TGP Question / Steerpoint question

[warmachine79]

I have a question regarding the TGP. They are extremely annoying in the F16, in the F15, I am fine with it. The thing is: it is either in Snow Plow Mode where I cannot control it. Or if I disable the Snowplow mode, it immediately slews to the active steerpoint which is somewhere offscreen. I want to slew that thing manually when it is boresighted and be able to reboresight it, when I lost it. This is what I do in the F15.  The only way how I get it semi-comfortable is selecting a VIS mode weapon, slew the HUD TDC somewhere I can see it, designate and then make the TGP SOI. And how do I autolase once I released a laserguided weapon? In the F15, ALAS is on by default. 

The other question relates to steerpoints. Do I have to manually enter them? Or is there a way to make a point I am looking at with TGP/HUD TDC to steerpoint? 

[MTM]

Greetings! I have to admit, I’m a little confused about what you’re trying to do. I have a feeling you’re hopping in the Viper with no steerpoints and you’re just flying around bombing stuff for fun. If so, I enjoy that too sometimes and it can be a lot of fun. But keep in mind that the jet is designed to find and attack targets in a much more purposeful way. 
 

If I’m looking for a target on the ground and I’m not near a steerpoint, I’m going to use Snowplow mode on the TGP and then TMS Up to ground stabilize it. Then I’ll slew it over to the area I want to search. 
 

When I find my target, I hit “7” on the ICP to bring up the Markpoint Menu on the DED. Then TMS Up again to create the markpoint. Then “0” to make it the active steerpoint. It’s a lot of buttons to press but eventually it becomes automatic and you can do it in a couple seconds. 

I never use Boresight on the TGP. Even when I have a weapon selected that puts the TGP in boresight mode, I’m always looking at the target through the HUD, not the TGP. 

Learn how the sensors on the Viper work with the weapons. Your weapon selections will change the way the sensors work, so start with the weapons you want and how you want to use them and then your sensors will work the way they need to. 
 

Good hunting!

[Furiz]

16 hours ago, warmachine79 said:

The thing is: it is either in Snow Plow Mode where I cannot control it.

Hi,

In the F-16 manual it says about Snowplow - Slewing is disabled; however, it is possible to ground-stabilize by pressing TMS-fwd. This will exit SP mode and
enter a normal AREA track.

16 hours ago, warmachine79 said:

The other question relates to steerpoints. Do I have to manually enter them? Or is there a way to make a point I am looking at with TGP/HUD TDC to steerpoint? 

It is possible to make a markpoint, steerpoints 26 to 30 are reserved for markpoints, it is explained on the page 118 of the F-16 manual.

[warmachine79]

TMS-Fwd is a real smart circumvention of the problem. 

[Gilligan]

Generally, Steerpoints are set in the viper that correspond with any waypoints you set when creating a mission. If you're playing MP and the server does not have any pre-set way points then you will have to enter any steerpoints manually.

 

To do this you'll need to grab the coordinates you want from the F10 map, make sure you're in decimal minute format. Once you have your coordinates, hit 4 on the ICP to enter  the steerpoint menu. Here you can enter your Northing, Easting, and Altitude of your desired Steerpoints. Note, use the dobber to navigate around the menu, "North" is entered with "2", South with "8", East with "6" and West with "4". Most maps will require you to put a Zero in front of the East/West Coordinate, but not all. 

You can also enter coordinates in MRGS format, but this is limited to steer points 21-24. Pull up the steerpoint using the "4" button on the ICP like before, but enter "21" into the field with the steerpoint number, and then hold dobber right for 2 seconds. Wait a tick, and then the DED will change to MRGS format entry. When you're done entering the info make sure you highlight "CNVRT" and hit ENTR to save the steerpoint.

 

If I want to find targets of opportunity, Press 7 on the ICP to enter Markpoint mode - Markpoints are a subset of steerpoints (26-30) that can be created using the aircraft sensors, HUD, TGP, or by over-flying a specific location. I like to set it to HUD, hold TMS up Long to use the JHMCS to look at where I want to drop the mark point. Hit TMS up once to drop the point on the ground where you want, you can slew it a bit form here to refine it, then TMS up again to save that spot. Press "0" on the ICP to make that markpoint into your current steerpoint. That ill orient the TGP on that spot to designate targets from there. 

I don't really use snow plow mode, personally. 

[Pillowcat]

F-16 and A-10 manuals contain arcane phrase in description of TGP zoom FoV: "Objects within the TGP field of view double in size from 0 to 9 zoom."

Spoiler

 

 

What the heck this phrase even mean? Why double? Double means x2, but there is more like x10

Spoiler

 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Pillowcat

[Tenkom]

If you want to find targets of oportunity like you describe doing in the F15 then you should use VIS/DTOS mode like you say. 

In those modes it will do largely what you want. You can designate with the HUD or HMD(as long as the hud is SOI,TMS-UP long to make the HMD SOI) and you can slew with the TGP when it is SOI. Knowing both aircraft In my opinion the F16 shouldn't be harder to use.

TMS-Aft while the HUD is SOI will boresight the designator in DTOS/VIS mode. TMS-Aft while TGP is SOI will send the TGP back to the point you designated with the HUD(IIRC)

The plane should Autolase by default as long as you have armed the laser. If not you can manually lase with half-pull trigger. Laser options can be found by clicking the LIST button on the ICP and then 5(I think, if not it should be apparent which number you want to press). You can select auto or manual lase and how long it will autolase there.

CCRP/PRE modes are for when you have a steerpoint near or on the target. Personally I find snowplow mode largely unnecessary except maybe for the A-G radar.