Using hydrophones

[Darthlucky]

I've seen numerous posters saying that they do their own, manual hydrophone checks, I've tried doing them and I've never found anything. Do I need headphones to hear them? I've just been using the speakers on my computer.

[PapaSmurf]

A kilometer is .62137 miles and the max range your ears can hear a ship in SH3 is 34 kilometers which means you must be within 21.12 miles of a ship to have any chance of hearing it. So obviously, since it's a very big ocean, most hydrophone checks will not be successful. I get tired of constantly diving only to come up empty but on the rare occasion that you do find something on your own that way, it's very satisfying. And to answer your question, headphones do help you hear the far away sounds much better than just using external speakers. I was turned on to using headphones by another member of this forum and it has really helped me. It also helps when you're under depth charge attack because you can hear the escorts propeller sounds better during their attacks on you. Keep doing the tedious grunt work, just like the real uboat captains did and you will be rewarded.

[LGN1]

Hi,

you can also increase the volume by clicking the black knob on the hydrophone in the lower right corner. Although it looks round I think it only has two settings high/low volume (click on the upper half or lower half). You can check this by listening to your stern (you can hear your own screws) and press the knob in the upper or lower part. You should note a clear difference.

Best, LGN1

[Doolar]

Yea it does get a little tiring, every now a then, diving to do a sound check and surfacing empty handed. Your only pick one up about .00001% of the time ( I actually made that number up, but you catch my drift ). I find it realistic. As mentioned above, "it's a big ocean" I go days ( of game time ) without any contacts what so ever, I'm assuming that the way it was. Headphones are a great asset. As for the volume dial. I point my hydrophone to 180, turn speaker volume up a tad, then click the volume know around the 2 o'clock area and you'll hear the difference. I often wondered why you need the revert back to the lower volume setting, but there is a good valid reason, but I can't remember why. I could be wrong but I think you want to do that for close targets. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Like I said there is a reason, but years of Mead has effected my memory ... LOL

[CTU_Clay]

When I am in my assigned BdU ordered patrol zone, I use my manual hydrophone system every 1.5 game hours or less. It helps my hunting of the zone as most of the time I hunt submerged anyway. When it produces, it gives me a chance to close the target before the game sonar man picks up the sound.

[Kendras]

What is the max distance from which the hydrophone man will tell you that he found a sound contact ?

At what max distance can you hear a ship yourself ?

[PapaSmurf]

What is the max distance from which the hydrophone man will tell you that he found a sound contact ?

At what max distance can you hear a ship yourself ?

I'm pretty sure the sonar man hears them beginning at 20km

And your ears barely hear them at 34km under perfect conditions (wearing headphones and in a quiet environment).