What's the deal with radio messages?

[Akela]

Hi,

Okay, here's something I haven't been able to figure out. I like to sit at P-depth on high TC until I see something however it seems like every 30 minutes or so I get some message or other on the radio that causes my TC to drop to 1. I find it a little annoying because the messages don't seem to be relevant but yet it stops the TC.

Am I missing the point here? The messages are usually something like "Sunk a trawler, took crew on board" and then an hour later, "dropped crew at Starbucks for coffee". Those seem to be obvious color but sometimes they say stuff like "Convoy at lat XX long YY". This seems like it might be important (if it's real) but I don't have any way of converting lat/long into a location on the map. Is this message real? If I did figure out where it was on the map and headed over there, would I find a convoy?

Lastly, occasionally I'll get a message that looks like it's completely real. This has happened only once, actually, where I got a long message telling me to sink just about anything I come across that doesn't speak German.

So I guess my question is; should I be paying any attention to these at all? And if not then is there a way to stop them from dropping my TC to 1?

all answers are appreciated, thanks.

[CherryHarbey]

Assuming this is in GWX.
Firstly, yes the historical messages are for immerison only, there may be the odd one that refers to activity that is scripted in game , but generally speaking they are just for show. Those that appear as Contact Reports on your message screen (and show on your map) are real.
Secondly, now to reduce the annoyance.
1 You coud go a bit deeper (not sure how tall the radio mast is but probably is only breaking the surface in the trough of waves at the moment). That said, I don't whether you just miss transmissions whilst submerged or whether the game stores them up (to simulate re-transmissions)
2 You can get a mod called (something like) GWX messages lite, that will cut them down to just the major stuff. Declarations of war etc. Don't use it myself so not sure of the exact name and my SH3 is on my other computer, but if you can't find it some other kind person will post you a link I'm sure.
3 You can change a lot of TC settings using SH3 Commander, Radio messages may well be one of the things you can set for. SH3 Commander is in the main Silent Hunter3 download section. You will need another file to make it run with GWX and again not sure of the exact name, but someone will post it if that the route you want to take

[Jimbuna]

Try this, all the messages relate to something that is actually scripted into the game (GWX3.0 supermod)

http://www.filefront.com/14067951/GWX_3_-_Msn_Os_Lite.rar/

[OSU]

I'm fine with the messages themselves, what I can't stand is the infernal beeping noise that comes along with it. Whenever that happens I automatically go to the bridge. That stops the beeping then I can check the message. Sometimes I find something fun to do with the messages, like orders that will come through that mention my u-boat.

[Missing Name]

I actually like the Morse code and extra messages... reportedly, some real u-boat captains were annoyed at Karl Doenitz's repeated radio broadcasts and frequent required status checks.

[frau kaleun]

I use the mod Jimbuna linked to (assuming that it's WB's Mission Orders Lite) but even so I found all the dit-dit-datting annoying even with the reduced number of messages. Sometimes I would be in the message screen, read the message, and be back out again while alert was still playing.

So I modded back in the speech files from the stock game, which are just the voice alert without all the Morse code noises. I like that a lot better.

[Gerald]

Ditto, :up:

[Sailor Steve]

I use DBSM, which plays the 2WO from Das Boot handing Der Alte a decoded message.

I like the full load of messages, but then I run at fairly low TC, which means when traffic is heavy I recieve one every few minutes rather than seconds.

[JohnnyBlaze]

There's a mod that reports all received messages at 11:00 and 21:00. That way you only get knocked out of TC twice a day.

You might miss some time specific scripted messages, but I dont mind that.
For example I received the war declaration message at 11:00 on 3rd of september.

The thing is that I dont remember the mods name nor the author at the moment. :hmmm:

[frau kaleun]

I use DBSM, which plays the 2WO from Das Boot handing Der Alte a decoded message.

Interesting, I may have to give that one a listen and see if I like it even better than what I've got now.

[Tessa]

Hi,

Okay, here's something I haven't been able to figure out. I like to sit at P-depth on high TC until I see something however it seems like every 30 minutes or so I get some message or other on the radio that causes my TC to drop to 1. I find it a little annoying because the messages don't seem to be relevant but yet it stops the TC.

Am I missing the point here? The messages are usually something like "Sunk a trawler, took crew on board" and then an hour later, "dropped crew at Starbucks for coffee". Those seem to be obvious color but sometimes they say stuff like "Convoy at lat XX long YY". This seems like it might be important (if it's real) but I don't have any way of converting lat/long into a location on the map. Is this message real? If I did figure out where it was on the map and headed over there, would I find a convoy?

Lastly, occasionally I'll get a message that looks like it's completely real. This has happened only once, actually, where I got a long message telling me to sink just about anything I come across that doesn't speak German.

So I guess my question is; should I be paying any attention to these at all? And if not then is there a way to stop them from dropping my TC to 1?

all answers are appreciated, thanks.

As time progresses the radio traffic does start to lighten up once Donitz realizes that the allies have cracked the Enigma code. There is a lot less traffic until they get the 4 rotor enigmas and the allies can't read their mail anymore.

[Draka]

I also use the mod that consolidates all messages and sends them twice a day - the actual mod is listed in JSME as "RL_E v2 Daily Double 0600_2300" but for the life of me I can't find exactly WHERE I got it .....

Edit: GOT IT! RadioLog_Expanded_V2.rar

Here on SubSim:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=1321

[Tessa]

I also use the mod that consolidates all messages and sends them twice a day - the actual mod is listed in JSME as "RL_E v2 Daily Double 0600_2300" but for the life of me I can't find exactly WHERE I got it .....

Edit: GOT IT! RadioLog_Expanded_V2.rar

Here on SubSim:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=1321

Depending on what you're doing/how you're playing that's probably just what the doctor ordered for ~ half the people here. I'd recommend using the "Lite Radio Traffic" mod so you get updates on convoy spottings and task forces. Anytime you actively pursue a task force to intercept or (in rare instances where they're moving really really slow) catch up to you'll likely be in no position to even try and catch them. By getting a digest version you'll miss out on some big catches.

Other (very easy) solution to the problem, if you're on a mission or have a specific objective in mind (whether its a harbor raid, lying in wait in the high traffic lanes, or patroling back and forth around Gibraltor) just yank the radio man out and put him in a bunk. Same with the sonar man, when a convoy is approaching I get sick of hearing every single change every ship makes so yank him out of the chair and use it manually when I need to or put him back in for a few minutes to get a rough idea of the big picture on the contact map and make markings and move on from there.

[FIREWALL]

I wish SH3 GWX could be modded so the only messages I get only on surface or peri depth are the ones scripted in campain (Convoys\Task Force) that show on map.

The only immersion messages I want are Start of War, End of War,and such messages as Priens success at Scapa Flow and so forth.

I don't want all those other messages every 15 mins of somebody elses boats success or ships S.S.S. Spread fewer of those farther apart.

Exception... I like Lehmans Messages. :yep:

Can this mod be done ?

[Tessa]

I wish SH3 GWX could be modded so the only messages I get only on surface or peri depth are the ones scripted in campain (Convoys\Task Force) that show on map.

The only immersion messages I want are Start of War, End of War,and such messages as Priens success at Scapa Flow and so forth.

I don't want all those other messages every 15 mins of somebody elses boats success or ships S.S.S. Spread fewer of those farther apart.

Exception... I like Lehmans Messages. :yep:

Can this mod be done ?

It's really easy to do, just a complete Black Hole of time. Just open the file in a notepad, then start deleting all the lines you don't want to see/hear. Personally I find it histarical when I get a message from myself saying something like I've got engine troubles and am aborting mission or am returning home (when I leaving home port).

[Capt. Morgan]

As time progresses the radio traffic does start to lighten up once Donitz realizes that the allies have cracked the Enigma code. There is a lot less traffic until they get the 4 rotor enigmas and the allies can't read their mail anymore.

Actually, Donitz suspected a number of things were the cause of his losses, and investigations he conducted led him to blame espoinage primarily.

He instituted the 4-rotor M4 Enigma machine in February 1942 only as an additional insurance. Donitz never realized that the codes had been broken (nor did anyone else until 1973/74, when Gustave Bertrand and F. W. Winterbotham published their accounts of the Enigma code breakers).

The M4 did however result in a 10 month blind period in the Atlantic for the allies, which coincides almost exactly with "the second happy times". Fortunately Donitz - again - didn't succeed in putting 2 + 2 together.

[Jimbuna]

It's really easy to do, just a complete Black Hole of time. Just open the file in a notepad, then start deleting all the lines you don't want to see/hear. Personally I find it histarical when I get a message from myself saying something like I've got engine troubles and am aborting mission or am returning home (when I leaving home port).

Yes, that is one way but the individual must take the time to go through EVERY scripted message.

Probably worth it in the end.

[FIREWALL]

Yes, that is one way but the individual must take the time to go through EVERY scripted message.

Probably worth it in the end.

Jim, I want this tied in with SHCommander so by my career and boat #
the messages would feel like their coming to me personally.

Don't want much do I ? :DL

[Jimbuna]

Jim, I want this tied in with SHCommander so by my career and boat #
the messages would feel like their coming to me personally.

Don't want much do I ? :DL

I think you'd be better off cutting and pasting them onto notepad then print them off and have the missus sit at your side periodically reading them to you :DL