MC - Player's Guide - BattleMech Equipment tutorial

This category contains sensor suites. Sensor suites are used by 'Mechs and some vehicles to detect targets; Every 'Mech must mount at least the I.S. Basic Sensor. Probes and ECM Suites have a limited usefulness as they can be used only by light Clan 'Mechs or by the I.S. Raven. If you destroy a 'Mech with a direct hit to the head, the sensor suite will be automatically destroyed.

The five sensors each weight between nothing and 1 ton. Although your units should always have sensors, only the scouts need higher power ones. Sensors will not detect powered down mechs nor elementals. The former could be a serious problem if you are not prepared for a surprise attack, but elementals are near useless, and very rare on the battlefield as well. Clan sensors benefit from having an additional 30-20 meters range over their similarly weighted Inner Sphere counterparts.

Advanced sensors can only be mounted on select mech designs: the Raven, and all other lightweight clan mechs. Thus, it's worthwhile to hold on to a couple of Ravens (and of course light clan mechs) into the late game because they alone can make use of your powerful sensor gear.

The Beagle and Active Probes help your units detect powered down units. In the later game when the enemy likes to power down units and surprise attack you, these two sensor components help counter those tactics. The probes still wont help you detect elementals though. Like the Advanced Sensors, they can only be mounted on select mechs. If you do want to use one of these, then they work best when used in conjuction with Advanced Sensors, since the probe's range is half of the sensor its attached to. These components are useless after you've played the game a couple of times, because the computer always has the same powered down units in the same places every time; if you can remember where those are, then you dont need the probes.

ECM suites are very useful pieces of work. When your ECM equipped unit detects an enemy that also has a sensor, they will cut the enemy's sensor range in half. On the tactical map, enemy senor ranges are normally marked with red circles. If you are successfully 'halving' and enemy's sensor, the red circle will turn yellow. If a sensor range for one of your units is a blue circle (instead of the usual white circle) , then your sensors are being 'halved', and there is an enemy Raven nearby. Just like the Advanced Sensors, they can only be mounted on select mech designs.

IS Basic Sensor

IS Sensors detect avtive enemy units within about 350 meters. It cannot detect Elementals or powered down 'Mechs.
All I.S. 'Mechs come equipped with this sensor suite. Change it for a Standard Clan suite or an I.S. medium sensor when possible, this will give you an edge over your enemy.

• Cost: 1.000
• Class: Sensor
• Range: 350,0 meters
• Weight: 0,0 Tons

IS Intermediate Sensor

Intermediate IS sensors detect active enemy units within about 440 meters. It cannot detect Elementals or powered down 'Mechs.
Upgrading the standard I.S. sensor suite to this will be a great idea, especially is used on relatively light 'Mechs.

• Cost: 2.000
• Class: Sensor
• Range: 440,0 meters
• Weight: 0,5 Tons

IS Advanced Sensor

Advanced IS sensors detect active enemy units within about 525 meters. It cannot detect Elementals or powered down 'Mechs. *Raven or light Clan 'Mechs only*
Only the Raven or light Clan 'Mechs can use this suite. Useless if you use other 'Mechs.

• Cost: 6.000
• Class: Sensor
• Range: 525,0 meters
• Weight: 1,0 Tons

IS Beagle Probe

This IS Beagle Active Probe allows all friendly units to detect powered-down 'Mechs within their sensor ranges. *Raven or light Clan 'Mechs only*
Only for Raven and light Clan 'Mechs. The Beagle Probe can detect shutdown 'Mechs at half the sensor's max range. Basically useless in single player as all enemy 'Mechs will be active.

• Cost: 1.000
• Class: Sensor probe
• Range: Sensor range
• Weight: 1,5 Tons

Clan Active Probe

The Clan Active Probe allows all friendly units to detect powered-down 'Mechs within their sensor ranges. *Raven or light Clan 'Mechs only*

• Cost: 1.200
• Class: Sensor probe
• Range: Sensor range
• Weight: 1,0 Tons

IS Guardian ECM Suite

The IS Guardian ECM Suite hallves the range of any enemy sensor it contacts. *Raven or light Clan 'Mechs only*
Though it would be VERY useful, the ECM suite will cut effectivness of all enemy sensors within its range (provided that the scanning unit is within ECM range). However only light Clan 'Mechs and the Raven are able to use it.

• Cost: 3.000
• Class: Sensor probe
• Range: Sensor range
• Weight: 1,5 Tons

Clan ECM Suite

The Clan ECM Suite reduces the effectiveness by more than half of any enemy sensors it contacts. *Raven or light Clan 'Mechs only*

• Cost: 3.400
• Class: Sensor probe
• Range: Sensor range
• Weight: 1,0 Tons

Clan Standard Sensor

Clan Standard Sensors detect active enemy units at a slightly longer range than IS basic Sensors.
It cannot detect Elementals or powered-down 'Mechs.

• Cost: 1.500
• Class: Sensor
• Range: 385,0 meters
• Weight: 0,0 Tons

Clan Extended Sensor

Clan extended sensors detect avtive enemy units at a slightly shorter range than IS Advanced Sensors. It cannot detect Elementals or powered-down 'Mechs.

• Cost: 3.500
• Class: Sensor
• Range: 490,0 meters
• Weight: 0,5 Tons

(c) by RizZen 2017 with quotes from webarchives - overhauled (2020)

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