JTAC, Bullseyes and Comm Chatter

[owenjones]

Hey everyone, purchased A10 last week and am really enjoying learning how to fly this beast. Definitely the most fun I've ever had with a flight-sim.

 

I had a short question regarding the post topics:

 

1. In any missions with other flights, they're usually calling in a billion bullseye targets. It gets so much that I turn off the UHF so I can hear the JTAC. Is there a better way to selectively cut down on comm chatter?
   
2. Is it worth chasing after these bullseye targets? If I'm in an area and are just tasked with destroying as many targets as possible are these valid targets?
   
3. If so, and this is related to all bullseye calls, how do I know what WP to set the bullseye from? My understand of bullseyes is that someone, usually a JTAC(?), will call a bullseye which is a heading and distance from an existing waypoint. How do I know what that original waypoint is. With UTM's there's always a MSN0001 waypoint that I use, are bullseyes the same?
   

 

Also semi-unrelated question: with laser guided bombs, is the best approach to set Laser Latching: ON in the tgp and constantly be zapping a target before & during bomb release? I've seen video tutorials both using this method and not lasing at all, and have seen success with both methods. Also lasers are completely useless for MAVs correct?

 

Thank you for the help, sorry I have so many posted questions (and about a billion more, but I'll save them for another day,) the community for this amazing game seems equally awesome!

Owen

Edited October 18, 2011 by owenjones

[Jona33]

JTAC's in game won't give you Bullseye calls. You will Receive them from AWACs or other aircraft. I'll try to find Warriorx's tutorial on bullseye calls. I recommend not chasing them because in game they are usually SAM's or Aircraft. Which is bad when you're in an A-10. I don't think there is a way to cut down on comm chatter. As a side note they will communicate with you on a VHF AM frequency, you will talk to your wingman on the UHF radio.

 

Welcome to the Forums.

 

EDIT: Right found his tutorial. Download it from here.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1173664%23post1173664

Edited October 18, 2011 by Jona33

[kylania]

1. Depends on the mission really. If you have SEAD flights looking for SAMs you might want to know where they are perhaps. As you found out though, you can turn off, turn down or simply change the channel on your radio to stop the calls.

 

2. Usually not, you should probably already have your mission orders in hand before even taking off. Now, if you're just playing on call CAS, then definitely listen to the calls and try to find them.

 

3. You can use the OFFSET page of the CDU. It's currently broken though in that it adds the magnetic variance to the end display so everything is usually a few degrees off though. Hopefully that'll be fixed with the next patch. Search around the forums, someone has a step by step PDF with how to use the OFFSET feature.

[MagnumHB]

If so, and this is related to all bullseye calls, how do I know what WP to set the bullseye from? My understand of bullseyes is that someone, usually a JTAC(?), will call a bullseye which is a heading and distance from an existing waypoint. How do I know what that original waypoint is. With UTM's there's always a MSN0001 waypoint that I use, are bullseyes the same?

The bullseye is an arbitrary point of reference common to all units of a given coalition. It is independent of any mission waypoints you or any other units have. It shows up on the TAD and in the mission editor as a set of concentric circles.

 

Also semi-unrelated question: with laser guided bombs, is the best approach to set Laser Latching: ON in the tgp and constantly be zapping a target before & during bomb release? I've seen video tutorials both using this method and not lasing at all, and have seen success with both methods.

Note that lasing is only required for weapons guidance when using LGBs (GBU-10/12). If you saw a tutorial without any lasing, either they were using auto-lase and you didn't notice, or they were using JDAMs or unguided bombs which do not make use of the laser. I like to set latch on and manually lase with 15-20 seconds fall time remaining when dropping LGBs.

 

Also lasers are completely useless for MAVs correct?

Correct, as we do not have LMAVs in-game.

[Fakum]

Regarding the laser,, Im not sure if there is any impact in my configurations, but if I set my TGP for "Latch On" (for any reason say marking targets fast)and I set a profile for a LGB to Auto 10 sec before impact,,, is there a conflict there in how the laser will fire once a LGB has been released?

[Harzach]

Regarding the laser,, Im not sure if there is any impact in my configurations, but if I set my TGP for "Latch On" (for any reason say marking targets fast)and I set a profile for a LGB to Auto 10 sec before impact,,, is there a conflict there in how the laser will fire once a LGB has been released?

 

There shouldn't be. When you drop a LGB, autolase should kick in normally. Latch only affects manual lasing.

[Fakum]

Thanks

[Fish]

In any missions with other flights, they're usually calling in a billion bullseye targets. It gets so much that I turn off the UHF so I can hear the JTAC. Is there a better way to selectively cut down on comm chatter? [/Quote]I like to turn it down, so i get a sense of the level of activity. Also adds to realism. Real pilots get used to de-conflicting chatter, and blocking out what's not relevant for them.

Is it worth chasing after these bullseye targets? They are unlikely to assign your tasking to someone else at the same time [/Quote]

Generally chasing them is futile in the heat of battle, and by the time to set up on them they have already been destroyed or moved. Rely on JTAC to manage the targets. There hardly going to assign your targets to another friendly asset. Bullseye calls are accurate to a mile only. You should however learn how to use the offset. See the link in my sig, and check out the offset video. Its pretty straight forward.

Is the best approach to set Laser Latching:[/Quote]

Yes, then toggle it on or off, but you don't have to worry about it once its toggled on. Generally only toggle on at the 10s TTI (time to impact). Otherwise you might expend the bombs kenitic energy, causing it to fall short.

[LostOblivion]

In my opinion, they should change how bull calls are made. It gets a little weird some times when someone hogs the frequency for 10 minutes doing a bull callout for every individual group they see that are really close to eachother. Things like...

 

"Uzi 1, tally armor at bullseye 345 for 17"

"Uzi 1, tally AAA at bullseye 345 for 17"

"Uzi 1, tally infantry at bullseye 345 for 17"

"Uzi 1, tally infantry at bullseye 345 for 17"

"Uzi 1, tally armor at bullseye 347 for 17"

"Uzi 1, tally armor at bullseye 346 for 17"

and then

"Uzi 1, tally armor at bullseye 302 for 12"

"Uzi 1, tally armor at bullseye 302 for 12"

"Uzi 1, tally utility at bullseye 304 for 12"

 

instead of accumulating this information and call them out all at once based on what they realistically see, e.g.

 

"Uzi 1, tally armor, infantry, and AAA at bullseye 345 for 17"

and then

"Uzi 1, tally armor and utility at bullseye 303 for 12"

Edited October 18, 2011 by LostOblivion

[cichlidfan]

The worst is still when I have a zues as a target, just one, and after giving me the information on the target I will get warned about triple-A from the same location.

 

May as well be saying, "Be advised, target may shoot at you!"

[Evil.Bonsai]

Regarding the bullseye calls, they're pretty useful if you've completed YOUR mission and you just want some practice. In one of the campaign missions, I heard a flight calling out "attacking utility" so I used the cdu offset, found where they were at and got a couple of truck kills with a couple remaining mk82s.

 

Just turn it down/tune it out until your done with your mission, then go get some!

[owenjones]

I like to turn it down, so i get a sense of the level of activity. Also adds to realism. Real pilots get used to de-conflicting chatter, and blocking out what's not relevant for them.

Generally chasing them is futile in the heat of battle, and by the time to set up on them they have already been destroyed or moved. Rely on JTAC to manage the targets. There hardly going to assign your targets to another friendly asset. Bullseye calls are accurate to a mile only. You should however learn how to use the offset. See the link in my sig, and check out the offset video. Its pretty straight forward.

Yes, then toggle it on or off, but you don't have to worry about it once its toggled on. Generally only toggle on at the 10s TTI (time to impact). Otherwise you might expend the bombs kenitic energy, causing it to fall short.

 

Ha! Your videos have been some of my most useful and I've had your video page bookmarked pretty much since I found it. Always use markpoints now, after watching you hit targets all over the place with them. Good stuff!

 

Did not know that about the laser guidance actually diminishing the bombs potential; now I feel I am confused...

 

Better to set Latch ON, and manually laz target at 10s TTI, or set bombs to autolaz at 10S TTI?

 

If they are actually the same thing I think I would prefer manual lazing as otherwise I will turn on obstruct the view of the target.

 

Thanks everyone!

[LostOblivion]

Also, when the JTAC states remarks, dead air threats nearby will simply appear as nothing, followed by the location of the dead unit, e.g., " 1 nm west", instead of nothing, or "AAA 1 nm west" if it was still alive.

[Cholerix]

Regarding the bullseye calls, they're pretty useful if you've completed YOUR mission and you just want some practice. In one of the campaign missions, I heard a flight calling out "attacking utility" so I used the cdu offset, found where they were at and got a couple of truck kills with a couple remaining mk82s.

 

It is easier to hook the SPI of other flights on the TAD. It gives you perfect coordinates even for air targets.

[Fish]

...Did not know that about the laser guidance actually diminishing the bombs potential; now I feel I am confused...

 

Actually found out LBG's in A10 are released by default in OPTLase mode, which throws them ahead of the target giving them lots of kinetic energy for the hit. You can release in pure ballistic mode, but you have to change it in the profile page. Hope this 'un-confuses' you a little'

 

Still lots to learn about this sim.

 

(and thanks for kind words!)

Edited October 24, 2011 by Fish

[nomdeplume]

Better to set Latch ON, and manually laz target at 10s TTI, or set bombs to autolaz at 10S TTI?

 

If they are actually the same thing I think I would prefer manual lazing as otherwise I will turn on obstruct the view of the target.

They're exactly the same thing. Which you use it just a matter of preference. Auto-lase lets you concentrate on flying and communicating rather than pressing a button at a particular time. But, you still need to be mindful of keeping a clear LoS between your TGP and the target so you're typically pretty engaged with that anyway.

 

Latch on/off is also just a preference. It has no bearing on the auto-lase function, only for when you're manually lasing the target. Just means you don't have to hold the button down. I rarely use it personally, but again - that's purely a personal preference. There's no right/better way. So long as you don't miss, anyway. :)

[Evil.Bonsai]

It is easier to hook the SPI of other flights on the TAD. It gives you perfect coordinates even for air targets.

 

What if those other flights aren't showing up on the TAD? The only part of the manual I've printed is the TAD section, and I'm still not that comfortable with it. Still trying to figure out network and group IDs and such. Sure, the manual explains what they are, more or less, but not much on HOW to use them. I've seen other flights in some missions, but not others. I have no idea why that is.

 

For me, it IS much easier to just enter the bullseye offset calls as a mission point, point tgp then search for targets.

 

I've sort of got the idea of how hook works (to/from bulls, ownship, etc), just have no idea where to go from there. I've also used it to designate spi (TMS LEFT I think. Not sure at the moment if it's long or short) when JTAC sends data. Although by that time I've already entered the MGRS coords in cdu.