[Fyron]

There is effectively no difference between active EM, passive EM, psychic, gravitic and temporal scanning abilities (as with the corresponding cloaking abilities). They all function in identical manners, just against different cloaking abilities. 5 separate scanning and 5 cloaking abilities are provided to allow modders to set up more complex cloaking systems. Each cloaking ability prevents a certain range of levels of scanning components with the corresponding ability to detect the vessel (when the cloak is active). Active EM cloaking blocks Active EM scanning in the same exact manner that Temporal cloaking blocks Temporal scanning.

Basically, if you have just one scanning ability present in the system that is of sufficient level to detect the corresponding level of cloaking ability that the cloaked vessel has, you can detect it. For example, your cloaked ship has level 100 cloaking in all areas except Gravitic, in which it has level 2. A level 99 active EM scanner would not be able to detect it. However, a level 3 gravitic scanner would be able to, in spite of the comparatively high levels of other cloaking abilities.

Note that all ships have built in level 1 active and passive EM scanners, which is why cloaking devices start with ability value 2.