Waypoints

[timc]

Can anyone tell me how to input lat and long waypoints into the CDU? I'm trying to create new waypoints within the CDU system rather than mission editor and have named a new waypoint in the relevant mission slot, set the elevation, but I cant enter the lat and long details. There's no degree symbol and I just cant work out how to input something like N31[degrees sign]15.500.

 

Also, and this is a daft question, but how would I convert the lat long format from something like Google Earth into the format used by the CDU? ie something like 36[degrees]39[minutes]44.06[seconds]N, 115[degrees]01[minutes]19.52[seconds]W

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[pitbldr]

Hey, just enter the numbers. so 45 degrees 55.612 minutes would be entered as 4555612, then just press the LSK for the appropriate coordninate field. Hope that helps! :)

[jazjar]

How do you enter UTM into the CDU as well? I am playing the "Smerch" mission, where the controller/whoever gives you the UTM coordinates of a Smerch and I can never find that little thing because I can't enter UTM!

[Frogfoot1606687865]

If I recall correctly one of the buttons on the CDU is labeled 'LL' this toggles between Lat/long and UTM.

 

Cheers

Tom

[StrongHarm]

EGI subsystem understanding.. p164

UTM Format Entry................. p227

Waypoint Creation Checklist.... p596

[timc]

Hey, just enter the numbers. so 45 degrees 55.612 minutes would be entered as 4555612, then just press the LSK for the appropriate coordninate field. Hope that helps! :)

 

Ah, that would be one of the twenty or so methods I didn't try! Thanks - I'll give this a go later.

[Grimes]

The coordinate reference a JTAC gives you. What format is it in and which page of the manual discusses how to input, translate, or use it?

[ZaltysZ]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Transverse_Mercator_coordinate_system :smartass:

[nomdeplume]

The coordinate reference a JTAC gives you. What format is it in and which page of the manual discusses how to input, translate, or use it?

 

CDU docs start on page 167, but it goes through the CDU page by page and you'll probably go mad if you try to read it all in one go. The info about entering waypoints is in the WAYPOINT Sub-Page section on page 230.

 

Basically, select the menu, stpt or waypoint information page on the CDU, click the button on the left next to "->WAYPOINT", click the button on the right next to "?3*" to add a new waypoint (the number will depend on the number of waypoints you already have), and voila, new waypoint. You can then enter a name for it and its position. The L/L button on the right hand side toggles the coordinate system.

 

Straightforward to use once you know how to find that page.

 

I think Military_grid_reference_system is a better reference for the coordinate system the JTACs use.

Edited October 28, 2010 by nomdeplume

[jazjar]

See in the mission titled "Smerch" there is a controller-person that tells you the coordinates for a smerch rocket launcher and he says exactly "UTM 38T NN 01111 95052" I switch the CDU into UTM mode, and punch in these coordinates for their respective lines, but when I enter the info on the second line ( eastings and northings ) I get "CDU input err" in the scratch pad and cannot enter the coordinates. Are his coordintates wrong, or am I entering the info incorrectly?

[nomdeplume]

It worked fine for me using the format NN0111195052.

[jazjar]

OK then, I was probably entering spaces, that's probably it.

[Zenra]

<snip>.

 

I think Military_grid_reference_system is a better reference for the coordinate system the JTACs use.

Yes, I agree, and am surprised to find that DCS A-10C uses UTM. Does anybody know whether the RL A-10C uses UTM instead of MGRS?

[jazjar]

It seems that the a-10 only uses UTM in the CDU. the tad and TGP use MGRS and l/l, while the CDU uses only UTM and l/l, as for the real a-10, I cant help you

[Eddie]

It does use MGRS for the CDU, UTM and MRGS are pretty much the same apart from the fact MGRS also includes a 100 km square identifier (the two letters in front of the grid).

[CrashEd]

Is there any way of adding a wp to your current flight plan or will it only be added to your current mission plan? I'm only able to see added WPs when I select Mission on the steerpoint selector.

[CrashEd]

... Also, how do I input lat/long coordinates into the CDU?

 

In the 'Smerch' mission the coordinates are (43-2-6N / 44-13-17) for the 3rd set of targets.

 

I've tried numerous ways to input this but I get a 'CDU Input Error' every time (I've checked that L/L is selected and that UTM isn't active ;))

[nomdeplume]

... Also, how do I input lat/long coordinates into the CDU? (43-2-6N / 44-13-17)

 

Use the same format as is shown on the CDU, just without the punctuation.

 

So for the latitude enter: 4326

and for the longitude enter: 0441317

[CrashEd]

Use the same format as is shown on the CDU, just without the punctuation.

 

So for the latitude enter: 4326

and for the longitude enter: 0441317

 

Cheers for that. Think I tried that but I'll have another go. Don't think I used a leading '0' in the longitude, so maybe that was where I was going wrong?

[kylania]

... Also, how do I input lat/long coordinates into the CDU?

 

In the 'Smerch' mission the coordinates are (43-2-6N / 44-13-17) for the 3rd set of targets.

 

 

 

 

[nomdeplume]

Aren't you supposed to press the "Copy" button (?3*) before making changes? I think following the steps above, you're modifying the position of WP 2, then making a copy of the modified position as WP 3 (so you have WP 2 and 3 at the same place).

[kylania]

Aren't you supposed to press the "Copy" button (?3*) before making changes? I think following the steps above, you're modifying the position of WP 2, then making a copy of the modified position as WP 3 (so you have WP 2 and 3 at the same place).

 

Waypoint 2's location is not changed by doing it with the method I described. (just tested! heh)

 

With UTM you can press the ?3* button first to create the waypoint, then press the bottom left OSB to copy the scratch pad into the current waypoint, which is what you're describing. Or you can type in the scratch pad first, then click ?3* to create a new waypoint 3 with the data from the scratch pad.

 

With L/L the bottom left OSB (the unlabeled "copy scratchpad into waypoint" button) is used for the EAST coordinate, so you can't make it first then copy into it like you can with UTM. At least I couldn't see how. hehe

[CrashEd]

Thanks for the screenies kylania :thumbup:

[kylania]

Bumping this since there's been like 4 threads directly related to this issue this week and no one searches. :)

[RogueRunner]

I'm still having issues with coordinates I get from JTAC. The simple mission I setup to test it only gives me GF30880 as a grid ref. When I try to enter that I get a CDU INPUT ERROR.

 

Please help!

 

Mission file attached.

aa.miz