JEFX

***interesting*** OK, found some other stuff : I realized that my AWACS were at a mere 2000m altitude (default when inputing a new aircraft in flight without changing its altitude) and raising them to 10000m and I was able to communicate with them from 450km! I also found that if you want to assign a VHF-FM (radio3) frequency of, say, 30000, you have to input 30 in the Mission editor. So, everything is great, except that potential BUG that the radio frequencies can revert themselves to the default 124 or 150... This is such a great sim!!! :smilewink:

Hi! Warrior, Lets continue this discussion! I did some experiments with the radios this morning and probably found a BUG ! I know for sure, now, that I do set up my radios properly. I made a specific mission to test comms with 3 different AFAC flights, 3 different tankers and 3 different AWACSs, all with different VHF AM frequencies that I assigned in the mission editor. I got some problems... So I did some investigation and it appears that : 1) I cannot communicate over VHF AM to an AWACS that is 450 km away, is that possible? AWACS will always be quite far, by nature,is there another strategy of radio settings and frequencies that would help to broadcast from afar? I quit the mission, changed the Awacs to a closer distance, fired up the mission again, and LO: I could talk to them. 2) The BUG is that the software changes my frequency settings on its own sometimes... I made a flight of one KC-135 tanker, named automatically by the program TEXACO and it had an automatically assigned frequency of 150. I decided to change it to 130 and fired up the program... :( couldnt talk to it (therefore the subject of this post in the first place)... I got out of the simulation, entered the ME and to my greatest surprise... The frequency of my tanker was back to 150 (the usual default)... I changed it again, and this time it held and I could communicate with it in flight... It appears that all flights of all nature (even HELOS) are assigned a frequency of 124 by default by the program, except the tankers that have all a frequency of 150 assigned automatically by the program... I even had the same problem with my AWACS to which I had assigned different frequencies and after not being able to communicate with them, I stopped the sim and I saw in the ME that their frequencies were back to 124... That seems like a bug to me? On the other hand, it is very very immersive to tune to a frequency where many flights are assigned (124 for example, if you let them like the default) and you can hear all sorts of communications from them, and when you tune to ATC (say 131 for Batumi) you can hear some flights asking for takeoff or for landing, etc... Very immersive, wow! Now, one question : what is VHF FM used for? and how do you assign a frequency of 73000 in the ME??? thanks JEFX

Good morning Warrior, After finding you tutorial, yesterday, I made a mission myself with several flights to experiment with the radios. I put myself with 3 wingmen and the program assigned us an automatic freq of 251. I added another A-10 for AFAC, one KC-135 with refuelling task (I assigned myself another VHF freq.) and one AWACS E-2 with a freq. When I posted this message last night, I couldnt communicate with AWACS or TANKER:( THis morning I tried again : I put an E-3C instead as AWACS and gave it a VHF freq of 124, and I gave the same freq to AFAC and indeed, I could communicate with both on VHF1 at 124:) My problem is the Tanker : I put a KC-135 with task refuelling and I tried several frequencies (both VHF and UHF) and when in game, on both radios, when I summon the radio menu with the HOTAS switch, the Tanker option is inert (disabled), I cannot use it to communicate??? Is there something I am missing? For now, it is easy to communicate on UHF with wingman, second element, flight, with VHF with ATC of different airfields, with AWACS and with AFAC aircrafts. Somehow I am missing the Tanker (unless I did somthing wrong with setting it up in the mission design, but I did it very simple with all default). Is there other assets with which we can communicate in this world? If we put other flights doing things, will we hear them communicate among each other, and what do we need to set up to hear that? Even though I am an old veteran of Simulators, somehow I am new to the world of radios and I am wondering what is the normal procedure? How do we use all those frequencies? what is Guard? do we normally tune something by default and switchto other for needs, and how is the best way to use radios 1-2-3? obviously I understand that UHF primary use is among one's flight, yes? then, ATC on VHF AM?, then what is the typical usage of VHF FM? THanks a lot! Jean-Francois

Thanks Warrior! You know, it is right after reading this very post of yours and studying your very well done radio tutorial that I fired up my new A-10 and tried to put your info in practice. I understand that the ATCs are given when clicked, and I do have Shu's airport diagrams. Thanks But what about the tanker and the AWACS??? thanks (also, what I am eager to learn, is proper Real Life usage of VHF AM, UHF and VHF FM, how do pilot use them for real???) cheers JEFX

Can someone help in using the radios properly? I understand that you have to tune to a specifiec frequency in order to speak to any entity in this marvelous world. For example, I tune my VHF 1 (AM) to 131.00 and I can speak to Batumi ATC, fine... But I tried to setup an AWACS, gave it a frequency in the ME (I gave anything, 135 I think) and in game, when I tune to this frequency, not only I cannot talk to it, but the comms menu does not allow me to use the AWACS functions???? (same for the Tanker)??? Are there specific frequencies ranges that one should know of to tune to different assets? For example, it seems as if one uses UHF (in the 200s) to talk to one's flight right??? Is there anything like this for AWACS, etc? Is there a list of all airports frequencies somewhere? thanks! JEFX

I am sorry but I dont seem to be able to enter the Hummvee??? I tried several things, but the spacebar does not work? JEFX

Sorry guys I didnt take any Screenies, I was so into it... (and it was late...) I like the pneumatic switch trick, will try it some other time! No I couldnt relate to a distance to airbase, my hud was non-operational anymore. Yes pitot heat had been on. My best airspeed indicator was the flaps thing : yes since the Hydraulic systems were still working, I was able to put 7 degrees of flap when I was quite slow, but whenever I would go over 185 KIAS, I knew they would retract and they did, so that gave me a visual cue about how fast 185 KIAS was... Great fun (Yes, Amen!)

I was trying to obliterate a convoy of russian tanks but I got peppered so badly by their bullets in my rocket runs that at some point, not only the HUD and CICU, etc stopped working but also the ACTUAL ANALOG instruments!!! I had nothing left that could give me a clue about my airspeed and for my altitude, I found that I still could get a radar altitude with the switch to normal! I finally landed totally by ear... knowing that I must be a bit fast when my flaps retracted (the hydraulic systems were still ok...) What an excitement! WOW When I taxied, I looked at my aircraft and it was totally covered with bullet holes. THANKS ED, this is the best SIM ever! JEFX

I personnaly think that the tutorials are very good in general (and from a pedagogical point of view, they are just neutral enough to allow each of us to think and learn. The mix of narration, real actions one has to take (moving switches, etc) and pause (and space bar when ready) is just fine. But I have to agree with Grimes that some of those tutorials (especially the navigation one) are too long, or with too many different topics. My personnal whish would be for shorter and more numerous tutorials one broken up smaller topics (in the navigation departement for sure...). But I agree with everyone here that, the best way to get help is to start out positively:smilewink: I just fired up the forum and I saw : horrible training and I was already mad at the unknown guy... Lets give him a break, sure, but let's behave like adults please! The only reason we are ALL here, is because we ALL love flying and sims! JEFX

I have to agree also very strongly. I was going through the NAVIGATION one last night and I though that it could have been made of at least 4 different ones (each more pedagogical, slow and explaining all the facets of those complex systems...) For some of the more complex items, I would recommend chopping the training sessions in smaller and more detailed explanations please. JEFX

Thanks, I get the message!

I looked everywhere, even did a search in the manual, there seems to be no indicator for the speedbrakes (is it open, how much, etc...). I finally find myself going F2 view to see if my speedbrakes are open, kind of cheating no? thanks! JEFX

Well, thanks for all advices guys, I just got the new system and finally downloaded DCS A-10C and it is a pure joy to look at!!! The first few minutes (and still now) reminded me of the amazement I felt back with my first hours in Falcon 4, many many years ago! I think DCS A-10C (and DCS in general) is the best thing that ever happened to flight simulation! And the new PC is really doing agreat job! :D:D:D

thanks guys, updating the games in TIR did it, sorry for the stupid question,(I should have known...):(

You are right, i had forgotten about that... Since i was getting the very latest version of the TIR software, I was thinking that the game was included (I have copied my old profile in the PROFILES folder from my other comp, is that a bad idea also? since it was a previous version of the software? since it was under XP and not W7??) thanks

Thanks mvsgas but I am not sure how to do that? I am the only user of my computer, therefore de facto the administrator no? What does mean : run as admin (or not)? thanks JEFX

I would appreciate greatly if someone new what causes this? Just bought a new system (W7/64) and reinstalled LOFC2 with patch 1.2.1 (totally clean instal) and everything is running smoothly except TIR4pro is not responding in game??? I downloaded the latest TIR software last night (and it is really neat and works perfectly on the desktop, i can see the movements, the light is green and it is tracking very well). How can I make it work in LOFC please?:huh: thanks JEFX

Mizzy Did you get my PM? JEFX edit: OK got yours

Mizzy, please check you PM, I might be able to help. JEFX

Pilotasso I think that I am following you (with difficulty, because I dont understand all what you are talking about...)... Can you explain, HOW do you do this (because usually Windows installs things where it wants...) thanks JEFX

No problem asking CrazyOwl I wanted to limit to 3000$ (CAN) and I will be close to that plus a few taxes... The i950 makes my choices less pricy (compared to the 970 for example), the GTX 580 is pricy but I deem most necessary to the beauty of the experience (I play this at 3840x1024 on TripleHead 3 screens). The SSD is a bit pricy too, thats why I decided on a rather small one, but for the most important matters. The RAM is a rather normal one, therefore less expensive than the newer sexier ones, but I get a bigger number of it for less money. I agree that it is an expensive system, but I havent upgraded for a long while, my system now is a dualcore E6600... I think it was time for a move! cheers JEFX

Well, Well, friends It is nice to talk about it and read specs and forums but... I decided to take the plunge and ordered my custom system today : I will be getting the following (no turning back) and I believe that I will be able to survive the next couple of years with this (I seriously hope...) : Motherboard : ASUS Rampage III extreme X58 ROG (Socket 1366) CPU : i7 950 GPU : nVidia GTX 580 RAM : 12 Go Corsair 1600 Mhz DDR3 Drives : Kingston SSD V series 128 Go HDD 1 To 7200 RPM (Black) System : Win 7/64 pro (and plenty of room in the box for expansion, 2 DVDs, plenty of USB ports, etc...) I believe that the combination of the very good performance of the i7 950, coupled with the exceptional qualities of the GTX 580, plenty of RAM and the extra loading speed of a small Solid State Drive for the software and the system, will make this a fine computer (fingers crossed):music_whistling: I will report back on performance when I get familiar with it (I havent bought A-10C yet, I was waiting for the new machine, which I will get at the end of the week). cheers:thumbup: JEFX

Thanks for those precisions EtherealN, nice to hear you here. I believe it is a HOT topic for a lot of us! JEFX

Pilotasso, I am now bying a new system that (I think) will be fantastic for DCS A-10 (and upcoming few years) and I am getting a SSD along with a standard HDD. How do you set-up your files? You put the system (Windows 7/64) AND DCS Warthog executable on the SSD? other important things? thanks, I dont know really how to use it... JEFX

Hey Mizzy, nice to see you here again! Despite the fact that I like the adrenaline of weaponry, my favorite moments in all sims (my list is almost like yours) were always athmospheric moments of flight, surprises, scenery,etc... FSX I didnt really like, but for great flying, I really recommend X-plane! Specially if you have a good Eyecandy set-up ( I am a strong advocate of Matrox TripleHead2Go) and with Tom Curtis Sceneries (Alaska, Rockies, etc), you get to fly a stupid simple Beaver in Northern Fjords of BC but it all looks SO realistic (and all the navigation aspects are real too!) Anyhow, thanks again for your mods, and I hope you will do more skins and stuff in the future, you are the best!:) Jean-Francois