JTAC once again - devils cross

[maxmax]

I need to ask this once again, if someone has managed to get it working. Didn't really find any answers in the forums.

 

The problem: I don't get targets after contacting jtac in the first mission in devil's cross. I've set my id to both 1-1 and 2-1 after take off and neither seem to do the trick. I've also left the id as it is, no difference. Those are the solutions I've found in the forums.

 

In videos on youtube the pilot gets the info on the mfcd saying that info is received. I've never managed that.

 

If anyone has the details on exactly how to do. Do I for example need to set the cdu to mark before receiving the info?

 

If I wanted to do it manually, how do I set the numbers, i.e, MMXXXXXX, manually into the cdu? Step by step that is. click this click that etc.

 

I suspect I'm not the only one struggling with this. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

Some kind of manual would be greatly appreciated.

Edited March 5, 2011 by maxmax
added stuff

[kingneptune117]

sometimes it works for me in that mission, sometime it doesnt. Either way, I dont understand how to complete the mission.

 

What do I need to do in order to complete the mission we are talking about?

[Soundman]

I need to ask this once again, if someone has managed to get it working. Didn't really find any answers in the forums.

 

The problem: I don't get targets after contacting jtac in the first mission in devil's cross. I've set my id to both 1-1 and 2-1 after take off and neither seem to do the trick. I've also left the id as it is, no difference. Those are the solutions I've found in the forums.

 

In videos on youtube the pilot gets the info on the mfcd saying that info is received. I've never managed that.

 

If anyone has the details on exactly how to do. Do I for example need to set the cdu to mark before receiving the info?

 

If I wanted to do it manually, how do I set the numbers, i.e, MMXXXXXX, manually into the cdu? Step by step that is. click this click that etc.

 

I suspect I'm not the only one struggling with this. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

Some kind of manual would be greatly appreciated.

 

Don't feel bad, I'm still have difficulty getting it to work too. And, as you've said...any help would be appreciated. Maybe someone can post a video on the procedure so we could see if maybe somehow we are missing some steps.

[maxmax]

Found a video linked to from the forum:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=62934

 

I've seen it before, but can't get the thing to work.

 

I'm hoping that it's a bug and that the recent patch will fix it.

[Irregular programming]

I had no problems with the JTAC in the first mission of the Devil's cross, I have flown it several times trying to get a 100 points.

 

Do you confirm the nine-line?

 

I have never had to change the ID either.

Edited March 5, 2011 by Irregular programming

[Insanatrix]

I've never gotten the JTAC to send data over the SADL in that mission and I have no idea how to complete it either. I've given up mostly on trying to use the JTAC. It's hit and miss right now so hopefully they can fix it up in time.

[Skoop]

^ Same here the JTAC is a waste of time for me right now. You call them up and they tell you about the target, but give no red triangle so they are useless. I envisioned more in depth control, like the JTAC lasing each tank and giving a red triangle for each tank that you can slew to to make it easy. Right now it's a hassle, they give you coordinates that you have to punch in to get to, and even then it's a general area, you still have to search the area for the exact target and expose your self to enemy fire.

For the campaign I have been editing the waypoints in the mission planner, I put waypoints over every known target in the mission planner. In flight I use those as referances to find the enemy. Since I started doing that I have been making great progress in the campaign.

I suspect that maybe the issues the military version had with the detail of the JTAC and why some of the content was taken out in the beta maybe why the JTACs suck so bad and are not as helpful as they should be.

I just saw a vid of a JTAC directing an A-10 for gun runs in Afgan, and it seemed so effective in RL, but in DCS in needs serious work.

[Skoop]

After further Reading I may need to look into the editor. I bet the problem with the campaign JTacs are that they are set to coordinate only with no line of site to the target. I think I will mess with the ME to see if I can make the Campaign JTACS more effective.

[Insanatrix]

I've already looked at them, they are set just like you would set one in your own mission. They just don't give data half of the time.

[Garfieldo]

(...) I put waypoints over every known target in the mission planner. In flight I use those as referances to find the enemy. Since I started doing that I have been making great progress in the campaign. (...)

 

I did not know you could edit WPs in the Mission Planner - nice. :smartass:

 

Since I have been flying online mostly - where the Mission Planner does not work anyway - I got accustomed to setting up my targets manually before takeoff.

So for any known enemy pos I convert the L/L coords and punch them into a new WP named accordingly, for example "AAA1".

I also set up some generic/blank WPs that are simply called TGT1, TGT2 etc. keeping the WP page open during flight. So if any target coordinates are given during the mission, I can just enter them in the UFC/CDU right away and insert the WP at the appropriate place in the FPM menu. With a little practice you can do it VERY quickly.

 

This technique improved my response time in a big way. Who needs SADL anyway? :P

[Smokin Hole]

I get the red triangle with group id 4. However, it only displays for a few seconds. So instead I do something similar to the post above. Works fine.

[Dropbear]

anyone tried this post patch?

[maxmax]

I think I'll try setting waypoints in mission planner. That sounds like a solution :)

 

I never get the red triangle even though ireadn the 9-line back and get the reply standby for data or something like that,

[maxmax]

Tried post patch, yes. No difference :/

[Dropbear]

yeh this mission annoys the heck out of me .. I arrive and circle at the CP and radio in, and he tells me "no further tasking available" and that im "free to go".. sigh... so I do some circle work and then head off towards the first IP and after the second or third radio in, he finally realises he has a use for me and gives me the details...

 

from there it works reasonably smoothly, except the coordinates arn't exactly exact, and you need to do a few multiple passes, flying around the area until the convoy appears..

 

I even managed to kill two friendlies using mavs .. Oops... :(

 

I eventually found the convoy, killed a couple, but sustained damage during the run and had to limp back to base.

[zamboni]

Here is a post I did last night explaining some things in the mission

 

The reason why JTAC says no tasking is available is because you hit the CP a little too early. Most likely (because of mission triggers) the convoys will only start to roll 20 minutes after mission startup (there is a small chance they roll earlier). If you call JTAC before they start to roll he will say "no tasking is available".

 

I've had no problems getting the data triangle when I set my Groupd ID to 01 right before I contact JTAC. If he doesn't send data with ID at 01, check out and change the ID to what it give you when you take off, contack JTAC again to see if it works. If it still doesn't write down the coordinates and manually enter them in the CDU :). If all that fails, you still have plenty of time to try and find the columns.

 

Even with the "updated missions" after they patch, they are still screwed up for the first devil's cross mission. A C-130 cant figure how to taxi and blocks the taxiway for the tornados that return. They block the runway and you cant get clearance from the tower when you want to return home. They also block the runway so CAS flights 2 and 3 are prevented from taking off.

 

I tweaked the mission a bit last night and did the following:

 

1) Moved the C-130 to a place where he will taxi correctly and take off

2) Moved all the landings away from your airport because they won't properly taxi off of the runway

3) Edited the waypoint heights for CAS 1, 3 and 4 so they will not crash into the ground at WP 3 (They may help you delay both of the columns)

4) I added a message (with a sound) to notify you when each of the columns of tanks start to move. Think of it as a message from JTAC saying "They're rolling, I am now available". JTAC will say there is no tasking available if you call him before the columns start to roll.

5) I also added messages to tell you when the column delay triggers trip. They happen about 50 minutes after the columns start to roll. You get points for the delay when these messages pop up. Hit your ' key to show what % of the mission is completed. If you end the mission before 50 minutes after they roll, it is impossible to get more than a 51 on this mission.

 

I'm attaching my tweaked mission (mission 01B I believe is the same as the 01A mission except that it is raining (?)). backup your old campaign mission and drop this on in your campaign folder, or load it up as a single mission.

Edited March 7, 2011 by zamboni

[PhoenixBvo]

The problem I have with that mission is not so much JTAC (I got the mystical fleeting red triangle with Group ID 1), but the lack of someone telling me I have succeeded and may go home. Yes, the mission description states you have to hinder the advancing tank columns and you're not expected to kill them all, but how much hindrance is considered enough?

Also, my wingman tends to live very shortly, he takes forever to aquire a target for a maverick and then gets eaten by Shilkas...

 

Does someone know the exact success conditions for this mission?

 

EDIT: Thanks zamboni, hadn't read your post yet. Will try the tweaked mission. Does it still progress the campaign if I complete this one?

Edited March 7, 2011 by PhoenixBvo

[Grimes]

Does someone know the exact success conditions for this mission?

 

After a set period of time, anywhere between 52 and 72 minutes in the mission, points are awarded every 2 minutes that groups of the red coalition are not in their respective staging area.

 

Basically you have 2 enemy groups advancing, they each have a zone they are trying to get to. Your job is to try to kill them to prevent em from getting in the zone. The longer they are out of the zone the more points the player gets.

 

All of the campaigns have some pretty neat missions in them when you dive in and look at all of the AI tasks and triggers.

[Teeps]

I prefer not to know the exact scoring conditions - I do my best and then I go home.

[PhoenixBvo]

Yes, Teeps, normally I'd agree, but this particular mission just got on my nerves... So, now I just know better what to do. Thanks Grimes.

Edited March 7, 2011 by PhoenixBvo

[coolts]

has anyone tried the other campaigns? are they working? as this ones borked i will avoid. tried it 3 times and i get variations on the problems listed above.

 

i am now calling this "beta7" from now on ;)

[Wayc00lio]

I just checked this mission out in the ME. Very interesting sifting through to see the conditions set by the advancing tanks and actually visualise where the staging areas are. I'm going to fly it again in invincible mode with unlimited MAVs to see if I can figure it out.

 

In the flight, I see that the JTAC only assigns one of the two groups of tanks but in the ME it can assign both. Does this mean I need to check out after killing one lot and check in again to kill the other or is it just random which group of tanks I get assigned?

[zamboni]

I just checked this mission out in the ME. Very interesting sifting through to see the conditions set by the advancing tanks and actually visualise where the staging areas are. I'm going to fly it again in invincible mode with unlimited MAVs to see if I can figure it out.

 

In the flight, I see that the JTAC only assigns one of the two groups of tanks but in the ME it can assign both. Does this mean I need to check out after killing one lot and check in again to kill the other or is it just random which group of tanks I get assigned?

 

From what I gather with the triggers and timing, you will only get assigned one column or the other...and if I am correct, the majority of times you will get assigned the more Western column....so don't be surprised if you almost never get assigned the Eastern column if you replay the mission a bit.

 

I was wrong about the CAS-1 helping you out on that Eastern column. I looked at the ME and the tartets assigned for that flight are Helis, AA, IFV, & APCs...but NOT tanks...and the tanks lead the column so that flight will not help delay them. Also that flight will not push from their hold orbit until one of the columns come within 3500m of your front lines. (Note: I think the triggers are cool in that once the columns reach the front lines, your front line retreats a bit, tries to hold and then repeats until the NME reaches their staging area).

 

I'm trying to think of a way to modify that mission a bit more to see if I can get JTAC to switch targets if you delay one column a bit...we will see how that works out :).

 

I honestly think that the mission goals and points are a bit unfair for the loadout that you are given to start the mission. 4 mavs each + only a half tank of gas + no refuel. If you somehow delay both columns, you have to wait an hour and half total mission time to be able to get all 100 points for the mission. That is tough to impossible to do with such short fuel, and to wait around that hour and half is a real waste especially if you are out of ordinance. You could just RTB and ctrl-z to speed the mission through or something

[mtuckner]

The cloud cover drives me nuts.

[Wayc00lio]

Well I virtually wiped out one column and flew around for a bit but still the mission success rate was only 50%. I can never seem to get it further than that. I was airbourne for over an hour. I think I'll play it again and just hit the lead tank each time and slowly work through it like that so that they do not advance. Do I need to be hitting each column at the same time or just the assigned one?