[WIP] ECM Programs Reverts to last open configuration

[Nova1395]

A bit hard to explain this in the title.

 

Say you go into EW and configure Program 4 to be your 'airshow' setting, dump 40 flares in 10 seconds (2 flare, 0 chaff, repeat 20 times, 0.25s intervals). If you flip the Countermeasures switch and flip it back on, you can load up Program 1, but when you activate the program it will change Program 1's configuration to Program 4's configuration, and you will dump all your flares.

 

Steps to recreate (Open Beta):

1. Set up a Countermeasure Program to dump all flares on any program.

2. Remain on this profile. Flip the Countermeasures switch to OFF

3. Flip the Countermeasures switch back to ON

4. Select a different profile once the BIT test is completed. VERIFY that the program setting is not set to dump all flares.

5. Countermeasures Aft release, watch all of your flares go byebye.

 

A more common occurrence:

1. Ground Pound run, set up 10 flares to drop over 10 seconds as you drop ordnance, to counteract any MANPAD's on the ground.

2. Out of ordnance, RTB.

3. Turn Countermeasures Off as is good habit.

4. Take back to the skies, and find a bogey that's within your reach, select your ECM program that's for RWR/IR missiles.

5. Turn defensive against a radar guided missile, go to drop countermeasures... instead, it reverts back to your ground pound program.

 

reeee.trk

[NineLine]

In order to store custom programs, you would need the TAMPS software that would be loaded to a DTC, so currently when powering off the system, you will lose any custom profiles. Thanks.

[Ziptie]

A bit hard to explain this in the title.

 

Say you go into EW and configure Program 4 to be your 'airshow' setting, dump 40 flares in 10 seconds (2 flare, 0 chaff, repeat 20 times, 0.25s intervals). If you flip the Countermeasures switch and flip it back on, you can load up Program 1, but when you activate the program it will change Program 1's configuration to Program 4's configuration, and you will dump all your flares.

 

Steps to recreate (Open Beta):

1. Set up a Countermeasure Program to dump all flares on any program.

2. Remain on this profile. Flip the Countermeasures switch to OFF

3. Flip the Countermeasures switch back to ON

4. Select a different profile once the BIT test is completed. VERIFY that the program setting is not set to dump all flares.

5. Countermeasures Aft release, watch all of your flares go byebye.

 

A more common occurrence:

1. Ground Pound run, set up 10 flares to drop over 10 seconds as you drop ordnance, to counteract any MANPAD's on the ground.

2. Out of ordnance, RTB.

3. Turn Countermeasures Off as is good habit.

4. Take back to the skies, and find a bogey that's within your reach, select your ECM program that's for RWR/IR missiles.

5. Turn defensive against a radar guided missile, go to drop countermeasures... instead, it reverts back to your ground pound program.

 

 

I find it best to edit the .lua for the ALE-47 so that program 1, program 5, and the emergency dispense (program 6?) are setup every time prior to entering the aircraft. Simply copy the edited .lua file to another location for ease of replacement after any update/patch to the OpenBeta software.

 

In a way, it's kind of like loading a data cartridge. Kind of. Maybe that will assist you with you issue of having the parameters change on you after the process you've outlined above.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ziptie

[Nova1395]

 

In order to store custom programs, you would need the TAMPS software that would be loaded to a DTC, so currently when powering off the system, you will lose any custom profiles. Thanks.

 

I understand what you're saying, but that isn't actually what's happening.

 

>Enter a custom program into program 4

>Power cycle system

>Select program 3

>Upon firing countermeasures, program 4 is instead used.

 

 

 

I find it best to edit the .lua for the ALE-47 so that program 1, program 5, and the emergency dispense (program 6?) are setup every time prior to entering the aircraft. Simply copy the edited .lua file to another location for ease of replacement after any update/patch to the OpenBeta software.

 

In a way, it's kind of like loading a data cartridge. Kind of. Maybe that will assist you with you issue of having the parameters change on you after the process you've outlined above.

 

 

This would be definitely viable, however I'm still trying to get a feel for what's appropriate for different parameters, and I've never messed with the lua files.

[Ziptie]

 

 

I understand what you're saying, but that isn't actually what's happening.

 

>Enter a custom program into program 4

>Power cycle system

>Select program 3

>Upon firing countermeasures, program 4 is instead used.

 

 

 

 

This would be definitely viable, however I'm still trying to get a feel for what's appropriate for different parameters, and I've never messed with the lua files.

 

I will send an attachment tomorrow, a copy of the .lua that I've edited - and include the directory path that you want to place it so you can have that for ease if you'd like. If you would, feel free to list out exactly what countermeasure, and quantity / interval / repeat that you would like for each program and I can quickly make it for you - then you just place a copy of the file in a known location - so when an update/fix comes out (think there is even one scheduled for tomorrow) you can just copy and paste again so you don't have to do the work again or go back to having to adjust them each time you enter the aircraft. If you don't want it, no worries - it literally takes a matter of seconds for me to do - I never did anything resembling editing .lua files before I got into DCS, but the need has allowed me to learn. It's really pretty straight forward in my opinion.

 

 

Some use JGSME (or whatever it's called) - but I find that this is just as easy to do it the "old school way." To each their own I suppose.

 

But back to your OP - I don't get the same issue you outlined, I can land - rearm/refuel, and the program 1 and program 5 both stay as I had originally had upon entering the mission.

 

If I recall correctly, and this was back when the Hornet was "new new" to DCS, there was a caveat to what programs are available to be commanded from the HOTAS - like having program 1 as the "active program" via the ALE-47 is one of the HOTAS commands, and the other will always be program 5. Forgive me if that wasn't entirely clear on what I was trying to say, but it's been a long day for me and trying to recall something from over a year ago that I watched/heard during on of Wags' original videos.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ziptie

[Nova1395]

 

But back to your OP - I don't get the same issue you outlined, I can land - rearm/refuel, and the program 1 and program 5 both stay as I had originally had upon entering the mission.

 

If I recall correctly, and this was back when the Hornet was "new new" to DCS, there was a caveat to what programs are available to be commanded from the HOTAS - like having program 1 as the "active program" via the ALE-47 is one of the HOTAS commands, and the other will always be program 5. Forgive me if that wasn't entirely clear on what I was trying to say, but it's been a long day for me and trying to recall something from over a year ago that I watched/heard during on of Wags' original videos.

 

 

You are correct, slightly. In the Hornet, Dispense switch Forward will always dispense Program 5, and Dispense switch Aft will dispense whatever program is currently selected. You can edit all the programs (including Program 5) to your liking, program 5 is basically your 'emergency' program.

 

Rather than try to explain this over text, I've made

explaining the issue. I have found an easy workaround, which is cycling through the programs and is quite honestly a low priority item, but just thought I'd bring it up. When I went from horsing around and doing a flare dump on program 4, then into a dogfight on the next sortie, I was surprised to see all 40 flares dumped in about 5 seconds as I struggled to figure out what was going on.

[Ziptie]

 

You are correct, slightly. In the Hornet, Dispense switch Forward will always dispense Program 5, and Dispense switch Aft will dispense whatever program is currently selected. You can edit all the programs (including Program 5) to your liking, program 5 is basically your 'emergency' program.

 

Rather than try to explain this over text, I've made

explaining the issue. I have found an easy workaround, which is cycling through the programs and is quite honestly a low priority item, but just thought I'd bring it up. When I went from horsing around and doing a flare dump on program 4, then into a dogfight on the next sortie, I was surprised to see all 40 flares dumped in about 5 seconds as I struggled to figure out what was going on.

 

 

Video was helpful to see what you are talking about. Certainly seems like a bug to me.

 

 

I realize why I haven't experienced the same issue you have shown here - because I only use program 1 and program 5, one of which is set to chaff on and the other which is set to flare only. This way when I press dispense switch forward it expends chaff, for radar threat evasion - and when I press aft on the dispense switch it expends flare, for IR threat evasion.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ziptie