WIP DCS A-10C and Teamspeak 3 Integration

We were online four people doing training session yesterday and had no problems with TARS apart from the settings in the configuration does not always reflect the settings experienced when flying. Specifically changing the key-bindings does not always work. Have no details on procedure or how to reproduce, but will look into that as soon as I get time.

Our squad has the following problem. TARS seems to work and also reacts to frequency changes but the signal seems to always come through both channels (even though we have it set according to the screenshot). Teamspeak client is 3.0.10. Is there a solution for that?

TS 3.0.10 is not yet supported AFAIK:

http://www.excessiveheadspace.com/tars/download/

We are running it on TS 3.0.10 without a problem (besides the left/right/both problem)

Also Guard is still not picked up when UHF is on "Both".

We are running it on TS 3.0.10 without a problem (besides the left/right/both problem)

Also Guard is still not picked up when UHF is on "Both".

You can also map "activate plugin" and "deactivate plugin" to a certan key-combo (like CTRL-4 and CTRL-5). Now you can activate/deactivate TARS from within the game (no more ALT-TAB).

Try enabling write permissions to your TS3 directory. We'll be moving the settings out of that directory into user space. It's probably part of what the problem is.

I think we found a "solution" for that. Basicly you enter a game with TARS deactivated. Then you have to ALT-TAB out of the game, go into TS and activate the plugin again. From now on the "left/right/both problem" seems to be gone.

You can also map "activate plugin" and "deactivate plugin" to a certan key-combo (like CTRL-4 and CTRL-5). Now you can activate/deactivate TARS from within the game (no more ALT-TAB).

The deactivate/activate workaround was known to me.

Mapping it to keys was not. Thanks for the info.

You can also map "activate plugin" and "deactivate plugin" to a certan key-combo (like CTRL-4 and CTRL-5). Now you can activate/deactivate TARS from within the game (no more ALT-TAB).

Good idea! :-)

Looking forward to trying this out with my Online buddies.

I cant seem to find an idiots guide on how to use it though, from installation to actually getting it working in-game.

The last time I tried my PTT key did not work in TS3, and found the original FAQ's confusing.

If anyoine would like to help answer a few of my questions, I would be very, very grateful.

I cant seem to find an idiots guide on how to use it though, from installation to actually getting it working in-game.

 

The last time I tried my PTT key did not work in TS3, and found the original FAQ's confusing.

 

If anyoine would like to help answer a few of my questions, I would be very, very grateful.

It is kinda straightforward - be sure that DCS and TS is not running.

• Install TARS.
  
• Configure TARS (check the install TARS and make sure that standby is not checked).
  
• Configure TARS keys: used to select which radio you are talking though, (still push-to-talk is can be used, but) the three TARS keys also work as push-to-talk keys.
  
• Start up DCS multiplayergame and teamspeak.
  
• Enable TARS plugin in teamspeak.
  
• When you are ingame and have powered on your radios alt-tab back to teamspeak and check if TARS is running (detailed: click your username - you might have to click something-else and then your own nick to update it - it should show on the right pane in teamspeak)
  

Then you should be able to speak to the other planes on the same radio channel in-game - and not anyone not running TARS on the teamspeak channel.

Thanks for the reply tietze,

A few questions....

The default radio default keys in TARS control panel, do these select the Radio you wish to use, AM UHF FM etc?

Do use have to press and hold these keys , e.g control+1 or just press once and use your default TS3 PTT button?

Yeah, just press ctrl-1 once and then use the PTT. Shamandgg published a small tutorial he made for his squad, there is a link to the picture he published here:

That is great,

A picture tells a thousand words.....

I will give it a bash and report back.:thumbup:

Thanks for the reply tietze,

 

A few questions....

 

The default radio default keys in TARS control panel, do these select the Radio you wish to use, AM UHF FM etc?

 

Do use have to press and hold these keys , e.g control+1 or just press once and use your default TS3 PTT button?

The TARS keys are individual PTTs for each radio, when using TARS, ignore your normal TS PTT assignment. While your normal TS PTT will work, why would you use it, it kind of defeats the point of TARS somewhat?

Personally, I have my Warthog comm switch FWD/DN/AFT assigned as PTTs in TARS for use when flying, and comm switch press assigned in TS for use when not.

Oh and just because it's a constant irritation to me. The way most people use the different radios is wrong as well.

In in the A-10C VHF-FM is commonly used for flight comms (it's the shortest ranged, and an extra radio that most aircraft don't have). UHF is used for package/inter-flight/AWACS/Tanker/ATC (this is pretty much standard throughout NATO forces as only UHF has HaveQuick Anti-Jamming), and VHF-AM can be used for a mixture of things, either flight comms, package, civilian ATC etc. etc.

But as ever there are always exceptions to the rule, and there is no reason a given radio can't be used for anything else other than as listed above. The only thing that is certain, it that the way many people assume that radios are used IRL as they are by the AI in DCS is most certainly not how they are used IRL.

The TARS keys are individual PTTs for each radio, when using TARS, ignore your normal TS PTT assignment. While your normal TS PTT will work, why would you use it, it kind of defeats the point of TARS somewhat?

 

Personally, I have my Warthog comm switch FWD/DN/AFT assigned as PTTs in TARS for use when flying, and comm switch press assigned in TS for use when not.

No, as I understand it they are not PTT's. Check out the description from the TARS communications page:

Hitting the radio key combination selects that radio and causes it to transmit when next you key your Teamspeak 3 push-to-talk (or voice activation)

No, as I understand it they are not PTT's.

Oh they most certainly are, it may not be your understanding, but it's how it is. If they weren't we in the 476th would have been communicating with each other in flight for the past year now would we. :music_whistling:

Oh they most certainly are, it may not be your understanding, but it's how it is. If they weren't we in the 476th would have been communicating with each other in flight for the past year now would we. :music_whistling:

Or one could entertain the idea that they might work as both? :-)

You "could" use them that way if you like. Indeed, it's how many who are new to TARS do use them. But as I and others have said many times, why would you. Makes it kind of difficult to communicate with multiple agencies on multiple radios does it not?

All you're doing is adding an extra, unnecessary, key-press to the process.

You "could" use them that way if you like. Indeed, it's how many who are new to TARS do use them. But as I and others have said many times, why would you. Makes it kind of difficult to communicate with multiple agencies on multiple radios does it not?

 

All you're doing is adding an extra, unnecessary, key-press to the process.

That you are right about. Thanks for the clarification!

Thanks for the info Eddie,

I have mapped the 3 TARS radio commands to my HOTAS, and am trying it out now with a buddy.

Fingers crossed

There is a lot of pages to trawl through but I wonder if someone could tell me the differences in range of the 3 radios at say altitude 15-20k and at lower altitudes (LOS permitting)

Quick edit...

Regarding TS channels, do we all have to be in the same channel or can pilots be in separate flight/element TS channels for this to work?

Thanks

There is a lot of pages to trawl through but I wonder if someone could tell me the differences in range of the 3 radios at say altitude 15-20k and at lower altitudes (LOS permitting)

LOS and realistic range limitations are modeled in TARS yet, neither are interference etc. Headspace has mentioned introducing such features at some point, but has never given any indication when we might see progress in these areas.

At the moment all radios have around 200Nm range with receiver and transmitter both at medium altitude, but that drops down to less than 50nm with either or both down at low level.

Regarding TS channels, do we all have to be in the same channel or can pilots be in separate flight/element TS channels for this to work?

Everyone needs to be in the same channel. There is no reason not to be when running TARS anyway.

When I fire up the TARS control panel, under "Games" I see DCS World 1.2.1.5970, not sure why when I actually have 1.2.3.9871 installed??

Its looking at my Saved games\DCS folder.

Many thanks again Eddie for the answers.

What is the significance of using an"guard" channel? I see it is mentioned in the documentation but don't really understand its use.

Also, any special radio dial selection required (in cockpit) for the radios to work properly? I have just set my radio AM/FM to TR, both on MAN settings and the UHF is set to MAIN.

My buddie can hear me but I cannot hear him in game. Battery power is on and he has set his radio to the same settings as myself.

He did mention that in the TARS control panel his DCs version shows as an earlier build instead of the latest Dcs patch that he updated to recently...

Scratching our heads on this one.

Sounds like one of you has a TARS error. If one can hear the other, but not be hear it's likely the one that can hear does not actually have TARS running.

The easiest way to check is to wait until you're in sim with radio etc set up and then alt-tab and click on your name in TS. The TS info panel on the right will show your TARS status including the currently active radios/frequencies.

As for the radio dials and switches, they work just as they would IRL, so use them as appropriate.

As for Guard, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_emergency_frequency

Military Guard is UHF 243.000. All military aircraft have at least one radio with a built in Guard receiver that is ALWAYS monitoring the Guard frequency (provided the pilot has it enabled of course), regardless of the frequency selected in the cockpit. Guard is used for emergency calls and other distress calls (calling for urgent fighter support, a downed pilot or damaged aircraft calling for help, for example) or any other time an aircraft wants to contact another and does not know their specific radio frequency.

It should be noted however that Guard functionality is currently broken in TARS, and has been since the first version was released for DCS World.

Thanks again for time to answer my questions .:thumbup:

Off to experiment.