P,
It sounds to me like your friends need to learn to manage the link feature better. It is a very powerful tool when used properly. But, if you promote everything you see, and everyone else on your side does the same, you're going to get a lot of clutter.
AI platforms do a very good job of not promoting redundant link contacts, so if you are having that problem, it is because human players are doing it. Stick a boot in their asses. (Also, if you're getting overlapping linked contacts with different classifications, that's because you are getting the data from the other guys who classified it differently...its just their data...garbage in, garbage out.)
The idea of merging link contacts with ownship sensor data doesn't make sense. If the link data was in the form of, for example, bearing lines, then it might make sense to integrate that data for TMA. But, link data is in the form of a solution. Its something to check your own solution against.
If you have ESM bearings on the same contact from different platforms, all you need to do is ask the other player what their ESM bearing is. Then set your TMA range to the point on your bearing line where the other crosses. I guess it would be nice to be able to transmit the raw TMA data with a link and merge it, but even if that was in the game it would only save you about 2 seconds. Triangulation as it is now is not a time-consuming process.
Raising a mast at 30 knots...you get what you deserve. The warning feature is useful if accelerate while your masts are still up; it provides sufficient warning to order all stop and retract the masts. Of course you don't get enough warning when you put the mast up at flank; it gets broken immediately!
ESM data does provides the name of the platform AND the country that uses it.
I have to say, it seems that your friends just didn't have the patience to learn what they were doing. The only real gripe in that whole thing was the bug with radio antenna up and the floating wire out simultaneously, and that's a pretty minor bug.
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