Jtac will not answer.

[Jordan4]

So I finally learned that J.T.A.C is very important in this game and seems to be the only practical way to find all of the targets that need to be destroyed in order to complete most of the missions in the campaign. Well a few youtube JTAC tutorial videos later I finally launch a a campaign mission and I am getting no response from JTAC. This mission in particular is the one where you support razor and elm to vermont and texas and it appears the only way to complete the mission is to kill every enemy unit as I have failed the mission many times not killing enough enemy. So JTAC must be the key to finding those enemy. Yes I am on the right frequency and on TR. Anybody know whats going on?

 

P.S After reviewing the mission briefing I found that it has a note to " Contact other flights and ground forces using F10 "other" option from main radio menu. I do not exactley understand why it says to do this instead of just using F4 to contact JTAC which is what I was doing before and was not getting a response. Well I pressed F10 and nothing happens as I expected because no F keys beyond F8 work for me "no my keyboard is not broken" Does anybody else suffer from these issues? Why does F9 F10 F11 F12 not work and why is JTAC not responding?

Edited September 11, 2012 by Jordan4

[Daniel M]

Do you have TIR? Ensure you map track ir's f7, f9, and f12 to something else. Otherwise it catches it. (I use ctrl+)

[neroroxxx]

Use the file on the first post of the link below

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=91765&page=2

 

That will fix the JTAC issue you are having with JTAC not answering fast enough or answering at all.

 

The F10 menu on some missions is quiet simple, it's to contact other flights and ground forces or any other triggers of the mission, basically you see the flight name and the role, say you see on your RWR that a mig-29 is tracking you, you can then go to the F10 menu and select the CAP flight, the combat air patrol will then head over to its CAP station and see that MIG and engage for you, those flights are thereto help if you need them.

 

You can do the same for the other flights, I usually call SEAD right away to engage the SAM sites so I don't get shot down right away, you can even call another CAS flight in case you are low on ammo.

 

Just a pointer, make sure you call those allied flights in the respective freq, for example the Allied flights may be on 124.00 VHF AM, so make sure your VHF am radio is set to 124 and that you call it using the right mic switch.

 

Another pointer, after you call call an F10 flight you may will hear that flights name say something like "Enflied11 pushing to waypoint 2 at 20,000" or so, that way you know they are on their way, always make sure you look at the flight's call sign so you know it got your message, I think you have to have the "allied flight reports" box choked Unser the options of DCSW.

 

Hope that helps :-)

Edited September 11, 2012 by neroroxxx

[Jordan4]

Yes I have track IR so I will look into it. Thank you for the advice. How do you install that patch by the way? So I suppose the JTAC response issue is something that is common?

 

Update: I checked to see if my track IR was using any of the F keys. It was not. In fact when viewing all keyboard commands no F keys came up. I am lost.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Jordan4

[Revelation]

Where did you check to see which keys were used by TrackIR? If you checked in-game... You need to open up your TrackIR software, then you will see what keys are used for your TrackIR hardware.

 

There will be the option of:

disable

center

etc...

[SharpeXB]

I have noticed playing the GH Campaign that the JTAC sometimes seems to lead you to targets that are not your objective. Same with bullseye calls you get on the radio. Finding the objective in the campaign is quite simple. Go to the mission waypoint called "TGT" or "Bridge" (ie if your mission was to destroy a bridge). Look at the mission planner map before starting to see where you'll be going. You'll see your targets right there in that area. Another thing to remember is share your SPI and order your flight to engage to armor or whatever the target is. No problem succeeding then.

I had a funny incident where the objective was to destroy a bridge. I must have bombed the wrong one. So I depleted all my stores except 20 rounds for the gun. Hmm what to do? I spotted a lone infantry guy (labels on) on a bridge and went to be all cold blooded on him. I dove and fired one 20-round burst. BOOM! The bridge exploded and "mission success"!

Was it a bug? Naw... I think he was ready to blow the bridge and I hit him with a GAU-8 round and he fell on the plunger. I was awarded the Medal of Honor...

[Jordan4]

Well I have had very little luck completing the search and destroy type missions. I always end up killing like 8 T-72's a BRDM a bunch of trucks and some self proppeled artillery and aa and than I spend about 45 minutes to an hour slewing the tgp all over the place to find more targets and than either the game crashes ( yet another unresolved issue to add to the already ridiculous list of issues I have with this game ) or I just get lazy and land or exit only to see that the mission is either failed or only partially completed. If I knew how to install that JTAC patch I would try it out however as of now I have no ability to use JTAC for target information. Where are we supposed to learn how to use JTAC and AWACS and all of the radio resources in this game? I found nothing about it in the quick start guide or in the flight manual. Where is the information on how to use every function of the game? I want to read the literature on JTAC on other things and not just have to watch youtube tutorials ( even though they are very helpful ). Where are the people who post the tutorials learning how to use the CDU or the datalink system. Also how do you read the map! I know it sounds silly but some of the terminology used and certian type of navigation data I do not understand. Where is the bible of DCS that I apparently dont have that is teaching people how to do this stuff? Oh and if someone would kindly point me in the direction of an installation guide for the JTAC patch that was recomended earlier that would be swell.

 

P.S what are bullseye calls? Oh and whenever I command my wingman or allied flights to do anything they dont listen. I command my wingman to attack ground targets and then 30 minutes later I will view him and he still has all of his ordanance. I really need to find the guide that goes over how to use all of these functions and then after that I guess wait for a patch to come out so that they actually work.

 

Update: My lazy ass just checked the Flight manual and found the JTAC chapter. Is everything else mentioned aswell? Oh and what does MGRS stand for? I just realized that I am still very much in training in this game as I know nothing about the CDU and its functions and I do not even know how to make a new markpoint ( which would be very usefull ).

Edited September 12, 2012 by Jordan4

[SharpeXB]

Here's some good videos

 

Bullseye calls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZYhfO9-Elk&list=UUFUcVJRAa-jgQnbM45YIO6g&index=2&feature=plcp

 

There are some good JTAC ones I can't seem to find them again, if you search the forum it will come up.

 

But for the campaign, I find honestly that the bullseye calls aren't that helpful, they will only get you to within a mile of the target or so. And sometimes they lead you way away from your objective.

 

The solution for me? turn on the labels, I know it seems like cheating but without that all the targets are pretty much invisible. It's either the color temp or just the distance involved but I can never see anything without those. There's no penalty in terms of points or anything in the game so why not?

[Jordan4]

Yeah I just figure with all the time and effort that ED put into making the game and I put into learning it ( not including the $1,000 plus that I have put into the game including HOTAS warthog, rudder pedals, track IR, and GTX 670, and ofcourse the game itself ) that it would make more sense to play it realistic. I used to play lock on with labels because without them you had no chance but with this game and all of the systems modeld I just want to play it as real as it gets. Thanks for the advice. Do you by anychance know how to install the JTAC patch?

[Yurgon]

Where are we supposed to learn how to use JTAC and AWACS and all of the radio resources in this game?

 

I've pretty much just scratched the surface, but so far I've found approximately 90% of the necessary links right here in the forum and in the ED Wiki, 5% just by following YouTube links and the final 5% in the manual (the In-Game training was also tremendously helpful).

 

In my opinion, there's simply no single document and no single tutorial that covers the whole sim, so you'll have to figure out what best suits your needs. If you ask around for a teacher, lots of people will probably volunteer to talk you through a lot of things online.

 

Oh and if someone would kindly point me in the direction of an installation guide for the JTAC patch that was recomended earlier that would be swell.

 

If I understand correctly, you simply need to download the file (NATO.lua) and place it in the correct directory, which would be C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Sounds\Speech\ if you installed DCS World in the default location. Don't forget to create a backup of your original NATO.lua (or rename it to NATO.lua.old or so) before copying the new file into the directory.

 

P.S what are bullseye calls?

 

Bullseye is a fixed reference point used by a coalition. In the campaign, the briefing will always be very specific about the bullseye location for the mission. If you hear a radio call like "Enfield 1, tally armor, bulls 90 for 10" it means the armor that was just spotted by Enfield 1 is located 90° (=exactly east) of the bullseye at a distance of 10 nautical miles from the bullseye. Same goes for calling out aircraft, with the addition of their altitude ("Enfield 1, tally bandit, bulls 90 for 10, angels 12"), where "angels" means "this value times 1.000", so in the example, the bandit would be at 12.000ft ASL.

 

The TAD will help you translate bullseye-calls to your relative position, but I know way too little about that to even point you in the right direction. But it's all there in the manual and in tutorial vids you'll find on YouTube, and of course there are lots of threads about it on the forums.

 

Oh and whenever I command my wingman or allied flights to do anything they dont listen.

 

With realistic comms, you'll have to be on the right frequency and use the correct radio. Even if you do everything right, your wingman may not attack the assigned target, but at least you should receive a reply like "Two: Unable".

 

Oh and what does MGRS stand for?

 

That's the Military Grid Reference System, based on the Universal Transverse Mercator System (UTM). The alternative would be Latitude/Longitude. AFAIK JTACs usually use MGRS, so when you learn to input coordinates into the CDU, be sure to also learn how to switch CDU to MGRS (should be covered in any JTAC/CDU tutorial that covers creation of new way-/markpoints).

 

I just realized that I am still very much in training in this game as I know nothing about the CDU and its functions and I do not even know how to make a new markpoint ( which would be very usefull ).

 

Yeah, I would say so too. :)

 

As I said, I've pretty much just scratched the surface, but I've managed to complete the entire Georgian Hammer campaign (in A-10C 1.1.1.1 standalone) without once contacting a JTAC, so it's quite possible, but it gets a lot more straightforward with using JTACs.

 

I used to play lock on with labels because without them you had no chance but with this game and all of the systems modeld I just want to play it as real as it gets. Thanks for the advice.

 

I feel the same way about it; we are limited by our hardware (well, GTX 670, eh? Not very limited, actually... :megalol:), but to me turning labels on would feel like cheating, but I fully understand why others prefer to fly with labels on.

[SharpeXB]

I prefer to do RoF without labels and it plays very well. There's something about this game that's different. Obviously the range to the targets and speed is different. But I can spot and ID targets at quite a distance in RoF but not in DCS.

This is on a single 1080p monitor. Truth is in real life your vision would be better than 1920x1080. But labels aren't realistic either.

[Jordan4]

Wow cant thank you enough for pointing me in the right direction for all of my questions as I was feeling very lost. Hopefully I can figure all of this out.

[Yurgon]

Wow cant thank you enough for pointing me in the right direction for all of my questions as I was feeling very lost. Hopefully I can figure all of this out.

 

My advice would be to take small steps. Don't be intimidated by all of the things that you still need to learn.

 

I like to download some of the excellent missions that can be found on the forum, create my own training missions or play the missions that came with the sim. In these missions, I try to focus on a particular system or weapon at a time.

 

As was the case with all my previous sims, when I did start a campaign, I wasn't really ready for it, but I tend to learn lots of stuff in the campaign (but also learn about my limits). Both of these make for some good progress. :thumbup:

[Jordan4]

Thank for the advice. My biggest problem with my learning curve is it keeps getting interupted by game errors. For instance on no mission am I able to get JTACS to respond to me. Another issue is there are just some things that I have not been able to find any literature or training on for instance I dont understand radio lingo whatsever. In some training missions minor things have been explained however I have found no refrence that covers radio chatter and lingo entirley. Right now my biggest issue is learning the navigation and cdu. I dont know what a utm coordinate means vs a Lat Long coordinate. I guess the search continue. Oh and my f-7 f-10 f-11 and f-12 buttons dont work!

Edited September 15, 2012 by Jordan4

[Jordan4]

I think I hopefully figured out why J.T.A.C wont answer! I was watching a Radio tutorial on youtube and the dude mentions Mic swithces. I dont know what they are but he indicated that they are on the HOTAS and that each one corresponds to the use of a different radio. This could be a breakthrough for me because what I use to get to radio commands is the

" \ " key. Is this wrong? If so which button to I press to access the proper VHF radio for contacting JTAC? What keys are the various "Mic" switches assigned to? I think I may have finally figured this thing out please help! Thanks a bunch!

[SharpeXB]

For learning turn on "easy comms" in the game settings. then only the units you can actually communicate with will be highlighted, it helps then you'll know if you have got it right. You don't have to set the frequency then either, just select the correct radio. I have noticed that for ATC this doens't function though, you still need to set the right freq for those

 

Sometimes JTAC indeed doesn't answer or respond to request for instructions. I think it's possible they can get killed

[Jona33]

Mic switch forward activates VHF AM.

Down activates UHF

Aft activates FM

Up does nothing in game. I'd hazard a guess it does something for the secure radio.

[Yurgon]

Mic switch forward activates VHF AM.

Down activates UHF

Aft activates FM

 

As an addendum, the key controls are located at Options -> Controls -> A-10C Real -> HOTAS.

 

The default mapping should be:

HOTAS Mic switch forward: LALT + NUM+ (Activates VHF AM radio)

HOTAS Mic switch down: LALT + NUM- (Activates UHF radio)

HOTAS Mic switch aft: LSHF + NUM- (Activates VHF FM radio)

 

JTACs mostly use VHF FM at frequencies like 30.000 or 40.000, so make sure to tune your VHF FM radio (the lower most radio on the left console) to the correct frequency (the frequency itself should be given in the mission briefing) and use HOTAS Mic switch aft to bring up the radio console.

 

Oh and my f-7 f-10 f-11 and f-12 buttons dont work!

 

You wrote that you have a TrackIR, but TrackIR doesn't use these keys in your setup. You should double check that TrackIR doesn't use these F-keys, because that sounds like the most likely explanation. In your TrackIR profile, look for something labeled "Hotkeys"; by default, TrackIR uses F7, F8, F9 and F12 as hotkeys. If that's the case, you could map different keys or deactivate them if you don't need them (personally, I only use F12 as TrackIR center hotkey).

[Jordan4]

Thank you all for your help I think im getting closer here. I am certain that I am using the right frequencies as they are listed in the breifing and they are usually like you said 30.000 or 40.000. I also make sure I am on T.R and F.M so I cant think of any other reason why J.T.A.C wouldnt answer. So let me get this straight. You use certain mic switches for certain types of communication? For instance even though they all show which contacts are availible you still have to choose the right mic switch for who you are trying to contact?

[Jona33]

Yes

[Jordan4]

YES!!!! JTAC ANSWERED! I am so releived. Turns out I was not using the proper mic switch mainly because I didnt know what the hell a mic switch was. Got alot more work to do. Ill try to figure it out as much as I can on my own but I really appreciate all of your help. Quick question. Does anybody know where I can learn radio terminology? For instance I want to be able to understand a message like " Hawg 2-1, Magic, Pop up group, 279 for 30 at 3,500 Hot". Or for instance when J.T.A.C says something like "make your attack heading 30-270". I understand that they mean they want me to approach from a certian direction however I dont know what 30-270 means and how to make for sure that I am approaching from it. Thanks again!

Edited September 15, 2012 by Jordan4

[Yurgon]

So let me get this straight. You use certain mic switches for certain types of communication? For instance even though they all show which contacts are availible you still have to choose the right mic switch for who you are trying to contact?

 

Yup. There's a multitude of reasons, both technical and tactical.

 

Technical:

Different radios operate on different frequencies (the manual has precise info on the frequencies used by our virtual A-10C), so in order to communicate on a certain frequency, you must tune the radio to the correct frequency and, obviously, operate this particular radio.

 

Also, the different frequencies have different characteristics; some are better suited for long range, others are better suited for short range. JTACs will usually be within short range and direct line of sight (from the A-10's perspective), so it makes sense to use VHF FM, whereas AWACS and/or ATCs will usually be far away. AFAIK, VHF AM is better suited for this type of long range comms.

 

Tactical:

There's a lot going on in any theater of war; you really don't want everyone talking on the same frequency at the same time. The typical setup in DCS A-10C is something like this:

All (air) units use a common guard frequency on VHF AM, typically 124.00; in the campaign, you'll hear a lot of chatter like "Hawg, 1-1, passing waypoint 3 at 15.000", and AWACS will talk to you on this one as well.

 

However, if you want to talk to a JTAC, the other units in the air don't need to know what you talk to him about. It would actually be pretty bad if all the units shared just this one frequency. On the other hand, you'll still want to be able to hear what others (including AWACS!) say on the guard frequency, so you can't just switch your VHF AM to, say, 135.00 because then you wouldn't be on guard anymore.

 

That's why JTAC comms use another radio altogether (as said before, typically VHF FM on 30.000 or some such).

 

The same is true for wingman comms, they typically use the UHF radio with frequencies like 255.00.

 

With a setup like this, units can hear all they need to hear while at the same time keeping things separated in a way that on each frequency, chatter is limited to the necessary minimum.

 

As a result (with realistic comms in A-10C), you'll need to activate the correct radio depending on whom you want to talk to.

 

I hope this clarifies a few things (and I hope others with more knowledge will correct me if/where I'm wrong).

[Jordan4]

Yes thankyou. I understand why there are different radio's. I was just confused at why in the game there are different buttons to access the different radios. I was only aware of the " \ " button and had not heard about the mic switches until today. Today I have accomplished alot in the terms of actually being able to use JTAC. One thing that I noticed however at least for the mission Khashuri ( the only mission so far I have played with my newly learned radio skills ) is that Jtac may respond and then mid way through the communication when I am supposed to report back only then Jtac decides not to answer. Is there a certain area/range that I need to be withing to contact JTAC? Also I noticed that sometimes they will send me a datalink message and sometimes not. What is the deal with that? Right now my issue appears to be that I am able for the most part to contact jtac however sometimes Jtac becomes unresponsive in the middle of our back and forth. Usually when it gets to the point where I am supposed to copy remarks is when JTAC decides not to respond. Very weird I hope somebody can clear this up for me and I am really hoping its not just a bug.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Jordan4

[Evil.Bonsai]

YES!!!! JTAC ANSWERED! I am so releived. Turns out I was not using the proper mic switch mainly because I didnt know what the hell a mic switch was. Got alot more work to do. Ill try to figure it out as much as I can on my own but I really appreciate all of your help. Quick question. Does anybody know where I can learn radio terminology? For instance I want to be able to understand a message like " Hawg 2-1, Magic, Pop up group, 279 for 30 at 3,500 Hot". Or for instance when J.T.A.C says something like "make your attack heading 30-270". I understand that they mean they want me to approach from a certian direction however I dont know what 30-270 means and how to make for sure that I am approaching from it. Thanks again!

 

Hawg 2-1: this would be you

Magic: AWACS plane

Pop Up Group: something just popped up on our radar

279: could be either the bearing (direction) from Bullseye, or from you. Might depend on your game settings. I'd have to verify, but am at work.

for 30: 30 nautical miles

3500 Hot: altitude 3500, coming in your direction

 

30-270 are compass directions. in this case DON"T approach from the North/NW position. approach from any compass direction from 30 (NNE) to 270 (West)

[SharpeXB]

Even if you do the radio comms right. There are indeed times when the JTAC either does not answer or answers later and sometimes doesn't give you further remarks. I figure that's realistic given the fog of war. One thing I started doing in the campaign to avoid labels is practice using mark points. Based on the briefing and map you have an idea where the enemy will be. So drop a bunch of mark points in the area. Set them as SPI and search that way.