You've probably been there. You’re sitting in your stash, staring at the Mechanic’s task list, wondering why on earth he needs another set of signals checked. Escape from Tarkov isn't exactly known for holding your hand, but Signal Part 3 feels like a particularly annoying roadblock for a lot of players. It’s that mid-game hump. You’ve already done the Shoreline runs, you’ve survived the resort (barely), and now you have to go back.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a grind.
But here’s the thing: completing Signal Part 3 is basically your ticket to better gear and higher loyalty levels with Mechanic. If you want those high-tier weapon mods without paying a 400% markup on the flea market, you have to get this done. Most people overthink it. They bring in their best gear, get sniped by a bush-wookie near the power station, and lose half a million rubles.
Don't be that guy.
What Signal Part 3 Actually Asks of You
Let’s keep it simple. Mechanic wants you to go back to Shoreline. Again. Your job is to locate three specific signal sources. You don't need to plant anything this time; you just need to "find" them, which usually means walking close enough to the objective that your character's sub-task notification pops up.
The three spots are:
- The roof of the West Wing (Resort).
- The roof of the East Wing (Resort).
- The Radio Tower (the one near the Road to Customs extract).
Sounds easy? In a vacuum, sure. In Tarkov? It's a nightmare. The Resort is the meat grinder of Shoreline. It's where the "chads" go to juice up and the squads go to settle grudges. If you're running this solo, you need a different strategy than if you're part of a four-man stack.
The Radio Tower: The Easy Part
Usually, you want to hit the Radio Tower first or last depending on where you spawn. It’s located on that big hill overlooking the swampy area near the "Road to Customs" extract. It’s a literal tower. Hard to miss.
📖 Related: Catching the Blue Marlin in Animal Crossing: Why This Giant Fish Is So Hard to Find
Just walk up to the base of the tower. You’ll hear a little ding or see the quest update in the bottom right of your screen. Done. The real danger here isn't the tower itself; it's the fact that players moving toward the extract will often scan that ridgeline. If you linger there, you’re asking for a head-eyes from a suppressed M1A.
Surviving the Resort Roofs
This is where things get spicy. You have to get onto the roofs of both wings.
For the West Wing, you're looking for the access point that leads to the roof. Most people take the stairs near the hole in the wall or the central staircases. Once you hit the roof, you need to walk toward the big satellite dish structures. Warning: You are completely exposed up there. Anyone in the opposite wing or even down in the courtyard can see your silhouette against the sky.
The East Wing is more of the same. Find the stairs, get to the roof, find the signal source.
Why People Fail This Task
Most players die because they rush. They spawn, they sprint straight to the Resort, and they run into a team that's already set up shop. Or, they wait too long, and they run into the "player scav" horde that descends on the Resort around the 20-minute mark.
Timing is everything.
If you have a close spawn (like North Wing or near the gym), get in and get out fast. If you spawn way down by the Pier or Tunnel, maybe chill for a bit. Let the initial bloodbath at the Resort happen. Loot some jackets. Check some stashes. Head to the Resort with about 15 minutes left on the clock. It’s riskier regarding the timer, but the heavy hitters are usually gone by then.
👉 See also: Ben 10 Ultimate Cosmic Destruction: Why This Game Still Hits Different
Gear Choice Matters (More Than You Think)
You don't need a Slick and an Altyn for this. In fact, that's probably a mistake. You want to be fast.
A decent Tier 4 armored rig (like a Trooper or an Ana Tactical M2) is plenty. Carry something that can tap heads at a distance but still handle a close-quarters spray. An SKS with BP ammo is the old reliable, but an MDR or even a high-ergo AK-74N works wonders.
- Bring a suppressed weapon. Seriously. Shoreline is a map of echoes. If you fire an unsuppressed shot at the Radio Tower, every player within 400 meters knows exactly where you are.
- SJ6 Stimulant. If you get the signal and need to bolt to the extract, an SJ6 can save your life. It lets you sprint for a massive amount of time without stopping.
- Don't forget the keys. While you're at the Resort for Signal Part 3, you might as well hit a few high-value rooms if you have the keys. Room 301 West or 222/226 East can pay for your entire kit and then some.
The Mechanic Connection
Why do we do this? Aside from the XP, completing Signal Part 3 unlocks the quest "Signal Part 4" (obviously) and helps build that relationship with Mechanic. As you progress, he starts selling the better suppressors and the high-capacity magazines that you can't find anywhere else.
Mechanic is the "gun nut" trader. His quests are often technical and involve a lot of traveling to dangerous spots, but the payoff is the ability to build meta-guns for a fraction of the cost. If you're ignoring his tasks, you're playing Tarkov on hard mode.
Common Misconceptions
One thing people get wrong is thinking they have to survive the raid in which they visit all three locations. You don't. If you hit the Radio Tower and the West Wing roof, but die on the way to the East Wing, you still have credit for the first two. You only need to survive one Shoreline raid after you've visited all three spots.
Also, you don't need any special items in your inventory. No markers, no signal transmitters. Just your presence.
Mapping Out Your Route
Spawn logic in Tarkov is predictable once you've played a few hundred hours.
✨ Don't miss: Why Batman Arkham City Still Matters More Than Any Other Superhero Game
If you spawn at Road to Customs:
- Hit the Radio Tower immediately.
- Cut through the woods toward the weather station (careful of the sniper scav).
- Approach Resort from the rear (North side).
- Hit East Wing, then West Wing.
- Extract at Path to Lighthouse.
If you spawn at Tunnel/Village:
- Move toward the West Wing first.
- Cross to the East Wing.
- Head south toward the Radio Tower.
- Extract at Road to Customs.
The Path to Lighthouse extract is a godsend for this quest. It's usually open, it's relatively safe, and it's close to the Resort.
A Word on Sniper Scavs
Shoreline has a few sniper scavs that can ruin your day. There’s one on the Power Station roof and sometimes one on the rock overlooking the road. When you're moving between the signal locations for Signal Part 3, keep an eye on the high ground. A single 7.62x54R round to the chest will end your run before you even see the muzzle flash.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Raid
To get this quest off your plate, follow this checklist for your next Shoreline run:
- Insure your gear. If you die on the Resort roof, most players are too scared to go up there and loot you. You’ll likely get your stuff back in 24 hours.
- Pick a "Dead" Server. If you’re really struggling, go into your launcher settings and manually select servers with slightly higher ping but lower populations. It’s a bit cheesier, but it works.
- Night Raids. Doing Signal Part 3 at night is actually much safer. Bring some cheap NVGs (the PNV-10Ts are fine). Most "chads" aren't looking for fights on the roof in the dark; they’re inside looting the ledx spawns.
- Use the "Scav Trick." If you're unsure if the Resort is clear, wait near the fence and listen. If you hear scavs yelling or shooting, there are likely players nearby. If it’s silent, it’s either empty or someone is being very quiet.
Once you get that final sub-task checked, get to an extract. Don't get greedy. Don't look for one more stash. Just leave. Turn the quest in to Mechanic, grab your rewards, and prepare yourself for the next headache he has waiting for you.
Signal Part 3 isn't a test of your shooting skills. It's a test of your patience and your ability to navigate the most dangerous building on the map. Treat it like a stealth mission, not a Call of Duty map, and you'll be done with it in a single raid.