Datalink targets

[narf]

Hello everyone,

 

I have a few problems with the datalink fuction. I already read the manual, checked some tutorials on youtube but it still does not work:

 

I am selecting a target with Shkval and locking it. Then I "save" the target by pressing one of the four green buttons in the Datalink panel (e.g. Other Type), then "SEND/MEM". The ABRIS display shows the target as a blue square with the a number 1 in the middle. Everything fine so far.

 

Then I press the button "Other type" again. The blue symbol in the ABRIS is flashing now. I press "DL TO ALL" and then "SEND/MEM". After I press that button, all previously pressed buttons are not lit anymore.

 

I think that should be correct to send the target to my wingman. When I select "Wingman -> Engage -> Data link target -> Target", the wingman always replies with "Negative".

 

What did I forget?

 

I tried it in a singleplayer mission, turned Game Mode, Game Avionics mode etc. on and off. But it is not working. I created a simple multiplayer mission with one Client Helicopter (me), a AI wingman and an enemy tank. Doesn't work either.

 

Can anyone help me with that? I am doing it exactly as described in the manual and as seen in numerous youtube tutorials but my wingman always says "negative" :mad:

 

Can anypne tell me how the "Automatic turn on target mode" works? As far as I understood, the helicopter can automatically turn to a selected Datalink target, but I did not found out how :(

 

Thanks so much!

 

Chris

[Devrim]

You should press RESET buton (on Targeting Mode Control Panel) after first SEND/MEM buton.

 

Later, press one of type buton, Wingman and Send.

 

Shortly, If I'm not wrong, this process should be like that:

 

1) With Shkval, lock the target.

2) Select target type,

3) Press MEM. (If necessary repeat last 3 steps)

 

* Press RESET. (This step is annoying me!)

 

1) Select target type,

2) Select Wingman (or ALL)

3) SEND.

 

***

 

As You know, if you press Automatic Turn on Target buton, Ka-50 bears to target that you locked via Shkval. But Auto Pilot channels must be ON (especially HEADING channel) and Flight Director must be OFF. (But, I have no idea about turning to "Datalink Target". I'd like to try that.)

Edited July 15, 2012 by Devrim

[narf]

That means i just forgot to press the RESET button? Will try that tomorrow and tell you if it worked. Thank you! ;-)

[Devrim]

Right. I know that because I used to forget it too. :)

 

By the way, I added Auto-Turn Target thing my message.

 

See you.

[narf]

By the way, I added Auto-Turn Target thing my message.

 

What?! :)

[Devrim]

I wanted to say that I updated my first message about Auto-Turn function. :)

 

As You know, if you press Automatic Turn on Target buton, Ka-50 bears to target that you locked via Shkval. But Auto Pilot channels must be ON (especially HEADING channel) and Flight Director must be OFF. (But, I have no idea about turning to "Datalink Target". I'd like to try that.)

[narf]

Ah okay :)

 

I saw a youtube tutorial today where a guy was selecting several downlink targets and the heli was turning to their direction. Really cool.

 

And thanks for the auto turn information, i had the autopilot disabled all the time. over 400 pages of manual is too much for one day. Bought that thing yesterday :)

[Devrim]

:) Your welcome.

 

It so funny and exciting to read it. You'll learn new things in every page.

 

Now, I must care about "Auto-Turn to DL Targets". I'm wondering it.

 

Take care...

[Yurgon]

Now, I must care about "Auto-Turn to DL Targets". I'm wondering it.

 

I'm pretty sure there's no "Auto turn to datalink target" functionality per se, but the combination of "Auto turn to target" (as in: "Auto turn to where the Shkval is pointed at") and "DL Ingress" (as in: "Center Shkval on datalink target") will create the exact same result - and if the DL target is outside the Shkval boundaries, the heli will actually yaw as much as necessary. :-)

[TurboHog]

You should press RESET buton (on Targeting Mode Control Panel) after first SEND/MEM buton.

 

Later, press one of type buton, Wingman and Send.

 

Shortly, If I'm not wrong, this process should be like that:

 

1) With Shkval, lock the target.

2) Select target type,

3) Press MEM. (If necessary repeat last 3 steps)

 

* Press RESET. (This step is annoying me!)

 

1) Select target type,

2) Select Wingman (or ALL)

3) SEND.

 

***

 

As You know, if you press Automatic Turn on Target buton, Ka-50 bears to target that you locked via Shkval. But Auto Pilot channels must be ON (especially HEADING channel) and Flight Director must be OFF. (But, I have no idea about turning to "Datalink Target". I'd like to try that.)

 

RESET annoyed me too. That why I now use this:

 

You can turn the laser off without resetting the the targeting system (and thus, the shkval). You can select a DL target as long as there is no laser range indication, which happens when laser is turned off. You can turn it on again after sending the DL, acquire the range once again by pressing the lock target button again. I've created an easy hotkey 'L' to turn the laser on or off. This way you don't have to ingress on the datalink you've just created to get a fast lock on target again.

 

For auto turn. Select the target just like you would do when you send it to a wingman. Now, when the desired target is selected, dont select a wingman, but press 'DL Ingress'. This button will stay lit. A range to target will appear in the HUD and the icon on the ABRIS has changed to indicate that this target is selected for DL ingress. Now, press auto-turn on target with AP on.

To select another target. First press DL ingress to unselect the current. Then repeat the above.

 

Notice that turning the targeting system off and then on again, will automaticly point your shkval at the Ingress Datalink. That's how a wingman can quickly find a datalink but it is also usefull for yourself.

Edited July 16, 2012 by TurboHog

[Yurgon]

And thanks for the auto turn information, i had the autopilot disabled all the time. over 400 pages of manual is too much for one day. Bought that thing yesterday :)

 

Hold on. You've been flying the Shark for a day and you're already into the targeting subsystem? :-)

 

But seriously, take it slowly, tiny steps, one at a time. IMO, mastering the auto-pilot and all dependent functions should be your primary concern for the time being, because flying the Shark is one of the most difficult tasks that DCS: BS has to offer. Hover, accelerate, decelerate, take-off, land, take-off with 0 forward speed, perform a rolling take-off, and learn how the Shark will actually do most of the flying if you want it to.

 

Learn how to trim (and/or find your own way) and decide whether you prefer to fly with Flight Director or without it.

 

I flew the Shark for two weeks before I even looked at targeting and weapons employment, and I think that was a good choice. So, my advice would be to leave advanced topics like targeting (and datalink and "Auto turn to target") for future lessons and just get a feel for the dynamics of flight with various loadouts first (the difference between no weapons, 25% fuel or full weapons load and 100% fuel is just so dramatic...!).

 

Basic navigation and ABRIS usage should come next, and personally I'd try to perform all of these tasks in various weather conditions including very low visibility and switching off either ABRIS or PVI-800 so I could confidently navigate a bird with (battle) damaged subsystems.

 

After that, another matter of personal taste is to simulate various system failures and get a hang of emergency procedures including in-flight engine restart and SAS failure (and I like to drop some of these into any kind of training mission).

 

Only then would I advance to comms*, targeting, datalink and weapons employment.

 

(*) Of course, talking to ATC to get take-off and landing clearance would be a good thing to do right from the very beginning.

[Yurgon]

You can select a DL target as long as there is no laser range indication, which happens when laser is turned off.

 

Cool, I think that just demystified a part of datalink usage for me. :-)

 

Now, when the desired target is selected, dont select a wingman, but press 'DL Ingress'. This button will stay lit. A range to target will appear in the HUD and the icon on the ABRIS has changed to indicate that this target is selected for DL ingress. Now, press auto-turn on target with AP on.

 

Wouldn't it be SOP to "Uncage Shkval" rather than activating "Auto turn to target" in order to make use of the DL Ingress function (even if the Shkval is already uncaged)?

[StoOopiD]

try this! auto turn to target

 

send your wingman to recon for targets.

make sure the shkval is in standby

press the DL ingress button on the datalink

then press one of the target buttons on the datalink, the target on the abris should be flashing.

uncage shkval.

 

the shkval should go directly to the target.

[TurboHog]

Wouldn't it be SOP to "Uncage Shkval" rather than activating "Auto turn to target" in order to make use of the DL Ingress function (even if the Shkval is already uncaged)?

 

You can uncage shkval with a DL ingress on for any selected datalink and your shkval will automaticly look at that target.

 

Auto turn on target will turn the helicopter to match the pilot's LOS with the shkval LOS. It has nothing to do with your datalinks. So after uncaging the shkval with DL ingress turned on, you will turn to your datalink target, because your skhval is looking at the target. If you now move the shkval away from your DL target, the helicopter will simply follow the new shkval LOS.

 

So auto-turn to target is actually auto-turn to the line of sight of your skhval.

[Dejjvid]

Whenever i reset my Shkval I press ground moving target and/or auto turn to target depending on what my next move is. So when I see a little moving bugger 3km out, I just need to lock him up and fire, and not see the Vikhr hit 20m behind him. Flying the shark is all about being a few steps ahead. Always scan the surrounding terrain for good places to hide, or good positions to engage targets from. Never leave a safe place without having at least one new safe place you can divert to.

[Dejjvid]

Oh, i frapsed a quick video to show how i save DL targets, using DL Ingress and Auto turn to target. The rocket run was just for the luls, and i tried to zoom in so you could see on the HUD, and i got confused. I never zoom in when i play normal.

 

K, video uploading, should be viewable in 10-15min.

 

[narf]

@Yurgon: You are right, perhaps it is too early to work on DL targets at that point. I was just checking the abilites of the heli and found the DL option which was very interesting, so I wanted to find out more.

 

Currently, I am flying in Game Mode. Sim Mode works fine but I have problems trimming the helicopter. When I take off, the heli immediately tilts to its tail. So i push the stick slightly forward after pressing the trim button. Now it tilts heavily to the nose.

 

That DL thingy is still in my mind and I still haven't figured it out. Here is exactly what I do:

 

I create a Multiplayer mission. I create a helicopter group which consists of 2 helis. The first one is me (Client) and the second one should automatically be an AI helicopter (wingman). I selected GAME MODE, EASY COMM… from the mission options…

 

- When I start the sim, I takeoff and head to the enemy tank I also placed in the Mission Editor.

- I select the Helmet mounted sight system power switch

- I press and hold the "Uncage SHKVAL" button and select the tank as target

- I press "Lock target"

- In the DL panel, i select type 3 (Other) and then press SEND/MEM

- I press the RESET button in the targeting panel (should be the button right of the Laser On/Off switch)

- I press button 3 (Other) in the DL panel again (button is lit)

- I press DL TO ALL (button is lit)

- I press SEND/MEM

- Now the yellow SEND/MEM button is lit for half a second and the other two buttons are unlit

- Does not work: Wingman says negative/unable

- Then I try to send it again by using the buttons 1-4 (DLNK to wingman 1-4). After pressing the SEND/MEM button, it is flashing continuously. I remember that this was the correct behaviour described in the manual. But I can wait 10 minutes and the button is still flashing. Usually the buttons should unlit when the wingman has received the target. :( Auto turn works now, at least a little bit of success ;)

[narf]

Thanks for the video. :) Auto turn worked before, tried it again but now it does not work again. I think I am too dumb for that :)

[Karon]

I hope this can help: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1430517#post1430517

[Devrim]

- Does not work: Wingman says negative/unable

Are you sure about that you placed enemy units in Mission Editor? I remember my first time about this subject. Although I was doing everything right, my wingman was saying "unable". A few hours later I realized that I was trying to get my side units killed by my wingman!.

 

As you know, if your color is red, enemy must be blue, etc.etc...

 

{Grammer mistake is possible. :)}

[Capt_Haddock]

Oh, i frapsed a quick video to show how i save DL targets, using DL Ingress and Auto turn to target. The rocket run was just for the luls, and i tried to zoom in so you could see on the HUD, and i got confused. I never zoom in when i play normal.

 

 

Awesome video!

I was actually learning about the mysteries of the Datalink last week, but it always good to see someone else's routine in action. Thanks a lot!

[Dejjvid]

I can make another video on Thursday when we have a squad event. So you can see how we use the DL in action.

[Capt_Haddock]

That would be awesome, if it's not too much trouble! Thanks! :)

 

One quick question. Can you add datalink targets on the mission editor?

It would be quite useful having some targets pre-loaded on the Abris, even if the enemy would be expected to move about after the mission starts.

[TurboHog]

That would be awesome, if it's not too much trouble! Thanks! :)

 

One quick question. Can you add datalink targets on the mission editor?

It would be quite useful having some targets pre-loaded on the Abris, even if the enemy would be expected to move about after the mission starts.

 

No, but you can add target points. These points also appear on the ABRIS when selected in the PVI. When a target point is selected it will also automaticly turn the skhval on target. Notice that TGT point set in the ME could have wrong elevation data.

 

You can also create target points during a mission. Set the PVI to edit mode, select TGT point and select the desired number of the new TGT point. When a target is locked, press the uncage/designate button and the Target coordinates appear in your PVI. press enter and return to normal operation mode and select your newly created TGT point. Important: the INU fix-taking switch must be set to skhval and not to fly-over to make this work. Otherwise the coordinates that appear are your own coordinates.

 

You can do KA50 - A10C datalinking this way in multiplayer by communicating L/L coordinates.

Edited July 17, 2012 by TurboHog

[Devrim]

This thread is really useful guys.

Thanks alot everyone!.

:beer: