correct as-is Frustrated with figuring out how to use the F-18C Radar

[RTS354]

I'm learning the F-18C and so far I got the ground attack mode mastered, but I having serious issues with learning how to use the air-air radar. I watched several videos on YouTube as well as doing the tutorials and it doesn't seem that complex, but I just can't get the STT or TWR mode to lock or even  when I can see the aircraft in the distance. My radar setup is similar to what I see in the videos, but nothing seems to work. I am really frustrated at this point. Here's the link to the video showing all of the steps that I'm doing to try to lock up a target with the Air to Air Radar:

 

Click here to view my video

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[AstonMartinDBS]

Please provide a trackfile of your flight, so we can see all relevant details.

 

I guess, the enemy MiG-29s are not within the radar elevation (either too low or too high). That means, that your radar doesn't detect them. Try to increase/decrease the elevation to match elevation to enemie's altitude or increase the scan range to 4B or 6B (via OSB 06).

Edited February 28, 2021 by AstonMartinDBS

[Harker]

I watched the video. The issue is that your radar is not detecting the target in the first place. What you see is a donated target from the AWACS. That's why you can't interact with it, because you haven't detected it yourself.

In RWS, detected targets show up as bricks and unless you change some options under the DATA sub-menu, the brick will turn into a HAFU (symbol that gives info about the target, as well as their priority, with a number) when you put the cursor over it. And then you can interact with it.

In TWS, the first 8 detected targets are HAFUs by default and the rest are bricks.

Donated targets from the datalink, but not detected by you will show up as:
Either small, full HAFUs if donated by the AWACS or as bottom-half only HAFUs if donated by another fighter on the network.

If you are detecting the target yourself, the top-half portion of the HAFU is governed by you.

In general, either disable the datalink (UFC - D/L - ON/OFF) altogether, so you only have your own radar as a variable or read about MSI and HAFUs.

Now that you've cleared that, the problem to solve is why your radar isn't picking up the target in the first place. Are the targets at your altitude? Are you sure that your radar elevation setting is set up correctly, in order to pick them up? You'll achieve best results for targets flying straight towards you, at your altitude.

Also, if you are detecting targets but your radar is dropping them faster than you'd like, you can go to DATA and increase the memory setting, top right. The AMRAAM has only 4 seconds (meaning that if the radar does not detect the target again within 4 seconds, it'll drop the track), I usually like to increase it to 8 or 16.

Hope this helps. It's a lot of info, but it's a complicated matter. I personally recommend that you fly without datalink, in order to simplify the process in the beginning and only have the picture that your own radar creates. You can then include the datalink and enjoy the extra situational awareness.

[RTS354]

Thanks for all the info.  Harker was correct, I misunderstood how the donor targets works in conjunction with the radar. Also TorniQuetHD left several comments on my video explaining the same thing. I did as Harker suggested and turned of the datalink, and that resolved most of my issues. 

 

My misunderstanding was that I thought that once I select the radar target by pressing the target select button, the radar would be automatically slewed to the correct altitude and heading provided by the donor if the target were within the gimbal limits of the radar.  

 

My other question is that once you lock up a target, do you need to manually move the radar elevation to maintain lock, or does the radar automatically do this for you?

 

Once again, thanks for the fast response to my stupidity. I'm a in a happy place now. 

[Harker]

My other question is that once you lock up a target, do you need to manually move the radar elevation to maintain lock, or does the radar automatically do this for you?

If you are in STT or TWS AUTO, it's done automatically. In all other modes, you need to adjust it yourself.

[RTS354]

1 hour ago, Harker said:

 

If you are in STT or TWS AUTO, it's done automatically. In all other modes, you need to adjust it yourself.

Thanks, I been doing it manually.