Accessing Comm-2 using the DC-8 Radio Stack

[randomizer]

First off, many thanks to all of the HJG Team for your superb models and liveries. They have provided many hours of enjoyment in FS9 and will no doubt continue to do so.

There does not seem to be any way to actually use Comm-2 together with Comm-1 or independently in the radio stack used with the DC-8 (or Convair's).

I have tried to change the keyboard assignments of both the "COMM 1 (2) Transmit On" event but I don't think that this command actually does what I thought it does. The goal is to use Comm-2 to access the ATIS message at the destination airport to better facilitate flying published arrivals. Of course one can just change frequency using Comm-1 but then why have a COMM-2 radio in the first place.

There are other radio stacks that might replace the HJG supplied gauge but I would prefer not to do this as the best candidate gauges lack the two ADF receivers and major editing of HJG planes is not something that I really want to do.

This is not a huge issue and a work-around is available but determining what I am doing wrong and getting the COMM-2 to work as it does in other radio stacks would be great. Thank you in advance for any insights.

-C

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

There does not seem to be any way to actually use Comm-2 together with Comm-1 or independently in the radio stack used with the DC-8 (or Convair's) ....

.... then why have a COMM-2 radio in the first place.

The DC-8 and both CV880 and CV990 Panels each use the very same Radio Stack.

As mentioned within the following-linked and quoted forum based manuals extract (see "RADIO STACK" information within "SECTIONS 2:00/2:01/2:02/2:03/2:04/2:05/2:06/and 2:07" for each of the DC-8 Panels .... and the "RADIO STACK" information within "SECTIONS 2:00/2:01/2:00-2/2:03 for each of the CV888 and CV990 panels) ....


tonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/8019/hjg-panel-installation-handling-notes

tonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/1699/cv880-panels-installation-handling-notes

The VHF COM1/VHF COM2 radios are located within the upper and center right sections of the Radio Stack sub panel .... left mouse clicking, at 2 separate vertical points (+ or - respectively), below the extreme left side of either VHF COM1/VHF COM2 radio frequency display window cycles the displayed 3-digit radio frequency prefix .... left mouse clicking, at 2 separate vertical points (+ or - respectively), below the extreme right side of either VHF COM1/VHF COM2 radio frequency display window cycles the displayed 2-digit radio frequency suffix.

PLEASE NOTE: COM1/2 are both selectable. ATIS information can only be tuned via COM1 .... independently of the FS ATC feature. ATIS and ATC dialogue cannot be tuned via COM2.

This's simply a reflection of the way these RADIO STACK sub panels/gauges were originally compiled "prior to 2006". It was intended to try'n resolve this limitation after 2006, but, the lack of panel coding (as I recall .... along with other long forgotten reasons possibly dating as far back as FS2000/2002) prevented such .... hence this's as far as both lots of these panel developments ever went (and since most don't even use the ATC or ATIS functions this was ever a great priority anyway). The original design of these panels mostly represents the work of Marco BALZAROTTI. Out of respect for his efforts our intent was also to disturb his aesthetic concepts "as little as possible" .... therefore the original RADIO STACK in each of these panels was never replaced. We've no plans to further edit any of these panels.

To fully resolve this (minor) limitation would therefore require replacement of the entire DC-8 (or CV880 and CV990) Panel Radio Stack sub panels/gauges with an alternative features .... and which would also likely impose PANEL.CFG editing and possibly some AIRCRAFT.CFG editing too.

If people do opt to modify what's provided then please bear-in-mind HJG can only support what's provided given we "can't" know (or guarantee) how such modifications might implicate other panel features among the panels/simulations we offer.


Mark C
AKL/NZ

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Had a quick look at this for you "RANDOMIZER" .... just to be "SURE" in regard to what I replied above.

I looked at the "RADIOS" section of the DC-8 CFG's (and those for CV880's/990's too) and which by default appear as follows ....


[Radios]
Audio.1=1
Com.1=1,0
Com.2=1,0
Nav.1=1,0,1
Nav.2=1,0,0
Adf.1=1
Adf.2=1
Transponder.1=1
Marker.1=1


Since both COM 2 values read identically I thought I'd try'n be "a smart-arse" by editing COM values as follows (below) in order to see if such made any difference in regard to either ATC and ATIS audio .... but through COM2 in particular


[Radios]
Audio.1=1
Com.1=1,0
Com.2=0,1
Nav.1=1,0,1
Nav.2=1,0,0
Adf.1=1
Adf.2=1
Transponder.1=1
Marker.1=1


[Radios]
Audio.1=1
Com.1=1,1
Com.2=1,1
Nav.1=1,0,1
Nav.2=1,0,0
Adf.1=1
Adf.2=1
Transponder.1=1
Marker.1=1


"NO GO" though .... I'm afraid.

So, in accordance with my earlier advice (basic compilation of the "original" DC-8 gauges actually precedes my technical time at HJG .... "they're prior to DEC 2000") it seems the DC-8 RADIOS gauge is compiled for all ATC and ATIS audibility to function "via COM1 only" and despite the fact COM2's also selectable but devoid of audio.

Kind of makes sense though .... because if COM2 was also capable of ATC or ATIS audibility, then, there's the likelihood of ATIS audibility remaining constant on one set whilst ATC audibility continued functioning intermittently on the other (assuming both sets were useable) .... and which could, under some circumstances, become "a little irritating" (I never use the FS ATC facilities anyway) given there's no switch with which to engage/disengage either COM1 or COM2 sets individually .... if you can sense my meaning.

One thing I didn't try though was loading the default CESSNA into FS "first and foremost" .... then engaging both its COM1/COM2 functions (if such is possible .... I never fly the default simulations to know) .... and then .... transitioning to a DC-8 (cor CV880/CV990) within the same FS session in order to see if such action might bump COM2 into audio functionality (if one wants ADF/VOR and MARKER ID audibility with the DC-8 panels radios .... and which I assume similarly applies to the CV880/CV990 panels radios too) .... then ..... this's precisely what should be done as I recall).

Failing the latter suggestion .... everything's what it "IS" and which is the way it'll "REMAIN" I'm afraid .... short of one successfully swapping out the current DC-8/CV880/CV990 Panel RADIOS sub panel and gauges for another workable option (and possibly applying some AIRCRAFT.CFG as well as PANEL.CFG editing in support of these actions), but, which we don't offer advice in regard to as the result/s would then be inconsistent with what we support.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[randomizer]

OK, thanks for the explanations. The radio stacks in some FS9 propliners (Manfred Jahn's Connies for example) allow simultaneous COMM-1 and COMM-2 reception and the radios on the CalClassic DC-6/7 family allow setting an ATIS freq on COMM-2 and simply toggling between the comms radios, which provides the functionality that I have become accustomed to.

As I said, a work-around is available for the Diesel Eights so there's no big deal. Thanks again for the detailed response.

-C