Grav Pulse Strength

[Iranon]

The wiki states the GPS of active sensors should be range*resolution.

It's not, and at first glance seems to be proportional to range*resolution^0.5

Could someone enlighten me?

[83athom]

The GPS is resolution modified by size and tech. To put it simply; strength * size * resolution.

[Iranon]

Thank you. For clarification, it seems it's Size*Resolution*ActiveGravSensorStrength tech.

Implications:
There is no benefit in holding back on active tech if you're interested in stealthy sensors (you just need something larger for the same range and GPS).
There is benefit in favouring the EM Sensitivity line over the Active Grav (similar increase in range at each tech level, but without the increase in GPS. And you can build better passive EM sensors).
Since GPS increases linearly with resolution but range only increase by the square root, large R1 sensors are stealthier than smaller sensors with the same range.
Similar to the above, sensors with very large resolutions may be useful as decoys.

[Jackal Cry]

I have a quick question on how active sensors get detected by EM sensors.

In terms of detection by EM sensors, then, an Active Sensor's "Signal Strength" is its GPS (Grav Pulse Strength)?

For example, in one of Steve's games, he has an active sensor with the following stats:
Adelson-Vasko SPS-1 Active Search Sensor (1)     GPS 11520     Range 84.1m km    Resolution 120

The GPS here is 11,520, so for the Thermal/EM detection range formula, you'd input 11,520 for the Emission Power:
(Sensor Sensitivity x Sensor Size x Emission Power) x 1,000 km = distance at which the signal is detected

In that game, Steven has an EM sensor with the following stats:
EM-12 Detection Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 12     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  12m km

Plugging in to the Thermal/EM detection range formula, we get the sensor size as 1 HS:
(12 x SIZE x 1,000) x 1,000 km = 12,000,000 km ==> Size = 1

So plugging in the above active sensor's strength, we get a detection range of:
(12 x 1 x 11,520) x 1,000 km = 138,240,000 ==> 138.24m km


1) Are these results correct?
2) Is the detection a guaranteed chance, or is there a probability with it? In other words, if the sensor is on, will the EM sensor ALWAYS, IMMEDIATELY detect the sensor as soon as it comes within 138.24m km? Or is there a chance it will not be immediately detected?

[83athom]

1) Are these results correct?

Going with the numbers I see, 12*1000*11520 = 138,240,000 km away being detected. So yes on that. However, you cant really tell at a glance how large the passive sensor is because it has a sensitivity of 12 so it could be a sensitivity 12 sensor at 1HS or a sensitivity 6 sensor at 2HS.

2) Is the detection a guaranteed chance, or is there a probability with it? In other words, if the sensor is on, will the EM sensor ALWAYS, IMMEDIATELY detect the sensor as soon as it comes within 138.24m km? Or is there a chance it will not be immediately detected?

It is guarantied for immediate detection when the source enters that 138.24m km range.

[Jackal Cry]

I see. Thank you very much.

So the Sensitivity part of
EM-12 Detection Sensor (1)     Sensitivity 12     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  12m km

is not the sensitivity you set in the drop-down box when designing the sensor, but is itself already the product of Sensitivity x Size?

[83athom]

is not the sensitivity you set in the drop-down box when designing the sensor, but is itself already the product of Sensitivity x Size?

Yes. That is why I like to add "xHS" to the names of passive sensors so I can see at a glance their tech lv.

[Iranon]

Something I find useful for considering emissions control:

Assuming the same EMSensitivityTech,
The size needed for an EM sensor to detect an Active Grav Sensor at that sensor's maximum range is 10/(Resolution^0.5).

A Resolution-1 Active will be detected at its maximum range by a size-10 Passive.
A Resolution-16 Active will be detected at its maximum range by a size-2.5 Passive.
A Resolution-100 Active will be detected at its maximum range by a size-1 Passive.

Note that coarse-grained sensors have the additional problem of not picking up many things at their theoretical max range.