Transponders
Transponders are a way for a ship to identify itself to other empires if it wishes to do so. When a ship is built or refitted, the transponder will automatically be set to the default setting for the ship's class.
Transponders mark a ship on the map for other races to see, even if they do not have any sensors that can detect it. If they have any ships or colonies in the system, they will be able to detect the ship, if its transponder is on for them.
Transponders have three settings:
- Off (default): No effect. This is used by most ships.
- Friendly: The ship will be visible to empires in the system that you have either Friendly or Allied relations with. This is commonly used for ships that trade with friendly empires.
- All: The ship will be visible to all empires in the system. This is mostly used by diplomatic ships.