[REQ] More Accurate Radar Screen

[Fish40]

I thought there was a mod out a while ago which offered a more detailed radar screen, with range rings. I find it difficult to measure range with the current layout. I'm useing RFB 1.4(not the latest version). The screen dose have bearing marks at 30 degree intervals, but without the range rings, you could only make an estimate.

I do want to say, that if the range rings were absent in reality, then I'll deal with the situation as I have been. Realism is numero uno!

[LukeFF]

No, you are correct in saying the radar display looked different in reality. Before 1.3 we could edit the PPI display, but so far now no one has been able to figure it out for 1.4 and 1.5.

To see what a real working SJ radar display looks like, check out these two pages. They are of the oldest working SJ radar set in existence, and it still works just like it did during the war:

http://www.usscobia.com/sj-1.html
http://www.usscobia.com/pics1.html

[Fish40]

Originally Posted by LukeFF

No, you are correct in saying the radar display looked different in reality. Before 1.3 we could edit the PPI display, but so far now no one has been able to figure it out for 1.4 and 1.5.

To see what a real working SJ radar display looks like, check out these two pages. They are of the oldest working SJ radar set in existence, and it still works just like it did during the war:

http://www.usscobia.com/sj-1.html
http://www.usscobia.com/pics1.html

Cool links Luke Thanks for that. From the looks of it, the real PPI scope had alot more bearing lines, but I couldn't make out if there were range marks on the screen. It didn't look like there were. If that's the way it was in reality, then it's OK with me It's amazeing to think that this unit still functions this well after so many years!

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by Fish40

Cool links Luke Thanks for that. From the looks of it, the real PPI scope had alot more bearing lines, but I couldn't make out if there were range marks on the screen. It didn't look like there were. If that's the way it was in reality, then it's OK with me It's amazeing to think that this unit still functions this well after so many years!

The only "range marks" one would see with the SJ radar would come from the range indicator display, like this one here (in the little rectangular window):

http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?i...ngeunitdd3.jpg

Which is one of the things SH4's SJ radar is missing.

[elanaiba]

I think you're confusing a recommended field mod with something that is generally available on all boats. Is there another example than the Cobia?

From the Radar Operator's manual: http://www.hnsa.org/doc/radar/part4.htm#pgSJ-1

Bearings and ranges may he read approximately from the PPI scope without stopping the antenna. It is possible to obtain target course within 5 degrees, and target speed within 3 knots from this data. The following suggestions will speed the obtaining of data from the PPI and increase the accuracy:


1. Add inked circles on the face of the PH tube for estimating range (four solid circles, interspaced by four dotted circles). Care must he taken not to scratch the tube in any way.

2. Improvise a more accurate 360 degrees bearing circle over which rides a cursor, or thread stretched across the screen. Targets may then he split by this thread and hearing read on the circle.

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by elanaiba

I think you're confusing a recommended field mod with something that is generally available on all boats. Is there another example than the Cobia?

• From the same HNSA page (http://www.hnsa.org/doc/radar/part4.htm#pgSJ-3) there is a diagram of the same range indicator unit ("Figure 4 SJ-5. Range unit").

• USS Cod shows a range indicator unit for the SJ: http://www.usscod.org/graphics/CT-Sonar.jpg

• Pampanito has a range indicator: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...JPampanito.jpg

• USS Croaker has one: http://glnmm.org/DSC00245.JPG

• USS Bowfin has one: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...F/SJBowfin.jpg

• USS Ling has one: http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/0829716.jpg (hard to tell in that picture, but it's there)

Those are the ones I could find right now. I'm sure there's more pics at Navsource.

[elanaiba]

I'm not talking about the range indicator. That I wish we had in the game, functional.

I'm talking about the rings on the PPI screen, etc.

[LukeFF]

Originally Posted by elanaiba

I'm not talking about the range indicator. That I wish we had in the game, functional.

I'm talking about the rings on the PPI screen, etc.

Oops!

That's a good question, Dan, that I don't know the answer to. Perhaps the Cobia staff would know if those markings are a field mod or not?

While on the topic, what was your source for the PPI display we currently have? I don't see anything in Norman Friedman's book about what it looked like.

[elanaiba]

The USS Cobia pics and some from the USS Cod (provided kindly by Gino)

http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ppish0.jpg

I think we even had an in-game version of the other "manual recommended" variant - the one with the dotted circles.

[Fish40]

I dug this up from the ancient archives:rotfl: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ar+range+rings Luke, I even came up with a post of yours on 5/22/07 where you asked basicly the same thing that I have in this post

Apparently, we did have the range rings on the PPI in the very beginning, but were somehow "broken" from v.1.1 onwards.

I feel we need to do something if possible to rectify this. I wonder if it's possible to mod in the rectangular range viewfinder wich is shown in the photos in the links Luke provided. Mabey just have a reading off to the side somewhere to represent what really was if it's too difficult to mod. While reading the old threads on this issue, screenies from SH4 1.0, show the range readout directly on the radar screen itself. I don't know if this was historicly accurate, but it was something.

[elanaiba]

I'm not seeing the range readout on those shots, but the max range setting...

[Fish40]

Originally Posted by elanaiba

I'm not seeing the range readout on those shots, but the max range setting...

My bad You're right! There must be something that could be done though:hmm:

[jmr]

I've always longed for a more functional radar display in both SH3 and SH4. If the radar operator would at least give a concrete target range versus short, medium, long range I would at least be content with it. What I would really like is a bearing and range indicator such as the one modeled in the first Silent Hunter. I would gladly give my first born to the modder who can come up with something such as this.

[kylesplanet]

Wow JMR! That looks great!

[Fortune]

@jmr

wow, now I remember what gave me that "immerse" feeling in older simulations.
today everything is 3d and moving but nervertheless it's not the same like sh1 for example(ok, I was to young for sh1, just played the demo wich was one my first simulation)