Control setting gripe

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

Apologies for the following but I'm getting frustrated and need to vent:

 

This is regarding the Mirage 200 but it relates to pretty much all of the DCS modules.

 

Can someone tell me what HOTAS control bindings I need and what it is that they actually do? Yes, I've read Chuck's and the official manual and looked at lots of tubes but I'm still confused. For example, Regarding the Magic there are these in the controls menu:

CNM Magic (I have this bound but I don't know what it actually does. It seems to have no effect in game).
MAG PREP: MAGIC II Standby Toggle. (WTF is it?)
MAG SELECT, else PCA Select (is there any use for this? What does it do?)
Magic Slave/AG Designate/INS Position Update (I read somewhere that this is needed in order for the missle to fire and I have bound it... but it eludes me as to whether it works... I usually get one Magic off but after that... nothing).
NAV Update/MAGIC unlock  Oookaay... again, WTF is this?

These are just a few examples. Another thing that's driving me bats**t crazy is that the text when you hover the mouse over a switch / control in the cockpit doesn't relate to the wording in the controls menu (and this is common throughout all of the DCS modules). Why not have them the same so that we can see what we are binding and maybe be able to relate to the tutorials as to what we need to bind. The tutorials often explain which switch to activate with the "box" over the switch but since as noted above, the wording doesn't match and who knows what it actually is in the menu.

Guys, it doesn't need to be this dense in setting up our controls. The DCS modules are wonderfully detailed and challenging enough. Don't make it so damn convoluted and confusing just to get our controls set up. At least post an explanation of what the different controls do in the settings menu with perhaps a footnote to the relevant page in the official manual... and even then there are items in the menu that I can find no reference to in the manuals.

 

There's just gotta be a better way.

 

With the FTP going on now, what happens when a fresh Noob get's one of the modules and tries to set up controls... they go back to War Thunder or whatever.

[Wizard1393]

It's been a while since I flew the M-2000C now, but in general:

 

The HOTAS controls section refers to buttons and switches on the actual throttle and stick in the aircraft.

What the HOTAS buttons and switches do, differs between aircraft. Some are often similar, e.g. "Nose Wheel Steering" is often connected to a button on the stick for several aircraft.

 

HOTAS layout and actions is most often pretty well documented in the aircraft manual (which resides in e.g. %DCS installation dir%\Mods\Aircraft\M2000C\Doc).

The HOTAS section in the M-2000C manual starts on page 30.

Edited June 14, 2021 by chrisofsweden

[myHelljumper]

Hi, as said above, all your questions are answered by the manual. It's not up to date on the last changes but all of your question should be answered correctly by the manual.

 

Also, the commands refer to the French cockpit, since you are using the English cockpit the command name don't match.

 

If you did not find your answer in the manual, ask your questions here I'll answer them.

Edited June 15, 2021 by myHelljumper

[Galinette]

S/Z is ANG/ALT.

 

It's true that they could have the same name in the binds, as angle and altitude translate well to english.

[Frederf]

On 6/13/2021 at 11:30 PM, II.JG1_Vonrd said:

Apologies for the following but I'm getting frustrated and need to vent:

 

This is regarding the Mirage 200 but it relates to pretty much all of the DCS modules.

 

Can someone tell me what HOTAS control bindings I need and what it is that they actually do? Yes, I've read Chuck's and the official manual and looked at lots of tubes but I'm still confused. For example, Regarding the Magic there are these in the controls menu:

CNM Magic (I have this bound but I don't know what it actually does. It seems to have no effect in game).
MAG PREP: MAGIC II Standby Toggle. (WTF is it?)
MAG SELECT, else PCA Select (is there any use for this? What does it do?)
Magic Slave/AG Designate/INS Position Update (I read somewhere that this is needed in order for the missle to fire and I have bound it... but it eludes me as to whether it works... I usually get one Magic off but after that... nothing).
NAV Update/MAGIC unlock  Oookaay... again, WTF is this?

These are just a few examples. Another thing that's driving me bats**t crazy is that the text when you hover the mouse over a switch / control in the cockpit doesn't relate to the wording in the controls menu (and this is common throughout all of the DCS modules). Why not have them the same so that we can see what we are binding and maybe be able to relate to the tutorials as to what we need to bind. The tutorials often explain which switch to activate with the "box" over the switch but since as noted above, the wording doesn't match and who knows what it actually is in the menu.

Guys, it doesn't need to be this dense in setting up our controls. The DCS modules are wonderfully detailed and challenging enough. Don't make it so damn convoluted and confusing just to get our controls set up. At least post an explanation of what the different controls do in the settings menu with perhaps a footnote to the relevant page in the official manual... and even then there are items in the menu that I can find no reference to in the manuals.

 

There's just gotta be a better way.

 

With the FTP going on now, what happens when a fresh Noob get's one of the modules and tries to set up controls... they go back to War Thunder or whatever.

 

 

"CNM" is an abbreviation of cannon-neutral-magic. It is a three-position switch on the throttle which controls the weapon system. In the C cannon position the weapon system is configured to fire the cannons in the air-to-air role. Similarly the M magic position does the same thing but regarding the R550 Magic II heat-seeking missile. The N neutral position allows all other weapon employment. You will find that the C or M positions are the only ways to access the air-to-air gunnery or Magic missile respectively and that the N position is required for all air-to-ground or Super 530 missile operation. Item #7 on page 32 and 35/320 of the manual.

 

MAG PREP is a button on the right side of the dashboard. It is used to select or deselect Magic missile seeker cooling. The "P" indicates Pret (French for ready) and is automatically selected on airplane start. For long missions the button should be pressed to unready the missile to conserve the limited coolant. When it is expected the missile will be needed re-select cooling and it will be ready to fire in several seconds. It is not necessary to have rapid access to this button by putting it on your joystick. Item #4 on page 229/320 of the manual.

 

MAG SELECT, else PCA refers to the C-N-M switch. MAG SELECT means the M or MAG or Magic missile selection position. The "else" means that when this button is released the switch will return to the N neutral position. This is useful for people who have a controller like the Thrustmaster Warthog which has a special switch which provides button on input in two of the three positions and no button input in the center position.

 

AG Designate/Magic Slave does two different things. In air-to-air with Magic missile selected if the radar is locked onto a target this commands the Magic missile to point toward the radar target if not already. In air-to-ground whenever there is a diamond with a dot symbol and the system can accept a ground designation (bombing or oblique radar position update) this button commands that designation. Item #8 page 32.

 

Nav Update/Magic Unlock is a button on the joystick and does two things. With Magic missile selected it commands it to stop tracking the heat signature of a target. In other modes it commands a fly over position update and functions identically to the "REC" button on the PCN  panel. Item #2 page 31.

 

---

 

I absolutely agree that the naming convention is the least consistent of any of the modules I have tried. Understandably the French and English names will be different but manual, training mission, cockpit texture, tooltip, action, instructional text, and voiceover instruction can all be different. This makes it difficult to understand or search. The find feature of a PDF reader can only find what it is told to search for. The manual is inconsistent with established documenting practices in general.

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

6 hours ago, Frederf said:

"CNM" is an abbreviation of cannon-neutral-magic. It is a three-position switch on the throttle which controls the weapon system. In the C cannon position the weapon system is configured to fire the cannons in the air-to-air role. Similarly the M magic position does the same thing but regarding the R550 Magic II heat-seeking missile. The N neutral position allows all other weapon employment. You will find that the C or M positions are the only ways to access the air-to-air gunnery or Magic missile respectively and that the N position is required for all air-to-ground or Super 530 missile operation. Item #7 on page 32 and 35/320 of the manual.

 

MAG PREP is a button on the right side of the dashboard. It is used to select or deselect Magic missile seeker cooling. The "P" indicates Pret (French for ready) and is automatically selected on airplane start. For long missions the button should be pressed to unready the missile to conserve the limited coolant. When it is expected the missile will be needed re-select cooling and it will be ready to fire in several seconds. It is not necessary to have rapid access to this button by putting it on your joystick. Item #4 on page 229/320 of the manual.

 

MAG SELECT, else PCA refers to the C-N-M switch. MAG SELECT means the M or MAG or Magic missile selection position. The "else" means that when this button is released the switch will return to the N neutral position. This is useful for people who have a controller like the Thrustmaster Warthog which has a special switch which provides button on input in two of the three positions and no button input in the center position.

 

AG Designate/Magic Slave does two different things. In air-to-air with Magic missile selected if the radar is locked onto a target this commands the Magic missile to point toward the radar target if not already. In air-to-ground whenever there is a diamond with a dot symbol and the system can accept a ground designation (bombing or oblique radar position update) this button commands that designation. Item #8 page 32.

 

Nav Update/Magic Unlock is a button on the joystick and does two things. With Magic missile selected it commands it to stop tracking the heat signature of a target. In other modes it commands a fly over position update and functions identically to the "REC" button on the PCN  panel. Item #2 page 31.

 

---

 

I absolutely agree that the naming convention is the least consistent of any of the modules I have tried. Understandably the French and English names will be different but manual, training mission, cockpit texture, tooltip, action, instructional text, and voiceover instruction can all be different. This makes it difficult to understand or search. The find feature of a PDF reader can only find what it is told to search for. The manual is inconsistent with established documenting practices in general.

Thank you so much! Now things begin to make some sort of sense. I give you an "A" for technical writing while the writers of the manual remain at "D+"...

[Galinette]

Thanks to Frederf for its detailed and accurate answer.

 

But still I give you a E for not trying to read the D+ documentation

 

Quote

CNM Magic (I have this bound but I don't know what it actually does. It seems to have no effect in game)
MAG PREP: MAGIC II Standby Toggle. (WTF is it?)

 

Documentation page 35:

 

 

Documentation page 228:

 

Documentation page 229:

Edited June 15, 2021 by Kercheiz