Alphamale

Yes I understand the "fog of war" thingy. But this brings up another question. Are there not mavericks that can home in on a laser designated target such as you could do with the TGP? Why can't we have some of those? Hehe

With multiple targets close together, how do you know the intended target is locked from beyond visible range. As I pointed out, there is no zoom on the Maverick seeker like there is on the TGP. With the latter, I can easily see the difference between the targets from a much longer range.

Yeah, but the problem here is that theMav seeker does not have a zoom on it like the TGP, so even with a MAV lock at distance, I can't tell if I have the SAM locked or the building next to it. Suppose there's a tank AND a SAM sitting next to each other. I've identified and locked the SAM with TGP. But what's to prevent the MAV seeker from locking the tank when in MAV page and SOI?

Yeah, the problem with this is that there's no notification as to when #4 happens. With advanced avionics like this there should be, especially since you have selected a MAV profile. The system should auto=lock on either the AREA Track or POINT-Track of the TGP, when the mav is in range of lock. I think other jet avionics have this capability.

Nope, it doesn't work. I just tried it in a training mission. I locked up the tank at distance with TGP using P-T mode. I then made it SPI with TMS Up Long. I then used China Hat Forward Long, to slew all to SPI. I selected a MAV station, went to MAV page and it looked like the hairs were exactly on the tank but never got a launch cue. In fact, when I tried to launch, I got NO TRACK LAUNCH INHB message. The maverick should fire even if the P-T was not exactly on the tank, as a near miss would still kill it. I wonder if AREA track would allow the launch. Something's not right here.

But will I get a shooting cue when in range from the TGP page? So, let's say there's a SAM out there that is too far off for me to slew the Maverick sensor over and get a lock. But with the superior optics of the TGP, I find the SAM, identify it and lock it with Point Track. Now I make the lock a SPI by TMS Up Long. DO I now go to the Maverick page and "Slew ALL to SPI" or do I stay on TGP and "Slew ALL to SPI", then bring up the MAV page? The cross hairs of the MAV page may not even show a lock at this time due to distance, but will it lock automatically when I get in range and will I get a shooting cue when also in range?

Must I always use the EO of the maverick to designate and fire upon a target or can I first lock up the target with Point Track in TGP and then handoff to the mav somehow? If so how do I do this? Must I make the target in P-T mode a SPI?

No, I don't think this is the case. The option to "declassify" is greyed out like almost every other option. If I go to the Main screen and enter the Options from there, I can custom set ANY parameter. And my take on this is, if the button turns "green", then it is enabled. After I make my settings, I make sure "Global" is set on and then I save the settings. But once I enter a campaign screen and go to options from there, ALL of the option buttons are "dark" and "mouse clicks" on these buttons do not change the color. In fact, I cannot even change options within a mission via the hot-key combos. For instance, when I press "Shift + I", I do not get "Easy Radar". It stays in Realistic mode. Yet, I get Easy Radar in the "Quick Fly" missions at the main screen. Just FYI, I have this installed on WinXP Pro SP3 and am using Saitek X52 regular flight system. I'm also using a custom ".DAT" profile I made with the X52 software, if that's any help. **Follow Up** Ok, now that's strange, I could not click on "Declassify" but when I used the hot-key combo, it asked for the password. And yes, "eagle" unlocked all the missions. Now the options screen shows exactly what my options were when I set them at the main screen. Now, next question is, will the campaign continue to keep track of "attrition" while in this "unlocked" state? Or will I have to "Classify" it again? TIA, AM

I'm trying to start an A-10 campaign in SP and once I'm at the map screen and I go into options, I can't select ANY custom options for that mission. What's with that?

Yes I see that now, but didn't know what you meant by that statement when you first wrote it. Thank you very much.

OK I GOT IT!!! Here was the problem. I first started this in Simulation mode to get to learn the controls and panels and see how my stick setup responded to realistic flight. Under Sim mode I had inverted the Z axis as required. Recently I've been playing around in Game mode. What I didn't realize was that the stick settings are not global but need to be set again in each mode, which is kinda weird. Especially the flight controls. Why wouldn't you want it the same regardless of which mode you're in. I want to thank all of you for so courteously responding.

The X52 is not calibrated within Windows. It is calibrated by its own software interface, at least that's my take on it. In windows, during calibration, I would always be asked to move the input device to its range limits and then center it and then push a button on the device to confirm calibration. The control panel the X52 uses, never asks for that or even gives you a hint that the stick has been calibrated. Sure you get a visual feedback of the device moving through its ranges, but that's all. Next, if the throttle stick has an inaccurate pot at the extreme ends of the range, why would setting a dead zone in the middle help that? I mean the deadzones that I've seen within the BS game are only set in the middle of the range, unless you're referring to the User Curve. But again, wouldn't this then limit my in-game power range?

Okay: 1. Yes, I have the Saitek Profiler software installed, but I never use it. That is, I never load profiles from it. 2.I'm talking about saving the key assignments that I make with BS options screen. The key mappings can be saved as a .lua file. 3. I will try your suggestion when I get home. But it would seem that If I do that, I will not get the full range of power from the engines even if that does work.

Could you post the .lua file for that?

Hmmm, I'm wondering if he has the X52 Pro for which your file is used. The regular X52 profiles are .dat files. I've asked this same question about X52 files. To really set this up correctly for simulation mode, it's gonna take quite a while. Ideally, you need a profile for your X52 FCS and one for a programmable keyboard like the Logitech G series. The latter being used for the various cockpit panels.

on my throttle. I have Saitek X52 and when I start a mission, it's ok for awhile, but when I go past either the top detent for what should be idle, or the bottom detent which should be full collective power, the stick reverses these to go back to a regular fixed wing plane throttle. Therefore I have to pull totally back on the throttle to land. I have set the Z Axis to invert and saved the profile but as I said it keeps switching back. I don't like flying a helo like this. What is causing this? TIA, AM

for DCS: Black Shark?

I've never pre-ordered a game, but for the Apache sans the radar suite, count me in. I have a ThunderSeat cockpit chair and side consoles. I got this about 10 years ago specifically for Longbow II. The chair has a 12-inch woofer in the seat and when you unleashed hell with the 30 mm chain gun, you felt every round. That was state-of-the-art back then. Can't wait for my TrackIR which is on its way. I have seen some homemade cockpits that tied into the switch you'd normally use the mouse to flip in the game. I suppose it doesn't get much closer to real than that.

That Novalogic arcade game? They used some sort of new pixel shading in that IIRC. But I wouldn't mind seeing DCS do the Comanche some real justice. In fact, if DCS continues to make sims like this for a broad range of platforms, I will buy each one of them. The higher the learning curve, the better. I'm 53 and playing these games will help prevent me from getting Alzheimer's. Of course, I'll probably die from the cigarettes before that becomes a possibility. :doh: Oh, btw, my TrackIR Pro 4 is on its way!!!!!

Are you talking Jane's Longbow II? IMO, best sim in ANY platform for today and definitely in its own time. Of course, I just now installed BS so we'll see. But I'm making that statement with a bunch of tremendous simulations that were also current at the time. Flanker, Falcon 4, Jane's FA-18. But Apache Longbow II was the nuts. I actually still have that game and the huge manual that came with it.

Thanks Xjikz!!

Thanks Ethereal. So you're saying this is a known issue or do you just mean graphic corruption in general? Also, I do have Triple Buffering enabled for OpenGL. I'll first try disabling that.

Cat A.I. was disabled to just start this game, so that's already been done. What's so special about the 8.12 flavor? I mean some of my other games are highly recommending that I use newer or up-to-date drivers. Thanx for your responses.:thumbup:

Yep, ATI X1900XTX with Cat 9.2

There's no picture. Its just the buttons and I can't see what the symbols mean. Just a blank white screen behind the buttons. Any ideas? The MP menu works fine.