Basic question about FC3 ATC

[Dilbflo1]

Hi all.

I am new here. I have experience mainly with civil simulators (FSX, XP-10), and I am starting with FC3. I am reading the manual, and in the meantime experiment with some of the program features.

I have problems with the ATC.

Trying with "Create fast mission", I am able to turn on the plane (I tried with the F-15 and the Mig-29), and to contact the tower (Kubaisi) to ask for take off. The problem is that after my request I never receive any answer from the ATC. I also tried to use the "Easy communications" option, but with the same result.

The manual doesn't seem very clear about the issue, so I would like to ask here. Is it a limitation/bug or am I missing something basic?

Thanks.

[ricktoberfest]

We all have problems with the ATC, but in this case I think you're doing something wrong.

 

Things to check:

Tower frequency

Push to talk button assignment (this one can be confusing because you want the one that is R-Alt / by default)

Just pushing / for communications menu does not activate radio

[Dilbflo1]

We all have problems with the ATC, but in this case I think you're doing something wrong.

 

Things to check:

Tower frequency

Push to talk button assignment (this one can be confusing because you want the one that is R-Alt / by default)

Just pushing / for communications menu does not activate radio

 

Hi Ricktoberfest.

Thanks for the answer.

Do you have some reference (pages on the manual, tutorials..) explaining in detail the necessary procedures? I'm willing to learn but up to now I did not find the relative material.

Thanks.

[ricktoberfest]

Hi Ricktoberfest.

Thanks for the answer.

Do you have some reference (pages on the manual, tutorials..) explaining in detail the necessary procedures? I'm willing to learn but up to now I did not find the relative material.

Thanks.

 

 

 

Just search the forums for radio communication. It's been written about before. I'm on a phone so it's a bit harder to search and point you in the right direction. YouTube videos describe this too

[lmp]

We all have problems with the ATC, but in this case I think you're doing something wrong.

 

Things to check:

Tower frequency

Push to talk button assignment (this one can be confusing because you want the one that is R-Alt / by default)

Just pushing / for communications menu does not activate radio

 

None of what you said is true for FC3 aircraft. You only need to set frequencies and press RALT + / instead of just / in some of the other modules.

 

Is it a problem only with getting take off clearance? If yes, I have two ideas:

 

- If you start on the runway, I think you already have take off clearance and the ATC won't respond.

- If you're taxiing from the ramp/parking area, you need to be fairly close to the runway to receive a reply from ATC.

[Dilbflo1]

None of what you said is true for FC3 aircraft. You only need to set frequencies and press RALT + / instead of just / in some of the other modules.

 

Is it a problem only with getting take off clearance? If yes, I have two ideas:

 

- If you start on the runway, I think you already have take off clearance and the ATC won't respond.

- If you're taxiing from the ramp/parking area, you need to be fairly close to the runway to receive a reply from ATC.

 

Thanks for the clarification Imp, for a new user is quite difficult at the beginning to understand the differences between all the DCS modules, and the FC3 manual is not very clear about the use of radio communications.

Now, if I understood correctly, in FC3 the frequency is adjusted automatically by the program. At present, starting from ramp in some fast missions, I am able to activate the communication menu, and request taxi from ramp, but I never receive answer. I tried with the Mig-29 and the F-15, same problem.

Thanks for the help.

[kontiuka]

Thanks for the clarification Imp, for a new user is quite difficult at the beginning to understand the differences between all the DCS modules, and the FC3 manual is not very clear about the use of radio communications.

Now, if I understood correctly, in FC3 the frequency is adjusted automatically by the program. At present, starting from ramp in some fast missions, I am able to activate the communication menu, and request taxi from ramp, but I never receive answer. I tried with the Mig-29 and the F-15, same problem.

Thanks for the help.

Problems with communications in general seems to be an issue in DCS (ATC, JTAC, Wingmen), especially when there is a lot going on. In the case of ATC, they will respond but it may take a couple of minutes if there is a lot of other radio chatter. I just tried a fast mission in an F-15 starting from the ramp. It did take a while but I eventually got the clear to taxi.

 

EDIT: If you build a simple mission where it's just you on the tarmac, the ATC will respond pretty quickly. Again, it's more in the missions where there is a lot going on.

[Dilbflo1]

Problems with communications in general seems to be an issue in DCS (ATC, JTAC, Wingmen), especially when there is a lot going on. In the case of ATC, they will respond but it may take a couple of minutes if there is a lot of other radio chatter. I just tried a fast mission in an F-15 starting from the ramp. It did take a while but I eventually got the clear to taxi.

 

EDIT: If you build a simple mission where it's just you on the tarmac, the ATC will respond pretty quickly. Again, it's more in the missions where there is a lot going on.

 

Hi Kontiuka.

Thanks for the info and the test.

Anyway, there is something strange in my case. Following your advice, I used the Advanced mode in Fast Mission to eliminate almost all the traffic for Red and Blue teams. And now actually my airbase is a very lonely place.

I followed the Check list found in the F-15C manual at page 139:

- Turn on the nav lights

- Close canopy

- Turn on engines

 

At that point I called the communication menu (in my Italian keyboard is "ù") and asked for taxi. Then I waited more than 5 minutes, but never received the answer.

 

Am I making some mistakes in the basic checklist?

Thanks.

[kontiuka]

Hi Kontiuka.

Thanks for the info and the test.

Anyway, there is something strange in my case. Following your advice, I used the Advanced mode in Fast Mission to eliminate almost all the traffic for Red and Blue teams. And now actually my airbase is a very lonely place.

I followed the Check list found in the F-15C manual at page 139:

- Turn on the nav lights

- Close canopy

- Turn on engines

 

At that point I called the communication menu (in my Italian keyboard is "ù") and asked for taxi. Then I waited more than 5 minutes, but never received the answer.

 

Am I making some mistakes in the basic checklist?

Thanks.

I'd say it's best to do the radio communications in order. That is ...

 

1. request engine start-up

2. wait for permission and then start the engines

3. when engines are started, request taxi

4. wait for permission to taxi and then taxi to just before the runway

5. request permission to take off

6. wait for permission to take off

 

If you don't do it in order like that, communications tend to get a little messed up. I usually turn on my nav lights right before engine start-up to warn the ground crew that my engines are about to start but it doesn't affect communications at all. If I'm in the Su-25/Su-25T, I'll turn on flashing nav lights when I'm taxiing. Just something I do. Not sure what the real life protocol is.

 

EDIT: If you taxi right on to the runway, you'll get automatic permission to take off without asking for it.

Edited November 20, 2014 by kontiuka

[Dilbflo1]

Thanks Kontiuka.

Following your suggestions and making other tests, I finally understood the nature of the problem.

Both the Mig-29 and the F-15 require, as first operation, to turn on the APU/electrical system, with RShift+L. In this way all the subsequent operations you descrive actually work, and now I am able to receive the answers from the tower for taxi and takeoff.

I suspect that the manual of the F-15 found in the Doc folder is not still updated with the new features of the plane, so the step of turning on the electrical power is still not present in the checklist.

Thanks for the help, I hope thsi can be useful also to others.

[kontiuka]

Thanks Kontiuka.

Following your suggestions and making other tests, I finally understood the nature of the problem.

Both the Mig-29 and the F-15 require, as first operation, to turn on the APU/electrical system, with RShift+L. In this way all the subsequent operations you descrive actually work, and now I am able to receive the answers from the tower for taxi and takeoff.

I suspect that the manual of the F-15 found in the Doc folder is not still updated with the new features of the plane, so the step of turning on the electrical power is still not present in the checklist.

Thanks for the help, I hope thsi can be useful also to others.

Oh, I had assumed you had turned on electrical power in order to start the engines. Sounds like a bug. You shouldn't be able to start engines without electrical power. I'll raise a bug about it.

[Dilbflo1]

Oh, I had assumed you had turned on electrical power in order to start the engines. Sounds like a bug. You shouldn't be able to start engines without electrical power. I'll raise a bug about it.

 

I think the same. Being new to Flaming Cliffs, I still don't exactly know which features are automated and which are manual, so at first, being able to start the engines, the lights and so on, I was assuming that the electrical power was already on. And the lack of mentions in the F-15 manual checklists added to that idea.

Luckily we also have the forums for very useful help :thumbup:

Thanks.

[kontiuka]

I think the same. Being new to Flaming Cliffs, I still don't exactly know which features are automated and which are manual, so at first, being able to start the engines, the lights and so on, I was assuming that the electrical power was already on. And the lack of mentions in the F-15 manual checklists added to that idea.

Luckily we also have the forums for very useful help :thumbup:

Thanks.

I asked around. Apparently, it's not a bug to be able to start the engines without electrical power.

[Dilbflo1]

I asked around. Apparently, it's not a bug to be able to start the engines without electrical power.

 

Yes, I read your other thread.

If this is the case, I think that ED should update their training videos and manuals, because otherwise people, in particular new users, can be confused by the different procedures described and those actually necessary.

Thanks for your attention and help.