F-16 Radio Confusion

[ShaunX]

Hello folks. I'm coming up the F-16 curve and I'm currently trying to get my head around radio comms, having up to now just used the "Easy Communication" Gameplay option.

 

Studied both the ED and Chucks' F-16 guides and think I understand the UFC controls, I'm able to set up UHF and VHF frequencies and select presets that can be easily cycled on the CNI page.

 

What I can't find in the guides however, is reference to the HOTAS Trasmit UHF and VHF switches usage. I've bound the commands to the warthog but it doesn't seem to matter whether I press UHF or VHF transmit (or indeed the easy comms backslash key), I still get the same menu top right with the same options available (i.e. greyed\not greyed out). I was under the impression that I'd only be able to access an ATC tuned on COM 1 UHF for example if I specifically pressed the UHF transmit ? Am I missing something?

 

Does this mean that I just need to assign one bind to backslash for all AI comms?.. which would actually be nice as then I guess I could use the UHF/VHF transmit hotas switches for SRS (when I get to that!)

 

Even more puzzling, and although I have my flight confirmed and tuned on VHF 127.00, the Flight menu is always greyed out and I can't contact wingmen, bizarrely, when "Easy Communications" is ticked in Gameplay, and it's only available if it ISN'T ticked in Gameplay??? (Encountered when running the ED single mission - Combat Mission - Island Style)

 

I'd Really appreciate any advice.

[fudabidu]

With "easy comms" enabled it doesn't matter which button you use or what frequency you're tuned into. Just press the regular comms button and you'll be able to talk to anybody.

 

With "easy comms" disabled you have to tune your radio(s) to the correct frequency and use the corresponding VHF / UHF transmit button. The regular comms button will be mostly useless.

 

AI F-16 wingmen currently only work without "easy comms", because fixing the radio is obviously a low priority for ED.

 

In multiplayer this option is set by the server, which is another reason to get used to the 'more complex' procedure.

 

SRS does allow using DCS' transmit buttons as push to talk, but please don't do that. Getting interrupted by clicks every time somebody opens the comms menu on the same frequency gets annoying really really fast.

 

The comms menu doesn't ever change and greyed out options don't seem to matter at all. Just because a tanker or AWACS or ATC is greyed out doesn't mean you can't contact them. Seen it dozens of times and stopped trying to spot a logical pattern.

 

Hope that explains some things.

[ShaunX]

Thanks man, that does help. I'll stick with the complex comms and guess I'll have to find another couple of buttons for SRS.

[fudabidu]

Are you using a HOTAS?

If so, put SRS on there. When you're in a dogfight and need help you don't want to look at and reach for the keyboard to request assistance.

 

When talking to AI you need to use the function keys anyways. I've bound UHF and VHF to R-Shift + / and R-Ctrl + /, because it's easy to remember and quick to find.

[ShaunX]

Yes, I'm lucky enough to have bought a Warthog before they suddenly became scarce (or ridiculously inflated). I am however, rapidly running out of buttons for the Viper ! ...and that's with using the paddle on the joystick as a momentary modifier !

 

With a bit of juggling I can free up the 4-way coolie switch so I'm thinking AI UHF/VHF left/right and keep fwd/aft for SRS. I guess I should really use the MIC switch but I've found that most conveniently placed for zoom in/out and Track IR reset and pause

[fudabidu]

The real F-16 also has a 4-way comms switch, although left and right are used for datalink actions (which are not implemented yet). I'd recommend mapping them properly now to avoid confusion later.

UHF and VHF aren't super important, so these could be bound to modifier+whatever.

 

I do wonder what you bound to that poor stick though. I'm using the almost identical F-16 stick and the only extras I've bound are Steerpoint +/-, TGP zoom +/-, AP pitch/baro and rudder trim L/R (using pinky as a modifier).

Since you can use a joystick modifier on keyboard commands I was able to map the almost entire ICP to the right side of the keyboard. It's a perfect fit!

[ShaunX]

Really Nice idea for the ICP mapping. I may steal that one!

 

OK, Stick, I've got:

 

All buttons as per F-16 spec - Pickle, trigger 1 and 2 detents, NWS/MSL Step, FOV pinky, Trim hat, DMS, TMS, CMS

 

CMS Press: Uncage

 

That just leaves the paddle, which is my momentary modifier .

 

With paddle modifier held:

 

Trim Hat - Up: Kneeboard on/off, Left: Prev Kneeboard page, Right: Next, down: Current position on Kneeboard map.

 

DMS - Up: A-A Mode toggle, Down: A-G Mode toggle, Left: Lazer Arm toggle, Right: Master Arm toggle

 

TMS - U,D,L,R: RDR Cursor slew (I also have the mouse hat on the throttle configured as that, but I find it impossible to accurately slew the TGP or Maverick WPN camera with that - and I've tried lots of axis tune settings!)

 

Pickle: Emergency Stores Jettison - tanks and any free fall bombs.