diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index d020288..67f428d 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -177,10 +177,10 @@ func (c *Connection) Name() string {
 }
 
 func (c *Connection) RecordScan() {
-	fmt.Fprintln(c, "scanning known systems for signs of life")
+	c.Printf("scanning known systems for signs of life\n")
 	c.lastScan = time.Now()
-	time.AfterFunc(1*time.Minute, func() {
-		fmt.Fprintln(c, "scanner ready")
+	time.AfterFunc(options.scanTime, func() {
+		c.Printf("scanner ready\n")
 	})
 }
 
@@ -192,11 +192,11 @@ func (c *Connection) RecordBomb() {
 }
 
 func (c *Connection) CanScan() bool {
-	return time.Since(c.lastScan) > 1*time.Minute
+	return time.Since(c.lastScan) > options.scanTime
 }
 
 func (c *Connection) NextScan() time.Duration {
-	return -time.Since(c.lastScan.Add(time.Minute))
+	return -time.Since(c.lastScan.Add(options.scanTime))
 }
 
 func (c *Connection) NextBomb() time.Duration {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index ba999a4..59a7aad 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ var options struct {
 	playerSpeed    float64
 	respawnFrames  int64
 	respawnTime    time.Duration
+	scanTime       time.Duration
 	speckPath      string
 	startBombs     int
 	startMoney     int
@@ -128,4 +129,5 @@ func init() {
 	flag.IntVar(&options.startBombs, "start-bombs", 0, "number of bombs a player has at game start")
 	flag.IntVar(&options.startMoney, "start-money", 1000, "amount of money a player has to start")
 	flag.DurationVar(&options.makeShieldTime, "shield-time", 15*time.Second, "time it takes to make a shield")
+	flag.DurationVar(&options.scanTime, "scan-recharge", 1*time.Minute, "time it takes for scanners to recharge")
 }
diff --git a/scan.go b/scan.go
index 46413bd..110a172 100644
--- a/scan.go
+++ b/scan.go
@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ type scan struct {
 }
 
 type scanResult struct {
-	system      *System
-	dist        float64
-	players     map[*Connection]bool
-	colonizedBy *Connection
+	system       *System
+	dist         float64
+	players      map[*Connection]bool
+	colonizedBy  *Connection
+	shielded     bool
+	shieldEnergy float64
 }
 
 func (r *scanResult) Empty() bool {
@@ -75,6 +77,10 @@ func (s *scan) hitSystem(sys *System, dist float64) scanResult {
 		system:      sys,
 		colonizedBy: sys.colonizedBy,
 		dist:        dist * 2.0,
+		shielded:    sys.Shield != nil,
+	}
+	if sys.Shield != nil {
+		r.shieldEnergy = sys.Shield.energy
 	}
 	if sys.players != nil {
 		r.players = make(map[*Connection]bool, len(sys.players))
@@ -97,6 +103,10 @@ func (s *scan) echos() {
 		}
 		s.origin.NotifyInhabitants("results from scan of %v:\n", res.system)
 		s.origin.NotifyInhabitants("\tdistance: %v\n", s.origin.DistanceTo(res.system))
+		s.origin.NotifyInhabitants("\tshielded: %v\n", res.shielded)
+		if res.shielded {
+			s.origin.NotifyInhabitants("\tshield energy: %v\n", res.shieldEnergy)
+		}
 		inhabitants := res.playerNames()
 		if inhabitants != nil {
 			s.origin.NotifyInhabitants("\tinhabitants: %v\n", inhabitants)
@@ -104,5 +114,6 @@ func (s *scan) echos() {
 		if res.colonizedBy != nil {
 			s.origin.NotifyInhabitants("\tcolonized by: %v\n", res.colonizedBy.Name())
 		}
+
 	}
 }