Expedite Autostart??

[virulosity]

The autostart just takes too dang long for this A/C. Can some one point me to the file to edit and remove all of the pauses between switch positions and remove imaginary actions that do nothing???

[Captain Orso]

How about just learning to start by yourself?

 

9/10 of autostart is, "check that switch, check that one, and check those two there, ..." when they almost all start per default in the correct position already. Set INS alignment to always be pre-aligned, and you can startup and be on your way within 60 seconds easily.

[shagrat]

The autostart just takes too dang long for this A/C. Can some one point me to the file to edit and remove all of the pauses between switch positions and remove imaginary actions that do nothing???

Welcome to NATOPS checklists. And actually all these steps are real and not remotely "imaginary". In fact we don't need to do the exterior inspection etc.

That said, the quickest way to start the Harrier is actually to do the 15 something vital actions for starting manually. Close canopy, Batt on, Fuel switch dwn, DECS, then LH/RH Fuel pump, APU on, Flaps, MPCDs, HUD, ENG Start, wait for 006.0 RPM > Throttle to Idle, Enter Coordinates ( on Carrier connect ext Power for SINS F8-F2) and start INS align (GRD/SEA). While the INS aligns, set avionics, weapons, Flaps, radios. When INS shows OK, set INS to NAV. Arm seat, NWS on and parking brake off... ready to taxi.

It is likely easier and faster to memorize this, than fiddeling with Lua files, that likely need to be replaced after each update... just saying.

[Quadg]

do the cold start training and wait around at the end. the voice will return and say

"if you thought this took too long then you should not have bought a study sim" or words to that effect..

 

I had forgotten about that until I read this thread :)

[tea_cypher]

And if you want to cheat, use this can get you up and ready in the time it rearms.

 

[wowbagger]

virulosity, is correct. Having the autostart go pointlessly over switches and buttons which automatically default to where they are supposed be is a bit daft.

 

 

Gravity on? Check.

Earth rotating west to east? Check.

Quantum theory still valid? Check.

 

 

Autostart is useful for people who have a limited playtime because of real life considerations, so dragging it out pointlessly makes no sense. If you're using autostart, then clearly simulating the minutiae of a real startup doesn't matter to you anyway. They certainly don't to me when I use it.

Edited July 30, 2020 by wowbagger

[shagrat]

virulosity, is correct. Having the autostart go pointlessly over switches and buttons which automatically default to where they are supposed be is a bit daft.

 

 

Gravity on? Check.

Earth rotating west to east? Check.

Quantum theory still valid? Check.

 

 

Autostart is useful for people who have a limited playtime because of real life considerations, so dragging it out pointlessly makes no sense. If you're using autostart, then clearly simulating the minutiae of a real startup doesn't matter to you anyway. They certainly don't to me when I use it.

It is not pointless, it is boring, for some. I am curious to see, if they model the electric spikes potentially damaging the INS, in the F/A-18C if you start the INS alignment before both engines are hooked on the electric bug... and how many people will cry "bug". ;)

EDIT Yes, autostart is a feature to help you with start up. Honestly, the 5 min Start up after you learned the steps I pointed out above is a good solution, it is fast and during alignment you are free to prepare your weapons.

If that isn't fast enough, go for Start from Parking hot in the ME.

Edited July 30, 2020 by shagrat

[PhantomCat]

Great sadness and despair washes over me whenever I hear people use auto-start. This should not be a feature in DCS.

PS: If you wanna git gud then manually start your aircraft, you'll actually learn a lot about the aircraft systems and what to do if you get damaged.

[virulosity]

WOW, I didn't know this is such a hot button topic. I usually only get small breaks of about 30 minutes in my day to "play" this "game". I can't spend half of that time watching a computer check switch positions that it already knows what the positions are, and "checking" the integrity of "imaginary" simulated structures/systems. I totally get why you would do these checks in real life, and I would encourage that for people that want to do that manually, but it simply doesn't belong in autostart. People use autostart that already don't want to do the manual start procedure...

[virulosity]

Welcome to NATOPS checklists. And actually all these steps are real and not remotely "imaginary". In fact we don't need to do the exterior inspection etc.

That said, the quickest way to start the Harrier is actually to do the 15 something vital actions for starting manually. Close canopy, Batt on, Fuel switch dwn, DECS, then LH/RH Fuel pump, APU on, Flaps, MPCDs, HUD, ENG Start, wait for 006.0 RPM > Throttle to Idle, Enter Coordinates ( on Carrier connect ext Power for SINS F8-F2) and start INS align (GRD/SEA). While the INS aligns, set avionics, weapons, Flaps, radios. When INS shows OK, set INS to NAV. Arm seat, NWS on and parking brake off... ready to taxi.

It is likely easier and faster to memorize this, than fiddeling with Lua files, that likely need to be replaced after each update... just saying.

 

Thanks for this, I never tried scrubbing it down as tight as possible. Maybe it's not that bad once mastered. I wish they had "training" on doing it this way in addition to the "real" start procedure.

[wowbagger]

Great sadness and despair washes over me whenever I hear people use auto-start. This should not be a feature in DCS.

PS: If you wanna git gud then manually start your aircraft, you'll actually learn a lot about the aircraft systems and what to do if you get damaged.

 

 

Whereas I find it hilarious how many DCS players are so self absorbed in their own fantasy that DCS is anything other than a video game that they try to force others to play it in a way which reinforces their own delusions. I'm more of a 'glass-half-full' kind of person I guess.

 

To each his own.

[shagrat]

Great sadness and despair washes over me whenever I hear people use auto-start. This should not be a feature in DCS.

Though I agree with the learning part, I strongly disagree with removing the autostart or anything else that is optional and help newcomers and first timers to ease their introduction to DCS.

You are not forced to use any of that, so don't. People with a family and less time to dedicate to this hobby find it very convenient. MP purists use it after they got through the whole start up manually multiple times to then have DCS crash and have 30, 60 or more minutes of their precious time wasted.

For most people there will be the point, where they realize they can even start up faster manually when they learned the system and no longer need/want autostart, anyway.

Yet they should not be forced, neither by ED, nor the community. DCS is for everyone and should be a positive experience aka fun.

[mvsgas]

The autostart just takes too dang long for this A/C. Can some one point me to the file to edit and remove all of the pauses between switch positions and remove imaginary actions that do nothing???

 

WOW, I didn't know this is such a hot button topic. I usually only get small breaks of about 30 minutes in my day to "play" this "game". I can't spend half of that time watching a computer check switch positions that it already knows what the positions are, and "checking" the integrity of "imaginary" simulated structures/systems. I totally get why you would do these checks in real life, and I would encourage that for people that want to do that manually, but it simply doesn't belong in autostart. People use autostart that already don't want to do the manual start procedure...

 

This is a subject that has come up several times in many forms. Whether INS alignment time, start time, rearming etc. The thing is, this can be corrected now without any modification to any module, it comes down to Mission design.

 

Can they modify the auto start? Sure, there no problems with that. But why wait for a mod or put in the time and effort when you can simply start the mission in the air over the target? Or in the runway, or running on the parking spot? All this options eliminate the start, save time and are already available without any modification.

 

If time is the only factor, why modify anything when you have several solution now?

[virulosity]

There is a bug where wheel brakes don't work with hot start on Tarawa :)

 

This is a subject that has come up several times in many forms. Whether INS alignment time, start time, rearming etc. The thing is, this can be corrected now without any modification to any module, it comes down to Mission design.

 

Can they modify the auto start? Sure, there no problems with that. But why wait for a mod or put in the time and effort when you can simply start the mission in the air over the target? Or in the runway, or running on the parking spot? All this options eliminate the start, save time and are already available without any modification.

 

If time is the only factor, why modify anything when you have several solution now?