Do you guys use the colorful map?

[FrostLaufeyson]

For me, the characters in AMPCD are just too hard to read. A10C For each string of characters, there is a rectangular black background. But in F18C, there is only a black font outline, and AMPCD is located below, and you have to look down every time, which makes the map function of AMPCD very difficult to use.

So, in the past, I have put the HSI page on the right DDI. Until recently, I got a new screen and can now put the AMPCD on the secondary screen via Helios and it's a lot clearer.

How do you choose?

[Harker]

Use the GAIN rocker switch to lower the map brightness. You can also switch to Night mode with the top left switch and then manually adjust the contrast as well, with the lower right switch. Those will help a lot.

[Minsky]

Double-pressing "MODE" is the first thing I do. Embedded in the muscle memory.

I wish we could replace it with custom images, or that it could at least display the "draw" stuff from the Mission Editor.

[Ephedrin]

I have the SA page on the lower screen. No map, no problems. ^^ 

[Dragon1-1]

I turn the moving map off, too. I heard real pilots do the same thing, the symbology is hard to read with the map on. It's mostly useful for CAS, anyway, when you're hitting preplanned targets, or when doing air to air, the map is just in the way.

[Harker]

Double-pressing "MODE" is the first thing I do. Embedded in the muscle memory.
I wish we could replace it with custom images, or that it could at least display the "draw" stuff from the Mission Editor.

Being able to display the drawings would indeed be amazing.

[CBStu]

I don't use the map. It seems very hard to read to me and as you zoom it gets to a certain point and the entire color scheme changes. Also it is often set so all the labels are at 90deg to the display. I feel like I am kind of cheating (since a RL pilot wouldn't have it) but I use the F10 map all the time.

[Dragon1-1]

IRL a pilot would have a big old chart in the cockpit, so the F10 map can fill that role if additional information is disabled. I only wish this was a better view, like for example displaying ownship waypoints by default.

[Dos]

Hi all,

At night with NVG, I turn map off. Heck almost all lights need to be turned down with NVG. Map can not be dimmed enough so not to wash out view. HUD characters looks way better at night turned down to almost off WO/NVG. Making those adjustment mention above helps, but I am almost on Minsky level. Double tap mode. I do turn it on and off to check it for feet wet or dry, can't really see that in HSI or SA.

cheers

[Tom Kazansky]

On 8/26/2022 at 9:54 AM, Harker said:

Use the GAIN rocker switch to lower the map brightness.

This is what I do. All the way down. Looks pretty good, even in VR (G2, 100% SteamVR).

[BuzzU]

I use this.

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3311626/

[rob10]

Flip it to night mode (even during day, gain all the way down, contrast down to 3 and it's pretty legible.  Otherwise ya turn it off

Edited August 27, 2022 by rob10

[BuzzU]

Using the mod I posted is a better choice.

[VIKBELL]

No not really.

[Dragon1-1]

I agree, it probably should, however you should direct your complaints to Boeing that made it work like it did. RL pilots complain of the same issues we're facing. They can fly with it looking it like does, so we can, too. The map is usable, just not particularly nice to look at.

[rob10]

11 minutes ago, Atazar SPN said:

The map should be functional regardless of the pilot's choice to use it, or not use it. Many times you lose situational reference and need to see what is below you, especially on night flights or above a cloud ceiling. The map should be fully functional and all its elements easily readable.

Very true, but if you go back into the deep recesses of the forum to the early days of the F-18 and this map issue was discussed.  What we have apparently is true to life (at least for our block) of the F-18 and comments from back then that the pilots IRL didn't use it much for this very reason. 

EDIT: beat to the punch

Edited August 29, 2022 by rob10
spelling correction

[BuzzU]

I'm curious. Why don't you like the mod I posted? It's a lot easier to read without changing the map much.

[BuzzU]

It's not mine. I just use it and posted it. I thought it was good option.

[Bunny Clark]

I always fly with the map enabled on the HSI and SA Pages. But I gain it down significantly. 

I also have all three displays exported to a touchscreen, so glancing down at it is pretty easy, regardless of my zoom setting.

[Swift.]

17 hours ago, Bunny Clark said:

I always fly with the map enabled on the HSI and SA Pages. But I gain it down significantly. 

I also have all three displays exported to a touchscreen, so glancing down at it is pretty easy, regardless of my zoom setting.

This is the way.

I don't understand why people aren't grasping this concept, you can gain down the map to total darkness if you want, so you can most definitely get to a point where you have map info and can still read the symbology.

[BuzzU]

It's not hard to grasp and I did it until I tried the mod. I think it's better.