Tango3B

Yeah, my intention was pretty much to let people know about the Discord discussion because not everyone is following that and this one is definitely quite a biggie, actually. But yeah, as you said it helps managing expectations to know what is cooking behind the scenes. And man…believe me, I am as hyped as you.

Well, there was a rather unpleasant discussion on Discord yesterday. So, Ironmike originally said that there will soon be an announcement regarding the release. However, a bit later Cobra stepped in and set this straight. Cobra said it will be more like a general announcement regarding things to come and expectations related to the module. NO release date as of yet. He made that very clear. Reading between the lines of that discussion you can pretty much say they seem to be uncertain whether they can meet the release window or not. But again, there is NO official statement yet so any speculation is still pointless…this is only a summary of what has been discussed yesterday evening and in a few days we will probably know more. Given the fact that that we still have not seen any raw and unedited gameplay we should probably not start the hype train yet. Just my two cents, of course…

Okay, looking at your DCS related problems please do what BIGNEWY said. Looking at your Windows related problems I would suggest the following, though: click Settings, click Windows Update, click Expanded Options, click Recovery. Then look for "Fix problems with Windows updates - Your apps and files will remain". Click “Reinstall Now”. If this doesn't work, I'm sorry to have to tell you, then unfortunately you only have one option for Windows. Please click on “reset this PC” in the same menu as there will be most likely a severe problem with your Windows.

Try this: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth And then run sfc /scannow again.

Yeah, maybe I am wrong and you are absolutely right with your statement. Thing is, we simply do not know yet how ED will handle such things in the future. My point is based on the fact that I think that the F-4E is probably the most anticipated module in the history of DCS, yet. I guess, we will see...we have absolutely no control over these things and in either case I can live with the decision making of ED and HB in this case...I would even take the Kiowa. Not a bad module at all.

True. But there can still be feature patches for the new merger between OB & Stable, right? Right. There’s no reason not to roll out such patches in certain scenarios. This is one such scenario. Again, this is indeed pure speculation on my part but why wouldn’t ED take such an opportunity?

That does not necessarily mean WE have to wait another six weeks, though. ED can roll out a feature patch for the F-4E at any time they want to. Example? RAZBAMs F-15E back in June last year. So the release timeline can still be met…no worries there.

If I may add something…I do not know if you use Track IR but if you do please also make sure that you exclude Track IR or your VR gear from your Antivirus scans. This can tremendously help with your DCS experience and can significantly reduce stuttering. Also, make sure you exclude every single DCS related folder or application from your Antivirus scans. For me and a lot of people I know this and also BN’s suggestions absolutely made the difference. I hope this helps…

IronMike said on Discord that HB is currently right on track with their timeline. He also said if by any unforeseen circumstances they miss the said timeline they will give immediate notice to us. So any further speculation is completely pointless…let’s take the man by his word and see what happens.

Well, there are a lot of people who say the same about the Mirage F1. Yet, the F1 can be bad ass if you know how to fly it to its strength and how to set up your controls properly. But yeah, we will certainly have some whining… Concerning Mover having trouble handling the Tomcat…well, he is used to really feeling a jet when he pushes it to its limit. A real jet gives you certain sensations you will never experience in DCS. And the Tomcat is one of these DCS modules that really require training and careful handling. You cannot blame Mover for that…I think most real world pilots do have some trouble adapting to DCS in terms of „Do I really feel the jet…“

Nice one, YoYo...yeah, we´re right on track! ;-D

Yup, you are absolutely right. The PHIMAT is a bit heavier and if I may say so the BARAX is astonishingly light for such a capable ECM pod. But yeah, in my case I just said I want a comparable weight to counterbalance the BARAX. IRL a 20kg weight difference is really not that much of a deal compared to having nothing on the other hardpoint. Payload drag might be of slightly more importance here so the BARAX may counter the PHIMAT, actually. But that is just an assumption, so...! Anyhow, we really need that pod. We really need more countermeasures...

Yeah, while being in very early EA every module will have it’s fair share of bugs and will need optimization. This cannot be avoided and it is simply something we have to live with. Anyhow, it is understood that HB has a rather large team and certainly also a rather large and competent staff of testers. Remember the launch of the F-14? Went pretty smooth, right? Right. I have absolutely no doubt that the launch of the F-4E will be any different. We will certainly never experience an F-16ish launch in DCS again… As for missing features…well, at a certain point you need to make a decision as a developer and say my product is good enough for public release. HB will already have done that some time ago. At this stage it will probably be more about adding some pending crucial items and polishing up what they already have. They need to do that. Otherwise it would basically be an endless development loop. Anyway, I also hope for a smooth release day. I really hope the servers can take the traffic that day…it will surely be massive.

They are indeed scrambling to get the F-4E over the finish line. And they actually communicated via Discord that they currently focus more or less their entire energy on that very goal. Also, they said that interaction with the community will be a bit less during that final push. That’s absolutely honest and okay. So, I think the best we can do at this point is to wait for the usual YouTubers to start releasing their videos in the very near future and meanwhile HB will do the magic in the background. I believe the next patch might probably make us very happy. And speaking of videos…I hope that a certain YouTuber (yes, the one who screwed up the F-15E startup vid) who yesterday uploaded a downright disgusting F-4E clickbait video will not get his hands on the F-4E pre-EA…

A few months ago I was told that apparently ED is responsible for developing the PHIMAT pod or parts of it. Since we already have a comparable pod in the Viggen, I really do not know what exactly takes so long to finish the development of the PHIMAT. The PHIMAT, just like the awesome BARAX, has a very simple control interface in the cockpit - so no fancy stuff there. And yes, it would add so much to our beloved F1 - I mean, if there is something this wonderful jet currently needs really badly it would certainly be a lot more countermeasures, right? Right. And I also want to be able to counterbalance the BARAX with a comparable weight - it is way more convenient to fly the F1 balanced. Yeah, so fingers crossed the PHIMAT will finally be released over the next couple of months. We really need an update from Aerges concerning the development timeline…

Also, you always want to use the laser ranging for a few seconds before you pickle your GBU. Why is that? Because this way you basically update the slant range determined by the TGP to the most accurate actual slant range which otherwise might be some feet off without laser ranging. Is this even simulated in DCS you might ask? Yes. Best example is the F-16C. So, always do a little laser ranging and then you should be good to go. Note: This is not required when using radar generated range/coordinates. Radar generated range/coordinates are accurate enough. *to the OP: the GPS guided bombs used by the JF-17 currently have guidance issues. This is a known bug.

Actually, you can do a very simple check because this „phenomenon“ is almost 100% reproducible. Create a very simple SP mission where two bandits fly in formation and you engage them with a 530F. Say you put these banding’s in Echelon or line abreast formation. They do not even have to be that close together. Then observe what happens when you shoot and the missile gets close to the intended target. Again, this is basically 100% reproducible. Just try it… And while we are here. Any word on radar improvements like finally adding the missing radar modes like APS or BPZ or at least fixing the radar transmittting in STBY position? I mean, it has been quite a while, right? Right. Thank you.

Okay, now I understand your point. Yesterday I tested FLOOD mode in its basic form and it was also working fine for me. But yeah, you are absolutely right. Flood mode is also intended as a fall back mode if for some reason your lock is broken. That way you basically save your shot. A good example is the Mirage 2000C which would switch to ILLU mode immediately after lock is broken in order to not trash your shot. This should also be the same in the F/A-18C. I would say this is a bug. Let´s see what Lord Vader has to say about this...

Wow. Well, then I do not have to worry anymore, I guess. Keep it coming...

For some who are a bit more anxious waiting for the F-4E that would surely be a feeling of certainty. Or even relief. Probably sadness. It would certainly help to manage expectations, right? Right. Does it change anything? Well, for some it means the world to have a certain degree of information about what’s cooking behind the scenes…

That’s basically my point. I am by no means mad at HB. I fully understand that these things take time. But on the other hand I think at this late stage of development a status update would be a tremendously good thing. And it doesn’t hurt as they do not need to give a date. They only need to say they are on track - or not. That would totally suffice. Helps to manage expectations if the set schedule cannot be met.

We have not even seen the WSO pit, yet. Nor did we get the promised development update which was apparently intended to address the remaining features that still need to be completed. Also, given the fact that YouTubers play around with an upcoming module roughly around one month before Early Access I think HB might be on a very tight schedule here. At this point I am a bit worried that HB is not able to deliver within the timeframe they set for themselves. I am not mad at them. Don’t get me wrong. The module will apparently ship with most features already available and this takes time. I know that. But at least a little status update would be tremendously appreciated. Look, I mean we do not even have the PRF tone library available, yet which is intended to be shared with the F-16C in some shape or form. Anyhow, I really hope I am wrong…

Bit late to the party but that´s just me! ;-D So, the Hornet...okay, some people around this forum might know that I am mostly a Viper guy but I really enjoy the Hornet, too. The Hornet is certainly all but a boring module. Actually, as a Viper guy, I hate to say she might be the better airframe. Why? Because she can do basically everything. And that is because of her awesome sensors and MSI, the ability to carry some of the most interesting weaponry in DCS and her extreme agility. And as a sidenote she certainly looks quite sexy. She is a true multirole fighter, a true jack of all trades with highly automated systems which is a good thing for modern jets. Okay, she is certainly not as intuitive as the Viper in terms of radar usage but practice makes perfect, right? Right. Actually, the APG-73 is an incredibly good piece of equipment if you know how to operate it effectively. Especially, if we will ever see the full integration of MSI features and ED´s effort to rework the radar model certainly helps, too. And what most people do not really understand in BVR: actually, she can be quite fast (like the JF-17) if you fly the right profiles to give the 120 just the right amount of "juice". Anyway, there are two things I strongly dislike, though. The first thing is the inability to store certain DDI pages (per DDI) as a permanent setup like it is possible in basically all other modern jets. The second thing is, that the radar cursor (+elevation reset) will stow each time I go SOI on a different DDI. In my opinion these two things are the biggest downside of the F/A-18C module. But yeah...would I recommend this module to my friends? Hell yeah, I even got some WT tryhards to finally fly DCS. Can´t be that boring, right? Right. Thank you.

Blinking is part of every modern SPJ. This is certainly no bug RAZBAM has to look at. And by the way, the M2k uses the same SPJ power as the FC3 Su-27 module. The problem actually is how ED chose to model the DCS Aim-120 seeker and how it reacts to any form of jamming. The same goes for the Sparrow, of course. There should be a thorough review of the entire DCS ECM/ECCM system…

Yes, I believe the drag values were altered and I think the overall changes were absolutely justified because what we have now appears to be a more credible missile simulation. To my test: I flew two scenarios which resemble a bit what you can expect on GS’s server. First I fired head on at an F/A-18 at 32k co-alt, my speed at Mach 1 and target speed at 0.92. I came in range at roughly 36nm (40ish before patch) and fired at roughly 22.5nm which was the „sweetspot“ between halfway down to Rne and Rne (around 26.5nm before patch). Second scenario was flown against same target at 15k feet. Same speeds. Came in range at roughly 21.5nm and fired at around 15nm under same criteria as mentioned above (again, before patch both values appeared to be roughly 4-5nm higher). So again, don‘t quote me on that. As you can see this is by no means a scientific approach to measuring exact data but it absolutely gave me a good idea of the current performance. Thank you. reason for edit: own stupidity