Indianajon Posted July 4, 2023 Posted July 4, 2023 So let me start by saying I'm used to flying the Tomcat, normally I just ask Jester if I'm uncertain but decided to update recently and I'm really missing my RIO. My issue is for love nor money I can't get my radar working properly. I've watched countless vids, read the manual and understand the theory from the tomcat but I can't find a soul if they aren't on datalink. I'm using TWS, hi mode outside 25miles, mid when within. 4 bar & 40 degree. I have auto IFF on and selecting the correct mfd to move the cursor/lock on etc. I can set up my bullseye and have done a couple of active pause trials trying to track aircraft flying different patterns, but can I find them? Can I buggery! I'm certain it's me, I'm certain it's something simple but can anyone help? Or should I just go back to my old faithful Tomcat and be the stickmonkey I was born to be. All the vids start with the returns already appearing so they are of limited help. It feels like the radar is on standby but I've done the switches as per the manual. Help anyone please.
Hulkbust44 Posted July 4, 2023 Posted July 4, 2023 Only thing you didn't mention was radar elevation Sent from my moto g stylus 5G (2022) using Tapatalk 1
rob10 Posted July 5, 2023 Posted July 5, 2023 3 hours ago, Indianajon said: It feels like the radar is on standby but I've done the switches as per the manual. Help anyone please. Are you getting a radar line sweeping across the screen? If not then it's in standby or off. Elevation as mentioned above is the other thing that could be messing with you (especially if you have a bad binding). What are the 2 numbers to the right of the TDC bars showing?
Indianajon Posted July 5, 2023 Author Posted July 5, 2023 Thanks both. I'm certain it's something simple I'm missing and that I have got the wrong end of the stick somewhere. @Hulkbust44 i understood that the elevation is in part associated with the bar setting and I have no issues using the cursor to manually search a specific bit of sky. is there something else im missing? I set up a test in active pause where I had aircraft at the same alt and stepped 1,000, 5,000, 7,000 & 10,000 above and below my aircraft to try and find so it shouldnt matter at the moment but still no joy. @rob10 yes the line is sweeping. im not certain what you mean by the numbers to the right of the tdc bar so maybe thats it? The only numbers i can think of on the right is the scale but i will have a look this evening.
Tholozor Posted July 5, 2023 Posted July 5, 2023 (edited) Antenna elevation isn't tied to the bar scan setting. Bar scan only changes the vertical coverage of the scan volume, but doesn't control the elevation of the scan volume center. The attached numbers to the TDC represent the upper and lower altitude the scan volume covers at the range where the TDC is present on the scope. Using the antenna elevation control on the throttle allows the pilot to steer the center of the scan volume up and down relative to the aircraft's horizon. You can use the AZ/EL page in A/A Master Mode (can be invoked on the left DDI with Sensor Control Switch Left if the left DDI doesn't have a page that can have the TDC assigned to it) to have a forward-looking radar scope that shows the scan volume FOV. Edited July 5, 2023 by Tholozor 1 REAPER 51 | Tholozor VFA-136 (c.2007): https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3305981/ Arleigh Burke Destroyer Pack (2020): https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3313752/
MTrenda Posted July 5, 2023 Posted July 5, 2023 The number they are talking about is this one. MSI Creator X299 - INTEL i9 - 10900X 3.7 GHZ - 32 GB Corsair Dominator DDR4 - EVGA GTX 1080 FTW AC2
MarkyMark Posted July 5, 2023 Posted July 5, 2023 Jester probably takes a LOT of the workload off the pilot. That’s a feature. Keep in mind the bandit aspect ratio as well. You will have a very difficult time picking up a contact flying perpendicular to you. Also, I have found personally that med/hi interleave works better in general when I’m not sure of the bandits aspect to me (is he flying sideways or approaching at high speed). personally, I find 4 bar. 40 degree azimuth, 80nm range (for showing datalink general locations) with med/high interleave best (unless I know for sure it’s headed straight towards me, then I switch to high). high and fast (like 30k+) 80 nm range can get you a target beyond 40. But at medium or lower altitudes you likely won’t get a contact outside 40nm (perhaps due to speed, ground clutter, not sure). hornet simply has a higher pilot workload but trust me, one you start to get a feel for it, it’s extremely able. 55 minutes ago, Tholozor said: You can use the AZ/EL page in A/A Master Mode (can be invoked on the left DDI with Sensor Control Switch Left if the left DDI doesn't have a page that can have the TDC assigned to it) to have a forward-looking radar scope that shows the scan volume FOV. This specifically is very important. If you switch to AUTO mode, it will keep the elevation tracking a target. But if you lose lock, it can drift down to like -99,-99 so you’re looking almost straight down. Then it needs to be reset. Using the AZ/EL page is a great visual way to check where the radar is pointing when in doubt.
Indianajon Posted July 5, 2023 Author Posted July 5, 2023 Thanks all. I'll give it another try and report back. Thanks for all the great advice and information. I'm used to just being a stick monkey. 1
rob10 Posted July 6, 2023 Posted July 6, 2023 6 hours ago, MarkyMark said: This specifically is very important. If you switch to AUTO mode, it will keep the elevation tracking a target. But if you lose lock, it can drift down to like -99,-99 so you’re looking almost straight down. Then it needs to be reset. Using the AZ/EL page is a great visual way to check where the radar is pointing when in doubt. This, and also if you have something bound that you don't realize you can also cause the same + or - 99/99 which means you'll never see anything. Checking where it's looking is your starting point to figuring out what your problem is. Attaching a track file here would also help. 1
MarkyMark Posted July 6, 2023 Posted July 6, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, rob10 said: This, and also if you have something bound that you don't realize you can also cause the same + or - 99/99 which means you'll never see anything. Checking where it's looking is your starting point to figuring out what your problem is. Attaching a track file here would also help. I tend to avoid auto mode for this very reason. I’m forgetful. I really only use it if I’m tracking a bandit who is changing altitude quickly. And only when I have to, or I’m distracted & have multiple other things to deal with, like sams. If I have a bandit at 40 while I’m doing SEAD and 1 amraam, auto it is, because I am not there to do air superiority, but to survive. Bottom line, hornet radar is complicated but powerful in the right hands. VS mode is pretty neat too, for anyone who hasn’t tried it. It’s the most powerful mode available, it will get jammed, and it will track and lock like shining a floodlight at the target. It’s very neat Edited July 6, 2023 by MarkyMark 1
MarkyMark Posted July 6, 2023 Posted July 6, 2023 Also, ignore 160nm range on the radar. Just…skip it. If you need a big picture, use SA page at 160. Just. 80 miles max on radar. 1
MarkyMark Posted July 7, 2023 Posted July 7, 2023 https://chucksguides.com/aircraft/dcs/fa-18c/#[191,"XYZ",-8e-06,540,1] Also, reading chucks guide on the radar can help you at least understand you aren’t alone, it’s a lot of information to learn.
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