Cannot set acquisition source to TADS when night vision active and PNVIS selected

[skypickle]

I understand when night vision is active and set to TADS, one cannot set the acquisition source to TADS. But why can I not set acquisition to TADS if night vision is set to PNVIS? These are different sensors.

[Tholozor]

The dedicated PNVS sensor is only used by the pilot. When the NVS switch in the CPG's seat is active, it uses the TADS itself as the night vision sensor.

Which seat specifically are you experiencing this issue?

Edited March 1 by Tholozor

[Lord Vader]

@skypickle

Like @Tholozor pointed, you need to be a bit more specific when you ask these questions. 

I'll just assume you are acting pilot during a night mission. First of all, the PNVS is exclusive to the pilot. So when he selects "NORM" it is projected to the pilots IHADSS. However, if you set TADS as a NVS sensor (via de NVS Select Switch) it no longer becomes available as an Acquisition Source on that station. In our DCS: AH-64D manual page 295 you can read the limitations of the acquisition sources. Page 109 talks about the Night Vision System. 

This is not a bug and it is working as intended.
As for "why" is it so, it's just how the system is designed. 

[skypickle]

As a pilot, when i select pnvis in the night vision so that my ihadds is using it, i can no longer set acquisition source on the right mfd to tads. I used to be able to do this some updates ago. Note, i am not using tads in the ihadds and george ai interface is active. I cannot see what he is targeting as it (acq) remains fxd

Edited March 3 by skypickle

[Floyd1212]

Please post a track file so we can take a look at what's going on.

Like most people, PNVS on in the back seat with TADS as my ACQ is pretty much standard for any night flying I do.

[skypickle]

INITIALLY , I can switch between FXD and TADS. Turning on night vision and in PNVIS, I can still switch between FXD and TADS. You can tell I am in PNVIS mode because the night vision fluidly follows my head movement. If I change night vision to TADS, you can see the slight delay that night vision has in updating the image to follow my head position (as expected)ACQ cannot select TADS (as expected) However, if I then switch to PNVIS, in night vision, ACQ STILL CANNOT SELECT TADS. Night vision fluidly follows my head movement confirming my night vision is using the PNVIS To regain the ability to use TADS as an ACQ source when in PNVIS mode, I have to turn off night vision and turn it on again..track attached

tads.trk

[Floyd1212]

I’ll download the track and take a look, but my guess is that once you “steal” the TADS from George, he doesn’t reselect it as his Sight when you give it up again. So with TADS not being active as a Sight, you can’t use it as an ACQ.

If you jump in the front seat and select TADS for George again, I bet it will be back to normal. 

[ShuRugal]

3 hours ago, skypickle said:

INITIALLY , I can switch between FXD and TADS. Turning on night vision and in PNVIS, I can still switch between FXD and TADS. You can tell I am in PNVIS mode because the night vision fluidly follows my head movement. If I change night vision to TADS, you can see the slight delay that night vision has in updating the image to follow my head position (as expected)ACQ cannot select TADS (as expected) However, if I then switch to PNVIS, in night vision, ACQ STILL CANNOT SELECT TADS. Night vision fluidly follows my head movement confirming my night vision is using the PNVIS To regain the ability to use TADS as an ACQ source when in PNVIS mode, I have to turn off night vision and turn it on again..track attached

tads.trk 2.96 MB · 0 downloads

I am able to replicate this as well:

1. In back seat
2. NVS to "Norm"
3. Validate using PNVS
4. Validate able to select ACQ->TADS
5. NVS select TADS on collective
6. Validate ACQ transitioned to FXD and unable to select ACQ-> TADS
7. NVS select PNVS on collective
8. UNABLE to select ACQ->TADS
9. NVS to OFF
10. NVS to NORM
11. Validate able to select ACQ->TADS again

tads-flir-acq-stuck.trk

Edited March 4 by ShuRugal
add trk

[Floyd1212]

Well, I was wrong.  After you select PNVS as your NVS mode, it does give the TADS back to George, but you still can't select it as your ACQ.  Even after hopping in the front and changing the sight to HMD and back to TADS, it is still unavailable as ACQ in the back.