Keep in mind different kinds of contacts. You mentioned you thought a contact was 1 mile away and you coudn't see it. How did you know it was 1 mile away?
Sound:
Sound contacts very widely. Depending on your own noise and weather, you could pick them up close by or many miles away.
Radar:
Radar has its limits but may pick up contacts up to 20 miles away. High altitude planes even a little further depending on the year.
Visual:
Scope and bridge sightings have to be 4.5 miles or less.
Weather and lighting will affect visual sighting greatly. Fog and at night you nearly have to touch them to see them. I've not played at the easiest level so I'm not sure just how easy things get, but I suspect you are trying to get a visual on objects that are too far away. Zoom in on the map and get out the ruler and measure from yourself to the contact icon. Also, there are ships which can cruise near as fast or faster than you making for some very long chases. More often than not, the crew will announce if the contact is closing, maintining distance, or moving away. Targets moving away can be hard to catch sometimes.
Typically getting within visual sighting distance also means your own ship can be spotted by the enemy.
Be assured whatever problem you are having, it's easily solved once you understand the game better.
-Pv-
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