BlueAngel

After these last updates, I can see Jester is much better finding and locking targets. BUT... Now he loses lock upon firing a weapon. This happened to me almost always firing phoenixes. Anyone having this?

Thank you for your input. I will just skip it to NAV then. But, I must mention that this INS system is pretty inaccurate sometimes. It seems random, but sometimes I see major deviations from waypoint position. This is most noticeable when the map is on the background, very, very inaccurate.

Situation: Upon starting up, I place my aircraft INS alignment knob to "GROUND" to perform a ground alignment. Parking brakes were set. Observation: On the HSI page, in the INS screen, after a brief period of flashing, the quality degradation begins to rapidly reduce. The indicator OK shows up after a few seconds, but the timer continues to move. I waited up to 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, the timer doesn't appear to stop. The OK indicator also doesn't change behavior. Resolution: I turned to NAV mode and it appeared to be fully aligned, although there's no indication of a fully aligned system. Notes: The same seems to happen on a carrier. Questions: 1- Is the "OK" indicator after about 10 seconds normal? 2- Is the quality counter supposed to be so fast? 3- If this alignment is correct, what indication is there to tell me INS is fully aligned?

Although the latest changelog mentions the version DCS 2.5.4.28904, my updater is installing version DCS 2.5.4.29004... What's the right one?

Which is kind of a contradiction. Being synthetic it was supposed to be better. In multiplayer is really a tremendous let down. I keep losing aerial engagements because jester is doing god know what back there. Having to turn on VSL or PAL and do his work is a major negative point for this system.

Yes, it seems he's only able to find targets at higher elevations or at the same level. At first I thought that was just from clutter, but I jumped into his seat and could clearly see the targets he was missing. Overall, Jester is a major disappointment. I was in doubt whether or not I should buy the Tomcat for this very reason. I don't fly with a Wing or a Squadron, my buddies don't fly the cat so I was counting on Jester to be my Goose. He's not a Goose... he's a Merlin, nagging and joking instead of doing his job. He's cool, but not that much of a breakthrough HB was publicizing. As an example. I was studying bombing and reached the LANTIRN part and was utterly frustrated with him not able to do anything right with it. It's just impossible to drop a GBU without jumping into the back yourself. It's just a let down.

So it's not just me, then. Coming from the Hornet, this is very frustrating for me, to be honest. I thought this platform was more capable than the Bug. It may be, but Jester just isn't cooperating. I will try TWS and see if it improves.

Situation: Trying to perform air-to-air BVR combat in a multiplayer environment on a average 50/100 ping server. Setup: Cruising at Angels 30, I instruct Jester to scan the azimuth and altitude automatically. AWACS and F10 map indicate two groups (3 F-5s, 2 SU-33), one group at 50nm Angels 15 and the other at 100nm Angels 20. Observation: Jester is unable to find any targets. Adjustment: Descend to Angels 15 and instruct Jester to Scan Middle and Center, range 50 nm, basically where the first group should be. Observation: Jester is still unabel to find any targets. More adjustments: Turned to a 45 degrees intercept and instructed Jester to scan to the side (right). Desecended to Angels 10 to prevent cluttering. Enemies now turn to flank. Obervation: Jester continues to be unable to track targets. Final Adjustment: Close in hot with Phoenixes armed, replacing Jester with auto Azimuth, Range and Elevation. Observation: Dead ahead, 25nm, enemies turn to engage, RWR warnings, Jester is still unable to find targets. Engagement: Jester calls out bogies in visual range. I finish two with sidewinders, making the Tomcat a glorified F-5 Tiger. The final bogie evades with gun damage, I give chase at Angels 5. Instruct Jester to scan closer, center and middle. Observation: Jester is finally able to find the targer. I instruct to lock, prep the Sparrows, but Jester soon loses lock again. I try to reach the target and finally finish it off with guns. Conclusion: As a single player in a MP environment, I am unable to switch seats. As it is, then, Jester is not operating the radar with enough confidence to rely on him at BVR rules. I do understand the radar is very powerful and prone to cluttering. But I am also sure Jester is not really good switching azimuth, distance or elevation. This just my opinion. I am not using Tomcat with Jester for dogfights for now.

What's the update on this? I haven't seen either an acknowledgement of this issue from ED nor a fix. I know this is Open Beta but there's absolutely no information on what's causing the error, nor feedback from the developers working on a fix.

I too love older jets. That's why I pre-purchased it and keep refreshing the steam page. My point is that, over all this hype, some people may not have figured it is an older airframe. Being used to the Hornet, the technical abyss is enormous.

I hope this plane doesn't disappoint people. Remember, it's an old airplane with older systems and logic. After the major breakthroughs we had with the Hornet, you must realise you're stepping back. I love the big cat, of course. I am looking forward to put on my cheesy ray-bans and scream "highway to the danger zone"... but... I hope I spent my money well and that servers don't ban the Phoenix, like I read somewhere.

Hey, So I figured out what was wrong. First of all, Mr. Matt Wagner DOES NOT refer to the IFF ON step in his video. That was my biggest mistake, to follow that video TOO closely. So yeah, I wasn't turning IFF on, sorry backspace340. BUT I also noticed that sometimes the SA page "paints" a ghost target. After I managed to IFF targets successfully, I noticed one or two I could not. I flew to the aircraft location and there was nothing there, either on F10 map or visually or radar. Also... lol... have you noticed you can IFF planes directly on the SA page? This isn't supposed to worrk this way is it? I can do it without radar scan, heck I can do it 360º, beyond the radar aperture. Pretty sure this isn't supposed to happen.

I do turn it on. As I said I follow Wags video closely. It does work with Mig 29s on Red, and F-15 on blue for example. It doesn't seem to work with F-15s on Red at least. I will try further to confirm this.

Hi I watched the Wags video and was able to follow the procedures of manually pinging the aircraft on the B-scope during a mission I created. I then joined an online server,, VJAG , the enemies were NATO Fighters on the red side (like F-15 and the sort). And the ping didn't work at all. It's just not recognizing either friendly or adversary. Could this be a conflict of Link 16 signals on both sides? Can't the system distinguish?

I am using Open Beta on Steam, dude.

I tried using Steam Launch Options with --server and it didn't work. Tried to create a shortcut with the executable, didn't work either. It's not working with steam, is it?

Does this work on a steam version running DCS?

I'm not entirely sure I've done this. I'll have to try. And, do you get the counter? Technically you would need to cool down the new missiles upon rearm. And it does look like they do it, it's just not showing this counter.

Hi. I browsed the latest reports and didn't find this issue (at least not in a title). Situation: Create a mission with the aircraft already armed or equip your set of AGM-65F via ground crew. Take off, deploy those weapons following procedures (IR cooldown, AG mode, Master Arm On, etc). Then, RTB and attempt to rearm the same ammunition (or just take any AGM-65F on station). Issue: After rearm, the AGM-65F will no longer show a IR cooldown countdown, even after reselecting the station or resetting the Master Arm/AG mode. Further issue: After about 3 minutes, without warning the seeker will look like it's ready to uncage. However, if you fire this first AGM-65F, the others will not show the IR seeker video and wont operate. Again, no IR cooldown countdown is shown.

Quick question, dunno if this has been answered. Will this dedicated server need purchased terrain modules? It doesn't make much sense I have to buy two sceneries, one to fly another for a server right now.

Awesome suggestion. Will try this asap.

Yes, I was raising and lowering the vertical scan, but at some point I was levelled with the targets, so this wouldn't apply.

Thanks for your help. It's great to learn from those that have the knowledge. Anyway, for those that aren't as elightened, it's the lower left button on the radar MFD. And, yes, with High it appears I can find targets easier.

Pardon the ignorance, but how do I change the PRF?

Hey guys. This is a desperate call. I was in a public server trying my luck with aerial combat and got owned several times. Before you say I need to "git gud", I know that. But I fear this radar is giving me the shakes. Here is the situation. Airborne, Angels 10, AWACS calls for multiple bogies, BRA 12 o'clock, 40nm Angels 12. I switch my radar range to 40, climb to angels 12, level and wait for pings. Nothing. I decrease distance, now I got Nails on two Mig 29's 12 o'clock as expected. I arm the AIM-120C, switch them to Auto and resume scanning waiting for a ping. We are head to head, now same altitude, range is now 30nm. Nothing. I switch to AACQ in hopes it's just a scope glitch. Nothing. I get a radar launch warning, engage defensive, manage to evade a couple of radar missiles and then get on the tail of one of the Mig-29's. Turned on boresight immediate lock, chose to fire a Sidewinder but can't help notice how visual mode is so fast acquiring, no issues whatsoever. Then I aim for the second Mig. He waved off, now at approx. 10 nm. I again, switch to standard acquisition, same altitude, within range. Nothing. He turns towards me and I evade an IR missile. I manage to close the turn on him, and now I am right on his tail, 6nm. I'M ON HIS TAIL! Nothing on the 10nm scope range... What am I doing wrong? Are the Mig-29s stealthy nowadays? Is this radar broken or something? Before you ask, yes it's on operational mode and, yes I did try to cycle ranges and apertures. :(