[2.9.11.4686] TACAN receives VOR DME in X channels only

[Stickler]

VOR DME can be received by setting the appropriate TACAN channels (cf. e.g. AC00-31a.pdf, p. 60 ff.). This currently works in the F-4E for X channels only (or VOR frequencies ending in .X0), but not for Y channels (or VOR frequencies ending in .X5).

Given the F-4E generally has Y channel capability and I have not found anything in the RL manuals indicating otherwise, I would imagine that .X5 VOR frequencies should be able to be received via the F-4E's TACAN.

I do not know if this is a problem specific to the F-4E or a general ED issue.

Edited January 28 by Stickler

[Zeagle]

Can you be more specific Stickler? Exactly what ground station, where, and what settings were on your TACAN controls including the HSI mode selectors

Without knowing your situation, TACAN Y is generally used for Air-to-Air and generally does not use DME as this requires the aircraft to emit. It can though.

Edited April 10 by Zeagle

[Stickler]

This report is about the general inability to obtain VOR information by dialling in the Y TACAN channel associated with a specific VOR frequency in-game, not about this not working at specific locations or with specific frequencies. Thanks for bumping the thread though. 

Edited April 13 by Stickler

[Zeagle]

You are misreading the document. It's not a mathematical conversion. Not EVERY ground VOR ground station has TACAN capability. The frequency pairings in your document are showing assignable frequencies, not what is installed. To see what is installed you must consult a navigation chart. Also, ground stations are subject to interference from mountains and hills. 

When you say VOR information, I assume you mean radials. Not all TACANs give radial information. It depends on the installation and the requirements and or money and interference, etc. For example, the DME portion of a VORTAC is TACAN. Likewise, the DME portion of an ILS is too. But, there are DME only installations as well. If tuning those, you will not get radials.

Another thing is that these ground stations have definite range limitations that are dictated mainly by power and terrain. Some fall way short of any diagram you may have seen in a book due to terrain.

I tested the F4 with both airborne and ground TACAN Y installations in DCS and it worked fine. 

On 4/13/2025 at 8:42 AM, Stickler said:

This report is about the general inability to obtain VOR information by dialling in the Y TACAN channel associated with a specific VOR frequency in-game, not about this not working at specific locations or with specific frequencies. Thanks for bumping the thread though. 

 This makes no sense at all. Are you saying that on every map and everywhere it doesn't work? What VOR information are you talking about? Radials and DME? Is your plane even powered up? What setting do you have dialed in? What map? What station? What altitude and location were you?

And another thing, if someone with the knowledge takes time out to try and help you by asking for more information, blowing them off and saying basically "thanks for playing" is not the correct response.

I'm chalking this one up to user error.

[Stickler]

Two changes for the worse (IMO) in 2.9.15.9509, with and without the hotfix:

1. Reception of the DME component of VOR/DME transmitters via the appropriate TACAN channel no longer seems to be possible using X channels (Y channels still don't work, either) even though the identifier tone can be received.
2. Reception of bearing and DME of mobile TACAN stations only works if the "Bearing" option is ticked in the ME. Previously, without "Bearing" ticked, it was possible to receive only the DME.