Topgun505 Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Actually this is a question on 2 separate issues. 1. I'm developing a training mission with a JTAC. I went in to test it and I entered the UTM coords into the CDU (and later I viewed some videos on You Tube to ensure I was doing it the right way). I was doing it correct, however, the resulting coordinates were 900 miles away! I believe the issue was when I entered the coords I was in a different battle grid than the JTAC (the JTAC must be close to the border). I don't want the JTAC visible on the map because I don't want trainees simply making him the SPI and then slewing to him and then the area nearby to find the targets manually (the JTAC is danger-close to the targets). I want them to be forced to use the CDU to enter the coords. The question is, when in cockpit how do you avoid this situation? I've noticed the small square labels (GG, GH, etc) but not the larger ones. If you are in a different battle grid, what's the format for entering them (I believe the OSB to enter is OSB 17?) ... is it just like 37T or are there two sets of data that need to go in? 2. In a number of different aircraft (although I don't think this has happened with the A-10C) I am having some sporadic issues with the comms. I'll be on the ground and can talk to the ground crew and to ATC so I know intercomms and radios are working but later when up in the air and I hit the \ key again to bring back up the comm menu nothing happens. I can understand if you didn't have the radio set right and you brought up the comms and nobody answered when you make a transmission but NO comms menu appears at all (despite it working on the ground). Anyone run into this? Topgun505 Win 11 Pro, Intel Core i9-14900kF, Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super, 128 GB DDR5, Corsair Hx1000i, Alienware 34" 2K LED, TrackIR 5 Pro, WinWing F-16EX, WinWing F-15Ex throttle, VPC Warbird rudder, Thrustmaster MFDs x3, Black Hog box.
Gypsy Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 For your first question, you are absolutely right. Make sure that you are differentiating between 37T and 38T when using MGRS coordinates. As for a good fix to make sure that the issue doesn't popup, I'd just pick a different area to make your mission, unless you want that level of complexity to factor in. On the CDU if you want to change from 37T to 38T (and vice versa), it is done from the same WAYPT page that you would enter the 10-digit grid in, but I don't remember the OSB off the top of my head. A quick look at the CDU page should help. "Would you say we'd be venturing into a "Zone of Danger?"
ricktoberfest Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 Determining and entering battle grid And for the radios- easy comms has been having issues lately. Try right-alt / but make sure you're on the right frequency/radio I forget which key press it is, but use regular comms.
Yurgon Posted January 26, 2015 Posted January 26, 2015 1. I'm developing a training mission with a JTAC. I went in to test it and I entered the UTM coords into the CDU (and later I viewed some videos on You Tube to ensure I was doing it the right way). I was doing it correct, however, the resulting coordinates were 900 miles away! I believe the issue was when I entered the coords I was in a different battle grid than the JTAC (the JTAC must be close to the border). MGRS is based on UTM. UTM divides the earth's surface into grid zones. Look at this map and you should understand in an instant what thee difference between 37T and 38T is in regards to the current Georgia map. The problem is that JTACs in DCS don't provide the grid zone and, AFAIK, the CDU's grid zone preset on the waypoint page depends on the aircraft's starting position. So, if you start on either side of the border between these two grid zones and the JTAC sits on the other side, you need to put in the correct grid zone. It should be easy enough once you know about this caveat. :thumbup: I don't want the JTAC visible on the map because I don't want trainees simply making him the SPI and then slewing to him and then the area nearby to find the targets manually (the JTAC is danger-close to the targets). I want them to be forced to use the CDU to enter the coords. Which map are you referring to? With the F10 map, the only way I am aware of is to enforce one of two map view settings in the mission. Go to "Set Mission Options" -> "Enforce F10 View Options" and then select either "Map Only" or "My A/C". AFAIK all other options will leave the JTAC visible on the map. Or do you mean the friendly icons on the TAD? I think these depend on the unit's EPLRS capability which is turned on by default for every unit equipped with it. I just tried deleting it from the unit's Advanced Waypoint Options and that seemed to make the unit invisible on the TAD, though I'm not sure if this has any side-effects on the unit's JTAC capabilities. 2. In a number of different aircraft (although I don't think this has happened with the A-10C) I am having some sporadic issues with the comms. I'll be on the ground and can talk to [...] In most aircraft, ground comms are handled by the comms menu whereas comms while airborne require using the Push-To-Talk key, typically located on the aircraft's throttle, hence available in the control options under "HOTAS" or maybe "Flight Controls". With the A-10C, there's even a dedicated Mic switch which uses three positions to address individual radios. That should be a good starting point for you to sort this out and get your comms going with a little bit of further research. :)
Zenra Posted January 28, 2015 Posted January 28, 2015 <snip> The question is, when in cockpit how do you avoid this situation? I've noticed the small square labels (GG, GH, etc) but not the larger ones. If you are in a different battle grid, what's the format for entering them (I believe the OSB to enter is OSB 17?) ... is it just like 37T or are there two sets of data that need to go in? <snip> Good answers here but just wanted to add that one way to find what grid you are actually flying in at any given time is to consult the POS page on the CDU (SYS / INS / POS). Zenra Intel i7 930 2.8GHz; ATI HD5850 1GB; 1TB Serial ATA-II; 12GB DDR3-1333; 24 x DL DVD+/-RW Drive; 800W PSU; Win7-64; TM Warthog HOTAS
Gypsy Posted January 29, 2015 Posted January 29, 2015 Funny, I completely forgot about the POS CDU page. I only ever used it if I was curious about the temperature at my altitude and wondered how badly I would freeze if I popped the canopy. "Would you say we'd be venturing into a "Zone of Danger?"
Mike5560 Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 The JTAC does not provide a grid zone designator (e.g. 37T), only a 100,000 meter identifier (e.g. EK) plus the coordinates. Go to the options under main menu, go to the misc. tab, and check "Allow F10 map view", and in the block below it, select MGRS as the coordinate format. Now, when in a mission and are handed coordinates, look on the F10 view and place the mouse arrow where the general target area is. In the top left, it will provide you the full set of coordinates. These do not need to be accurate as a grid zone is very large, usually 6x8 degrees of latitude x longitude. On your CDU, the 100,000 meter square identifier and 10 digit coordinates are entered by OSB 16. Note if the 100,000 meter square identifier is already the same as the one you need, you do not need to enter it, only the 10 digit coordinates. On OSB 17 you can enter the grid zone designator into the scratchpad and change it here.
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