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Ore Detector Range — guide illustration
Research and progression

Ore Detector Range

Correct detector setup improves the chance of finding deposits without mistaking range limits for empty terrain.

PC / Global, current base game
WHERE & HOW TO FARM

Where to farm

Planet or moon terrain and existing asteroid surfaces; fly or approach close enough for the detector’s range to cover the target area.

Power the detector, set its range to the block’s maximum, and sweep a surface while following HUD signals. Large-grid detectors reach farther than small-grid models, and their ranges do not stack.

GET STARTED

How to farm

Before you go

  • Powered ship with an Ore Detector.
  • HUD signals enabled and visible.
  • A way to approach and confirm the detected site.
  1. Before scanning, confirm the ship has power and the Ore Detector is active.
  2. Open the detector controls and set the range to maximum for that grid size.
  3. Keep the HUD visible and sweep the terrain or asteroid surface at a pace that lets you follow each signal.
  4. Mark the signal and approach within range rather than circling at a distance.
  5. Use a drill to verify the ore at the site; detector range reveals a signal but does not mine it.
  6. If no signal appears, move closer or scan another section of terrain before deciding the area has no deposit.
  7. Rescan at a lower level when following a deposit that continues beneath the surface.

Farming tips

  • Small-grid detectors have a 50 m maximum; large-grid detectors have a 150 m maximum.
  • Adding detectors does not combine their ranges, so choose a grid size suited to the prospecting task.

Repeat, collect and use

Detector sweeps are repeatable. Continue across new ground or asteroid surfaces as needed, marking productive locations for future mining.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the detector at a short setting: set maximum range before beginning the sweep.
  • Assuming a small-grid detector sees as far as a large-grid one: account for the 50 m limit and close the search distance.
  • Treating a signal as proof of a mineable route: approach, verify the ore, and inspect depth before committing.

When to stop or switch

Stop scanning once you have enough confirmed target sites for a mining trip, or reposition closer when the current sweep produces no signals.

Sources & fact checks
REWARD DETAILS & CONDITIONS

Sources & rewards

Farming route

Ore Detector Range

Planet or moon terrain and existing asteroid surfaces; fly or approach close enough for the detector’s range to cover the target area.

  • Powered ship with an Ore Detector.
  • HUD signals enabled and visible.
  • A way to approach and confirm the detected site.
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