<p>I'm not an EV3 expert, but my understanding is that continuous mode stores results into a buffer that can be read nearly instantly. Single mode will need to wait to hear a ping back before reporting results.</p>

<p>Continuous mode will give you a faster response time. However, if you are using a number of ultrasonic sensors, they may interfere with one another, and using single mode should prevent this.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-13T10:29:26.223Z
[David Lechner has come to the same conclusion](https://github.com/ev3dev/ev3dev-lang-python/issues/364#issuecomment-332401083): it is intended to avoid cross-talk between two or more ultrasonic sensors.
zovits
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-13T03:28:33.507Z
2019-12-13T03:28:33.507Z
jncraton
<p>The EV3 ultrasonic sensor has an advanced mode that includes an option to use single or continuous sensing as described in the Help page:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>You can choose whether the sensor sends a single ultrasonic signal or continuous signals with the Measuring Mode input.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is the purpose of a single ultrasonic signal? In what situations may the sensor need to send a single signal?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-13T06:56:36.860Z
Does this answer your question? [Advanced mode in EV3 ultrasonic sensor](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12906/advanced-mode-in-ev3-ultrasonic-sensor)
David Lechner
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-13T11:56:45.973Z
You want run dark and then communicate "Hunt for Red October" style with a single pulse ;)
Zhaph - Ben Duguid
<ev3><mindstorms><piece-information><piece-usage><sensor-ultrasonic>
What is the use of a single ultrasonic signal?
farah fahhoum
# What is the use of a single ultrasonic signal?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-12)

The EV3 ultrasonic sensor has an advanced mode that includes an option to use single or continuous sensing as described in the Help page:

> You can choose whether the sensor sends a single ultrasonic signal or continuous signals with the Measuring Mode input.

What is the purpose of a single ultrasonic signal? In what situations may the sensor need to send a single signal?

**Tags:** ev3, mindstorms, piece-information, piece-usage, sensor-ultrasonic

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [Advanced mode in EV3 ultrasonic sensor](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/12906/advanced-mode-in-ev3-ultrasonic-sensor)  
> **username_2**: You want run dark and then communicate "Hunt for Red October" style with a single pulse ;)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-12-13. Score: 6

I'm not an EV3 expert, but my understanding is that continuous mode stores results into a buffer that can be read nearly instantly. Single mode will need to wait to hear a ping back before reporting results.

Continuous mode will give you a faster response time. However, if you are using a number of ultrasonic sensors, they may interfere with one another, and using single mode should prevent this.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: [username_1 has come to the same conclusion](https://github.com/ev3dev/ev3dev-lang-python/issues/364#issuecomment-332401083): it is intended to avoid cross-talk between two or more ultrasonic sensors.  

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