range discrepancies between visual and sonar in TMO

[BGrey]

Basically its what the title says, I started playing again recently and decided to start anew, I have the Seawolf out of manila and have been sent to patrol an area a bit north of the San Bernardino strait. Just outside the strait I picked up a contact and closed to the edge of visual range, and identified it as a small split freighter. I was working on plotting its course using the sonar and all was going well until I remembered you can ask the crew to report nearest visual contact. I had just gotten a range of about 22500 ft when I asked for a report on the nearest visual contact and the crew responded with the correct bearing but a range of about 35000ft :-?. So I ask if anyone knows which is right and why one is wrong (if both arnt).

[Mescator]

I think you'll find Sonar reports in Yards. Visual Detection is the only sensor I've seen that uses feet.

[BGrey]

Even then it still doesnt make sense and only increases the difference between the two readings. Using the scope to get a rough range makes me feel that the visual report is correct but I still cant make sense of the number im getting from the sonar.

Edit: to be clear this is the number reported when using the report range button. When done manually and counting time and calculating i get roughly the correct values which makes me think that maybe an oversight was made and they are reporting the range in yards that the ping traveled and not dividing by 2 as they should for the range to target.

Edit 2 : Got a bit closer and I tried again and this time got a range of 9900 yards ( 29700 ft) on sonar and 31000 ft from visually so all I can guess is that this problem is somehow related to taking measurements from sonar when far from the target :hmmm:

[magic452]

To get good reliable sonar ping ranges you must get the sonar bearing very centered on the target. Use the mouse wheel to center the sonar than ping.
Ranges should be pretty close.

Magic

[TorpX]

@BGrey (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=252079)

I can't give you any difinitive info on TMO since I play RFB, but have you read the thread for OTC? Optical Targeting Correction was created by CapnScurvy to remedy graphics/range related issues. This may explain the discrepency you're talking about.

[CapnScurvy]

I have never asked the Weapons Officer to give me his idea of range to target. I will always check for myself using the Stadimeter or Sonar. So being able to say what his version of range may be, I can't say.

I can tell you the Sonar is accurate. Very accurate. As a matter of fact it is dead on accurate. Again, I don't ask the sonar man to give me the range. I take the targets relative bearing found using the scope compass and put the sonar pointer on the bearing. Click the "Estimate range to target" toggle, then "Send" it to the TDC/Position Keeper. What you read on the Position Keeper is the accurate yards/meters (depending on the unit of measurement your using) of the target in question. The measurement is always shown in yards, not feet, if you are using the Imperial unit of measurement.

The only draw back to using sonar is when there is a warship close around and it picks up on your ping (and it will). Someone is about to hear a knock on the door outside the sub. I wouldn't answer if I were you!

TMO 2.0 uses mostly the stock games mast height measurements for determining Stadimeter found range. Some are just fine, others not so good. For instance, the German Pocket Battleship has a mast height of 47 meters (both stock and TMO). It should read 37.8 meters tall for an accurate stadimeter measurement. North Carolina BB mast height reads 37 meters tall, when it should read 33.2 (but who's going to attack the North Carolina?!). TMO has the Chitose Seaplane CA at 16 meters, should read 32.5 (the stock game reads 32). The Hiryu CV has a stock mast height of 31 meters, TMO reads 20. The correct mast height needs to be 37.4 meters tall.

Just food for thought when you try to get an accurate range to target with manual targeting. So use sonar if you dare, it will give you the correct range to target, but bring down trouble when warships are around.