Sharks, TARS, and Warthogs

[Karon]

Sharks, TARS, and Warthogs

 

This brief document covers the use of the T.A.R.S. with the Kamov Ka-50.

 

A special thanks goes to EinsteinEP for his essential help in the correction and review phase.

 

 

Summary

1. Introduction

2. R-800L1

3. R-828

4. An example

5. Appendix A: ATC/NDB table

 

 

 

1. Introduction

I would like to share a couple of hints about the TARS (Tactical Aviation Radio System). These suggestions are an outcome of several hours spent testing and looking for a good balance between realism, flexibility and practicality. I hope you'll find something interesting in this thread or, at least, a reason to discuss.

 

As you maybe know, TARS is a plugin for Teamspeak and the DCS Series made by Headspace Headspace. It allows the use of the in-cockpit radios just as in real life, with interference due to broken line of sight (LOS), frequency setting, and much more.

You can find more info here: http://www.excessiveheadspace.com/tars/

 

There are two voice radios aboard the Ka-50: the R-800L1 VHF and the R-828 VHF.

 

The SPU-9 knob allows you to select on which radio you will talk (by changing the microphone input):

- VHF-2: R-800L1 VHF

- VHF-1: R-828 VHF

- SW: Short Wave (not implemented)

- GND CREW: Intercom to ground crew (you can also just open the door if you are on the ground).

 

 

 

2. R-800L1

This is your main radio. You will use this one to communicate with other flights, ATCs, and A-10Cs.

Technical details:

Freq. Range: from 100Mhz to 149Mhz and from 220Mhz to 400Mhz.

Maximum distance: 150km

Notes:

1. It requires LOS to work properly. Mountains and other obstacles can drastically reduce the quality of communication.

2. The VHF-UHF boundary is at 300MHz so you may hear the R-800L1 referenced as a “VHF/UHF radio” sometimes.

 

 

You can interact with this radio by the controls in the R-800L1 VHF Radio Control System [see ED manual 6-99 for more info]. The main controls you will use are the frequency wheels. With these wheels you can select the frequency on which the R-800L1 transmits and receives. Another important control is the “Guard” switch. It immediately tunes your R-800L1 to the guard frequency, 121.5 MHz (this frequency is not related to the TARS Emergency Frequency that you can find in the TARS Control Panel).

 

Sadly the ADF radio functions are not currently supported by TARS and only work with in-game radios (AI wingmen, ATC, etc.).

 

Important note (thanks to Eddie): the Ka-50s data link also uses the R-800, so in order for a flight of Ka-50s to employ data link they must be using the same R-800 frequency. This can lead to issues when using the R-800 for intra-flight/package comms with more than one flight of Ka-50s.

 

 

3. R828

This radio is intended to be used for communications with FAC and ground troops, however it is a good “intercom” for Ka-50s. It works between 20MHz and 60MHz on 10 different channels:

 

35.650; 25.675; 48.550; 35.650; 67.775; 52.825; 48.250; 42.050; 52.750; 23.725

 

Employing this radio is very easy: select a channel then press (and keep pressed) the little ‘TUN’ button until the light below it goes off.

 

 

Even if this the R-828 has prefixed frequencies, you can always change them editing the file named “r-828.lua”.

 

 

 

4. An example

What does having two different radios mean? Well, as an example, you can listen on both then choose which radio you want to transmit from. The main advantage is the ability to use a different radio for each flight and a common frequency for inter-force communications.

 

This is a representation of how we usually manage frequencies in Fighter Combat Sims:

 

 

Each flight has its own “intercom” frequency and all of them can communicate with the others by using the IntForce Frequency (145MHz AM).

 

We give a lot of importance to the AFAC role performed by Ka-50s. A solution like the one above allows the components of the AFAC flight to communicate in freedom without disturbing other flights and, at the same time, having a free channel to report tallies, status, SAM launches, and so on directly to A-10Cs.

 

Obviously, this is just one example, and there are many possible combinations: for example you can use the UHF to communicate with Kamovs because the R-800L1 can reach some UHF frequencies. I suggest you to test a lot and find your own configuration.

 

This few lines are not enough to explain the complexity and the huge sense of immersion that this little plugin adds to the game. However, I strongly suggest you to give it a try, you won’t regret it!

 

 

 

5. Appendix A: ATC/NDB table

 

* [] = NDB type.

 

 

Info:

 

 

DOCUMENT INFO

Name: Sharks, TARS, and Warthogs

Version: 0.91

PDF: http://www.fightercombatsims.net/ServizioUtenti/red.devil/FCS-TARS_eng.pdf

History:

• 14/04/2012: Made public

• 18/04/2012: Added Eddi's for R800L1

FIGHTER COMBAT SIMULATIONS

Ka-50 “SCARFACE” Group

Ten. Lorenzo “red.devil”

red.devil@fightercombatsims.net

 

 

Edited April 18, 2012 by Karon

[_Heater_]

awesome work my friend :thumbup:

[Gaanalma]

RED... Great JOB!!!!

[Eddie]

Very nice.

 

But I have noticed that you didn't mention the fact that the Ka-50s data link also uses the R-800, so in order for a flight of Ka-50s to employ data link they must be using the same R-800 frequency. This can lead to issues when using the R-800 for intra-flight/package comms with more than one flight of Ka-50s.

[Yurgon]

Good read, thanks for sharing!

[gillesdrone]

In the 3rd-wing we make flightsKA50 A10c and we use frequences R800 VHF2 for the connections KA50 and the datalink and frequence VHF1 R828 on the channel 1 for the liaison KA50-A10c it works very indeed,

Thank you for your complementary explanations ;)

[Grimes]

Another great guide Red.Devil!

[Karon]

Thank you guys :)

 

Very nice.

 

But I have noticed that you didn't mention the fact that the Ka-50s data link also uses the R-800, so in order for a flight of Ka-50s to employ data link they must be using the same R-800 frequency. This can lead to issues when using the R-800 for intra-flight/package comms with more than one flight of Ka-50s.

 

You are right. I didn't considered that because we hardly fly with more than one flight (and this document, like my previous one, was originally intended for internal use only).

However what you have said is very important and I'll include it in the next update.

[Headspace]

Pretty cool dude. I really like seeing people get a lot out of the mod like you are.

[Chizzy101]

Thanks for sharing red.devil! :thumbup:

[Karon]

Document updated with Eddi's note (pdf version too).

 

Pretty cool dude. I really like seeing people get a lot out of the mod like you are.

 

Thanks to you Headspace for you awesome work! As I have already told you, I would love to see your work fully and officially integrated in DCS! :)

[seikdel]

Much thanks for the guide! I just got this puppy working for my first flight with the 402nd VTHS and boy oh boy was it amazing! I'm looking forward to adding ADF slaving capability.

 

As an aside, does anyone know why we have a TUN button and why the frequency doesn't just switch automatically? Also, can these frequencies be changed on the real bird by the ground crew?

[_Lion_]

Really appreciated!

Thanks

[FlyNate]

I need some SERIOUS help with TARS, lol. I have DCS:World(A-10C) 1.2.6 (latest), TARS 1.0.2.4, and TS3 3.0.10.1 (back-dated my TS for compatibility with TARS)

 

No matter what I do, my TS3 still says "TARS not running." AND it isn't, lol. I have tried so many different thing and I was hoping someone would be willing to tell me how to properly setup TARS for use with my unit. We are a fairly new unit and we would love to add a little more realism. If someone would please help me get my TARS up, then I can pass the info to the guys in my squadron...

 

Thanks