AWACS "check in" -> "unable"
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I am learning as I go, flying a Korea campaign to make it more interesting. I certainly have learned a lot, like turning on the combat laser before dropping bombs and identifying AAA before taking off so you can avoid it en route. But I think I am not getting the most out of AWACS and other communications with AI.
The first clue that I am missing something is that I cannot check in with AWACS. When I transmit the “check in” signal (which comes out as “ready to attack target”), AWACS always responds “unable.” I can ask for and get the “picture” and I can “declare” and get a response about my radar target (who is usually friendly–I don’t have any A-A kills yet). But I can’t check in. Is there a trick to this?
The other place where I think I’m coming up short is setting up my comm radios. I use the DTC to set UHF 1 to my base tower, 2 to my alternate tower, 3 to AWACS check-in frequency, and 4 to the tanker frequency. I didn’t change anything in the VHF presets. Is there a particular VHF frequency I should be using for my package comms? I know that UHF 15 is typically the tower from what I have read online, but is that a rule of some sort?
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To date, it has never really worked correctly in any iteration of Falcon4, save for Allied Force and their AFAC. Don’t worry about it.
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It’s been ages since I’ve tried, but doesn’t Check In only work with On-Call CAS tasked aircraft? IIRC, if you check in then, it will give you information to a target. Could be wrong, though, and as Malc says, I doubt there’s any real purpose to actually checking in.
Regarding comms, for BMS, they say it is recommended to stay away from UHF and VHF channels 1 to 14, because AI uses those. In the long run, if you meddle with those channels too much, you may lose contact with AI. So that’s why most squadrons have UHF 15 as Tower, and UHF 16 - 20 for whatever else they need as custom channels. That being said, though, every squadron has their own way of doing things, so if you want to set UHF 1 - 5 as your ATC channels (wing ops, ground, tower, departure and en-route), UHF 6 as AWACS check-in, 7 as A-G, 8 as A-A etc., nobody’s stopping you.
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It’s been ages since I’ve tried, but doesn’t Check In only work with On-Call CAS tasked aircraft? IIRC, if you check in then, it will give you information to a target. Could be wrong, though, and as Malc says, I doubt there’s any real purpose to actually checking in.
Regarding comms, for BMS, they say it is recommended to stay away from UHF and VHF channels 1 to 14, because AI uses those. In the long run, if you meddle with those channels too much, you may lose contact with AI. So that’s why most squadrons have UHF 15 as Tower, and UHF 16 - 20 for whatever else they need as custom channels. That being said, though, every squadron has their own way of doing things, so if you want to set UHF 1 - 5 as your ATC channels (wing ops, ground, tower, departure and en-route), UHF 6 as AWACS check-in, 7 as A-G, 8 as A-A etc., nobody’s stopping you.
Yep, works for on-call CAS. Gives you a bullseye location. Still far from RL procedure but you can do it.
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Check in is asking for target when target has yet to be determined by ATO, i.e. on call. Pre-plan CAS and CAS mission types are already determined since takeoff and there’s no checking in to do.
I can’t think of any other mission types where the target assignment is TBD. Most are objectives, battalions, geographic areas, or airborne units. Maybe DCA is a check in type but I don’t think so.
AI, AG geographical
AMBUSHCAP, AA geographical
BARCAP, AA geographical
BDA, AG objective
CAS, AG geographical
DCA, AA geographical
DEAD, AG battalion
DEEP STRIKE, AG objective
ESCORT, AA friendly flight
FAC(A), AG geographical
HAVCAP, AA friendly flight
INTERCEPTION, AA enemy flight
OCA STRIKE, AG objective (limited)
ON CALL CAS, AG geographical-assigned
PATROL, AG geographical
PRE-PLAN CAS, AG battalion
RECCE, AG objective
RECCE PATROL, AG geographical
RESCAP, AA geographical 1
SEAD, AG geographical 1
STRIKE, AG objective
SWEEP, AA geo
TARCAP, AA geo 1
TASMO, AG battalion (naval)
TRAINING, geographical1 mission criteria package survival
