Kafka Posted April 13, 2021 Posted April 13, 2021 I've been away from DCS for a while and in that time there seems to have been a lot of changes, with no clear documentation or guide. Chuck's is outdated and on hold, the Pocket Guide tells me nothing about how to use things. I used to know how to use GBU12 LGB with the TPOD and the TDC for target designation, but now nothing seems to work the same and I'm getting displays I don't recognise. There's not even a TDC button now. Does anyone have a simple to follow step by step guide for how to designate ground targets and drop GBU12 LGB with the TPOD (or any other method for that matter.) Thanks in advance.
ZeroReady Posted April 13, 2021 Posted April 13, 2021 Weapon Master Arm - On A/G mode -Selected GBU-12 - Selected Mode - AUT Fuz - T IN TPOD -Right MFD OSB 18 - DMT OSB 20 - CODE Enter desired laser code on UFC Press ENTER OSB 13 - Return to main screen OSB 8 - TPOD OSB 9 - STBY OSB 1 - Safe to Laser OSB 4 - TRNL to LASR EHSD - Left MFD OSB 11 - DESG This will designate the location of the TPOD as the selected target Sensor Select DOWN Twice - TPOD will change from HUD DES to TPOD DES Slew the TPOD onto the thing you want to go away OSB 15 - AR (area track) to PT (point track) Align FPM with ASL Hold Pickle when thick bar appears until it passes through FPM and weapon releases. OSB 3 - FIRE fire laser (Before or after weapon release doesn't really matter. Thing goes away Keep an eye on the lower right right of the TPOD screen, you may need to press Sensor select DOWN TWICE again to put it back into TPOD DES mode for the next target, or if you undesignated. AG TARGET UNDESIGNATE will put the tpod in snowplow mode. A second press will undesignate the last target. 6
Kafka Posted April 13, 2021 Author Posted April 13, 2021 Thanks ZR, I'll go through that tomorrow. The use of DESG on the Left MFD is a new one on me. Slewing the TPOD is done using the old TDC controls (U,J,Y,I) ?
ZeroReady Posted April 13, 2021 Posted April 13, 2021 No problem. Not sure I have a mini stick on my throttle I use, you would have to check in the keybinds. But it should be the same as always for keyboard.
Kafka Posted April 14, 2021 Author Posted April 14, 2021 Yeah. But at least they're still working on it. The biggest PITA is no systems user guide as part of the product at all, let alone one that keeps pace with the system changes. It's a real naus having to trawl the forums and YouTube for advice, and then wonder if it's current. Shouldn't have to rely on 3rd party users to write their guides for them.
Vakarian Posted April 14, 2021 Posted April 14, 2021 To be fair to Baltic, you can't write a manual if at one update thing work like A and on next update it works like B... So, until Harrier gets completed (can't see it happening anytime soon) you are stuck with asking questions on the forum and hopefully someone will be around to give you actual help you need instead of crass and condescending comments. It sucks, but it's what people will have to deal with now as only person out there that managed to keep unofficial manual up-to-date-as-possible was "kindly" thanked for his service.
Ryback1973 Posted April 14, 2021 Posted April 14, 2021 (edited) Yeah! The documentation thing. I have the impression that razbam is making themselves lif a bit too easy! - Their pocket guide isn't even close to beeing up to date. No matter what's the reason for that...it sucks. - One of the instant missions (freeflight) for the AV-8 was a copy of an FA-18 mission. They didn't even bother to change the text message at start. - There is this download: https://www.razbamsimulations.com/files/DCS-AV-8B-Harrier-Guide.pdf , which is of course Chuck's Guide, but they again didn't even make the effort to update that file after he recently put some work into it. "Stealing" content from others and then getting caught with fails like those is kinda silly IMO. Edited April 14, 2021 by Ryback1973
Vakarian Posted April 14, 2021 Posted April 14, 2021 Hah, I knew that RB had Chucks guide on their own page as a "manual" of sorts as I first found Chucks guide from RB website back when I bought the Harrier, but couldn't find it on the website now...
Kafka Posted April 14, 2021 Author Posted April 14, 2021 @ZeroReady Thanks man, worked perfectly - easy when you know how! I gather the CCIP dumb bombs procedure has also changed - back to the detective work!
JG-1_Vogel Posted April 15, 2021 Posted April 15, 2021 I too have recently come back to DCS after an extended period enjoying WWII shenanigans in IL-2, a lot has changed with the Harrier but none of the documentation is anywhere near up to date. I can understand the frustrations of revising manual information after successive updates and modifications to aircraft systems, however Heatblur have an absolutely cracking F-14 manual online that I presume is updated whenever they make adjustments to aircraft systems modelling. Startup is fine, but I'm having a really hard time trying to learn the various TDC and sensor select button combinations for the MPCD/TPOD. I can fly the aircraft fine but now I have no idea how to employ guided munitions. YouTube videos are helpful, but there's nothing like having a hard manual to hand that you can refer to at your own pace, as and when you need it.
Kafka Posted April 15, 2021 Author Posted April 15, 2021 Chuck's Harrier Guide is on hold - for good reason, I understand that @baltic_dragonis doing a Guide but obviously is not ready for release yet until they've finished major upgrades. @ZeroReady's post above is great for deploying LGB with TPOD. After much trawling around I found the following useful-ish; Q4 2020 Midlife Update - scroll way down past all the pictures. Grim Reaper's update video - narrated at his normal pace, but can pause and go back over; These were late 2020 and I'm not sure if still accurate.
Xpendable Posted April 21, 2021 Posted April 21, 2021 (edited) I have been trying for HOURS and I cannot get this to work. I've watched this brand new video 3 times... And still cannot get it to work. I've got the target lazed... I've tried with area track and PT track on a static fighter on the ground. I've tried both 1688 and 1588 code. I've got the target loaded into the ESHD and have DESG boxed with TGT next to it and confirmed T 0 is selected. The TPOD is tracking the are or point. I have the auto drop queues on the HUD. I've confirmed the laser is in actual LASR mode (not TRNL) and I've got the FIRE button boxed and have the flashing L on the HUD. Everything should be working. The bomb drops exactly when it should... and it misses by hundreds of feet. I've tried this over and over and over again. It is not working and I'm ready to pull my hair out. ARRRRGH! EDIT: Ok... maybe I'm an idiot. I've just realized that the last few times I've been switching to bomb camera and it's possible my plane is rolling an blocking the TPOD laser, which could explain why I'm not hitting the target. I'm also doing this relatively low... like 8000 feet. Maybe I should be doing this higher? Will try some more. Further EDIT: Yep... that was it. This time I stayed flying straight and level (and slightly higher) and watched from the TPOD and sure enough I hit the plane dead on. Gotta practice this more. Edited April 21, 2021 by Xpendable
Recluse Posted April 21, 2021 Posted April 21, 2021 (edited) OOPS Posted while you were posting. Save a TRK file and we can see what is going wrong possibly. Just released: I haven't tried yet. The need for WP INC LONG to feed coordinates to the INS before pressing DESG is new. Wasn't necessary before Edited April 21, 2021 by Recluse Double post
Xpendable Posted April 21, 2021 Posted April 21, 2021 Yep, I knew about the waypoint increment requirement. I also found that if I drop below a certain altitude the TPOD would be obscured by my aircraft before the bomb hit. Dropping from a higher altitude solved that problem. I was dropping on Tonopah Test Range from about 11,000 feet, which is only about 5,500 AGL. That's too low, apparently. Dropping from 13,000 or above (8000 AGL or more) gave the TPOD more visibility after overflying the target.
Vakarian Posted April 21, 2021 Posted April 21, 2021 Try to mount TGP on the station 3 or 5, that should help you with masking problem.
Recluse Posted April 21, 2021 Posted April 21, 2021 (edited) OK. I just tried and all was fine. I didn't need the WP INC as I used a WP Desg as the initial target point, then slewed the pod so the EHSD already had it. Keeping the TPOD/LASER on the target throughout, or at least in the terminal phase is key. Edited April 21, 2021 by Recluse
Draken35 Posted April 21, 2021 Posted April 21, 2021 45 minutes ago, Vakarian said: Try to mount TGP on the station 3 or 5, that should help you with masking problem. Just be aware on which side you mount it so you can plan your orbits and be comfortable flying with asymmetric load outs.
FlippingGerman Posted April 21, 2021 Posted April 21, 2021 Razbam's apparent total lack of documentation is very disappointing. A Wags-style video when things change or new features come out ought to be the minimum. If you can make the changes you can at least document them. This in particular, refusing to help Chuck Owl with his guides - WTF, guys? If even he can't keep up, how are the rest of us supposed to cope? For dropping bombs, there's the video above; for manipulating the TPOD, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5kk8dFcyBA&ab_channel=GrimReapers, along with a few other of their recent videos on the Harrier.
ZeroReady Posted April 24, 2021 Posted April 24, 2021 As far as I know, I could be wrong, but WP increment Long is only to send target info to a JDAM. Maybe. Who knows?
Recluse Posted April 25, 2021 Posted April 25, 2021 (edited) That is all I ever used it for, but seeing the video above, it seems to be needed to transfer target points to the Inertial system as well. Seems like hitting DESG on the EHSD does the same thing for this purpose. EDIT: DESG doesn't do the same thing, though it does create a TGT point. WPINC LONG will make the Target Point the current Steerpoint so the symbology merges. Edited April 25, 2021 by Recluse
kotor633 Posted April 25, 2021 Posted April 25, 2021 Am 14.4.2021 um 13:15 schrieb Ryback1973: Yeah! The documentation thing. I have the impression that razbam is making themselves lif a bit too easy! - Their pocket guide isn't even close to beeing up to date. No matter what's the reason for that...it sucks. - One of the instant missions (freeflight) for the AV-8 was a copy of an FA-18 mission. They didn't even bother to change the text message at start. - There is this download: https://www.razbamsimulations.com/files/DCS-AV-8B-Harrier-Guide.pdf , which is of course Chuck's Guide, but they again didn't even make the effort to update that file after he recently put some work into it. "Stealing" content from others and then getting caught with fails like those is kinda silly IMO. And not even on their own website they get it donw / they think it is necessary / they make the effort to provide the most up-to-date guide ... I am sure that Baltic Dragon will create a good handout. Well, Deka Ironworks or Polychop didn't do an outstanding job here either with their guides ... But how long has the Harrier been released? We wait 5 years until we finally get a proper handout? Each time I will confirm that I will never ever buy anything more from them ... ************************************** DCS World needs the Panavia Tornado! Really! **************************************
USAF-Falcon87 Posted April 25, 2021 Posted April 25, 2021 On 4/21/2021 at 8:57 AM, Xpendable said: Yep, I knew about the waypoint increment requirement. I also found that if I drop below a certain altitude the TPOD would be obscured by my aircraft before the bomb hit. Dropping from a higher altitude solved that problem. I was dropping on Tonopah Test Range from about 11,000 feet, which is only about 5,500 AGL. That's too low, apparently. Dropping from 13,000 or above (8000 AGL or more) gave the TPOD more visibility after overflying the target. One technique I use is to break hard to the left or right just after the drop, hold that heading for a few seconds, then turn back the other way. That keeps the aircraft from masking the pod.
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