TAD, TGP, CDU oh my!

[rjryerson]

~S~ All! Wonderful forum and thanks to everyone who has put up the multitudes of tutorials and pdfs to help guys like me.

 

 

I'm having problems finding targets assigned by the JTAC. Hopefully I can explain it so it makes sense. I haven't tried entering the coords using the CDU yet, but my gut is telling me that I'll have the same issues there too.

 

I'll set up a quick mission with lots of enemy graound units, I also will have icons on to help me until I become more comfortable with it.

 

Basically, what I'm doing is contacting the JTAC, receiving the 9-line and remarks, responding with the correct 9 line readback. When I receive the SADL datalink message, I respond with WILCO and am able to slew the TAD cursor over the red triangle. I'm able to hook it and set that position as SPI, all rather quickly.

 

When I slew all sensors to the SPI, the TGP does indeed slew, but when it settles on the SPI, nothing but mud in the display. Slewing the TGP around, switching from CCD to BHOT/WHOT, usually doesn't do any good for me. I'll try and repeat the whole process starting with hooking on the TAD red triangle, but I usually get fed up and point my nose at a group of ground units, slew the TGP to this area and see if it's my target but calling the JTAC with 'CONTACT'.

 

I'm pretty sure the problem is the targets are moving, but I still can't find them, even when slewing in their "general" direction of travel.

 

Anyone see anything wrong with my process? Is there any tricks to finding this buggers?

 

Any tips are greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks!

 

-Rick

[Zeke]

Did you zoom in with the TGP?

[Teriander]

Damn good question! I 100% have the same issue and I end up attacking at group of targets around that area and JTAC usually response with "That's not the right target!" or something like that.

 

But I have exact same issue!

 

 

Zeke, Zooming in with TGP only shows dirt after attaching the SPI on the red triangle, and swinging the TGP on the SPI.

Edited April 27, 2011 by Teriander

[rjryerson]

Did you zoom in with the TGP?

 

Yeah, zooming in, in both WIDE or NARO FoV.

 

after slewing all sensors to SPI, and finding nothing but mud, I'll try various things. zooming in, change wide / naro, whot / whot / ccd. At this point I start slewing the TGP, usually zoomed all the way out in WIDE FoV, using the mode that seems to have the best contrast.

[dikkeduif]

When you are slewing in your TAD make sure your TAD is in EXP 2 mode. You can do this (with the TAD soi) by pressing the china hat forward (v key) twice. You'll see it says EXP 2 mode in the top right corner. Now the map will not move and you can still zoom in with the DMS forward button. This will allow you to set the SPI more precisely

[sobek]

The JTAC usually does not dlink you the exact position of individual units, instead he points you at a group (tank platoon, e.g.). You then have to locate the individual units in the proximity of the location dlinked by the JTAC.

[rjryerson]

When you are slewing in your TAD make sure your TAD is in EXP 2 mode. You can do this (with the TAD soi) by pressing the china hat forward (v key) twice. You'll see it says EXP 2 mode in the top right corner. Now the map will not move and you can still zoom in with the DMS forward button. This will allow you to set the SPI more precisely

 

Yeah I found that by accident; definitely makes it easier to SPI the area.

 

 

The JTAC usually does not dlink you the exact position of individual units, instead he points you at a group (tank platoon, e.g.). You then have to locate the individual units in the proximity of the location dlinked by the JTAC.

 

I kinda figured this was the case but was hoping there was 'something else' I missed and would make it easier to find them.

 

Considering this is giving me troubles, is there a way to have the JTAC update the information? If these guys are moving, then I really won't be able to find them.

[arteedecco]

Considering this is giving me troubles, is there a way to have the JTAC update the information? If these guys are moving, then I really won't be able to find them.

 

I also have been working on my TGP skills as I feel that others are quicker and more capable at disseminating and prosecuting targets, while I buzz around saying, "where is everything!?"

 

One thing that helps me a lot is practicing with labels ON (Left-shift + F10, if enabled in the options). This way you can calibrate what you're doing versus what "think" you are doing in relationship to the targets actual location.

 

As far as the JTAC goes, sometimes they will mark targets for you and give you bearing / distance from the mark. Depends upon the JTAC unit of course. It's generally easy to see the mark in the TGP and with your Mk.I Eyeball. Also, in some missions the JTAC will provide timed updates based upon the mission creator's programming.

 

Right now the JTAC will give you a ballpark and you have scan down the targets, which ranges from difficult (e.g. targets in a city, or single target instead of formation) to very difficult (e.g. moving target, especially if off-road).

 

I would certainly like the JTAC logic to be updated. It seems reasonable that if you ask for updates, they should provide more talk-on to the targets, especially if the JTAC is still in contact with the target. I would also expect that a Predator UAV should be able to give you exact and up-to-date / moving coordinates (maybe even shared, moving sADL SPI on the TAD???, not sure if that's possible in RL?), while a ground recon team would have a limited LOS and useful area in which they could talk you onto targets.

[redtail]

When you are slewing in your TAD make sure your TAD is in EXP 2 mode. You can do this (with the TAD soi) by pressing the china hat forward (v key) twice. You'll see it says EXP 2 mode in the top right corner. Now the map will not move and you can still zoom in with the DMS forward button. This will allow you to set the SPI more precisely

 

:thumbup: thank you. damn you learn something new everyday. this is why i love the forums;)

[sobek]

Considering this is giving me troubles, is there a way to have the JTAC update the information? If these guys are moving, then I really won't be able to find them.

 

If they are moving across the open, they will kick up dust, which should be easy to see on the TGP. If they are moving on the road, they will be closely spaced, so the JTAC will place the coordinates very close to the convoy. Hard thing to spot is non moving targets, which i suspect is the case.

 

Move around a lot between CCD/BHOT/WHOT modes and adjust the gain and and contrast(?) settings of the FLIR to compensate for light conditions.

[S77th-konkussion]

On a somewhat unrelated note- if that username is your real email address- I think I'd recommend changing it...

[rjryerson]

On a somewhat unrelated note- if that username is your real email address- I think I'd recommend changing it...

 

How would I go about changing it?

[arteedecco]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you have to create a new forum user. I went through the "User CP" nav menu link located at the top of the forum (Just below the DCS header) and couldn't figure out how to do it. I suspect it's hardwired once you create the user.

[S77th-konkussion]

^^ Yes. Better to do it now while you are new- unless one of the mods can have it fixed.

 

They delete dozens of spammer posts & accounts here everyday. Some are "bots" many are live spammers.

[sobek]

I suspect it's hardwired once you create the user.

 

No it is not!

 

Write a PM to const (if i'm not mistaken), he is the forum admin and can change the relevant database entries.

[arteedecco]

No it is not!

 

Write a PM to const (if i'm not mistaken), he is the forum admin and can change the relevant database entries.

 

Thanks sobek, good to know! By "hardwired" I meant, you have no control to change it yourself.

[bartleby]

Move around a lot between CCD/BHOT/WHOT modes and adjust the gain and and contrast(?) settings of the FLIR to compensate for light conditions.

 

This should be emphasized, too. I've had huge results from adjusting FLIR level and gain. I usually start by setting the level and then bumping up the gain until everything pops.

 

Also, range seems to have a big effect on the best FLIR settings. Far away objects require higher levels and gain, closer less. So keep that in mind as you ingress.