Radar detection versus tracking

[oldfan]

I know about the radar stacking bug and incorrect range in UFOPedia facility - http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=UFO_Detection.

However, I recently read - http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Small_Radar_System. According to the last link, it seems that a radar is able to track the UFO beyond its detection range ( ).

 

I did some experiments on my own with small and large radars by finding their maximum detection range by seeing how far they can track a UFO. I was able to get consistent results by measuring the distance between the base (when centered) up until the last known position of the UFO (using small time increments). I was able to see that small radar has a range of 5 centimeters (I'm using the metric system) and a large radar 7 centimeters. This can off course change according to your screen size and all (I guess I should have taken screen shots). However, without a hyperwave decoder (haven't found a navigator yet), it is impossible to know (or near impossible) as the UFO will have to be detected almost immediately and on a "round/half" hour.

 

Anyways..... my question is whether the first link is the correct behavior of radars which mean they can track UFOs well beyond the range of their detection. This is actually quite important to know when choosing your base location. Initial gut feeling tells me to set my bases based on their detection range though now I'm thinking that perhaps I should choose their location based on tracking range.

 

Of course, I'm aware that aircrafts have much lower detection/tracking radius when airborne, though they seem to have a 100% chance of detecting a UFO if it is within their range (and 30 minute check).

 

Thoughts and comments are welcomed.

Edited October 10, 2009 by oldfan

[oldfan]

I've done some experiments. I basically built a few bases around the world, once with all equipped with small radar and once with large radar. I let the game advance in a speed of 1 day resolution. Each time a UFO appeared, I centered (as much as I can) the detection base on the globe view and measured with a ruler the distance.

 

Using large radar, I actually picked up a small UFO (just in case UFO size has anything to do with) after a few tries which was quite far away.

The range was actually longer than the hyperwave-decoder according to the above mentioned article:

http://www.ufopaedia.org/images/5/57/Detection_and_tracking_ranges.png

 

Here is a screen shot of a UFO I picked up with a large radar (I immediately changed time resolution to 5 seconds). I tried to center the base though it is hard with a mouse:

 

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Sy6If6_J4Do/StDrBE5AB3I/AAAAAAAAAH0/eacJk2UD24s/s800/globe.jpg

[[NKF]]

Pointing the tip of the cursor onto the base and right clicking does a reasonable enough job of centering the base.

 

The rings are probably just an approximation. I don't think we've ever taken the exact in-game coordinates of the radar base and UFO to determine the actual distances.

 

I know about the radar stacking bug and incorrect range in UFOPedia facility - http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=UFO_Detection.

However, I recently read - http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Small_Radar_System. According to the last link, it seems that a radar is able to track the UFO beyond its detection range ( ).

 

From what I remember, it was determined that the detection radius is just the tracking radius minus the time during the 30 minute sweeps when UFOs can fly in under the radar. The faster the ship, the further it'll get within the radar's sphere of influence.

 

So while the article says the small radar detects within 2000nm, the UFO will probably have come within 1300-1500nm by the time the radar does its ping (and if it was successful). Once revealed, it will be visible anywhere within the 2000nm radius and of any other radars that it happens to come near.

 

- NKF

[oldfan]

Pointing the tip of the cursor onto the base and right clicking does a reasonable enough job of centering the base.

 

The rings are probably just an approximation. I don't think we've ever taken the exact in-game coordinates of the radar base and UFO to determine the actual distances.

 

I know about the radar stacking bug and incorrect range in UFOPedia facility - http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=UFO_Detection.

However, I recently read - http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Small_Radar_System. According to the last link, it seems that a radar is able to track the UFO beyond its detection range ( ).

 

From what I remember, it was determined that the detection radius is just the tracking radius minus the time during the 30 minute sweeps when UFOs can fly in under the radar. The faster the ship, the further it'll get within the radar's sphere of influence.

 

So while the article says the small radar detects within 2000nm, the UFO will probably have come within 1300-1500nm by the time the radar does its ping (and if it was successful). Once revealed, it will be visible anywhere within the 2000nm radius and of any other radars that it happens to come near.

 

- NKF

Argghhhhh! This right click to center the globe is super handy. I tried finding something but couldn't - can't believe it was that easy.

[[NKF]]

Yep, you'll find that you'll probably never use the arrow keys ever again except when you want to tip the world upside down. The center-on key always leaves the globe the right side up.

 

By the way, just to add to that: right clicking on either the zoom in/zoom button will jumps to their extreme levels right away.

 

- NKF