If we are talking about the steering dot, it changed a bit, it travel less then it used to so basicaly when you are in range but out of the FOV of the missile the steering dot will be out of the circle and wont have the launch light. The steering dot stays at the same place on the radar or the hud as it helps you have the best solution angle to shoot on that target. Changing the range on your radar doesnt affect where the steering dot will appear as if you change the range the target distance wont change.
So like in your example you have your radar set at 40nm, you have a target locked at 25 nm ~30 degrees offset to your right and his altitude is 3.7k. You are at angel 38.7 so the steering dot tells you that your best angle to shoot that target is right and a little bit down (~4 oclock position). If you change the range to 20nm, you will see that the steering dot is still at the same place but the target doesnt appear on your radar as it didnt enter the scan zone youve selected. If you select 80nm you will see that the target is below the steering dot so like I said range doesnt affect the steering dot.
I hope I didnt confuse you and hope it clear it up for you
Cougar