Supposedly it deactivates ot severely hinders the special if you power up anything. I may have gotten this nixed up with something else...maybe its wishful thinking.

But try to remain "quiet" no buffs, no energy weapons fire...then see how it works.

Also, how do/did you know you were targeted from 20km?

Like I stated before...masking a signature isnt about making the object undetectable, or physically invisible...thats a cloak. Masking a signature is more like camoflauge, its about trickery, abut fooling perception so that you are seen, but arent perceived...either blending into the background or mimicking something you arent. But once you become to "active", you give up your disguise and would be found out.

No matter how effective my camoflauge, it'll be for not if I make a bunch of noise(high and concentrated EM and particle emissions, ie: buffs, sensor scans, etc) and twirl bright orange streamers(energy weapons fire) while running break neck speed through my environment(whatever speed thresholds the Devs want to apply). Granted, all these actions should impact the odds of detection dynamically based on distance to the hostile.

I have no problem with ti. Certain times it was very effective of not being detected to ranges of 5 to 6Kms, on the enemy's scanners.

I have not tested it in PVP. And hallo? How can you be detected at 20kms, if you are running 'silent'?

"masking a signature isnt about making the object undetectable, or physically invisible...thats a cloak. Masking a signature is more like camoflauge, its about trickery, abut fooling perception so that you are seen, but arent perceived...either blending into the background or mimicking something you arent. "

that was a good analogy -

as stated- it was a real cool touch they have- it is not as fool poof as a cloak. because it is not a cloak

in so far as player vs player- i can mask energy signature admist large groups of the enemy and sometimes am detected- about 27 percent of the time - which seems about right for a masked ship

prefer photon spread shot for my tactical- and against groups in player vs player i find the graphic and effect better then high yield
( - aside from pvp they seem to work well against bigger ships (photon torpedos surround the larger ship and blow up)

the evidence is clear- Mask Energy Signature- Janeway, and all the great Science Captains choice

I use it on my escor and if your at impulse, your visible due to lack of auzx power, if you skill it up though its hilariou on my escort when I popp up 3km away from a cruiser and launch beam overload and torp high yeild 3.

try it on a bop with bo 3 hy 3 and battle cloak, while stacking alpha and omega! then cloaking while cooldowns refresh, star cruisers pop so nice!

Hmmm...reeaaaalllyy!?!?!