Feedback Thread - F-4E Phantom II Patch, September 30th 2024

[IronMike]

Dear all,

as always we would like to kindly ask you for your feedback for this patch. The most noteable additions are of course the new Frog-7 mini campaign (we recommend to play the combined arms version, if you own combined arms), the new Jester NAV updates and the RWR active missile warnings, among of course a plethora of other changes and fixes. We thank you for your continued feedback and support!

 

DCS: F-4E Phantom II by Heatblur Simulations

• NEW: Added Frog-7 Mini-Campaign (Requirement: Syria. Optional: Combined Arms)
• NEW: Added basic instant action missions for Afghanistan
• NEW: Added new missions by Activity (thank you!) 
• NEW: Added static object assets IP Navigation Tower and GHQ Building
   
• HBUI: Fixed crashes related to HBUI
• HBUI: Improved Special Options Afterburner Detent description
• HBUI: Added default values to Special Options descriptions
   
• CTD: Fixed crashes for users who have DCS on Unicode paths (e.g. C:/Users/张伟)
• CTD: Fixed some crashes related to homebase TACAN
   
• JESTER AI: NEW: Jester Navigation Update (WIP), support for special waypoint types
  • can either be setup through the Jester Wheel or via Mission Editor
  • IP, TGT, VIP (nav fix), CAP, F-IN, F-OUT, HB, ALT
  • this especially also allows for in-flight INS updates (NAV FIX)
  • details in the manual
• JESTER AI: Jester now supports "improving" existing alignment (Jester Wheel > Nav > Improve INS)
  • allows to execute a fine alignment on the current/entered coordinates
  • this does not allow to reset a broken alignment (will be added soon)
• JESTER AI: Fixed CAGE/Boresight not properly filtering recent targets from old
• JESTER AI: Added voice feedback for aspect knob selection
   
• Radar: Fixed a bug with the radar antenna range gate acquisition in some cases
• RWR: Added RWR detection of active radar homing missiles
• RWR: Updated RWR database:
  • Fixed SA-3 command guidance warning, and added it to Type 903 (Seacat).
  • Added custom Tornado radar. Added Phalanx to "...Condell" and "...Lynch"
• RWR: Added RWR handoff sounds for new emitters: AIM-120, AIM-54, R-77 and Tornado
   
• Weapons: Added BDU-33 to inner wing pylons
• Weapons: GBU-24B/B (Navy Variant) replaced with GBU-24A/B (Air Force Variant)
• Weapons: Added BL755 and SAMP-250KG LD Bombs on TERs to represent German F-4F specific weapons
• Weapons: Added ACMI/TACTS pod (visual only, no function)
• Weapons: Changed mechanical limit of sight depression from -225 mils to -250 mils
• Weapons: Fixed incorrect logic for Sight Reticle Range Bar
  • especially during DT it never really indicated anything but the max range.
  • now, with a ground lock, it correctly indicates either 1000 to 6667 ft with GUNS selected or 3000 to 20000 ft without
  • (make sure the HUD is in AG mode, not in AA)
     
• Systems and Avionics: Added individual backlighting for WRCS ALT/RANGE placards based on Delivery Mode to indicate which is used
• Systems and Avionics: Skip F-4 ECM warmup for hot starts
• Systems and Avionics: Fixed Pave Spike STOW, WRCS/INS OUT lamps in BIT1 being lit before the pod was turned on
   
• Sound: Overhauled and improved engine sounds
• Sound: Improved canopy sounds
   
• Art/Visual: Added Brightness Control logic for the UHF repeaters
• Art/Visual: Added backlighting for WSO ECM and KY-28 panels
• Art/Visual: WRCS lamps are not dimmable
• Art/Visual: Fixed External Engine Blades LoD00-LoD01
• Art/Visual: Improved visibility of the Fuel Tape
• Art/Visual: Fixed Formation Lights disappearing when zooming out
• Art/Visual: Changed throttle animation to include AB detent sideways movement (WIP)
• Art/Visual: Reworked FRZ and TGT INS lamps on cursor control panel
• Art/Visual: Fixed Pave Spike LOS Indicator flags having wrong colors
• Art/Visual: Fixed WSO Altimeter always showing the red STBY flag with night-lighting
• Art/Visual: Fixed Pilot hand glitches when hiding the stick
• Art/Visual: Changed the HUD Shutter animation
• Art/Visual: Improved HSI/BDHI animations
• Art/Visual: Adjusted IFF panel switch and roller animations
• Art/Visual: Fixed IFF lamp glass color
• Art/Visual: Changed TACAN panel animations
• Art/Visual: Corrected IFF light color to green
• Art/Visual: Fixed WSO right rudder pedal animation colliding with some cables when pressing brake
• Art/Visual: Fixed alignment of the engine rotor blades
• Art/Visual: Fixed animation issue when moving the Antenna Hand Control
• Art/Visual: Fixed clipping of MER Durandal models
• Art/Visual: Small lamp texture adjustments
   
• Inputs: Added Jester Wheel 4/8-way hat steering binds
• Inputs: Fixed some broken binds
• Inputs: Added Slow/Fast variants for Target Latitude/Longitude knobs (WSO Nav)
• Inputs: Added Self-accelerating knob binds (to get rid of having to bind slow/normal/fast binds)
  • Range Indicator Desired Release Range
  • Sight Depression
  • HSI Heading
  • HSI Course
  • Target Latitude
  • Target Longitude
  • Drag Coefficient
  • Target Altitude/Range
  • Release Range
  • Target Distance EW
  • Target Distance NS
  • Release Advance
  • Bombing Pull-Up Timer
  • Bombing Release Timer
  • LABS Low Angle
  • LABS High Angle
  • Radar Receiver Gain (fine)
  • Radar Receiver Gain (coarse)
• Inputs: Added VR Touch Support (WIP), known issues:
  • no stick & throttle handling
  • Altimeter Reset switch
  • DSCG Source (Radar/TV) switch
  • Flaps/Slats switch
  • Console Flood light switch (Pilot and WSO)
  • Exterior Lighting switches
  • WSO Navigation Source switch
  • Nuclear Consent switch
  • some knobs might rotate in the wrong direction
• Inputs: Added some missing TOGGLE and AXIS binds
  • Antenna Switch
  • Anti-Skid
  • Pilot & WSO Emergency Gear
  • Pilot Hook Handle
  • Pilot & WSO Emergency Flaps/Slats
• Inputs: Fixed Jester Scan Elevation (relative) binds reversed
• Inputs: Fixed Radar Half/Full ("button binds") only working sometimes
• Inputs: Fixed Antenna Stab bind UP/DOWN skipping center NOR (requires rebinding)
• Inputs: Fixed IFF Panel default switch positions
• Inputs: Fixed clickable spot of the PITCH STAB AUG switch not moving with the switch animation
   
• Manual: Updated in-game Manual
• Manual: Added JESTER Navigation Special Waypoints and more
   
• Missions: Updated missions by Reflected and Sedlo (thank you!) 
• Missions: Various fixes for training missions
• Mission Editor: Added "Historical Mode" support in the Mission Editor
• Mission Editor: Support absolute pitch trim command (iCommandPlaneTrimPitchAbs)
  • mostly meant for mission makers
  • send values -1 to +1 for -5 to +5 units nose trim, i.e. -0.4 to -0.6 for takeoff trim
  • but can in theory also be used for user made custom binds
     
• Liveries: Updated IRIAF & IAAF liveries (thank you ISAAC!)
• Liveries: Added IAF Kurnass 303 Toad 1967 Livery (thank you Fish!)

Edited September 30, 2024 by IronMike

[kotor633]

Thank you for that:

• Weapons: Added BL755 and SAMP-250KG LD Bombs on TERs to represent German F-4F specific weapons

[IronMike]

6 minutes ago, kotor633 said:

Thank you for that:

• Weapons: Added BL755 and SAMP-250KG LD Bombs on TERs to represent German F-4F specific weapons

more to follow, for instance the pod, etc

[Esac_mirmidon]

The new VIP INS update on the run is amazing guys, good work ¡¡¡

[ChariotOfFLAME]

Getting a message from the installer that HeatblurJester.dll is virus. Any ideas why this is happening and how to fix it?null

[IronMike]

2 hours ago, ChariotOfFLAME said:

Getting a message from the installer that HeatblurJester.dll is virus. Any ideas why this is happening and how to fix it?null

Simply ignore and/or add and exclusion for this file (or its entire folder) to your antivirus program. You can safely ignore it.

[Oesau]

How do we add the new waypoint types in the ME (IP, TGT, VIP (nav fix), CAP, F-IN, F-OUT, HB, ALT) - is it just the name of the waypoint in the ME e.g IP

[ChariotOfFLAME]

1 hour ago, IronMike said:

Simply ignore and/or add and exclusion for this file (or its entire folder) to your antivirus program. You can safely ignore it.

But its through the installer itself that is throwing the error, not Windows Defender.
I don't have an antivirus program... except Windows Defender. Would I just ignore/exception the downloads directory in Defender to resolve this?

[HAVOC24]

The F-4 has been disabled for me since updating. Any clues as to why this may be?

[Bravo4]

35 minutes ago, HAVOC24 said:

The F-4 has been disabled for me since updating. Any clues as to why this may be?

Same here.

[Flamingo]

35 minutes ago, HAVOC24 said:

The F-4 has been disabled for me since updating. Any clues as to why this may be?

same thing happened to me, run a deep repair (check all files, not just modified ones)  and add a exclusion to the dcs install file in windows security 

 

 

[Bravo4]

Found out that my McAfee AV is picking up the files as viruses.  I've had to exclude 2 files so far and still testing because McAfee won't let me exclude an entire folder.

 

lua51.dll

HeatblurJester.dll

 

Edit:  After a false positive on a 3rd .dll file, I just exempted every .dll file in the bin folder and it works fine now.

Edited October 1, 2024 by Bravo4
update

[IronMike]

2 hours ago, ChariotOfFLAME said:

But its through the installer itself that is throwing the error, not Windows Defender.
I don't have an antivirus program... except Windows Defender. Would I just ignore/exception the downloads directory in Defender to resolve this?

Yes, or you can also add the entire DCS folder, or F4 folder if you like.

[Zabuzard]

6 hours ago, Oesau said:

How do we add the new waypoint types in the ME (IP, TGT, VIP (nav fix), CAP, F-IN, F-OUT, HB, ALT) - is it just the name of the waypoint in the ME e.g IP

Kindly see the manual, thanks: https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/dcs/mission_editor.html#flight-plan-preparation

4 hours ago, HAVOC24 said:

The F-4 has been disabled for me since updating. Any clues as to why this may be?

This happens when you try to start the game while some files got deleted/removed or modified. Most likely the cause of your AV program messing with the modules files.

Add an exclusion and then run a repair to get the files back

Edited October 1, 2024 by Zabuzard

[Q3ark]

44 minutes ago, Zabuzard said:

Kindly see the manual, thanks: https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/dcs/mission_editor.html#flight-plan-preparation

 

You guys are all over the manual. I never think to check it because the manuals for most other modules rarely see an update. Thanks guys! 

Edited October 1, 2024 by Q3ark
Typo

[Grundar]

I am unable to find the Frog 7 mini campaign in the game, I have updated, have Syria installed and Combined Arms.  I will give my install a repair and see if that rectifies the situation. 

 

Edit: Update appears to have failed to apply.  Seems to install and then remove itself, I will look into it.

Edit 2: After having to essentially remove everything but the base DCS install the patch finally applied after a painfully long install time, for no apparent reason.  Frog-7 present and looks great! 

Edited October 1, 2024 by Grundar

[Oesau]

2 hours ago, Zabuzard said:

Kindly see the manual, thanks: https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/dcs/mission_editor.html#flight-plan-preparation

 

Thanks @Zabuzard - I had checked the Jester Nav section but didn't see the Flight Plan Preparation section (though I had worked it out by playing around with the ME and guessed it was how it worked

[Volator]

Judging by the long list this is  an excellent update to the F-4! I'm excited to try it in flight.

Concering this point:

 

16 hours ago, IronMike said:

Weapons: Added BL755 and SAMP-250KG LD Bombs on TERs to represent German F-4F specific weapons

Thank you, great addition! Will we also get the SAMP-250KG HD bombs? I might have to do some more research, but this post shows the GAF did use the HD variant, and depending on how you interpret the words, you might get the impression that the HD was in fact the only variant used in the GAF.

[ben_der]

14 minutes ago, Volator said:

Judging by the long list this is  an excellent update to the F-4! I'm excited to try it in flight.

Concering this point:

 

Thank you, great addition! Will we also get the SAMP-250KG HD bombs? I might have to do some more research, but this post shows the GAF did use the HD variant, and depending on how you interpret the words, you might get the impression that the HD was in fact the only variant used in the GAF.

The 1986 Flight Manual mentions only unretarded Matras. Thats why I added the Low Drag ones. 

I also asked our German SMEs but they only ever flew Air to Air.

[Volator]

28 minutes ago, ben_der said:

The 1986 Flight Manual mentions only unretarded Matras. Thats why I added the Low Drag ones. 

I also asked our German SMEs but they only ever flew Air to Air.

Interesting, the 1976 TO-1F-4F-1-34 mentions only the HD variant 

[Lt_Jaeger]

Inputs: Fixed some broken binds

 

The backseat TACAN binds (channel, incr / decr) still don't work correctly

[OLD CROW]

In may 22nd. you'd said there was a bug in the paint kit. In october 1st. it has to be just one bug... but a big one I guess... No other i-logical reason for the release delay. 

[Lt_Jaeger]

The "new" sounds are not for the better. With revving the engine, one can hear steps. Not really nice.

[Tango3B]

9 minutes ago, Lt_Jaeger said:

The "new" sounds are not for the better. With revving the engine, one can hear steps. Not really nice.

Yup. The new engine sounds are definitely a step back. While they were actually intended to create more immersion they really do not. Now, on my end at least, it sounds a bit like the famous "J-79 Dyson edition". Especially the quite immersive revving howl isn´t there anymore, which is sad. Maybe something has gone wrong with the files HB submitted to ED for the update. As it stands, the old engine sounds were way better in my opnion...

[IronMike]

2 hours ago, Tango3B said:

Yup. The new engine sounds are definitely a step back. While they were actually intended to create more immersion they really do not. Now, on my end at least, it sounds a bit like the famous "J-79 Dyson edition". Especially the quite immersive revving howl isn´t there anymore, which is sad. Maybe something has gone wrong with the files HB submitted to ED for the update. As it stands, the old engine sounds were way better in my opnion...

Thank you for the feedback, we will take a look.