Noob questions

[memoric]

Hello

 

 

I've got two questions

 

 

1. How do I know if a target is spottet by my radar and not the D/L? I've tried locking a target on my radar page but nothing happened. Are the D/L information mirrored on the radar page? So it's possible that my radar isn't seeing them? And thus of that I can't lock them?

 

 

2. In TWS Mode - How do I "unlock" friendly aircraft in TWS Mode? Does it automaticaly happen? I haven't tried TWS yet, because i'm frightened I would shoot down an friendly aircraft.

 

 

Hopefully someone can answer me this.

 

 

Thanks

[Eaglewings]

1. You would need to turn your radar to the proper azimuth using radar elevation knob to be able to lock dl targets on your radar page. They will become white bricks when your radar is on the right azimuth.

 

2. Not sure if you are suppose to be using TWS when friendlies have merged with enemy targets. Just my opinion though.

 

Edit

You can use hud symbology for friendly and hostile to differentiate. Like semicircle on friendly targets and a chevron on enemy target.

Edited May 5, 2020 by Eaglewings

[Sprool]

Doesnt the TDC Depress button toggle lock/unlock for radar targets?

[Pike]

Doesnt the TDC Depress button toggle lock/unlock for radar targets?

 

 

Sometimes I struggle getting the system to dump a target lock Ive acquired, especially when it is a friendly. This actually only seems to happen when it's a friendly. I can lose an enemy lock at will, whether I want to or not. In this case, and when none of the other current tracks are enemies, I'll just hit the erase button on the radar DDI.

 

 

Just dont do it when tracking an enemy unless you know you have time for the radar to find that contact again.

[Razor18]

I don't know which modules have you tried in DCS, but if you don't begin your learning curve from the bottom up, you are in for a continuous frustration. It not an arcade shoot-em-up game that you can enjoy just because you have flown something else previously.

 

Don't meant to be rude, but based on your questions, you seem to want to run way before learning to walk. :smilewink:

[memoric]

I don't know which modules have you tried in DCS, but if you don't begin your learning curve from the bottom up, you are in for a continuous frustration. It not an arcade shoot-em-up game that you can enjoy just because you have flown something else previously.

 

Don't meant to be rude, but based on your questions, you seem to want to run way before learning to walk. :smilewink:

 

 

I'm not new to the game, I 've already have 300h into it, i'm just back after a long break (1 year). So I know the basics. Just refreeshing my memory:smilewink:.

 

 

Thank you all for helping!

 

 

In todays flight a few other questions occured. I noticed that the amraams range got extremely nerfed. I have to close in to about 7 nm in a hot target, with minimun altitude difference. Is this normal?

 

 

And question number 2: Something occured one time: I've locked a target up, in range, fired several amraams, not one of them are tracking, the just fly straight ahead, target is unharmed.

 

 

 

question 3: Sometimes I cannot break a lock pressing the undesignate button. Is this a bug?

 

 

Thank you all!

 

 

regards

[blunt_waco]

Hello

 

 

I've got two questions

 

 

1. How do I know if a target is spottet by my radar and not the D/L? I've tried locking a target on my radar page but nothing happened. Are the D/L information mirrored on the radar page? So it's possible that my radar isn't seeing them? And thus of that I can't lock them?

 

 

2. In TWS Mode - How do I "unlock" friendly aircraft in TWS Mode? Does it automaticaly happen? I haven't tried TWS yet, because i'm frightened I would shoot down an friendly aircraft.

 

 

Hopefully someone can answer me this.

 

Thanks

Number#1 is a complex subject. May I suggest you go to manual page 243 and read on "HAFU Symbology". It's very helpful and I learned a lot from it.

[Hardcard]

1. How do I know if a target is spottet by my radar and not the D/L? I've tried locking a target on my radar page but nothing happened. Are the D/L information mirrored on the radar page? So it's possible that my radar isn't seeing them? And thus of that I can't lock them?

 

Contacts detected by your own radar will have a specific symbology, different from that of contacts provided by DL contributors.

 

I recommend that you check Youtube tutorials (and the manual) whenever you have such doubts.

 

For instance, Cap from Grim Reapers is constantly releasing really helpful tutorials (he makes mistakes sometimes, but who doesn't?)

 

Check his SA+DL+IFF tutorial for the hornet, it's a long one (almost an hour), but it's quite thorough, will answer many of your questions:

 

 

 

2. In TWS Mode - How do I "unlock" friendly aircraft in TWS Mode? Does it automaticaly happen? I haven't tried TWS yet, because i'm frightened I would shoot down an friendly aircraft.

 

Definitely don't use the undesignate button, since that will cycle between contacts in TWS (even friendlies), instead of unlocking targets.

 

You're supposed to hit the "RSET" option on the right MDI, but that will simply revert back to the first priority target (if I'm not mistaken)... so it's not a real solution either.

 

So, instead of doing that, you could select manual mode, reduce azimuth scan angle and slew the cursor away from the "bugged" target... that should break the lock.

 

Alternatively, you could switch to RWS and undesignate/RSET there...or restart your radar.

 

Yes, I know, it's quite inconvenient, but this is how it's modelled (unless I'm missing something)

 

Again, I recommend that you watch Cap's YT tutorials, they'll probably answer many questions.

 

This is the one he made covering the hornet's radar:

 

Btw, killing friendlies in TWS is quite hard if you know what you're doing (ie IFF properly, ask for declaration when in doubt and never fire at a furball).

 

 

 

3. I noticed that the amraams range got extremely nerfed. I have to close in to about 7 nm in a hot target, with minimun altitude difference. Is this normal?

 

Depending on altitude, yes, it's normal. To maximize the amraam's lethal range (as with any other missile), you need to fly as high and fast as possible. Viper and eagle can do this quite effectively... hornet, on the other hand...

 

Right now, the most "energetic" active missiles in DCS are the phoenix and the SD10... the rest of active missiles are only effective within ~8nm (medium altitude), provided the bandit doesn't defend much... otherwise it's ~4nm (mileage will vary depending on altitude, speed, etc.).

 

Phoenix and SD10 can be lofted from 30-50nm at high altitudes (40+k), hitting non-defensive targets at mach 3, and even defensive targets at mach 2 (if they failed to react in time)... it's quite ridiculous, so keep it in mind when you face high flying tomcats and jf-17s... they're really lethal within ~30nm if you're not careful.

 

Taking defensive action after pitbull will likely be too late (unless you're flying really low), you need to defend early in order to survive an encounter with those... forget about RWR alerts, use the bandit type, range and altitude to gauge the likelihood of incoming missile.

 

In other words, if the bandit is a high flying tomcat, jf-17 or even viper, assume launch within 30nm, give him a fox3 long to keep him busy (posturing shot), then dive, notch, chaff and run (but also remember that the hornet can't outrun any of those planes... so be ready to defend yourself again).

 

 

 

4. Something occured one time: I've locked a target up, in range, fired several amraams, not one of them are tracking, the just fly straight ahead, target is unharmed.

 

Would need to see a track to know what happened.

 

 

5. Sometimes I cannot break a lock pressing the undesignate button. Is this a bug?

 

Like I said, if you're in TWS, the undesignate button will switch between contacts... but if you're in RWS it should undesignate.

 

I've also experienced weird behaviour when trying to unlock targets, I think the hornet's radar is really messed up atm.

 

There's also another bug that causes the elevation antenna to get stuck in the default position (often happens when you need it the most... :cry:)

Edited May 6, 2020 by Hardcard

[memoric]

Thank you for your answers blunt_waco and Hardcard!

 

 

Strange thing: The "step" function on the F/A-18 Storage Page dissappeared, I remember clearly that you could cycle through your weapons with it. Now it's gone.

 

 

What happened to it?

 

 

Thanks

[Razor18]

In A/A you simply re-select the same weapon to step to the next station. In A/G it should be there.

[memoric]

Ah ok, thank you!