Radar "lock" question
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Your flashlight example is a very good and easy to understand way of describing the effect Cik (I already knew this but like the way you put it, hence the Thanks)
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Wray, I think Lorik had got it. Think of it like the jamming “x” symbols or data link icons that show up. You can’t lock on those , either, they are not your own radar’s returns.
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Why is everyone focussed on explaining how to employ the RADAR to get a contact in the detection area? He clearly says he has a contact (his “white dot” in the quote below) so that (most likely) isn’t his problem…
On my MFD the radar cue will go from a white dot to a yellow square with a direction line indicator thingy.
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Why is everyone focussed on explaining how to employ the RADAR to get a contact in the detection area? He clearly says he has a contact (his “white dot” in the quote below) so that (most likely) isn’t his problem…
Perhaps, E-E. I for one was interpreting “will go from white dot to yellow square…” to mean he did not have a radar return (white square) at the moment he tried for a Lock. If both symbols are there, you would be correct. It just sounds to me like he’s trying to lock on a datalink symbol.
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I understand how the radar works. I posted the test of that one particular incident, which I think has confused my problem to everyone,
This is what always happens……I see the contact on radar, before I get a chance to lock it up my wingman locks the target while requesting permission to engage. The white dot on the radar then turns yellow and I cant get a lock on it after that. Im left observing my wingman engage the target because I cant lock the radar return once it has turned yellow. And it isn’t just a yellow dot, once wingman has locked the target it goes from white square to yellow “u” shape with a direction indicator line.
I don’t claim to come even close to knowing the ins and outs of the systems of any aircraft and I am definitely a rookie. Just trying to understand what im doing wrong so I can get a lock on the target and shoot something down for crying out loud
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Perhaps, E-E. I for one was interpreting “will go from white dot to yellow square…” to mean he did not have a radar return (white square) at the moment he tried for a Lock. If both symbols are there, you would be correct. It just sounds to me like he’s trying to lock on a datalink symbol.
Hello drtbkj! I do always have my datalink on. It very well could be a datalink sysmbol. This same symbol shows up on my HUD as well as my radar screen. leading me to now believe that it is a datalink symbol. So next question……if my radar return gets locked by my wingman and then the datalink overrides my radar displaying this symbol how do I get a lock on the target? Do I have to turn datalink off?
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the datalink symbol has nothing to do with your radar, really. they exist independently of each other. if the white dot at any time disappears it means he has exited your radar beam and is no longer trackable by the FCR. the datalink only says “here is a thing that your wingman is locking in this position at this altitude” turning off the datalink doesn’t matter at all as the datalink does not interfere with the radar, or effect it in any real way.
i’m still thinking you’re just not manipulating the radar correctly. are you using antenna tilt to move the radar to the bandit’s altitude? what range and aspect is the bandit? you shouldn’t have any trouble tracking a hot bandit inside 40 miles. the datalink / wingman is a red herring, they have no effect on anything.
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If the datalink symbol is getting in the way you can try a short COMM outboard to declutter the datalink symbology from your FCR. You can later toggle it back on with another COMM outboard.
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@Cik:
the datalink symbol has nothing to do with your radar, really. they exist independently of each other. if the white dot at any time disappears it means he has exited your radar beam and is no longer trackable by the FCR. the datalink only says “here is a thing that your wingman is locking in this position at this altitude” turning off the datalink doesn’t matter at all as the datalink does not interfere with the radar, or effect it in any real way.
i’m still thinking you’re just not manipulating the radar correctly. are you using antenna tilt to move the radar to the bandit’s altitude? what range and aspect is the bandit? you shouldn’t have any trouble tracking a hot bandit inside 40 miles. the datalink / wingman is a red herring, they have no effect on anything.
Yes!! You and Lorik (and others) are right. I was manipulating the radar incorrectly. The datalink was showing up on my radar but my range was incorrect. Once I adjusted my range the yellow symbol suddenly had a white dot in the middle of the datalink symbol and bam……I was able to get a lock!!
Thank you guys so much for the help. This community is friggin awesome!!!
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you’re welcome buddy. glad you got it worked out.
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Yes!! You and Lorik (and others) are right. I was manipulating the radar incorrectly. The datalink was showing up on my radar but my range was incorrect. Once I adjusted my range the yellow symbol suddenly had a white dot in the middle of the datalink symbol and bam……I was able to get a lock!!
Thank you guys so much for the help. This community is friggin awesome!!!
Good job, Wray, that makes perfect sense. The MFD is giving you datalink info, but your radar’s return would depend on range(and antenna elevation for that matter).
That raises an interesting question…When you see a jamming x or chevron, then get a return, are you seeing burn through , is it now within your radar’s scan, or both? -
Why is everyone focussed on explaining how to employ the RADAR to get a contact in the detection area? He clearly says he has a contact (his “white dot” in the quote below) so that (most likely) isn’t his problem…
I think it’s suffice to say he had shitty radar mech. Which is common for most people.
And the DFPs for most A/A debriefs…