creating the ODS v0.6 stations.dat file for OF

[Red Dog]

Hello gents,

I was asked by Fafa back in April to adapt the stations;dat file for ODS v0.6 for OF use. That is with the addition of the UHF and VHF tower frequencies, and specific runway ILS frequencies.
Since I was quite busy with Nevada and Iran back in that time I postponed. But a few days ago I received the same request from Rick and this time I started doing this...

Now the problem is that it's a huge time consuming task because of one small structure problem, read on.

Collecting the data is not a problem at all, my airbase list spreadsheet I keep updated for most of the F4 theater already has most of the frequencies I need.
Making the file is not the problem either as it's mostly automated from my spreadhseet

Now the problem is with the ILS. We have 4 slots available for ILS frequencies (F4 airbases have a maximum of 4 runway) when there's no ILS at an airbase, those 4 slots says 0 0 0 0

The problem is when there is one or two or four ILS for that airbase.
We don't know the sequence for the ILS relative to the runway
so
110100 111300 109900 109100 for a 16L/34R & 16R/34L runway makes sure that each runway gets it's own ILS but we don't know which one....

Bottom line is that I can guess most of the work from other airbase type I already covered in other theaters, but all this has to be checked within the 3D world by getting to the airport and checking which runway gets the correct ILS frequency

And I can't do that alone for a theater as large as ODS, I need help

Rick already assembled a team of testers willing to devote some time testing airbases. I feel it would be a great opportunity to check other airbases aspects as well (tiles, objects, ...) - although not all airbases will be visited as they don't have all ILS frequencies.

Anyway, every volonteer is welcome. I will use this thread to organize the work and distribute testing assignements. Make yourself known

At this time, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia are ready for testing, Irak should be ready tonight and I'd like to start testing from tomorrow wednesday.

Comments are welcome

RD

[Snake Man]

Nice to see you again Red Dog. Seems like the theater development is again at full swing. Excellent

[Pallbearer-FB-VFW]

Red Dog, we are assembled and ready to go, the other guys will PM you and well wait to hear from you.. Thanks..Rick

[Red Dog]

Snake, I actually never stop - when i am not here, I'm working on my falcon charts which to some extend are also theater related

okay gents, here's the catch:

1. Download and install this stations+ils.dat file
http://www.candyparty.com/ST/OF/ODS_06/stations+ils.dat
(right click & save as)
Beware it's a beta version and nowhere near finished

2. get the assignation table in PDF:
http://www.candyparty.com/ST/OF/ODS_06/ ... A_Iraq.pdf

Now, I need three or four guys:
One for Kuwait: 3 aibases to check)
One or two for Saudi arabia (20 airbases to check)
One for Iraq: 6 airbase to check

Here's the modus operandi:

1. Find from the PDF any airbase that has one or more ILS
2. Create an OF mission starting from that airbase
3. Hit FLY, Note the MSL altitude and the GPS coord (LIST - 6) and fill the blank column on the PDF
4. test the UHF & VHF tower communication - make sure you hear your voice
5. Take OFF
6. Dial in the first ILS frequency T-ILS page (input ILS freq) - Select TCN-ILS mode and center the needles.
Obviously to center the needle you need to align your craft with one runway. Only one runway will make the needle center (that's also the only one where you'll hear the markers.
Note the correspondance between the ILS freq and the runway on the PDF
7. Restart from 6 if the airport has 2, 3 or 4 ILS
8. report any other findings like bad tiles, tacan not working, object problems, taxi problem etc etc

Let me know the result

Any question, feel free - It sounds complicated but it's not - and it will seriously help your ILS skills

Next for me is to set Iran and the remaining countries

[Pallbearer-FB-VFW]

OK RedDog we have read and gotten the info we will need to get started.. Well get set up and start on this this evening.. I will keep you informed of our progress.. Thanks..

[Red Dog]

Thanks Rick, I'll be looking forward to your comments

If any other volonteers want to join, please do. We need all the help we can get

[Snake Man]

Sorry that I cant help, I run Radeon 9800 128 pro here and that is one of the cards that run OF in 1-2FPS rate.

[Jaguar]

Let me know if i can help too. Maybe with Turkish airbases? or with other countries?

[Hollywood]

Hey Red Dog Hey Snake Man
Thanks for the fun. Don't know if Rick told you but making good progress on the DAT files. although we had to edit them to make things work but there working and all seems to be going smooth.

Cheers
"Hollywood"

[Red Dog]

Hollywood,
Let me know the changes you made

Jag,
Thanks for the offer. you get Turkey. I should have a new station.dat file before the week end so you can start Stay tuned

[Jaguar]

Jag,
Thanks for the offer. you get Turkey. I should have a new station.dat file before the week end so you can start Stay tuned

copy...

[Pallbearer-FB-VFW]

Red Dog, thought Id let you know that we will probably be finished with Kuwait and Saudi by Friday evening.. We will then all move to Iraq and start on it together.. Things are going good, lots of flight hours, and getting to know the countryside REALLY good..LOL..:>..Thanks for the opportunity for the fun..Rick

[Red Dog]

Can someone send me a Save0 file for ODS or a list of airbase ID

I might have found the link between the ILS structure and the Airbase ID but I need to check with tacaedit to be sure
olivier(at)ravico.com will be fine

Thanks

[Snake Man]

Email sent with attached CSV.

[Red Dog]

Received - Thanks

Some progress report, A new stations.dat is in the making and should be available soon with corrected Saudi Arabia, corrected Kuwait, Irak, Iran and Turkey.

To the guys currently testing, finish Irak if possible, if not, that will be done with the next station.dat file.

[Red Dog]

Snake,

Just a small note so I don't forget

As discussed when we worked on Iran, I am making sure that the airport data remains constant between all terrain (ODS, Iran, Afghanista,...)

So far I ran into two airports giving me problem:

Noshahr in Iran is an airbase with tacan 086X in Iran but is an airstrip in ODS

Ramsar in Iran is an airbase with tacan 102X in Iran but is an airstrip in ODS

So Or I downgrade them in Iran to airstrips, or I upgrade them to airbases in ODS
Both cases will need a type change in the theater

edit 19/12/07
Doha (qatar) is a 18/36 in ODS and is a 16/34 in Iran
one of the two needs changing

[Red Dog]

New stations.dat

Covering ILS & UHF&VHF freq in Kuwait (Corrected) Saudi Arabia (corrected) Irak (Corrected) Iran (New) and Turkey (New)

http://www.candyparty.com/ST/OF/ODS_06/stations+ils.dat

List for Kuwait, Saudi, Irak, Iran
http://www.candyparty.com/ST/OF/ODS_06/ ... q_Iran.pdf

List for Turkey
http://www.candyparty.com/ST/OF/ODS_06/ ... Turkey.pdf

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
This set should have a lot less problem than the previous one

Modus operandi
Here's the modus operandi:

1. Find from the PDF any airbase that has one or more ILS
2. Create an OF mission starting from that airbase
3. Hit FLY, Note the MSL altitude and the GPS coord (LIST - 6) and fill the blank column on the PDF
4. test the UHF & VHF tower communication - make sure you hear your voice
5. Take OFF
6. Dial in the first ILS frequency T-ILS page (input ILS freq) - Select TCN-ILS mode and center the needles.
Obviously to center the needle you need to align your craft with one runway. Only one runway will make the needle center (that's also the only one where you'll hear the markers.
Note the correspondance between the ILS freq and the runway on the PDF
7. Restart from 6 if the airport has 2, 3 or 4 ILS
8. report any other findings like bad tiles, tacan not working, object problems, taxi problem etc etc

Jaguar got to test Turkey, so Pallbearer, Hollywood and Gronk, please start again to confirm the data are now correct in Kuwait, Saudi, Iraq

Iran can now be tested

Any question, post here, or msn me on olivier(at)ravico.com

[Pallbearer-FB-VFW]

OK Red Dog well get started on it on Wedensday.. Well go back over all of them.. Ill let you know when we are done.. Rick

[Jaguar]

got it! will be done with Turkiye till the weekend....

[Pallbearer-FB-VFW]

Red Dog thought Id give you an update we have finished flying Saudi and Iran, and are starting on Iraq now.. We should be completed easily by Monday.. Youll be getting the updated information the first of next week..

[Red Dog]

Thanks, I'm working on the ILS above 111 issue
No clue on the UHF/VHF issue in Iran, but I need more precise data that will certainly come with your report

Have a nice flying week end

[Red Dog]

okay gents,

Here's the complete ODS stations.dat file featuring UHF and VHF freqs for tower comms as well las ILS frequencies.
All countries are covered
http://www.candyparty.com/ST/OF/ODS_06/stations+ils.dat

Lots of testing still need to be done
Iran, Iraq, Saudi & Kuwait are undergoing tests by Pallbearer & team
Turkey is being tested by Jaguar

Any other volonteer is welcome - pick your country
Israel, Jordan, Syria, egypt, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Barhain, Cyprus, UAE, Qatar

Here's the full PDF list with the frequencies
http://www.candyparty.com/ST/OF/ODS_06/ ... 6_full.pdf

Guys testing, you can send your feedback whenever you are ready
We are aiming to include this file in the next release which is Xmas as I heard

[Fafa]

Thanks Red Dog, I'll put it in my work...un grand merci à toi !!!

[Red Dog]

Might still change in the coming days ...

Crazy Calvin from GlobalF4 volonteerd to test Egypt ...

[Pallbearer-FB-VFW]

Red Dog. We have completed the testing for the second go-round.. Gronk is sending you the test data.. Hope it is sufficent.. PB..