Does the Apache FCR require Open Beta and will not work in Stable?

[salsantana]

Esteemed gurus, I'll begin by asking how/where to find the most recent AH-64D .bat installer file. I noticed among discussions a user said he just reinstalled his AH-64D and it solved his FCR headaches.

I bought the Apache under the pre-purchase deal. I wish I was running DCS World Open Beta....... too hasty a choice at World install time and not so anxious to just vaporize my current, most recent World and go to the Open Beta I appreciated so long ago. At this point, I think trying the Apache reinstall might be the best option.

Many thanks in advance, meanwhile I'll continue to comb the Forum..... sometimes just wording the question is the hardest part. Also perhaps a track file might be helpful so patient gurus can see the "holes" I can't.

[razo+r]

2 minutes ago, salsantana said:

Esteemed gurus, I'll begin by asking how/where to find the most recent AH-64D .bat installer file.

There is no file to download. Launch the game and go into the module manager, there you can un/re/install any module you like.

 

[Floyd1212]

After you do the uninstall/reinstall, if it still doesn't work, maybe describe more about what the issue is?  "FCR is just not happening" is not much to go with when trying to troubleshoot your issue.

For example, have you figured out how to equip it on the aircraft from the rearm menu?

[salsantana]

My 2nd-ever track file...... hope it's useful. I actually did a reinstall of Apache a few days ago. I thought maybe there was an updated one that my system just hadn't yet seen. Now for the steps I hoped to show in track file......

I stocked with 114K and 114L missiles. Note when I invoke George from Pilot seat I switch missile types. The "not happening" is that nothing ever happens when I push the FCR button on L MPD. I've been staying away from the "WPN" button because I'd read in another thread "DO NOT (something about going in through weapons page)".

In the ACQ source if I look at the column on right side of MPD, I see the FCR in white letters with a leading "?". The troubles seem as if there's some power-on I'm missing specifically for the FCR.

I know this is a pulpy mass of a subject.. Next thing I'll do is reach way back in the archives to see if any noobs' inquiries might help. Meanwhile, thanks so much for such response.

 

AH-64D_FCR_Issues.trk

[fjacobsen]

Do You unpin the FCR ?

After selecting the FCR on one of the MFD's, You will get the Pie shaped FCR screen.

Then presss the UTIL button ontop of the MFD.

Unpin the Mastmounted Radar - pressing the right side MFD button (Cannot remember which of the right buttons).

Press the left side button for Bypassing the Bit test (Cannot remeber the exact naming or the button).

Unselect UTIL on the upper MFD button in order to return to the FCR "Pie" screen.

Now select the FCR as Sight and do your sca (Single or contiously)

 

 

[Floyd1212]

I highly recommend watching the collection of short videos released by Wags about the FCR, among other things.

This video specifically talks about getting it setup for use in the front or back seats, but there are other videos there on how to use the various aspects of this sophisticated sight.

 

 

Of course, there is also the AH-64D Manual that can be found in the docs folder where the module is installed.

[Raptor9]

@salsantana, in addition to some of the FCR videos by Wags, I highly recommend you read the "Sights and Sensors" section in the Tactical Employment chapter of the DCS AH-64D Early Access Guide (page 291/292) to understand how sights are used in the AH-64D and how to switch between them.

Then I recommend you read the Fire Control Radar chapter starting on page 340. The EA Guide has a lot of information that explains how to employ the FCR.

[salsantana]

I've exhausted every combination of attempts to get FCR working at all........ I"m running most recent "Stable" version only because I was a bit too hasty at installation time and must have clicked "Yeah, whatever, just DO it"

I believe I'm finally seeing discussions suggesting only Open Beta will give me FCR. NO amount of pushing FCR buttons yields anything.

I have a .cmd session ready to execute "DCS_updater.exe @openbeta". I hope this will suffice to get us switched over from Stable.

Mass quantities of thanks in advance.

[av8orDave]

3 minutes ago, salsantana said:

I've exhausted every combination of attempts to get FCR working at all........ I"m running most recent "Stable" version only because I was a bit too hasty at installation time and must have clicked "Yeah, whatever, just DO it"

I believe I'm finally seeing discussions suggesting only Open Beta will give me FCR. NO amount of pushing FCR buttons yields anything.

I have a .cmd session ready to execute "DCS_updater.exe @openbeta". I hope this will suffice to get us switched over from Stable.

Mass quantities of thanks in advance.

Hate to disappoint, but there is no longer an "open beta" and "stable" version. There is only one. Do you have the FCR mounted to the AH-64 in the loadout editor? 

[Rogue Trooper]

As mentioned above do you have the Radar mounted?

At start up, Did you enable the radar in the FCR's Utility page (pinned is shut down), once boot up is started, it starts an automatic bit mode test (a few minutes).

Ensure you select FCR as the sight and then select GTM or RMAP.

Then select a single burst or continues burst of the radar.

There is only one DCS now and it does not matter what your folder is called.... they are all the same.

Edited August 20, 2024 by Rogue Trooper

[admiki]

I watched a track you have posted in your previous FCR thread.

I hope you are now at least actually installing FCR on your helicopter before you try to use it?

[salsantana]

47 minutes ago, admiki said:

I watched a track you have posted in your previous FCR thread.

I hope you are now at least actually installing FCR on your helicopter before you try to use it?

admiki, if by 'installing' you mean the "removed" option in Mission Editor's loadout editor is unchecked, yes. I see the "bulb" on the mast in F2 view upon takeoff.

1 hour ago, Rogue Trooper said:

As mentioned above do you have the Radar mounted?

At start up, Did you enable the radar in the FCR's Utility page (pinned is shut down), once boot up is started, it starts an automatic bit mode test (a few minutes).

Ensure you select FCR as the sight and then select GTM or RMAP.

Then select a single burst or continues burst of the radar.

There is only one DCS now and it does not matter what your folder is called.... they are all the same.

 

Rogue Trooper, my point-by-point response:

1. I'm quite sure the radar "bulb" is in place on the mast and loadout editor option "removed" is not checked. Radar bulb is visible in F2 view.

2. FCR Utility page....... this seems to be the fail point. The "FCR" button on both MPD's do nothing. I push the "WPN" button and open its UTIL subpage. On same page I push R6, the MMA button. It toggles between "NORM" and "PINNED". And the "FCR" at L3 has an "open" circle. No response from pushing that button.

3. It appears I cannot select FCR as sight. I only have P-HMD for sight.

It "ACTS" like there's no power to the FCR system......

 

 

 

[NeedzWD40]

1 hour ago, salsantana said:

FCR Utility page....... this seems to be the fail point. The "FCR" button on both MPD's do nothing.

Pressing the FCR button on a MPD will bring up the FCR page; if you don't see anything on this page when doing this, then something else is wrong. Without an FCR, this should display "FCR NOT INSTALLED"; with, it should either show a pie slice or "FCR NOT INITIALIZED". If the latter, select UTIL from the top and select the option on the lower right where it says "PINNED" so it reads "NORM". It will take a few minutes to spin up.

Once it has initialized, you'll see a pie slice and you should be able to sight select the FCR from there. If you cannot, then check your bindings and make sure you have sight select FCR bound.

[admiki]

4 hours ago, salsantana said:

admiki, if by 'installing' you mean the "removed" option in Mission Editor's loadout editor is unchecked, yes. I see the "bulb" on the mast in F2 view upon takeoff.

According to your track, you don't have FCR installed

This is confirmed both in F2 and cockpit view

[corbu1]

vor 21 Stunden schrieb salsantana:

I've exhausted every combination of attempts to get FCR working at all........ I"m running most recent "Stable" version only because I was a bit too hasty at installation time and must have clicked "Yeah, whatever, just DO it"

I believe I'm finally seeing discussions suggesting only Open Beta will give me FCR. NO amount of pushing FCR buttons yields anything.

I have a .cmd session ready to execute "DCS_updater.exe @openbeta". I hope this will suffice to get us switched over from Stable.

Mass quantities of thanks in advance.

Are sure all is fine with your DCS installation? Did you try a repair of your actual latest DCS installation?

There is no Open Beta and stable versions anymore. There‘s only one unified DCS version.

Which DCS version is displayed in right corner on DCS main menu?

[LorenLuke]

12 hours ago, corbu1 said:

Are sure all is fine with your DCS installation? Did you try a repair of your actual latest DCS installation?

There is no Open Beta and stable versions anymore. There‘s only one unified DCS version.

Which DCS version is displayed in right corner on DCS main menu?

On 8/20/2024 at 7:18 PM, salsantana said:

if by 'installing' you mean the "removed" option in Mission Editor's loadout editor is unchecked, yes. I see the "bulb" on the mast in F2 view upon takeoff.

Judging from the fact that they're talking about the MMA being added via a checkbox versus done through the rearm menu, I imagine that would indicate that their current DCS install is SERIOUSLY out of date.

 

@salsantana I would highly recommend you set your install back to the stable client and update it, and run it from there. I imagine quite a few things have changed since, for you.

[salsantana]

On 8/21/2024 at 2:33 AM, admiki said:

According to your track, you don't have FCR installed

This is confirmed both in F2 and cockpit view

admiki, you guru, NOW I know what you meant about "installed". I'd assumed my auto update was turned on as it once and always was. A couple of times recently an update was going to exceed my available SSD boot drive space. Now sweeping out cobwebs; I'm currently on 2.9.1.48335, updating to 2.9.7.59263 once I get some "freeboard"

Thanks for the wake-up. Much more to .trk files than I knew.

[salsantana]

On 8/21/2024 at 2:47 PM, corbu1 said:

Are sure all is fine with your DCS installation? Did you try a repair of your actual latest DCS installation?

There is no Open Beta and stable versions anymore. There‘s only one unified DCS version.

Which DCS version is displayed in right corner on DCS main menu?

corbu1 I was just booting up DCS to check the version, but decided to go straight to update. Current: 2.9.1.48335. Yep...... that's a long haul from 2.9.7.59263. Pulling weeds now so update doesn't exceed available SSD space. Thanks very much for the help

16 hours ago, LorenLuke said:

Judging from the fact that they're talking about the MMA being added via a checkbox versus done through the rearm menu, I imagine that would indicate that their current DCS install is SERIOUSLY out of date.

 

@salsantana I would highly recommend you set your install back to the stable client and update it, and run it from there. I imagine quite a few things have changed since, for you.

Updating now, LorenLuke. I assumed I had auto update turned on...... yes indeed I'm running on cobwebs here. Lesson learned...... never assume AND turn on auto updates Thanks very much for the guidance.

[salsantana]

On 8/20/2024 at 11:24 PM, NeedzWD40 said:

Pressing the FCR button on a MPD will bring up the FCR page; if you don't see anything on this page when doing this, then something else is wrong. Without an FCR, this should display "FCR NOT INSTALLED"; with, it should either show a pie slice or "FCR NOT INITIALIZED". If the latter, select UTIL from the top and select the option on the lower right where it says "PINNED" so it reads "NORM". It will take a few minutes to spin up.

Once it has initialized, you'll see a pie slice and you should be able to sight select the FCR from there. If you cannot, then check your bindings and make sure you have sight select FCR bound.

NeedzWD40 I'll probably need a replacement "FCR" button, having worn the spring out....... I thought my auto update was turned on. I'm a bit behind in version but once I've bulldozed enough hoarded data off my SSD, I"m sure to see a pie slice tonight Thanks very much for your generous help.

Clever username. I just learned somewhere the "WD" in WD40 means "water displacement". It is said it does everything, like liquid duct tape but I'd be hesitant to try it for swimmer's ear