RF switch on MISC panel

[Doc0301]

Hi guys,

I know the RF switch (MISC panel, left of center console in block52) controls the amount radio emissions the F-16 is creating. You can toggle it between NORM, QUIET and SILENT, etc…

But does anyone know what the “RF” stands for?

[Agave_Blue]

Radio Frequency?

Isn’t that what “RF” normally stands for?

[Doc0301]

I don’t know. Perhaps it stands for “Radio Frequency”. However, I haven’t found the answer in any F-16 manual

[Blu3wolf]

try a -34 sometime. The Run Silent Switch, or RF switch, controls RF emission from all emitters on a single switch.

RF is of course, Radio Frequency.

[Revolpathon]

i’ve been told that there is no difference between RF silent and RF quiet. as far as BMS goes. is this correct?

i’m talking ofcourse about the emissions, not the effect of the switch on the systems as that does have affect

[Raptor]

This post is deleted!

[Leech]

@Revolpathon:

i’ve been told that there is no difference between RF silent and RF quiet. as far as BMS goes. is this correct?

i’m talking ofcourse about the emissions, not the effect of the switch on the systems as that does have affect

The Radar altimeter will operate only in RF NORM and QUIET.
In QUIET only LPI, WX, STBY and OFF TFR modes are available. In SILENT, only OFF and STBY TFR are available

[Red Dog]

This message has been deleted by Netstat.
Reasonexcellent response

RTFM in this case was a very valid response!, a further indication where to look would have been welcome though to avoid the aggressive nature some ressent from a RTFM
Let’s try not to verse into spoon feeding the new guys. If they don’t get into the manuals, they won’t master BMS anyway.

[Darkman]

In fairness to the OP it is not explained in any of the main 4 manuals what RF actually stands for, which was his question. I think it makes sense to add that in for future revisions, particularly for non-native english speakers.

Having just checked the above and read Leech’s post it has also exposed a mismatch between the -1 and -34 on the impact of QUIET mode on the TFR. The -34 p76 is correct in this instance.

[Planehazza]

RF is Radio Frequency as said. It’s used globally for that. If you talk about RF interference it’s the same thing.

[Revolpathon]

@Leech:

The Radar altimeter will operate only in RF NORM and QUIET.
In QUIET only LPI, WX, STBY and OFF TFR modes are available. In SILENT, only OFF and STBY TFR are available

Thanks. But not what I meant. I knew most of that.

What I am wondering is wether there is a difference in bms between quiet and silent in terms of showing up on opfor rwr.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Red Dog]

In fairness to the OP it is not explained in any of the main 4 manuals what RF actually stands for

In fairness to Raptor, the RTFM was not aimed at the OP but at the post just above his

i’ve been told that there is no difference between RF silent and RF quiet. as far as BMS goes. is this correct?

I’ve been told is the easy route. checking what the manual has to say about it should be the next logical step

BMS Dash 1, page 38

The RF switch is a three position toggle switch and controls electromagnetic emissions from the aircraft as follows:
NORM is the default position and is used for normal operation of the aircraft.
QUIET reduces the level of EW emissions by turning the radar to standby.
SILENT shuts down all EW emissions from the aircraft: RADAR, TFR, RALT, ECM.

Plus if the guy checks into BMS and see a different behaviour and report it, then the manual can be updated and that’s win win for all
With BMs constantly being updated, such things can change overtime and be overlooked in the manual, although we try to avoid that as best as we can

[Leech]

@Revolpathon:

Thanks. But not what I meant. I knew most of that.

What I am wondering is wether there is a difference in bms between quiet and silent in terms of showing up on opfor rwr.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

If your asking about FCR emissions , BMS follows the same RF switch operation of the real jet, meaning that in QUIET and SILENT, the FCR dose not transmit. RWR’s in multiplayer sessions and not triggered by a client that has his RF switch out of normal.

[macieksoft]

Well, there is a difference between silent and quiet in BMS.
AFAIK radar altimeter do not operates in silent, but it works in quiet. And there was also something with TFR.

Hovewer in BMS enemy has no way to detect TFR or radar altimeter emmison so it makes no sense to use silent mode. Just use quiet one, it disables radar (so enemy RWR cannot detect you) but it leaves radar altimeter functioning.

And AFAIK both modes (silent and quiet) turns off datalink, so keep this in mind that you are unable to see your buddies on HSD when using it.
Generally best way is to simply disable radar by using MFD OSB labelled OVRD and leave rest of the radio equipment functioning.

[Revolpathon]

Datalink functions over the radio. So it remains functioning.

I recently did a low level mission to avoid detection and I didn’t know at the time that in bms there is no detection difference between silent and quiet and so I flew it on silent. And we still had datalink with our.other flight in the package.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Raptor]

There are systems onboard that can and will override even the strict switch position and emit, following a pilot command.

[Snowman]

I assume the Datalink was hosted by others in the package.
Then it’s receive only?

[Revolpathon]

@Snowman:

I assume the Datalink was hosted by others in the package.
Then it’s receive only?

it was, but they had us on DL as well so they knew where we were as well

[macieksoft]

When I am hosting DL in SP it’s being turned off as soon as I move the switch.