Radio Receiver Channel Toggle - What does it do?

[Zirashi]

Brand new to the IL-2 series and I am looking over the controls to get my bearings. One of the things that I can't figure out is the "Radio Receiver: channel toggle"  under the Main Controls section in the keybindings menu. When I press the LAlt+C keybind in my La-5, I can see the radio dial spin on my instrument panel and I get a notification in the top right toggling between "Radio Receiver Channel: Axis" and "Radio Receiver Channel: Allies," but as far as I can tell, it doesn't seem to have any effect on the gameplay/audio. I checked the game's user manual as well, and it doesn't seem to include any section that pertains to this function.

 

My question is what exactly does this do in game? Is it meant to change who I can communicate with in multiplayer? Is it so I can pick up axis radio chatter in flight? Does it affect the RPK-10 nav gauge (switch beacon to nearest Ally/Axis base)? Or is it purely a cosmetic thing inserted for immersion's sake?

Edited April 28, 2017 by Zirashi

[TP_Silk]

Haven't seen this. I suppose that it could be as you describe, or it could be associated with the NDB (Non-Directional Beacon = radio homing signal) equipment in your La-5. Try it with an aircraft that doesn't have the NDB detection equipment fitted and see if you get the same message.

[Zirashi]

I figured it out. It actually does allow you to tap into the respective NPC radio chatter on Quick Mission Battle. I don't know if it works in other parts of the game, but when I switched the channel to Axis (as Allies) and damaged an Axis cargo plane, I could hear the crew speaking German and see the text of them reporting the damage to their HQ. Also, when returning to base, I forgot to switch the radio back to Allies and therefore never received the Russian ATC or command post chatter.

[Sokol1]

This looks more il-2:1946 radio.

Edited April 28, 2017 by Sokol1

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

Changes the radio station you listen to

so either you here germans saying "on fire, out of fuel and so on"
Or you hear it in russian

[US63_SpadLivesMatter]

Too bad you can't get access to garbled enemy chat in multiplayer.

[Thomas_1945]

Hi, everybody

 

Can somebody explain to me why LAlt+C works in Career Mode on Soviet planes only or is it just me having an issue with it.

This option is just brilliant but once I transferred from Mig-3 to Hurricane I am no longer able to listed to the German chitchat.

 

Thank you

Tom

 

Edited November 9, 2020 by Thomas_1945

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, Thomas_1945 said:

Hi, everybody

 

Can somebody explain to me why LAlt+C works in Career Mode on Soviet planes only or is it just me having an issue with it.

This option is just brilliant but once I transferred from Mig-3 to Hurricane I am no longer able to listed to the German chitchat.

 

Thank you

Tom

 

 

It depends on the sort of radio that the plane is fitted with. The Hurricane and Spitfire Vb have an older-model radio that apparently couldn't be tuned to pick up an enemy frequency with any reliability.