Ki Detection:
There are two types of detecting someone's Ki (power level).
MENTAL SENSE
The first method requires a Fighter to enhance his Ki level and training enough to where he can use mental abilities to sense a Fighter's Ki. It will detect any power level, unlike the Scouter, it will not break but it cannot detect an exact power level like the Scouters, it can only detect whether the power level is unbelievably weak, a little bit weak, a little bit strong, very strong, or unbelievably strong in comparison to their own.
SCOUTER
The second way is the use of a Scouter, which was designed on Planet Vegeta so that Saiyans could know how strong there opponent was. The devices worked very accurately but had one glitch, after a fighter/warrior reached an unimaginable power level then the Scouter would break and be totally useless.
Best viewed in 800x600 res.