Hydrophone

* Item name: Hydrophone (sign)
* Function: Long-Range listening device, which used find movement in and below the water.
* Cost: $250

## Overview

The Hydrophone sign is a passive sensor that listens to activity at long ranges for vehicle underwater and on the surface of the water. It supplies information on other vehicles emitting noise as they move and using their own active sensors such as sonars find targets. Hydrophone is undetectable when used, good tool to hunt enemy vehicles underwater primarily.

## How it Works

When activated, like Sonar, the Hydrophone will show a grid resembling a nautical compass (compass rose) where directions are representative by numbers. 0=Front, 90=right, 270=left & 180=behind.

Unlike a real compass, 0 (zero) will always be front of the ship, no matter which direction it's facing. A vehicle can appear anywhere on edge of this sign, sort of a square analog clock.

The sign detects active transmissions of a Sonar and movement of vehicles in and under the water, a simple graphic will appear replacing the numbered direction the detected vehicle is. As your vehicle get close to the detected vehicle, the graphic of the vehicle will grow larger. The sign will show

Objects the sign found by the Detector will use the primary symbols (".", "\*" "x","X") to represents movement, and the secondary symbols (".","o","O") to represent active "pings" sent out from a Sonar-style sensor actively looking for targets.

The following is explains what these graphics mean.

* "." a period : This is a target at Extreme Range.
* "\*" a asterisk (Movement) or a "o" circle (Active sonar): This is a target at Long range.
* "x" a small x (Movement) or a "o" lower case circle (Active Sonar):: This is a target at Medium range.
* "X" a large X (Movement) or a "O" upper circle (Sonar): This is a target short range, combat range likely can be seen by crew onboard the ship!

If the target moves, say to the right side of your vehicle, the graphic will shift over like a clock towards 90 and replace it.

## How to Use it

Usually done for combat purposes, Hydrophone signs will help you find a target to hunt (or avoid). The Hyrdophone used can not be noticed by other vehicles when it is activated. To turn "on" you click the sign and click the sign from "off". The Detector's screen will appear. As you move or something else moves, if within range of the radar sign, it will show contact on screen.

To go after it, you want turn your vehicle so the contact is at 0. Which is aiming your ship toward target to you can move to it.

As you close in, the contact will get larger as you close. Once you are in X or O, they will be im most weapons range and visible to a player.

Remember, the advantage of the Hydrophone is for hunting or detecting opposing vehicles. If your trying to avoid detection and your vehicle moves you risk being spotted if they are also equipped with a hydrophone.

## How to Make it

Simply placing the sign on the vehicle and writing "Detector" on the top line will allow it to work.

You can have more than one these signs on your vehicle if you can afford it, each sign present on the vehicle added towards the cost spawning it. Having these a spare signs can allow for you to use Helm signs and steer your ship using radar or other sensor signs alone encase you do not wish to go to the bridge or where your vehicle's control sign is.

## Related Articles

* Radar - Short Range Sensor, which actively seek out active vehicles (by air or sea).
* Sonar - Short Range underwater sensors that can detect vehicles on and under water