Not sure if this is a bug or intended behavior, but it seems to easy to be intentional. It seems that to use a storm radar, you only have to load it into your cargo hold. I tested this with the heavy model last night. I'll check the light model later today, but I remember using it that way last fall and I assume it still works. (I was going to post about it then but forgot. Haven't needed a storm radar since, so I didn't remember until last night.)

I do approve of the general idea of having some items that can function from the cargo hold, it just doesn't seem like that would be the intended way to use a storm radar.

I'm guessing that the reason storm extenders work from the cargo hold is because they actually don't use any grid (contrary to the description, so it is not likely intentional).

We reported this one months ago as a potential exploit. It works with both models. Seems to be related to the turret-gunner storm radar fix from a while ago.

Interestingly, they have less range from the hold than in an equipment slot, which would make sense if this were by design. In the raptor II, I got the following results targeting roids in a storm (distances are the max range I could target the rock):

1425m: Raptor II base range
2450m: Raptor II with a Xang Xi storm radar in hold
3495m: Raptor II with a Xang Xi storm radar in one small port
3467m: Ratpor II with an Inuebis large storm radar in hold
4400m: with Xang Xi radar in port, Ineubis radar in hold

so, vile exploiter that I am, I have an advanced mineral scanner in the other port, for an all-weather prospecting rig. Take THAT you cowardly roids trying to hide in storms!

I forget the ranges on ships other than the raptor, but the range was always better equipped than from the hold. Sure makes stormy Crit hives easier in a rag, not giving up a Gem slot for the radar...

If this is an exploit, then it is one very easily employed by storm-hunters and storm-hunted alike, so fixing it seems low-priority. Heck, I say call it a feature, not a flaw. "Um, yeah... we MEANT to do that!"

The only "Fix" I think they should do is to make the radar take up a few more cu's of cargo space.
small - 2 to 4
large - 6 to 10

I think this is one of those bugs that really can be classified a feature :D

+1 to not-fix

Agrees with drazed. :)

OK, I did further studies, this time with a Centaur Mk III:

300m no radar
2245m small radar equipped
1324m small radar in hold
4240m large radar equipped
2370m large radar in hold
4440m large and small both equipped
2347m large and small both in hold (interestingly less than just a large in hold)
4235m large equipped, small in hold (interestingly less than just a large equipped)
3233m small equipped, large in hold

And the actual bug that should be addressed here: once you enter the storm sector with radars in hold, you can jettison them and still retain their benefits. I haven't checked, but I imagine the reverse is true: if you enter a storm with no radar, picking one up probably does not work. If we're gonna keep this as a feature, it seems the added mass and used cargo space (especially if we use PaK's good suggestion) is the fair trade-off.

[edit: confirmed my suspicion: enter a sector with no radar in hold and scooping one up has no effect untill you leave & come back.]

Just make the L-port one take up 4cu of cargo space and both still use grid power. (limited to 1, if carrying multiple radars as cargo.)

As far as bugs go, this one is pretty useful. :)

+1 make it a permanent FEATURE.

Remove this topic from bugs, move it to suggestions or general and done!

Aren't heavy supposed to increase radar by 2km, and small by 1km?