Radar Nuances

[QuiGon]

Thanks, but that is when entering TWS. I'm asking about of you are already in TWS and then you make the change. So then the radar will stay in 20/4? If I'm already in TWS, then I change the knob to 40/2, then it will go to 40/2?

 

 

v6,

boNes

It doesn't matter when you make the change. You can switch to and from 40/2 at any time when in TWS.

[draconus]

Thanks, but that is when entering TWS. I'm asking about of you are already in TWS and then you make the change. So then the radar will stay in 20/4? If I'm already in TWS, then I change the knob to 40/2, then it will go to 40/2?

If you have set 20/4 in TWS and change to anything other than 40/2 it will be ignored, otherwise it will change to 40/2 only if you set that... and vice versa.

[bonesvf103]

It doesn't matter when you make the change. You can switch to and from 40/2 at any time when in TWS.

 

 

Thanks, so basically, whether I am entering TWS or already in TWS, I will always be in 20/4 unless I change the knobs to 40/2. Conversely, if I'm in 40/2, TWS is in 40/2 and any change I make from there, TWS will be in 20/4.

 

 

v6,

boNes

[bonesvf103]

When you don't have a radar contact, but you have one via datalink, can you hook it and fire a Phoenix missile at it? It is my understanding that you can, but I haven't been able to find anything saying so. What about if you have a D: target and you fire a Sparrow at it? No, because you need PSTT or PDSTT and since it's datalinked, you can't?

 

 

No way to display both Link 4A and 4C on the TID at the same time, right?

 

 

 

v6,

boNes

[Naquaii]

You always need your own radar to track the target, there's no way for the WCS to support a phoenix launch against a datalink target without it's own radar painting it and the sparrow need a STT lock like you say.

 

As for the link, nope, they're mutually exclusive as it was in the real aircraft.

[bonesvf103]

OK, came across another thing that made me think. Reading Chuck's Guide, it says that Pulse Search has a range of about 60 nm while PSTT has 50nm. When practicing with the radar and knowing this, I realized...what is the point of the range buttons on the DDD going to 200?

 

 

If I select 200 as a range on the DDD, and it can only see to 60 on pulse search, then why not just hit 100?

 

 

Now let's go to pulse doppler search. Now you can have a range of 110 nm. But since the DDD in this mode shows closure, not range, again what is the point? You can't use the TID since there is no FM ranging.

 

 

 

I'm sure there is a good answer since it is on the real thing...but what am I missing?

 

 

v6,

boNes

[QuiGon]

Those range estimates of 60nm for example, are only estimates at what range you can detect a target with a typical fighter like radar cross section (RCS). It will be quite a bit further against bigger targets (e.g. bombers, transport aircraft or civilian airliners). It probably won't go all the way to 200nm in this case either, but keep in mind, that the radar in Pulse Search can not just be used for air targets, but also for ground mapping. When used in that role the Tomcat makes for a pretty capable maritime reconnaisance plane that can detect ships up to 200nm away. ;)

When you detect a ship on the DDD you can then use the DDD cursor to perform a nav fix on a Surface Target waypoint to mark the target position in your nav system.

Edited November 14, 2019 by QuiGon

[bonesvf103]

Oh, now that makes more sense. I suppose that if in the guide it said it was for a typical fighter sized aircraft it would have made sense immediately.

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

BTW, I've been testing out my VSL HI and LO from the pilot seat and if you select it, it's supposed to be on continuously unless you change modes or it finds something. But it seems to me that if I hit VSL HI, it doesn't stay on. If I turn on VSL HI and then a few seconds later have a bandit in a turning fight at 12:00 high it won't lock him unless I hit it again.

 

 

 

Also the diamond bouncing up and down isn't there...and in PAL it isn't bouncing around either...but I think that was mentioned as a bug, right?

 

 

v6,

boNes

[lucky-hendrix]

Another thing is those range on the DDD apply to the IFF so in that case you can use the 200nm settings

 

Sent from my VTR-L09 using Tapatalk

[bonesvf103]

Another thing is those range on the DDD apply to the IFF so in that case you can use the 200nm settings

 

Sent from my VTR-L09 using Tapatalk

 

 

Provided you can see the target blip at 200 nm to be able to IFF him, right?

 

 

v6,

boNes

[QuiGon]

BTW, I've been testing out my VSL HI and LO from the pilot seat and if you select it, it's supposed to be on continuously unless you change modes or it finds something. But it seems to me that if I hit VSL HI, it doesn't stay on. If I turn on VSL HI and then a few seconds later have a bandit in a turning fight at 12:00 high it won't lock him unless I hit it again

Once activated it should stay active untill it locks up a target or you stop it manually. The RIO has a indicator next to the upper right corner of the TID that says exactly what radar mode is currently active, so you can take a look at that too verify if you have VSL high activated.

 

Also the diamond bouncing up and down isn't there...and in PAL it isn't bouncing around either...but I think that was mentioned as a bug, right?

You won't see the diamond in VSL High, because it scans a vertical pattern, which is above your HUD, even at it's lowest point.

In PAL mode the scanning diamond should be visible, unless you have guns selected.

 

Another thing is those range on the DDD apply to the IFF so in that case you can use the 200nm settings

Good point!

[QuiGon]

Provided you can see the target blip at 200 nm to be able to IFF him, right?

The IFF has a radar antenna on its own that can spot targets, which you have not detected with your search radar (because it's not looking for reflections bouncing off of the target but instead is listening for active responses from the targets aircraft IFF transponder).

[bonesvf103]

The IFF has a radar antenna on its own that can spot targets, which you have not detected with your search radar (because it's not looking for reflections bouncing off of the target but instead is listening for active responses from the targets aircraft IFF transponder).

 

 

 

 

Ohhhh....didn't know that...

 

 

So what does an IFF-antenna detected target look like on the DDD? Can you tell it apart from an AWG-9 target?

 

 

v6,

boNes

[QuiGon]

Ohhhh....didn't know that...

 

 

So what does an IFF-antenna detected target look like on the DDD? Can you tell it apart from an AWG-9 target?

Yes, it's displayed as 2 horizintal bars. If you have detected the target with your normal radar as well, then those two IFF bars will enclose the radar blip.

Edited November 14, 2019 by QuiGon

[lucky-hendrix]

You can have an off response without having a target blip, IFF is based on a transponder in the target aircraft.

 

I have had IFF responses from aircrafts I didn't have on my DDD

 

Sent from my VTR-L09 using Tapatalk

[bonesvf103]

Once activated it should stay active untill it locks up a target or you stop it manually. The RIO has a indicator next to the upper right corner of the TID that says exactly what radar mode is currently active, so you can take a look at that too verify if you have VSL high activated.

 

 

Yes, so I leave it on but it doesn't seem to lock unless I hit it again.

 

 

But, looking ahead to the rest of your response...If I'm in gun mode, does that affect anything? Because these phenomena I am asking about is when I'm in a dogfight and have guns selected.

 

 

v6,

boNes

[QuiGon]

Yes, so I leave it on but it doesn't seem to lock unless I hit it again.

That's odd. It shouldn't be like that. Maybe you weren't in VSL high before (verify with the RIo indicator I mentioned before)?

 

But, looking ahead to the rest of your response...If I'm in gun mode, does that affect anything? Because these phenomena I am asking about is when I'm in a dogfight and have guns selected.

It doesn't affect the function, just the display onn the HUD. In other words: When using PAL in gun mode, it will still scan in PAL pattern, but the diamond will not show this. Instead the diamond will display the gun solution for 1000ft, while the crosshair will display the gun solution at 2000ft.

[bonesvf103]

That's odd. It shouldn't be like that. Maybe you weren't in VSL high before (verify with the RIo indicator I mentioned before)?

 

 

I'll have to check. Jester wouldn't change it on me would he?

 

 

 

It doesn't affect the function, just the display onn the HUD. In other words: When using PAL in gun mode, it will still scan in PAL pattern, but the diamond will not show this. Instead the diamond (together with the crosshair) will display the gun solution.

 

 

Oh, yes, that's right. I'm thinking about an uncaged Sidewinder. But that diamond is not bouncing around, but that's a known bug, right?

 

 

v6,

boNes

[draconus]

Instead the diamond will display the gun solution for 1000ft, while the crosshair will display the gun solution at 2000ft.

You keep quoting that from the HB manual but the game shows otherwise. (diamond for 2k ft and crosshair for 1k ft)

[bonesvf103]

Yes, it's displayed as 2 horizintal bars. If you have detected the target with your normal radar as well, then those two IFF bars will enclose the radar blip.

 

 

Oh, OK, so if I don't see the blip on my DDD (not seen by my own radar) and I hit IFF, if there is a target that the IFF detected, then I will see the horizontal bars on the DDD without a blip?

 

 

Of course that means that I am able to see friendly aircraft, so if the IFF doesn't get a response from a hostile aircraft, it won't show the bars on the DDD so I still won't be able to see the hostile aircraft even though the IFF knows it's there?

 

 

v6,

boNes

[QuiGon]

I'll have to check. Jester wouldn't change it on me would he?

I don't know much about Jester as I have never really flown with him, but you can disable him completly, so he won't do anything.

 

Oh, yes, that's right. I'm thinking about an uncaged Sidewinder. But that diamond is not bouncing around, but that's a known bug, right?

Then you're not talking about PAL, but about SEAM (which is the Sidewinders scan mode) and yes, this scan pattern is notshown on HUD anymore. It has been shown on HUD in earlier versions of this game, but that was wrong and got fixed.

[QuiGon]

You keep quoting that from the HB manual but the game shows otherwise. (diamond for 2k ft and crosshair for 1k ft)

Oh, that's actually the first time I hear this. In that case I wonder what is correct, the way it works ingame currently or the way it is described in the manual?

[QuiGon]

Oh, OK, so if I don't see the blip on my DDD (not seen by my own radar) and I hit IFF, if there is a target that the IFF detected, then I will see the horizontal bars on the DDD without a blip?

 

 

Of course that means that I am able to see friendly aircraft, so if the IFF doesn't get a response from a hostile aircraft, it won't show the bars on the DDD so I still won't be able to see the hostile aircraft even though the IFF knows it's there?

Exactly right, except that your IFF doesn't know about enemy (or rather non friendly) aircraft, as they don't give any response.

[draconus]

Oh, that's actually the first time I hear this. In that case I wonder what is correct, the way it works ingame currently or the way it is described in the manual?

AFAIR there was some thread recently where I mentioned that and you were there... I do not own any weapon delivery docs so I don't know which one is correct. Devs?

[bonesvf103]

OK, so having the DDD at 200nm in pulse search or pulse doppler search will and hitting IFF is only really useful for showing where the friendlies are, but it's better than nothing.

 

 

BTW, thanks all you guys who are responding and helping. I'm finally making and taking the time to learn and understand all the little nuances of the F-14, especially in the radar, so it's great to get such direction and support and time from you all.

 

 

v6,

boNes