most likely candidate is sound. Thus, your Scan Profile is the amount of noise your suit makes and its Scan Precision is its ability to hear sound and interpret its location.

So, as near as I can figure, Scan Precision is the amount of Scan Profile that you suit can accurately map at some distance (maybe Scan Range, but probably at some fraction thereof based on my experience).

This would also explain why running enlarges your Profile. You make more noise- which raises the question of whether in the future different surfaces will affect it as well, soft turf versus gravel, for instance.

However, there are definitely more complicating factors. Line-of-sight is a factor, as mapping behind cover is much more limited. I was doing the hidey dance with an Assault yesterday and he would only map out if I was near the edge of the shipping container. So clearly cover dampened his Profile, but I could still "see" around corners.

actually this is a good point I had assumed a radar like detector like the ships in eve. This answers a lot of questions I had about the system, so the range is not hard set, as sound fades over distance, the louder the sound the farther out your scanners will pick it up, the scanner range bonus increases your sensitivity out to a set range, nice that also makes fully leveling your sensor profile in a scout or assault mostly pointless

actually this is a good point I had assumed a radar like detector like the ships in eve. This answers a lot of questions I had about the system, so the range is not hard set, as sound fades over distance, the louder the sound the farther out your scanners will pick it up, the scanner range bonus increases your sensitivity out to a set range, nice that also makes fully leveling your sensor profile in a scout or assault mostly pointless

The sound level decreases with 6 dB per doubling the distance, no matter
if you use the sound pressure level SPL or the sound intensity level SIL.
But that does not the sound power level which is working in the sound source.[sic]

...and, to contradict what I just posted, just saw this and it may be pertinent to our discussion:

GÇ£Spec Ops units perform clandestine work. Trained to move through the battlefield undetected, they utilize suits designed to minimize acoustic and electronic signatures making the wearer virtually invisible. Spec Ops-class suits are ideal for bypassing point defenses or infiltrating key battlefield locations.GÇ¥

...from https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=540018#post540018

So if we can take this statement as accurate the suit sensors are using two input channels, acoustic and electronic, besides straight-out optical detection.

My question then is what does the quoted db scan sensitivity refer to, acoustic signals, electronic signals, or both?

So, while my original response might be mostly correct (for now), the Spec Ops description suggests that CCP is laying groundwork that could allow for passive RADAR, passive SONAR, and passive (thermal & visible) LIDAR. Thus, as the game gets more fleshed out, they may opt to include modules that boost, jam, and dampen all of these. A richer EWar system would be consistent with their four-way (RADAR, LADAR, Magnetometric, and Gravimetric) scanning and EWar in EVE.

Radar pulse- large energy wave that reveals all vehicles or people on map for a few seconds.

My hypothesis for testing is that each player has a scan precision (P) and targets have a profile (p). You then get a scan modifier based on (p)/(P) that enhances or reduces your effective detection range.

So if your base scan precision is 45 + a 25% precision, then your suit's precision is 33.75
Your suits scan radius is 15m + a 20% bonus from skills= 18m
Your target is a heavy with a base profile of 50, but he has his dropsuit at level 2 reduciding his profile by 10%= 45.

Your scanning modifier is then 1.333. I.e. you will pick up this loud target at an increased detection range of +33% or 24 m.

In reality they may have actually made the system even closer to the real effect of sound waves over distance, in which case there is a little more mathematically complicated relationship between relative dB level over distances. I don't quite understand it at the moment though.

I wouldn't be suprised then if the increase in signature from shields is proportional to the speed reduction from armor modules, so a +10% per shield extender module.

The inverse is also true, do if your P is higher than their -ò, then the error could be much larger.

Of course, this equation doesn't match the scanning I see in game, so likely it's off somewhere or it's one of those things in the game that isn't working as intended yet.

Is there a relationship between signature radius and sensor strength in eve though? It sounds like, if we are talking about shield increasing scan profile, that it would be uniting signature radius and sensor strength...

Your system may be better than mine, but I'm wondering what anomalies have you noticed that seem to suggest that the tacnet is misbehaving. One reason I think you may be right, is that if the calculation is based of a % of a max distance (it seems that the tacnet only sees 100m out currently...) then the active scanners pulsing out to 100m could be that limit.

IOW, with your formula, the active scanners wont see outside of their range no matter how sensitive they are or how loud other targets are. With mine they would see heavies and vehicles across the map.

One thing I notice that seems peculiar is you can tell when dots are shooting at each other, if they are facing each other because each has a 'vector' or direction they face. If it is hot I will watch which red dots I have to worry about (or not worry about) as a result of them being 'tied up' by blues. But sometimes it looks like the dots aren't even facing each other, but one ends up dieing.

This could be what a 'cover battle' looks like, but I wonder if the vectors could be off.