Radar 101 (never get hit by a tom tom again)

[sleepysheep]

Running around in passive all the time is dangerous aswell. Many times I've missed the Uller or Maddog with ECM sneaking up behind me while brawling with another mech :/ And frankly, you can't ping while brawling very well.

Also, I consider pinging stupid. Either you're active and know the enemy locations, or passive and practically blind. Short active bursts gives you the best of both worlds, without much of a disadvantage. This can't be how it's intended, can it? I propose a 5 second delay for your sensors to "warm up" when going into active during which you are visible

Pinging gives away your postion so I don't mind at all.

Only if you take your time and the opponent stares at the radar screen all the time

I look at the rador all the time. Not non stop, but a very quick red dot appearing on screen gets my attention very easily.

[~SJ~ Blhurr]

Pinging is totally intended.  It's classic radar tactics going back to the dawn of the technology.

[(TLL)Sky_walker]

But guys... pinging isn't a way to approach undetected (unless your target is busy and doesn't look at the radar, or you are simply: lucky), it's the way to make your opponent loose and advantage of knowing who you are and how fast you approach him. If he sees Assault he will react differently than when seeing light mech - that's the point where you are winning.
Relaying on radar pings for quiet approach behind the lines is a mistake in my opinion. All you can get is quick removal of back armor when one of opponents suddenly runs behind you.

[CyberVyper]

Go passive and stay passive. Upon 'mech or vehicle start up in the hangar anymore, I immediately go passive. I look for weapon discharge in the distance, or where my teammates are congregating as sign posts for possible enemy activity. Hell, pay attention to team chat, coordinates are usually given by teammates. With the advent of the LT, I go passive almost exclusively. I don't missile much, nor LT as I find them just too boring. Sure, passive can be dangerous if you lonewolf it, but not so much if you stick with your team. And no ping, because as others have said, you give your position away. 

[(TLL)Siilk]

 Yes, solo flanking requires complete radar silence, so it's your eyes, your team spotter on the radio and your guts what helps you find the targets. One ping and you're dead, as most of the time people tend to throw search parties if they see a flanking mech pinging on their radar. As for pings, as a tactic, being "wrong" or "improper radar use", I disagree. Short radar pings helps you be harder to spot, but if they short enough for that, they leave you without detailed info on the targets you saw. Both you and your enemies just know that there's something there, but what is it and where is it going is unknown for all of you.

[CyberVyper]

Actually, for me, just knowing an enemy 'mech or vehicle is there is enough info. My reaction will be determined by the situation I find myself in, fight or flight. What it is, is an enemy to be aware of, regardless of whether it's an Awesome or Harrasser. And they just lost their element of surprise.