Where are my radio contacts?

[WillowsPuppy]

I reinstalled SH3 this past weekend to give it another go, and I took a quick look at Grey Wolves before deciding on NYGM. I finished my first patrol with NYGM and overal I'm pleased with the game.

One thing has me worried, however. I noticed a complete lack of radio contacts from BdU during my 13 day patrol. I mean zero. Is this intentional or did I just get very unlucky? I did notice that occasionally while I was steaming home at 256 TC that it would bump down to 8 TC for no apparent reason. No status messages or anything, but when I moved my mouse around the NAV map, sometimes I found a distant contact (> 40 km) that I can only assume was supposed to have been a radio contact. The contact doesn't show up unless I click on it though. Is this the way it's supposed to work?

[Marriott]

Yes thats the way its supposed to work. It also doesnt show whether the ship is friendly, neutral or enemy, which means you have to look at the flag to identify it and that makes it more realistic. Everytime it bumps down to 8 TC there will be a distant vessel somewhere near you and you can move your mouse around the map to find it.

[enaceo]

Also,if you bump down to 8TC and can't get a fix on the ship visually ,go into the water slowly and preform a hydrophone check.You should always find the ship if it is within "8TC bump range" .If you can't get a fix on it ,turn the sub around a bit and check then ,and make sure you are silent-runnig to avoid influence from your engines.You could also just ask the officer to do it ,but It's cooler if you do it yourself
Mind you ,the ship can also be heard by hydrophone,but it won't be noted in the ...notepad thing on the top-right.Listen very carefully for something like a "cough cough cough cough" sound.It can at times be very faint.