DCS F-5E radar

[Beamscanner]

Awhile ago I made a post about the inaccuracies of the simulated AN/APQ-159.

 

-The Clutter points are all the same size, shape and intensity

-No Chaff or cloud clutter

-Theres no CRT glow effect

-The return of any aircraft is the same. (RCS isn't factored in the render)

-I dont think there is a 'visible beam sweep', but it only looks like there is one because of the azmiuth scan sweeping across clutter (if that makes sense) (heres what I'm takling about http://i.imgur.com/XXNjD6e.gifv it only looks like a visible line but only because our brains interpret the line. But in places where theres no clutter you shouldn't see the bar.

 

You can only see one sweeping bar in all the APQ-159 images, but it may just be clutter being highlighted at that moment.

 

This is what I think the APQ-159 should look like, based on the above images.

 

At that point, I had no footage of the real radar in action.

 

However, thanks to a member of our community, I have acquired some actual footage of the F-5's radar.

 

AN/APQ-153 radar

 

Taken from an "F-5E produced in 1974/1975".

I believe we are seeing the radar being operated on the ground, hence the intensity of the clutter.

 

A lack of clutter, say in a look-up scnario, should look something like this.

 

AN/APQ-120 radar

 

I hope to see this revisited by the devs at some point.

Edited May 3, 2018 by Beamscanner

[Pikey]

+1. I would absolutely love to see some accurately rendered radar and it's pretty poorly simulated thus far. I'd even be happy with better cheating on the filters and just a messy more cluttered natural look.

The contacts are given a straight forward and simple filter, the module knows they exist and chooses to show them at predefined range and aspect. RCS exists but I've not noticed too much effect.

 

Radar needs to have at least some better noise on it, to make it look like a radar screen not a crisp arcade like display.

 

On the clouds issue, this is a problem because there is no multiplayer sync on individual clouds so you would get different effects for two people side by side, same as when you enter one and wingman doesn't.

 

There's a lot of issues with displays in general. Things like in the FLIRs (when they work) it's just a camera shot with a filter. But you don't even see the sun on those. DCS needs a tidy up here as there are serious immersion killers.

Edited May 2, 2018 by Pikey

[Lucas_From_Hell]

The link to the radar gif is broken, here's a functioning one :)

 

[Schmidtfire]

+1

 

The grid in radar scope looks more brownish aswell. Hope that Belsimtek will revisit and update radar representation.

[Beamscanner]

The link to the radar gif is broken, here's a functioning one :)

 

 

Thanks, I corrected it

 

+1. I would absolutely love to see some accurately rendered radar and it's pretty poorly simulated thus far. I'd even be happy with better cheating on the filters and just a messy more cluttered natural look.

The contacts are given a straight forward and simple filter, the module knows they exist and chooses to show them at predefined range and aspect. RCS exists but I've not noticed too much effect.

 

Radar needs to have at least some better noise on it, to make it look like a radar screen not a crisp arcade like display.

 

On the clouds issue, this is a problem because there is no multiplayer sync on individual clouds so you would get different effects for two people side by side, same as when you enter one and wingman doesn't.

 

There's a lot of issues with displays in general. Things like in the FLIRs (when they work) it's just a camera shot with a filter. But you don't even see the sun on those. DCS needs a tidy up here as there are serious immersion killers.

 

So here's an idea. Why not use the Air to Ground API ED is working on for simulating pulsed radar operation. Real beam mapping modes are essentially just pulse only waveforms (LPRF) with pulse compression.

 

Just adjust the following parameters

 

-range resolution

-Azimuth resolution (radar beamwidth)

 

and point the beam up instead of down. That way you have realistic ground clutter in the scope.

Edited May 3, 2018 by Beamscanner

[twistking]

+1! great infos and suggestions, as always. thank you!

 

let's hope belsimtek can find some time in the future, to update the RWR and radar...

[Airj247]

I understand BST is busy with the F-18 and I’m completely fine with that, would love if after there done with that if they can implement this stuff and some of the other things yet to be done.

[belsimtek]

Adding to watchlist

[beppe_goodoldrebel]

let's hope belsimtek can find some time in the future, to update the RWR and radar...

 

There is something that can be done quickly ( I think )

 

It seems that you can see handoff only if you press the "unknown" button... wich is weird since there "IS" an handoff button! :lol:

[aymen]

hi

 

i need the F-5e helios profile to export the radar on exteral screen

[Vincent90]

Has the radar been fixed yet or is it still the same?

[Clorydric]

Still the same...

Though if it's only for aesthetics purposes, a little bit of photoshop should do the trick. AFAIK the B-sweep is a .TGA.

Getting it to sweep across the whole screen should be good too, but I guess there's also a .lua to edit...

[dolfo]

Nice video here with a (very) few seconds of radar usage

 

 

[Kongamato]

+1 More accuracy would be always welcome.

[Knock-Knock]

Nice video here with a (very) few seconds of radar usage

 

 

 

Awesome video, besides the radar footage. Thx for sharing :thumbup:

Good show of the radar at 14m19 too (inclucing lock)

Edited April 24, 2019 by Knock-Knock

[Schmidtfire]

Amazing! Beamscanner, are u watching this? Rare stuff! :)

[Schmidtfire]

Another great look at the radar scope in operation :)

at 14:15min mark.

 

[Krippz]

+1

[Count von Altibar]

That's a great video. Those Swiss must know a bit about operating fast jets in the mountains, lucky devils such a beautiful country.

Edited June 29, 2019 by countvonaltibar

[Auditor]

Any updates to this? It's been a long time.

 

Then again, I feel that way about a couple other things on the F-5E. :music_whistling:

[lequocanh]

Remember the list, but I still like other Modules :)

[Auditor]

Definitely, the F-5E and the Mig-21 are two of my favorite modules in DCS.

 

If it seems like I complain a lot about them, that's only because I love them so much.

[Raisuli]

Definitely, the F-5E and the Mig-21 are two of my favorite modules in DCS.

 

If it seems like I complain a lot about them, that's only because I love them so much.

 

 

I got my fingerprints all over a MiG-21 today, but the F5 is still my favorite DCS jet (and I have them all).

 

 

Habu! I didn't touch it (well...just the engine and gear), but many pictures were taken.

[Fri13]

That more realistic radar sweep etc would be nice. You have change to spot something that system doesn't etc.

[Koty]

Well - DCS is made for fully computerized radar systems ala F-15C, MiG-29 etc.

The semi-computerized stuff from MiG-21 or 19, or the plain uncomputerized CRT output on the Tiger... most of it would have to be done from scratch to be actually realistic.