Questions regarding Maverick / SOI

[HerrJth]

Hi,

I pre-ordered DCS: A-10 yesterday and I'am really impressed so far, although its only a beta with some rough edges. Its my first flight sim for quite some time (the last one I played was vanilla Falcon 4.0 aeons ago...), so I'am sorry if the questions are sounding too stupid ;)

Actually I think my problem is (at least partly) related to my bad equipment, but maybe someone can help me since I have to live with my plain Logitech Extreme 3D Pro till' the HOTAS Warthog is available. Can't wait for it.

 

I learned how to do a ramp start and to navigate to my target (a bunch of T-55), so I thought it was time to learn how to engage them with Mavericks. I looked it up on the Manual, but got stuck putting the Maverick into Weapon Mode. What I did: Selecting the Maverick and aligned it for about 2.5 minutes. I got the video-image on the MFD with the Sensor-Mode Indication. After that, the manual says:

To put the Maverick in Weapon mode, select a Maverick profile by setting HUD as SOI and then pressing DMS Left or Right Short to cycle through HUD rotary profiles

I have no idea how to do this. First of all, what is the best way setting the HUD as SOI? Am I right that the HUD is the SOI if some small asterisk appears below the speed? I got it to work a few times, but only with trial and error, so I assume there is a better way ;)

The next things are "DMS Left" and "DMS Right". I guess "DMS Left" and "DMS Right" are some HOTAS controls, so I looked them up in the keyboard controls and found this:

HOTAS DMS Left: Delete

HOTAS DMS Right: PageDown

I tried these buttons in all kinds of variations, pushed them for a long time, for a short time etc., but nothing happened. And that was the point where I had no idea how to proceed. Maybe someone can help me with this and can provide a small step-by-step instruction how to fire a maverick without a HOTAS available?

 

Many thanks in advance!

[ClearDark]

To make HUD SOI, Press the Coolio Hat Up (Forward). You'll know the HUD is the SOI when there is an asterisk in the bottom lower part of the HUD.

 

Then DMS Left or Right Short will cycle your weapons profile. Hit that button until you see MAVERICK on the HUD.

 

Please note that every "HAT" switch has multiple functions depending on the current SOI so if you hit DMS Left or Right Short while TAD was SOI, it wouldn't of switched your HUD profiles.

 

Once the profile has been set you should get a DLZ indicator on the left hand side of the MAV MCFD instead of the word "Sensors". That means your Maverick is ready to fire.

[HerrJth]

To make HUD SOI, Press the Coolio Hat Up (Forward). You'll know the HUD is the SOI when there is an asterisk in the bottom lower part of the HUD.

 

Then DMS Left or Right Short will cycle your weapons profile. Hit that button until you see MAVERICK on the HUD.

 

Thats basically my problem. I have no idea which Button "DMS Left" is and I don't have a HOTAS. The keyboard-shortcut using the "Delete"-key doesn't work.

 

Please note that every "HAT" switch has multiple functions depending on the current SOI so if you hit DMS Left or Right Short while TAD was SOI, it wouldn't of switched your HUD profiles.

 

Noticed that, but the only HAT-Switch I have on my Logitech is the one one top which changes my view.

 

Once the profile has been set you should get a DLZ indicator on the left hand side of the MAV MCFD instead of the word "Sensors". That means your Maverick is ready to fire.

 

Never made it to that point since I have no idea how to get the Maverick into weapon mode with keyboard only.

[nomdeplume]

The asterisk on the HUD does indicate that it's the sensor-of-interest. Another way is to check that neither of your MFCDs has the green 'active' border around it indicating that it's the SOI.

 

The way to set the HUD as the SOI is 'coolie hat up short', which is slightly unintuitive, since a long press left/right is needed to set the MFCDs as SOI.

 

I haven't tried doing this with keyboard, but if I remember I'll give it a go tonight. As a workaround, I think you can also put the Maverick into weapons mode by manually selecting a station with a Maverick loaded via the DSMS page. That is, bring up the main DSMS page which lists your stations and weapons, and then press the OSB next to one of those stations. This effectively creates and selects an automatic profile for that weapon.

[higgsboson]

Hey there Extreme 3D Pro + Keyboard buddy.

 

Making the displays SOI is fairly simple. Left display is holding 'h' Right display is holding 'k' Hud is holding 'u'. The displays will have a green border annd the hud an asterisk when set as SOI.

 

When the hud is SOI, page up and down will cycle your weapon profile. If all it does is change what the reticle looks like, you're in guns mode so press 'm'.

 

With the Mav profile selected your mavs will be in weapons mode, so hold k to make the right display active and you can use ,./; to slew around and find your target.

[Frostie]

If you wish to get more Hat usage out of the Extreme 3d Pro then set some of the base buttons as multipliers - in game. This means that every button you select as a multiplier allows a different function for the Hat,

eg.

Hat = VIEW

Button 10 + Hat = Coolie

Button 11 + Hat = TMS

Button 12 + Hat = DMS

[HerrJth]

Hi,

thanks a lot! Especially higgsboson and Frostie, these information are worth their weight in gold :thumbup:

 

Scored my first Maverick hits today on some T-55 thanks to you two :thumbup:

[geesharp]

If you wish to get more Hat usage out of the Extreme 3d Pro then set some of the base buttons as multipliers - in game. This means that every button you select as a multiplier allows a different function for the Hat,

eg.

Hat = VIEW

Button 10 + Hat = Coolie

Button 11 + Hat = TMS

Button 12 + Hat = DMS

 

hey i tried doing what frostie said, but i cant get it to set. Like for example, i change the setting for coolie down as button 9 + HAT down, but it just says that button is in use. I cant get button 9 as a modifier.

[nomdeplume]

hey i tried doing what frostie said, but i cant get it to set. Like for example, i change the setting for coolie down as button 9 + HAT down, but it just says that button is in use. I cant get button 9 as a modifier.

 

Did you add it as a modifer using the 'modifiers' button at the bottom left of the controls configuration screen?

[Guysmiley777]

Did you add it as a modifer using the 'modifiers' button at the bottom left of the controls configuration screen?

 

Exactly, it took me a bit to figure this out too. You can MAKE a button be a modifier, but then that is its only function.

 

The up-side of this is you can make any button a shift key (some sims would only let you use the shift, ctrl, alt and that was that). With my old (but still very servicable) X45 I now have every single HOTAS key assigned to a button or hat and it truly does make all the difference when actually trying to employ ordnance.

 

I was trying to explain all the steps to lock up a target with the targeting pod using the default keyboard commands and it's about impossible.

 

I made a cheat sheet to keep track of what all the "*MS" switches do in each SOI mode that helped me a ton in the beginning too:

 

[twistedneck]

How do you actually 'fire' the missile? i did all these steps but there is no button to fire it. it is slaved fine SOI to the hud, missle armed and ready on profile screen.

[nomdeplume]

It's "Weapon release" in the controls configuration section. On the real stick it's the red button at the top left. Default keyboard binding is RightAlt+Space. Note that there's also a "Gun trigger" command (default binding: Space) for firing the cannon.

[Shootist]

Twisted if your saying u dont have a joystick then noms solution should work for u. But every basic joystick has a button 1 for guns and button 2 for ordinance. My Logi X button2 is actually a thumb button. If u have a stick then u probably haven't locked the Mav. (flashing cross) U need to be in range. (4 to 6 miles?) and keyboard is LCNTR up arrow. I mapped that to my 7 button. Still workin on button layouts. Printing Guys' chart now to see what works for me.

[twistedneck]

Twisted if your saying u dont have a joystick then noms solution should work for u. But every basic joystick has a button 1 for guns and button 2 for ordinance. My Logi X button2 is actually a thumb button. If u have a stick then u probably haven't locked the Mav. (flashing cross) U need to be in range. (4 to 6 miles?) and keyboard is LCNTR up arrow. I mapped that to my 7 button. Still workin on button layouts. Printing Guys' chart now to see what works for me.

 

for some reason i get all the way to the point where it should release the missle, but it simply wont budge. see attached pic. spacebar is the correct default key for firing i know that because sometimes it will fire off the main gun no problem. but in this case, my missiles are glued to the launchers :(

 

please take a look at this pic of me attempting to fire it at a locked up ground target (some type of random building).

 

also, this guy in the tutorial named tigerpwrr says 'tiger rifle' and suddenly his missiles magically fire! while i sit there and watch doing exactly as he did, wondering if somehow some tiny little switch or button is not pressed. i wont give up! i will find a way to fire it! (FYI - there is a message on the bottom of hud showing "CICU input error" - could that be it?)- if so, how did that happen and how do i get out of it? thanks again..

 

Edited May 29, 2011 by twistedneck

[Crescendo]

spacebar is the correct default key for firing i know that because sometimes it will fire off the main gun no problem. but in this case, my missiles are glued to the launchers :(

 

If the GAU-8 sometimes fires that means you are pressing the "Gun Trigger" button, which is not the correct button to expend munitions such as bombs and missiles. You instead want to press the "Weapon Release" button (SPACE+RAlt on the keyboard), which will expend whatever munition you currently have selected.

 

also, this guy in the tutorial named tigerpwrr says 'tiger rifle' and suddenly his missiles magically fire!

 

For your information, he says "Tiger, Rifle" to communicate that he is firing a Maverick missile. "Tiger" is his callsign and "Rifle" is the NATO brevity code for a Maverick launch.

 

EDIT: Looking at your screenshot, you should try to engage some tanks or other vehicles before you try for buildings. You might not be able to easily lock-up buildings unless you know what you're doing.

Edited May 29, 2011 by Crescendo

[twistedneck]

If the GAU-8 sometimes fires that means you are pressing the "Gun Trigger" button, which is not the correct button to expend munitions such as bombs and missiles. You instead want to press the "Weapon Release" button (SPACE+RAlt on the keyboard), which will expend whatever munition you currently have selected.

 

 

 

For your information, he says "Tiger, Rifle" to communicate that he is firing a Maverick missile. "Tiger" is his callsign and "Rifle" is the NATO brevity code for a Maverick launch.

 

EDIT: Looking at your screenshot, you should try to engage some tanks or other vehicles before you try for buildings. You might not be able to easily lock-up buildings unless you know what you're doing.

 

Wow.. that was super fast and spot on help Crescendo. that was it, space + rt.alt key missle away! and blam target smashed. wow, that was hard and very rewarding two nights up past 7AM having fun with this sim. thanks for the excellent help. the buildings locked up great. :thumbup:

 

The difficulty here reminds me of when i first started working on linux.. pain at first but worth all the brain melting.

Edited May 29, 2011 by twistedneck

[Crescendo]

Glad to help. :)

[geesharp]

Did you add it as a modifer using the 'modifiers' button at the bottom left of the controls configuration screen?

 

 

sorry, i had just done a reformat a few weeks ago and i didnt save my bookmarks. i was going to say that yes i tried that, but it wouldnt show up. but when i tried making ctrl,alt or shift as modifiers, it worked. i am reinstalling right now and i will try again so ill get back to you

 

 

 

 

edit: i got to add modifiers now. will test it out. thanks!

Edited June 25, 2011 by geesharp

[Evil.Bonsai]

question as to clearing 'cicu input error'. I was following the dms training mission. I was supposed to enter '3' on the ufc then enter that into the ripple fire settings for rockets. I hit the osb first (was zoomed in, didn't see the flashing icon on the ufc). There was the 'cicu input error' flashing on the hud. Try as I might, I couldn't make it go away and I couldn't enter '3'. What would be the correct way of dealing with this?

[SmokeyTheLung]

Press the "CLR" (clear) button on you CDU or UFC to clear those errors

 

Also, when entering data, you always type the numbers/letters first. Than you press the appropriate OSB on tge relevant display

 

Edit: gotta love typing on a phone

Edited August 13, 2011 by SmokeyTheLung

[Steel Jaw]

What does it mean when it says "sensor" in the Maverick MFD left side?

[codefox]

What does it mean when it says "sensor" in the Maverick MFD left side?

 

You didn't select a Maverick in the DSMS

[Steel Jaw]

Right copy thanks.

[Wrench]

Oldish thread, but I can post a pretty good profile for that joystick if you'd like. It uses the buttons on the base as modifiers, and all the hats are done with the pov hat.