Quote:
Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)
The PPI and A scope display two different radars. PPI is for the SJ Surface Search Radar while the A Scope is the SD Air Search Radar. The A Scope radar is omnidirectional, meaning it transmits and receives 360 degrees. Because of that you can only get range information off of the radar and not bearing.
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No, that's not true.
In "real life" the SD Air Search Radar used the older A-Scope unit to find air targets, however, the game doesn't distinguish a difference between the two stations. They are both treated the same, being primarily SJ Surface Search Radar. Actually, the regular game only alerts the player of found air targets (you're supposed to believe the detection is done by the SD Radar) by the text messages received, or by the plane icons appearing on the Navigation Map. This is done even if you haven't got the capabilities of using the Radar stations in-game (usually prior to mid 1942). SD Radar is already on the subs at the start of the war. When the Radar Stations
are made available, their the SJ Surface Search. Both stations should show the same information.....just in a different way.
When using OTC, both stations are directional, meaning the antenna needs to be pointed towards a specific target in order for it to show on the screen. You do this by turning the antenna to a specific bearing by hand, or having the antenna "sweep" 360 degrees to find a target. Both stations need to have the correct range set to get a return....always have the range set to the farthest distance when sweeping 360 degrees, then move the "Range Switch" closer for greater accuracy. On the PPI screen, the blip is a small circle, the A-Scope screen provides a "Spike" upon hitting a return.
The above OTC A-Scope station is showing a return "spike". If the Range Switch were set to the mid setting of 32,000 yards, the spike would be read on the middle range scale at 24,000 yard distance. If the Range Switch were set at the shortest distance (4000 yard distance), the spike would be determined to be only 3000 yards away.
How do you find the A-Scope bearing of a target? Use the Bearing Indicator found mounted on the wall above the A-Scope screen.
The above Bearing Indicator has the spike at approximately 10 degrees Starboard.
To check the OTC PPI station:
The blip is at the 10 degree bearing mark, with the lowest Range Switch set, the target is 3000 yards away. Same for both stations.
With the OTC radar, planes
are found on radar (where they are not on other mods). You know you have a plane by the increased speed the spike or blip moves on the screens. OTC also gives you a zoom feature to both radar stations, allowing for better viewing of either scopes, or the Bearing Indicator for the A-Scope Radar.