Passive Radar

[Nable]

When exactly should you use passive radar? I've gotten so much into the habit of going into passive radar that I go into it even when I have ECM. Is it necessary when you have ECM? I really like to have my radar on, but I also hate getting fbombed by planes.

[=CJW= Rad Hanzo]

Going passive +ECM aboard makes you even harder to pick up on radar

[[CW]Aresye]

Funny you mention turning your RADAR off to avoid fbombers.  I turn my RADAR off when bombing.

[Freeborn_Toad]

I turn my radar off when I know where they are, but they don't know where I am, especially when I am trying to do a flanking attack. I leave it on in situations where I am likely to detect my opponents first, or when I am not going to be the most appealing target even if I am spotted.

Really though, I like to use my eyes and mechs with a 360 torso, so I usually leave it off more often than not.

[(TLL)Siilk]

Going passive +ECM aboard makes you even harder to pick up on radar

 Actually no. Switching radar off when your mech have ECM coverage(from AECM or GECM) does not affect your radar signature. But ECM stacks with passive radar when you're being locked on by enemy mech. Both ECM and passive radar doubles the time of lock-on for the enemy so being covered by ECM while in passive mode increases enemy lock-on four times.

[Spooky]

Actually no. Switching radar off when your mech have ECM coverage(from AECM or GECM) does not affect your radar signature. But ECM stacks with passive radar when you're being locked on by enemy mech. Both ECM and passive radar doubles the time of lock-on for the enemy so being covered by ECM while in passive mode increases enemy lock-on four times.

It seems there is still a lot of confusion about this. This information was recently updated: http://wiki.mechlivinglegends.net/index.php?title=Radar
It states, that AECM + passive mode do stack (250m vs. Undetectable for standard Radar Equipment). However, there is no column for "Passive Radar GECM".

[ELH_Vivicector]

In short:
Passive is good for
1) Flanking
2) Killing laser missle boats
3) 1 vs 1 duels, when your enemy is passive also and you have the possibility to surprise him
4) Going under AECM
5) When you have direct-hit weaponry, but bad electronics.
6) Sniping.
&)...

Passive is bad, when:
1) You have C3.
2) Good electronics (GECM, BAP, BHP, AECM...)
3) Hearing that ASF noise.
4) You are a missle boat. No, rly!

Usually, pinging your radar can be recommended.

[Ishan]

However, there is no column for "Passive Radar GECM".

Which is a mistake. Mechs with GECM become indetectable if they go passive. Even when you stand right next to them, and your Mech does not Possess BHP or BAP the Enemy won't show up on your Radar. You won't be able to "lock on" (i am not talking about the *LRM/SSRM lock.. these work still, just the normal target lock) and it does allow those mechs to sneak attack people, even if they pay attention to their radar.

This has been done to me, enough times, and i have done it to others. And i have used this to sneak up behind the enemy lines to attack their backs. Which can be really funny (even more so when you go Hot right after you fired your first shot and see everyone around you fall into disarray because an Enemy just lit up behind their lines)

2) Good electronics (GECM, BAP, BHP, AECM...)

Unless you plan to sneak up on someone... in which case going passive with GECM and AECM will make you invisible. Not to the naked eye, but to Radar. Unless of course your enemy does habe BAP or BHP which counter GECM and AECM.



Then again... there is that nasty rumor i keep hearing that AECM is bugged and makes people "appear" rather than disappear. I think to remember this was once an issue, and is fixed... right?

[Cygma]

AECMs radar protection capabilities are broken in 0.4.9, you have to hold on for the fix. It's NARC protection still works.

[Spooky]

Which is a mistake. Mechs with GECM become indetectable if they go passive. Even when you stand right next to them, and your Mech does not Possess BHP or BAP the Enemy won't show up on your Radar. You won't be able to "lock on" (i am not talking about the *LRM/SSRM lock.. these work still, just the normal target lock) and it does allow those mechs to sneak attack people, even if they pay attention to their radar.

This has been done to me, enough times, and i have done it to others. And i have used this to sneak up behind the enemy lines to attack their backs. Which can be really funny (even more so when you go Hot right after you fired your first shot and see everyone around you fall into disarray because an Enemy just lit up behind their lines)

Yeah, but Siilk stated otherwise. So is it actually a bug? But as far as I know the numbers from the Wiki are straight from XML files?



Another question: does having AECM equipped and active increase your radar signature, like C3 does?

[Ishan]

AECMs radar protection capabilities are broken in 0.4.9, you have to hold on for the fix.

To which extend? Do they incrase radar signature to those effected? Does do they only work like GECM (only on your own mech) with a anti narc area of effect? Or something totally different?

[Askis]

Which is a mistake. Mechs with GECM become indetectable if they go passive. Even when you stand right next to them, and your Mech does not Possess BHP or BAP the Enemy won't show up on your Radar.

I tested this back in 0.4.1, unless something has changed in the meantime, this isn't true.

[Hiruma Kai]

Nat, Buzz, and I tested some radar ranges awhile back and put it in a thread on the forums.  The raw data and commentary can be found in:

http://forum.mechlivinglegends.net/index.php/topic,13007.0.html

When in doubt, grab a friend and test it.

[Ishan]

I tested this back in 0.4.1, unless something has changed in the meantime, this isn't true.

Then why do i frequently encounter Bushwackers who do not show up on my radar, even though i am fighting them at a distance of 50m circling around them and they neither show up on my radar nor allows me to use E to lock them as target?

When in doubt, grab a friend and test it.

My Friends do no longer Play MWLL, because they only possess normal Crysis and not Wars. So i can't really rest these things (and when i have time to play i rather play)... but as i said.. it happens to me more often that i won't see Mechs, i know they are equipted with GCEM which do not show up on radar, even tough i am close enough to touch bump into them.

[xDeityx]

I tested this back in 0.4.1, unless something has changed in the meantime, this isn't true.

Then why do i frequently encounter Bushwackers who do not show up on my radar, even though i am fighting them at a distance of 50m circling around them and they neither show up on my radar nor allows me to use E to lock them as target?

When in doubt, grab a friend and test it.

My Friends do no longer Play MWLL, because they only possess normal Crysis and not Wars. So i can't really rest these things (and when i have time to play i rather play)... but as i said.. it happens to me more often that i won't see Mechs, i know they are equipted with GCEM which do not show up on radar, even tough i am close enough to touch bump into them.

That's a damned shame about your friends...MWLL isn't worth $10-$15 to them?

About the Bushwhackers...If you're passive, you won't be able to target them if they are a variant that has GECM, or if they are passive.