PDS-1 - Do you deploy and do they work in conjunction with the Net Bat Vehicle?

**TheFatKidDeath** · 11-20-2006, 12:17 AM

I just unlocked the PDS-1 which tracks vehicles and displays their position to your squad. I've found it to be pretty effective in spotting vehicles. Does anyone else deploy these? Also does, the PDS-1 work in conjunction with the Net Bat Vehicle? If you have the Net Bat Vehicle unlock and use the PDS-1 are you able to spot more vehicles and within a larger radius?

**Gill** · 11-20-2006, 03:46 AM

I don't think so. Only the NetBat items upload to the squad's network. The individual items (like support's heartbeat sensor or the engie's vehicle sensor) work on their own.

I might be talking out of my ass, though. I have neither unlock yet.

Snail88 · 11-20-2006, 06:44 AM

you can throw it anywhere and it sticks giving you ample warning of any incoming vehicles. It does nothing with the net bat....youll see it on your minimap. I use this all the time on defense. Great for ambushing.

**Telorn** · 11-20-2006, 08:20 AM

When I'm engie I always place one or more of these around a defending flag. Problem is, with DICE not having friendly/enemy equipment showing up properly, that friendlies are constantly destroying your equipment. Be sure to place it in well hidden places. It doesn't have to be in the open to be effective.

**LuckyStrike** · 11-20-2006, 09:09 AM

As Engie I outfit with the PDS-1 and motion mines (Gibraltar I outfit with EMP and MMs).

tips (ignore if you know already)

1. Stick them to your vehicle (air or ground) to give you enemy vehicle IDs. Adjust your mini-map zoom to your liking.

2. use the 'G' key to pick them back up

3. you can get them resupplied through ammo packs or boxes and can have more than one deployed

4. they sometimes don't work when deployed (no sonar) just pick them back up and redeploy.

cheers

Question... Only your own squad sees the sonar???? or is it the whole team?

=Sarc= · 11-20-2006, 10:01 AM

I think the whole team can see the effects of the sonar. I've been commanding and seen the PDS deployed.

**Gill** · 11-20-2006, 10:56 AM

Yep. Talking out of my ass again. Sort of.

DirtyLude · 11-20-2006, 10:57 AM

I deploy them all the time. The only problem I have with them is that the beeping sounds so similar to a spawn beacon. Every once in a while I get fooled that a spawn beacon is around and have to go hunting for it.

Yoyi · 11-20-2006, 12:24 PM

I am thinking of grabbing the motion mines as my next goal upgrade. But I never knew how exactly the PSD-1 worked, and I must say is quite the gadget for defending a CP if you are in an armored map.

**Telorn** · 11-21-2006, 12:12 PM

Yeah...I wish another class had a version of this to detect soldier movement. Not like the support one. Haven't tried it, but I've heard it's not good.

**Tarenth** · 11-21-2006, 02:58 PM

Actually the squad leader recon drone affectionately labeled the "Flying bullseye" will relay infantry and vehicle information to the squad...good luck hiding it though.

**Telorn** · 11-21-2006, 03:01 PM

It's not such a bad thing if you are defending/assaulting a flag and already have a beacon in place. It's bad if you don't have a beacon down, because it makes you a bullseye, as Tarenth mentioned.

In fact, if you play smart, you could actually use it as a distraction. When people see the drone, they'll be saying to their squad that a SL is over here. Typically, the majority of them will come after you to try and take out the 'spawn' point. Meanwhile, you could have the rest of your squad flank them and take the flag.

**Tarenth** · 11-25-2006, 05:42 PM

I am now enlightened and have come to share my knowledge with others.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE USE THE PDS-1

Okay, that's a lie. If you're commander is an idiot and doesn't use the UAV or your base has been taken and the UAV deployment is destroyed then go ahead and use the PDS-1.

Saddly I learned while playing as the CO that you are allowed only 1 type of army wide scanning device active on the field at a time.

Good news: The PDS-1 relays the information, not only to your squad, but to the commander and probably other people on your team.

Bad news: If you deploy the PDS-1 before the commander deploys the UAV the UAV will no longer opperate until the PDS is disabled. You can deploy it and all, but the scanning fuction will not work. If you deploy the PDS-1 while the UAV is deployed then it will not start scanning until the UAV scan runs out. Then it will default to the aforementioned condition until the PDS is destroyed.

It annoyed me to no end when someone slapped it on a walker and played defense with it. On the plus side they were able to spot vehicles when it entered its impressive sonar ping range. On the minus side I was getting requests for UAVs and deploying them like mad and getting NO intel from them whatso ever. It made me sad when I could only pick out infantry infilitrators with the Sat-Track and 'spotted' spam.

Maus · 11-25-2006, 07:02 PM

Goodness - do you have confirmation of that from elsewhere? That's ridiculous, and I can only suppose it's a bug that needs to be fixed asap.

**LuckyStrike** · 11-25-2006, 07:26 PM

I've seen multiple PDS-1s in action. We should test this out. Did this happen with the last patch? I haven't played much since then.