reported R-828 tuner bug

[admiki]

As title says, there is a bug with R-828 tunner light, which will stay on as long as you are holding tune button.

Frequency change is completed, but light stays on.

BTW, frequency change is instantaneous, not taking time as before.

Edited July 12, 2024 by admiki

[Flappie]

I've just checked the Mi-24, the Mi-8 and the Ka-50: they are all affected.

Issue reported. Thanks miki.

[v81]

Confirming and adding to this.

Ka50-2, Ka50-3, Mi-24, Mi-8   all affected.

Tuning light should go out after tuning process is complete.
Process should not be instant, but rather take a second or 2 depending on how much adjustment is required.

My (modern) real world radio with micro processor controlled internal tuning unit is relay based and takes 2 seconds at most, 70's soviet tech might have taken longer, but having it take a random period of time up to 2 seconds is fine for a sim.

Additionally, the  Mi8 manual incorrectly identifies the tuning button as an automatic gain control button, and skips over describing the tuning process.
Pg 115-117

The Ka50-2 and -3 Manuals correctly ID the button and describe the process.
Ka50-3 Pg 6-77 near top of page.

Edited October 7, 2024 by v81

[Raffi75]

I'll dig up the topic. Has anyone else noticed that there is no signal (green light) for tuning the frequency on the R-828 radio?

[admiki]

Yes, that was introduced few updates ago, but I did not report it, figuring it will be dealt with at the same time as this bug.

[Raffi75]

We already talked about this somewhere, it also concerned Mi-8. I thought it was fixed.

@Flappie Can you check it and give some information?

[Flappie]

I've just bumped the internal report.

[Raffi75]

Maybe this patch will finally fix the radio tuning light. I don't think it's a big deal.

[Nialfb]

The TUNER light on the R-828 still isn't working following the latest update (DCS 2.9.18.12722). Surely it isn't too much to ask to have the tuner ligh twork correctly? In the attached mission there is a ground unit tuned into channel 4. You can press the tuner button (S-828 ASU) until the cows come home but the tuner light does not work!

Mi-24P R-828.miz

[Nialfb]

By the way .... There is no sound coming out of the R-828, i.e. I can't check my sound file, and the R-828 automatically retunes without having to press the tune button, if I change the channel. I checked for sound on all radio tune options including VHF and R-828. It's all very well and good releasing module after module, and we all buy the latest module in support of ED, but how about supporting us and fixing these issues! Put down your tools, stop working on the Mig-29 module (that we have already paid for incidentally) and fix my R-828 radio!

[v81]

I don't have DCS setup currently.. but offering to help understand the functionality of the button and light.

It seems it's very very often misunderstood... over the years various skins, languages/translations and manuals have described it and it's operation incorrectly.
Even been called 'squelch' in one cockpit translation.

In ham radio we call it an ATU or Antenna Tuning Unit, though not technically correct, it's a device that matches the antenna impedance to the radio transmitter.

How it should work...
1 - radio reception should work at all times with degraded signal strength when not matched
It is not a 'must' be matched for receive to function situation.

2 - Transmit, depending on radio may 1) Not work at all, 2) Still work at reduced power (fold back protection) or 3) Work at full power.... until the radio fails.

3 - Depending on the design of the unit, it is either a motor that drives a tap on a coil to add the required inductance to the antenna to match the radios output impedance.
(Wanted to, but can't find a good pic right now)

Also could be a series of relays selecting from a range of fixed inductors and capacitors
eg: https://www.hamradiostopclassifieds.com/icom-ah-4-auto-tuner/

 

The Tune button's action is dependent on the setup of the tuner.

In my experience a single press operates my tuners, which are microprocessor controlled (21st century tech), this will engage a tuning cycle and then the action will cease once a match has been found.
If this tuner worked this way then i'd expect a push, and then the light would indicate matching activity, with the light extinguishing once a match is found.

Other tuners it might need a continuous press, with the button able to be released once the light extinguishes.
This does seem odd, as a latching circuit would have been relatively simple even in the 50's - 60's.

Being a radio geek I'd love to learn more about the real world unit, and would love to see the tune bug fixed.