more info for noob

[Maachine]

hey again guys. listen, i've been flying training missions just trying to get the basics of the avionics, nav, and comm systems (havent even begun on the weapons systems).

 

i already plan on using simple comms, maybe down the road i will change that. but for now i just want to bypass anything regarding the more complicated comm and navigation systems, and just jump into combat. will i beable to do that to fly multiplayer and the campaign missions? is it a necessity to learn these more complicated features? or do i need to setup the ILS to land during campaign missions?

[Maachine]

what i am wondering is if i need to set up the ILS landing in this game like they show in the training.....do i need to do this or are most missions setup to do this automatically?

[Kaiza]

The basics (including easy comms) will be just fine. The game won't fly an ILS automatically, but you won't need to fly an ILS unless the weather is particularly poor (which is uncommon in missions).

[ApoNOOB]

Just train the normal visual landing and you will be fine. People tend to dislike crashed airplanes on the runway but if it just happens from "time to time" nobody will be angry. Iam flying since ~september and still haven't figured out the ILS stuff, since the missions where you actually need it are quite rare or not that often played public.

 

I have to disagree on easy comms, most public servers have that turned off. (Labels too, external views& fog of war for the F10 map depends on the server) Comms are important when lots of aircraft use the same Airport - nobody likes a head on collision. But it's fairly simple, don't worry!

 

You have 3 Radios below your throttle, from top to bottom:

VHF AM Radio - higher frequency for ATC's&Co

UHF - I am not even sure for what it is used ingame, maybe someone can clarify?

VHF FM - Lower frequencys for JTAC's for example.

 

For now the only thing important for you are the VHF radios:

1. Set the knob on the right to "TR" to turn it on

2. Set the frequency of the ATC you want to contact

http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/86362/

Here is a nice .pdf pack - you are looking for the Airfield guide, neat list!

3. Use your Hotas(!) Mic switich for the AM radio to contact the ATC.

To clarify, under options, A10 Sim - Hotas controls "Hotas Mic Switch"

 

When you press the Mic switch above the radio menu at the top is written which radio you have selected for example: VHF AM. That's it!

 

Of course don't turn it on when you play singleplayer - just get familiar with the theory so you can use it on public/mp servers.

 

 

As a new player I strongly suggest that you find some community in your timezone and just get on their comms and fly with them. My expierence is that our community as a whole is VERY noob friendly and like to help out.

 

After flying a bit online I was really angry at myself about all the "wasted" time I spent figuring small quirks and problems out (or reading it up) on my own when I just could have asked a simple question and my problem would have been solved in one sentence.

 

When you get on public servers everyone loves the guy that actually joins their TS - flying with comms in a group is completely different experience and sadly a lot of pubber's don't do it. :(

 

 

Sorry for my engrish, good luck, have fun and see you online! :thumbup:

[Maachine]

i'm working on it. the training missions seem to have bugs so i dont get the full effect from them. i'll get there. i just want to move on and learn more of the basics of this aircraft. and the other problem is that i need to setup views to look at the proper panels on the plane too. since i will need them apparently. cant view them properly with the facetrack software i have now.

 

slow learning curve. thanks for the input guys.

Edited January 6, 2013 by Maachine

[Wilf55]

It's personal preference but I setup one of the buttons on my mouse to do the 'LAlt-C' command, which enables mouselook. Another click on the mouse button disables it and then you can click on the cockpit

[Maachine]

not a bad idea. i thought about that before. i may wait until i get my x-52 setup then go from there. the a-10c has a much higher learning curve than the original a-10 from the original flaming cliffs. much more confusing and a PIA with regards to the HOTAS setup.

[Rongor]

The A-10C module has of course a much higher learning curve than all the flaming cliffs aircrafts because it is an in-depth high fidelity simulation and flaming cliffs is not.

[Madone]

It's not really difficult to set the radios and ILS up, for the radios, turn it on, enter the right numbers and that's it, just have to press the right key for the mic (the menu indicates the radio type).

The ILS is a bit more complex, but again, get the right number, you will hear the morse code when it's on. It's similar for the TACAN. So for me, it's some of the easiest A10 instruments.

 

Of course, if you want to focus on your flight first, then you can put it on easy and maybe use the hardest way later!

[Maachine]

the difficult part is being able to see these panels to learn them.

[shmn]

UHF - I am not even sure for what it is used ingame, maybe someone can clarify?

 

I'm not too sure about UHF "in game" since I just started playing this sim, but as far as real world...

 

UHF is used by military aircraft to communicate with ATC because there isn't all the airline chatter on UHF like VHF. Of course, sometimes it's hard to get the ATC controllers to hear you because they monitor both VHF and UHF.

 

Also, most comms to other aircraft and ground bases is on UHF.

[ApoNOOB]

Thank you for that bit of info, but I meant of course ingame. :)

I have seen the UHF used for example in quaxs mission "tears of allah" (very nice mission check his server out!) where the A-10C have to tune in on a specific frequency.

 

After you do that you hear radio transmitions from the mission and other hawgs. For example if someone shoots a maverick you hear "RIFLE!", getting hit "I am hit!", Guns etc.

 

Also there is some audio for commands like "RTB, Bingo fuel, roger etc." but I have not seen the UHF used otherwise in DCS.

 

Disclaimer: This is in Quax's Mission (!) and not seen regulary in DCS.

 

Also Maachine how are you coming along? I am from germany but my online times are mostly at night so if you ever need anything, I am most of the time in the "Spare Time Pilots" TS when I am online. Just send me a text if you need any help and I will answer you as soon as I can. :)

[Maachine]

its coming along. i'm figuring this stuff out slowly but surely. getting better at operating the cockpit and started learning the weapons systems today. but i do have one question. in the landing training mission, the guy tells you to set the HSI to 130*. where did that number come from? lets say you want to set the HSI up for a landing at a different airport, how would you aquire that information?

[Hamblue]

In this application its simply a compas. They are telling you the heading that will bring you to a runway approach location. I think they use the hsi because it will still be working if your avionics are shot up.

To get the bearing for a different airport you simply tune your radio to the new airports frequency and check in.

[Maachine]

In this application its simply a compas. They are telling you the heading that will bring you to a runway approach location. I think they use the hsi because it will still be working if your avionics are shot up.

To get the bearing for a different airport you simply tune your radio to the new airports frequency and check in.

 

but thats the thing, when i check in i get a completely different bearing from the ATC. then out of no where the guy tells you to set this random number to the HSI. i guess you could just look at the map and estimate what degree you'd be coming in at, if you really want to set the HSI. its not important, just curious where these numbers are coming from

[MatzWarhog]

but thats the thing, when i check in i get a completely different bearing from the ATC. then out of no where the guy tells you to set this random number to the HSI. i guess you could just look at the map and estimate what degree you'd be coming in at, if you really want to set the HSI. its not important, just curious where these numbers are coming from

 

It's not necessarily the "angle you're coming in at" to land, but rather the bearing from your current position to the runway's glideslope. So, if you keep moving, and report back in... your position has moved, and ATC will give you new bearings to intercept the glideslope. Check out some videos on Course Deviation Indication via ILS... they may clear a few things up for you. Hope this helps.

 

Matz

Edited January 8, 2013 by MatzWarhog

[FreeFall]

the difficult part is being able to see these panels to learn them.

 

Do you know the Snap Views -feature?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kGqxi2s76M

http://en.wiki.eagle.ru/wiki/Snap_views

[Eight Ball]

UHF - I am not even sure for what it is used ingame, maybe someone can clarify?

In DCS:A-10C (at least in single player) the UHF is almost exclusively used to communicate with your own flight (=wingmen). That's how you give him/them orders.

 

No idea if it's how it's used IRL.

 

The VHF AM is also used to communicate with other flights. In the campaign that's how you communicate with the SEADs, CAS and CAP flights (open the proper radio menu with Mic switch forward then F10)

 

EDIT : Just saw someone else already said it =/

Edited January 8, 2013 by Eight Ball

[Hamblue]

. i guess you could just look at the map and estimate what degree you'd be coming in at,

That's fine until your avionics get damaged and the map is not available. :thumbup:

[Maachine]

Do you know the Snap Views -feature?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kGqxi2s76M

http://en.wiki.eagle.ru/wiki/Snap_views

 

yes sir. accidentally discovered them last night. been working all day and will play around with it some tonight maybe. this facetrackNoiR kind of sucks. i think its my lighting though. maybe i should look into trackIR5

[IJammer]

It's not necessarily the "angle you're coming in at" to land, but rather the bearing from your current position to the runway's glideslope. So, if you keep moving, and report back in... your position has moved, and ATC will give you new bearings to intercept the glideslope. Check out some videos on Course Deviation Indication via ILS... they may clear a few things up for you. Hope this helps.

 

Matz

LOL it sounds like the AOB (angle of Bow) on my submarine sim (SH4), every time you check, the target has moved and the angle has changed :)

 

IJammer

[Hamblue]

Angle on the bow is the angle of the targets bow looking at you and is a relative angle.

The HSI is a compass bearing that is not relative but true.

Edited January 9, 2013 by Hamblue

[Maachine]

just to post this info here for future reference. snap view is awesome to learn the cocpit, the MFD buttons, and switches. i changed the key mapping and set them up for easy access. so much better.