Forum: F-16 Procedures

Hi all, I hope this is the right section for this question. I fly Open Falcon (an F-16 sim) and I have noticed something weird. When I use the IDM to get my wingmen's positions etc (for example in DMD mode), when I initiate the IDM round I hear the mic click. Also in CONT mode, I hear the mic click with each new IDM round. Is this accurate? I know the IDM uses audio data from the UHF and VHF antennae, but should the mic click be heard?

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Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 620

It is accurate. The IDM uses the UHF radio (usually) to send and recieve data, so you should hear a series of mic clicks when sending a round. One for each member of the flight.

Thanks for the reply, I know that it uses the radio antennae, but does this mean that the mic is involved in the process? Shouldn't the mic click be heard only when it's keyed? I thought it would be logical that the IDM makes use of the radio without involving the mic, thus no mic click would be heard.

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 620

Any time you want to transmit on any radio you need to key the mic. If no one needed to key the mic when they wanted to talk then we'd all step on each other and no one would hear anything. That's called having a "hot mic." It is the same with L16. It isn't a continual transmit, it is a radio like all the rest and recieves all the time but transmits only when it is supposed to. Again, with a mic click but we don't hear that one because there isn't an audio output from that radio into our earsets. That's why when we want to send IDM/IDT we call "standby data" or "standby round" so that everyone shuts up. If someone talks while the IDM/IDT is doing its thing then no one gets the data.

Oooh ok, thanks for the info! Another question is raised though, when the IDM is operating in continous mode (CONT), does it mean that noone can talk on the radios? Does the IDM use it's own reserved freq (I hope I'm not asking classified stuff)?

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 620

Whenever we run CONT and someone talks, it overrides the data and no one sees where anyone else is till the next round. We will hear someone talk before we see where everyone is. That's why we call "standby..." so no one talks. The IDM/IDT uses the same UHF/VHF freq you are currently using, that's why it can get stepped on. The link fixes that by having a dedicated radio. This stuff isn't classified, by the way, it's just radio stuff.

Thanks a lot for all your help sir. Smile

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 620

No problem, I like when people test my knowledge.

Sir, I work on Open Falcon along with Kosmo, what is the proper radio call by the flight/element leader, is it such as "Snake 1, Standby round!" ? Thanks.

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 620

Yep, that's it. No exclimation mark though.

Forum: F-16 Procedures

Is the mic click heard during IDM operation?