correct as-is Max 3 Searchlights per group

[razo+r]

As initially brought up in this post: 

There is a maximum number of 3 Searchlights per group that can light up. Any number more and they do not work. However, if you put multiple searchlights groups in the mission, all of them work. So why is it limited to max 3 units?

Searchlights.trk

[BIGNEWY]

I will check with the team but this may be intended behaviour. 

thanks

[NineLine]

I see what you are saying, and yeah even if there was a limit to the number of search lights and gens, your group should work fine. I will report. 

[NineLine]

Reported, of course, the work around is keeping the groups down to 3 for now. Thanks. 

[NineLine]

Ok, we had further discussion on this and it was suggested that the power from the generator in reality should only power 1 light. So it should be 1 light to 1 generator. In DCS you can get away with 3 lights to 1 generator and I don't see a need to "correct" that. So just keep in mind. that for every 1-3 lights you need to add a generator and I think you should be ok. 

Something to keep in mind as well that the LOD of the light vanishes at 7.2 nm, I have reported this. At times it might make you think the light isn't working if you are zoomed too far out.

Thanks!

SearchLight 1to1 Test.miz

[razo+r]

5 minutes ago, NineLine said:

Ok, we had further discussion on this and it was suggested that the power from the generator in reality should only power 1 light. So it should be 1 light to 1 generator. In DCS you can get away with 3 lights to 1 generator and I don't see a need to "correct" that. So just keep in mind. that for every 1-3 lights you need to add a generator and I think you should be ok. 

 

 

earchLight 1to1 Test.miz 12.1 kB · 0 downloads

It's not about generator to light ratio.

You cannot have more than 3 lights operating in DCS even if you give each and everyone it's own generator. That's what this is about. I have demonstrated that clearly in my track in the first post.

[BIGNEWY]

Just now, razo+r said:

It's not about generator to light ratio.

You cannot have more than 3 lights operating in DCS even if you give each and everyone it's own generator. That's what this is about. I have demonstrated that clearly in my track in the first post.

please try again, it maybe the LOD issue on the light beams creating the illusion of them not working. That is reported. 

[NineLine]

2 minutes ago, razo+r said:

It's not about generator to light ratio.

You cannot have more than 3 lights operating in DCS even if you give each and everyone it's own generator. That's what this is about. I have demonstrated that clearly in my track in the first post.

I included a mission doing just that, and it works fine for me. And my screenshot shows all those in one group.

[razo+r]

2 minutes ago, BIGNEWY said:

please try again, it maybe the LOD issue on the light beams creating the illusion of them not working. That is reported. 

It's not, I have tried it just before posting. I placed the camera next to the lights and only 3 of 16 turned on.

 

1 minute ago, NineLine said:

I included a mission doing just that, and it works fine for me. And my screenshot shows all those in one group.

I have included a track in the first post showing only 3 of 16 lights turning on.

I'll get you a picture, give me a minute.

Only 3 of 16 lights, all in the same group with the generator next to it, light up. The other 13 lights do track the target but do not turn on.

Edited November 15, 2023 by razo+r

[NineLine]

7 minutes ago, razo+r said:

It's not, I have tried it just before posting. I placed the camera next to the lights and only 3 of 16 turned on.

 

I have included a track in the first post showing only 3 of 16 lights turning on.

I'll get you a picture, give me a minute.

 

I think the issue with your track is that the #1 Unit Light has to be next to the #Generator. In your Mission/Track you have #Unit 1 light next to #32 Unit Generator. 

So you have all the lights from 1 to 16. It should be 1 light 1 gen over and over if that makes sense OR 3 lights 1 gen. 

Basically, you cannot have more than 3 consecutive lights in a group without a Generator. 

[razo+r]

Just now, NineLine said:

I think the issue with your track is that the #1 Unit Light has to be next to the #Generator. In your Mission/Track you have #Unit 1 light next to #32 Unit Generator. 

Nope, that's not it. Tried a fresh mission with #1 Light next to #1 Generator and so forth. Only last 3 lights in the group lit up.

So, I took a look at your mission. In your mission, I can see multiple lights light up.

When I try to do it the same way like you set it up, alternating between light, generator, light etc. I still get the same issue.

 

[razo+r]

Well, at least I know now that what I wanted is possible. So it seems it's just some issue on my side.

Would be cool if there was some place where mechanics like this would be written down for people to check.

[NineLine]

Send me your new mission and I will take a look. 

[razo+r]

13 minutes ago, NineLine said:

Send me your new mission and I will take a look. 

Here it is, thank you for taking a look.

searchlight test.miz

[NineLine]

2 hours ago, razo+r said:

Here it is, thank you for taking a look.

searchlight test.miz 9.44 kB · 1 download

So bizarre, so when I run your mission only 3 work. If I create a new group of 5 lights, only 3 work. If I create a new mission, it is fine. 

Are you running any mods or made any changes to your core files? Can you run a full clean up?

[razo+r]

11 hours ago, NineLine said:

So bizarre, so when I run your mission only 3 work. If I create a new group of 5 lights, only 3 work. If I create a new mission, it is fine. 

Are you running any mods or made any changes to your core files? Can you run a full clean up?

Removed all mods, ran a full repair, removed all non-vanilla files, created again a fresh mission with alternating between light and generator and still have the issue.

Will check again after the update today.

[razo+r]

The update didn't help. Still have the same issue in a fresh mission. Only 3 light up.

Thanks anyway @NineLine

[NineLine]

Soo odd. I will do some more messing with it and see if I can come up with anything. Sorry about your troubles.

[NineLine]

@razo+r, @SUNTSAG might have cracked the code. Try adding a second aircraft to the group you have flying over, or flying a bomber formation of 4. See if that makes a difference and let us know. Thanks. 

[razo+r]

10 minutes ago, NineLine said:

@razo+r, @SUNTSAG might have cracked the code. Try adding a second aircraft to the group you have flying over, or flying a bomber formation of 4. See if that makes a difference and let us know. Thanks. 

That was it. It seems it's limited to 3 lights per aircraft. I put in 2 aircraft and 6 of 7 lights lit up.

Thank you both for figuring it out.

[NineLine]

52 minutes ago, razo+r said:

That was it. It seems it's limited to 3 lights per aircraft. I put in 2 aircraft and 6 of 7 lights lit up.

Thank you both for figuring it out.

It still doesnt make a lot of sense to me, so we will continue to check it out, but least we know how to work around it now.