solved KA50 Black Shark 3 - No Range to Target from Laser when powered up.

[Maximo]

Have previously flown the BS 2 with many flight hours with no Laser problems; upgraded to BS3.  Use DCS Multi-thread.  

Unable to get a range to target from my Laser Stby/on switch, tv camera up and running, etc.  All switches from Laser on to weapons panel powered up including side laser arm panel switch, etc.  Have reset the laser both on the side panel and the front panel (switch near left knee cap on front panel).  Everything tracks and zooms good with the laser switch on and off - just no range in KM to target indicated and there is no lock-up on the target either.  Laser 'inop' on both the Black Shark 2 and 3.  Yet there was no problem with the Black Shark two in the past (now Laser is inoperative also on BS 2) .

Have checked all pages of this forum and others, checked the BS 3 manual, etc.  but nothing related to the when the range to target should be indicated on the HUD and TV screen.  Possible bug? (in Multi thread maybe?). 

Hopefully, it is me and some switch I have not turned on around the cockpit somewhere...

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

Will post the solution in order to help others when someone is able to help.  If not, I'll post a ticket and let everyone know here.

I also deleted, then re-installed Black Shark 3.  Same problems.

 

Frustrated.

Max

Edited April 18, 2024 by Maximo
update

[paco2002]

2 hours ago, Maximo said:

Have previously flown the BS 2 with many flight hours with no Laser problems; upgraded to BS3.  Use DCS Multi-thread.  

Unable to get a range to target from my Laser Stby/on switch, tv camera up and running, etc.  All switches from Laser on to weapons panel powered up including side laser arm panel switch, etc.  Have reset the laser both on the side panel and the front panel (switch near left knee cap on front panel).  Everything tracks and zooms good with the laser switch on and off - just no range in KM to target indicated and there is no lock-up on the target either.  Laser 'inop' on both the Black Shark 2 and 3.  Yet there was no problem with the Black Shark two in the past (now Laser is inoperative also on BS 2) .

Have checked all pages of this forum and others, checked the BS 3 manual, etc.  but nothing related to the when the range to target should be indicated on the HUD and TV screen.  Possible bug? (in Multi thread maybe?). 

Hopefully, it is me and some switch I have not turned on around the cockpit somewhere...

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

Will post the solution in order to help others when someone is able to help.  If not, I'll post a ticket and let everyone know here.

I also deleted, then re-installed Black Shark 3.  Same problems.

 

Frustrated.

Max

 

Hi Max, please, upload a track to test your issue in other machines, I will try on mine as soon as you upload it. 

[Maximo]

Paco,

Thanks for your reply and your attempt to help me.   It is much appreciated.  Sure enough, after an hour or two after posting, I think I solved the problem.  (if not, I'll re-post here).

Apparently the 'Lock Target' key bind would not take or stay in the saved OK mode on the Adjust Controls.  I know how to key bind but thought this was pretty weird that

after I close out the Mission Editor (where I was testing the key binds and practicing flying the KA50) and then come back in to practice there was the Lock Target and a few other key binds that were not working or were not saved.  I do click OK on the requested key bind, and then click the overall Adjust Control 'OK' key click at the bottom right page too to ensure I don't just X out of the Adjust Controls page.

Bottom line is I think it was me not completing some key bind action.  After Lock Target now with the Laser on, I do get a range in KMs the way it should operate now.

Thanks again for trying to help.  Hope to see you and the other Helo guys on the Multiplayer servers flying KA50 2s/3s once I am up to speed on flying the KA50 BS 3 again.

One other possible problem that I may have self-inflicted on my key binding is to ensure that I have selected KA50 BS version 3 vs Version 2 if I'm setting up my key binds for Black Shark 3.

We can close out this message now.  Hope my mistakes help newer DCS pilots.

Max.

[Fear-Factor]

Do i understand it correctly?
So the lock on target function looses its binding during gameplay??

Ive had this issue few times that after a long flight and rearm at some point the KA50-III was not able assign a target.
And i wasnt hit or other reasons.
In that case i took a "new" heli and it worked again.

Thats why i never thought that temporary key binding loss is the reason.
Because aufter jump into new heli the target locking worked fine...

[mla306]

I'm having a similar problem since the last update.  I can't lock a target.  My binding says the lock target button is working when I go into the controls but when I'm in the game I can't lock.  I'm playing the Mad campaign mission 5 but I also went into the instant action menus to the shooting range and can't get it to lock either.  I didn't track it but I will play it again and add the track file.  Any one else having a similar issue?

[Fear-Factor]

I flew yesterday on a private multiplayer server and had this issue two times.
First flight was with two farp rearmings and due the third flight i was not able to lock target.
Restarted DCS, took another heli, done few flights and then switched again to Ka50III.
After 2 or 3 farp rearmings the issue appeared again.
Ive also checked my bindings and everything was correct.
The system is fully operative but when i designate a target which is imo in range then the lock ( symbol C) do not appear and the laser range is not displayed.
Only when i restart the game then it works fine for a while.

 

[razo+r]

11 minutes ago, Fear-Factor said:

I flew yesterday on a private multiplayer server and had this issue two times.
First flight was with two farp rearmings and due the third flight i was not able to lock target.
Restarted DCS, took another heli, done few flights and then switched again to Ka50III.
After 2 or 3 farp rearmings the issue appeared again.
Ive also checked my bindings and everything was correct.
The system is fully operative but when i designate a target which is imo in range then the lock ( symbol C) do not appear and the laser range is not displayed.
Only when i restart the game then it works fine for a while.

 

Sounds like you are overheating and breaking the laser. Have you left it running for the whole flight including the 3 rearmings?

[MAXsenna]

I flew yesterday on a private multiplayer server and had this issue two times.
First flight was with two farp rearmings and due the third flight i was not able to lock target.
Restarted DCS, took another heli, done few flights and then switched again to Ka50III.
After 2 or 3 farp rearmings the issue appeared again.
Ive also checked my bindings and everything was correct.
The system is fully operative but when i designate a target which is imo in range then the lock ( symbol C) do not appear and the laser range is not displayed.
Only when i restart the game then it works fine for a while.
 

Break the gear, before rearming, and do a repair. Will give you a new laser for sure. Having the laser sapped out during rearming, has been asked suggested for years. Lots of discussions about this.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[Fear-Factor]

Ok, sounds like user mistake.
To be honest ive didnt know that it can overheat.
 

After leaving the farp ive armed everything necessary and done my job.
Didnt cared about such things coz as we can see ive didnt known that.
I need to check the manual.
Thanks for the information.

[Fear-Factor]

I need to ask again but tried to find something about this topic in the manual but cant find it.
So can someone explain it short what i need to do to avoid that and is there a time limitation or "usage number"?
Do i need to reslot then or repair?
I would like to understand what cause this exactly?

 

[MAXsenna]

Ok, sounds like user mistake.
To be honest ive didnt know that it can overheat.
 
After leaving the farp ive armed everything necessary and done my job.
Didnt cared about such things coz as we can see ive didnt known that.
I need to check the manual.
Thanks for the information.

I learned this the hardway myself.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

I need to ask again but tried to find something about this topic in the manual but cant find it.
So can someone explain it short what i need to do to avoid that and is there a time limitation or "usage number"?
Do i need to reslot then or repair?
I would like to understand what cause this exactly?
 

In MP. Yes, just re-slot. There are some suggestions on the forum of how to make the laser last longer. Like turning it off whenever you don't use it etc.
Haven't flown it for years. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[razo+r]

3 hours ago, Fear-Factor said:

I need to ask again but tried to find something about this topic in the manual but cant find it.
So can someone explain it short what i need to do to avoid that and is there a time limitation or "usage number"?
Do i need to reslot then or repair?
I would like to understand what cause this exactly?

 

Each time you use it it heats up and when it is turned off it cools down. If the temperature, which there is no way of seeing it, gets above a certain number, it stops working.

The easiest way to stop it from accumulating heat is to turn it off when you don't need it, like MAXsenna said.

[Rapax]

On 2/25/2020 at 2:01 AM, Grodlund said:

Proceedure:

1. Always, ALWAYS wait for the cooldown timer on your HUD to reach zero before re-lasing or firing another shot.

2. Switch you laser off untill you really need it for ranging or firing. Dont keep it on when scanning.

3. For even longer service life, hit the RESET button after a missile impact, and count down the reminding timer in your head, before re-lasing (as the laser stays on a couple of seconds after impact)

 

If you use your laser smart, and only when needed, it will have a lot longer serivce life, than you can stay alert and fit for fight in the pit.

 

Good luck

 

[Fear-Factor]

Ok, thank you all for the response.
Learnt something new now
 

[MAXsenna]

4 minutes ago, Fear-Factor said:

Ok, thank you all for the response.
Learnt something new now
 

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