cannot reproduce Why don't I get datalink?

[Exorcet]

This bug might be related to tankers, still investigating:

EDIT

It seems that the problem is Tanker TACAN channels. Setting channels to low values, like single digits, causes DL to fail.

I know this is an issue for the Hornet, but I've not seen any indications that the same rules apply to the F-16.

@Flappie is this the case?

Edited January 18, 2023 by Exorcet

[moggel]

9 hours ago, Exorcet said:

While it seems the problem in this thread was solved, @moggel or anyone else who had issues, were tankers present in your missions?

Yes. Tankers and AWACS

[_SteelFalcon_]

10 hours ago, Exorcet said:

I'm beginning to think there is a strange bug that occurs when tankers are in a mission that causes the datalink to fail, but I'm still looking into it.

Turning on GPS through ICP doesn't work. I didn't get DL until I deleted all tankers from the mission.

I've experienced something pointing in this direction before:

While it seems the problem in this thread was solved, @moggel or anyone else who had issues, were tankers present in your missions?

Is the tanker on a specific tacan? If you change the tanker tacan freq. does D/L come back maybe?

[Furiz]

On 1/13/2023 at 11:30 AM, moggel said:

This is basically what my cold start looks like:

1. BATTERY ON, then connect ground power and then MAIN PWR ON
2. INS to STOR HDG then all avionics panel switched switches to ON (MIDS LVT knob to ON)
3. FCR and RADAR ALT on, relevant cheek stations ON
4. Lights set, IFF to stand by (expected departure squawk punched in), RWR on, SEARCH on
5. Altimeter to ELEC, stand-by attitude indicator uncaged
6. Countermeasures (in STDBY) powered and on. ECM on (if installed)
7. ...wait for alignment to reach 10 (1.6/10)...
8. INS to NAV
9. HMD alignment
10. Possible rearming and setting up weapons, if time allows

Well there are few steps you don't need or you can do differently here:

1. BATTERY ON then to Main Power, don't need ground power. Then hit Start2 to start up the jet.

2. First turn on the avoinics then INS to STOR HDG and MIDS to ON

7. You don't need 10 btw, wait till it starts blinking ALIGN, then its ready. But the longer you wait the more accurate it gets.

10. Don't rearm while alignment is in process any aircraft shake will mess it up.

 

[Exorcet]

5 hours ago, moggel said:

Yes. Tankers and AWACS

 

4 hours ago, _SteelFalcon_ said:

Is the tanker on a specific tacan? If you change the tanker tacan freq. does D/L come back maybe?

I did some testing last night and it does appear to be a TACAN issue. I'm trying to verify with @Flappie in the other thread if this should apply to the F-16. I've seen mentions of the problem affecting the F-18, but I haven't seen the same for the F-16 so I used to assume it was not impacted. I think I was mistaken at this point.

[QuiGon]

Channels marked as degraded are affected by Link-16 DL:

Edited January 18, 2023 by QuiGon

[LieutenantFalcon]

9 minutes ago, QuiGon said:

Channels marked as degraded are affected by Link-16 DL:

 

I might be wrong, but wasn't this only for the earlier implementation of DL? I recall TACAN restrictions being removed or remedied somehow

[Exorcet]

5 minutes ago, LieutenantFalcon said:

I might be wrong, but wasn't this only for the earlier implementation of DL? I recall TACAN restrictions being removed or remedied somehow

My tankers were using unavailable channels (usually 1-10). I added 40 to each of them and all my problems went away.

[Tholozor]

The antennas are a slightly different regarding the bands in the F-16, but operate on the same principle. The upper antenna has a filter in order to prevent TACAN/AIFF band interference, which includes TACAN channels 1-13 and 59-73. DME should be unavailable in this range unless the aircraft is roughly within 5 miles of the station (provided the upper antenna is in use).

Both antennas have L16/AIFF band notch filters to prevent interference, and the system should be defaulting the lower antenna for TACAN use. L16 transceiving will operate off both antennas, except during AIFF interrogation, which filters the upper antenna. If for any reason a failure occurs in the filter for the lower antenna, L16/TACAN operation will automatically move to the upper antenna, and provide an associated PFL error.

[Flappie]

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I don't know much about the F-16.

This thread will be moved to the appropriate forum section so you can have an answer.

[Tholozor]

A similar thread for the F-16 can be found here: 

My last post in that thread has some info regarding TACAN/AIFF/DL channel filtering.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Tholozor

[BIGNEWY]

threads merged