Need some Jester Help (BVR)

[Coota0]

Yesterday evening I was trying to play multiplayer, but SRS wouldn't automatically join the server (a different frustration) and I was short on time so I built a quick mission.

All fighters and attack jets over Nevada, clouds at around 5,000 feet and another layer around 20,000. Mission starts, I see several MiG-29s off to my right. I climb, roll right and come level with them. I'm 10-11 miles to their rear. The flight of 4 Migs doesn't know I'm there. MiGs are in a left turn, I'm holding them at about my 11 o'clock and closing. I ask Jester to lock up the enemy ahead, "Can't do that.", I ask to lock the aircraft ahead, "Sorry boss." I slowed back because I want to use my sparrows before closing with sidewinders. I continue to ask Jester to lock the targets and I get nothing. I finally get to 5  miles and lock them myself. 

I usually don't have an issue with Jester, but this one has me stumped, if anyone has a suggestion it will be appreciated.

[Despayre]

Were the contacts on radar at the time?

Were they identified as hostile, or just targets? (those are 2 different locking asks for Jester, asking for enemy lock, when they are only targets, won't work).

Also, inside 20 miles is when I start thinking about switching to PAL mode anyway, usually quicker.

Additionally,  I've seen AWACS targets on my radar that Jester hasn't seen yet, I don't recall being able to lock those up either, but that's only if you're using an AWACS that you forgot to mention.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Despayre

[Coota0]

No AWACS available at the time.

I wasn't looking at the radar repeater, I was watching them visually.

[Lt_Jaeger]

Zero Doppler Filter / MLC?

Not enough speed of closure to lock them in PD (what I believe jester only does). 

 

Edited July 30, 2023 by Lt_Jaeger

[draconus]

On 7/29/2023 at 2:50 PM, Coota0 said:

I'm 10-11 miles to their rear. The flight of 4 Migs doesn't know I'm there.

So your radar was off or you made them not react to threats?

[ShinyMikey]

On 7/30/2023 at 9:37 AM, Coota0 said:

No AWACS available at the time.

I wasn't looking at the radar repeater, I was watching them visually.

If you are inside 20nm and you see them visually, you don't need jester. Use PAL (your main ACM mode), or VSL if you get into a turn fight. I made a video with some tips a few weeks ago...

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by ShinyMikey

[WarthogOsl]

9 hours ago, ShinyMikey said:

If you are inside 20nm and you see them visually, you don't need jester. Use PAL (your main ACM mode), or VSL if you get into a turn fight. I made a video with some tips a few weeks ago...

 

I have had occasions where I can see the bandits (or at least their dots), and even PAL won't lock them up as it sweeps past them.  I'm not sure why this happens, as it's not a PD mode (so notching shouldn't be an issue), and they are on the horizon (so not in the ground clutter).  It does happen from time to time, though.

[draconus]

6 hours ago, WarthogOsl said:

I have had occasions where I can see the bandits (or at least their dots), and even PAL won't lock them up as it sweeps past them.

It's limited to about 15nm for average fighter sized target.

[Coota0]

On 7/30/2023 at 5:46 PM, draconus said:

So your radar was off or you made them not react to threats?

3 Migs in a left turn, radar on. I didn't tell the AI to do anything, this was one the quick mission options. I believe the MiGs were focused on a flight of F-16s ahead and to their left. 

[The_Tau]

People have wrong idea of what Jester can do.

"Lock up target ahead"  means lock ahead radar track. So no track = "No can do man!"

Jester can only lock targets that have track on TID. So you need to babysit him with radar elevation as well. AWG9 has narrow scan volume in closer ranges (<25nm), so I often tell jester to switch to RWS at those ranges to get biggest scan volume possible.

Only exception is "lock specific track" command. Which allows Jester to lock datalink tracks even if there are not currently in AWG9 scan volume (but within gimbal). This feature is really powerful (Some could say its borderline OP) especially if you combine it with some shortcut for Jester menu like VoiceAttack.

Edited August 3, 2023 by The_Tau