Navigating the map

[Brewnix]

Hi all! just wondering I tried searching the forum for navigating tips when in expert mode it came up empty. I seemed to get lost everything is so white, ill take off try to make the correct turn towards the battle. But I seemed to end up lost not seeing a soul. I know there is pilots flying. I see the chat and battle log. But anyways my question is how do you navigate? I see the heading with the compass but how do I locate my position on the map? If there is a thread you can direct me too that this might be a redundant question please direct me there. Thanks!

[IIN8II]

Navigation is a combination of using your compass, map and landmarks to find your way around. Some practice in the qmb is always a good idea. Stick with it and you will get the hang of it.

[1./JG42Nephris]

However it is very complicated atm to use the map. Just for testing in SP I use my flight time, speed and height (TAS) and direction to navigate.

The map is used to determine start ,turning and ending point.

Neverthtless as it is, the map is actually useless for proper view naviagtion, as u cant move it in its small view and you got no grid.

Really hope this is going to be fixed. For airquake mission, as it seems to aim for now at, we dont need further navigation of course.

Airstart - target course - you will the laser

[Brewnix]

Right! thanks for the replies. So I realize that to much info would be bad. I guess  ill get into SP and maybe and take some notes like you said get on the runway maybe I can orientate with the sun and figure out which way is north and plot from there. I guess in normal mode would be great  place to start. Since you would have tags to follow.

[LukeFF]

Navigation will become easier once RDF is implemented.

[Pringliano]

Hi all! just wondering I tried searching the forum for navigating tips when in expert mode it came up empty. I seemed to get lost everything is so white, ill take off try to make the correct turn towards the battle. But I seemed to end up lost not seeing a soul. I know there is pilots flying. I see the chat and battle log. But anyways my question is how do you navigate? I see the heading with the compass but how do I locate my position on the map? If there is a thread you can direct me too that this might be a redundant question please direct me there. Thanks!

 

There's another one like me then!!!!! Ufff, I was feeling so bad ..... My problem exactly when entering combat in some Expert mode session. My experience from RL helps, specially because I started flying gliders when we used maps, and GPS's or the moder navigation and flight calculators weren't present in anything but science fiction movies, so I tend to use the compass just like I do IRL, and some reference points ... but other than that, finding others is a true challenge!

 

Even more difficult, BTW, in DCS World, where I have also started to fly online, and the contrast between the scenery and aircraft is even more difficult to manage :-/

Navigation will become easier once RDF is implemented.

 

What's RDF?

[snowsnipersnow_sniper]

Same for me. Challenge to find front in expert mode as cloud and snow make difficult to find lanscape specific waypoint. Can we zoom to the map and how to do it?

No problem like that in clod as after 650 flight hour i know well britain and northen france lanscape waypoints.

In bos every town are similar river are white too make it difficult .

Any tips ?

Airfield in litle part of the map can be quickly lose too.!

 

Mybe this can be explained a bug on n on compass ?

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/6872-compass-issue/?hl=%2Bnavigation

Edited June 29, 2014 by snowsnipersnow_sniper

[SYN_Mike77]

RDF= radio direction finder?  Thats my guess and it will be modeled on the Pe2 at least.  On the big map it moves with you and that helps.  Also, I like to pick out geographical markers like the rivers and use them to pilot by.  Getting the compass fixed has been a huge help!

[DD_fruitbat]

A map without grids is just plain stupid.

[fjacobsen]

I hope they add the same function to the map that is used in ROF - i.e mouse rightclcik and You can zoom the in game map in and out, as well as scrolling the map uo/down lef/right.

This also allows You to set some gunner reaction pre-sets.

 

FinnJ

[javelina]

Whew, OP, you were reading my mind. I was about to post a help for this too. I've flown all around in my Stuka, zigzagging as to what I thought might be the target area. Looking for the enemy, just South of the German Artillery and Tanks, (in the Stalingrad map). But with all the white & snow, I'm probably way off from where I think I should be. The Map is really of no help. No joy, no ground kills in MP as of yet. :-(

 

Subscribing to this thread, hopefully others will pipe in too.

 

thx.

 

-Jav

[Brewnix]

Normally i fly BF109's so when in multiplayer there was only 2 spots on the map to take off from,  I knew all I had to do is takeoff and fly towards the sun and I would run in to the first base or enemy fighter. But now with more spots to take off from plus I started to fly the Yak1 and the map is so big. And I thought if I could see the direction the runway is pointing that might be a big help. But they put big icons over the runway. I guess they just need to place a compass on the map that shows north that's all i want.

[Sokol1]

Mybe this can be explained a bug on n on compass ?

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/6872-compass-issue/?hl=%2Bnavigation

 

Compass bug are fixed at 2 or 3 weeks.

 

Sokol1

[ShamrockOneFive]

RDF= radio direction finder?  Thats my guess and it will be modeled on the Pe2 at least.  On the big map it moves with you and that helps.  Also, I like to pick out geographical markers like the rivers and use them to pilot by.  Getting the compass fixed has been a huge help!

One of the addons for the Yak-1 is a RPK radio direction finding system. So it's bound to be on a few planes.

[Sim]

Hit O key for large map while in flight. You can zoom and pan this map with a mouse.

Also, +1 for having some sort of a grid. And some more details on the 2d map..

Edited June 29, 2014 by Sim

[Brewnix]

One of the addons for the Yak-1 is a RPK radio direction finding system. So it's bound to be on a few planes.

Hey so I saw that in the options I enabled it but how do you use it? Thanks

[dburne]

Hey so I saw that in the options I enabled it but how do you use it? Thanks

 

Perhaps it is not functional yet?

[Feathered_IV]

Whew, OP, you were reading my mind. I was about to post a help for this too. I've flown all around in my Stuka, zigzagging as to what I thought might be the target area. Looking for the enemy, just South of the German Artillery and Tanks, (in the Stalingrad map). But with all the white & snow, I'm probably way off from where I think I should be. The Map is really of no help. No joy, no ground kills in MP as of yet.

Same problem for me. MP has maybe six vehicles each to target and the Russian vehicles are near impossible to locate.

[VR-DriftaholiC]

Big problem for me is the map isn't detailed enough. Sometimes I'll be looking for a forest that I'm flying over and realise it's not on the map at all when I stumble on a bigger landmark. Some of the clusters of houses are also missing. Map could use some topography too and grids.

[Sokol1]

A in game map that mimic these with good contrast on forest areas, quadrants, would be nice:

 

 

The actual one looks line Google Maps...

 

Sokol1

 

[Brano]

You dont know where north is in Stalingrad map? You must be kidding me   I found russian tanks on big Stalingrad map while flying first sortie without any problem.It was even easier to find german AAA halftrucks just watching tracers coming towards me.Guys,forget about having enemy position given on plate,forget about old sturm issues.Search for enemy,focus....and above all,it is not real MP,it is just TESTING server running.

[Pringliano]

My main problem is that I fly the Yak-1 most of the time, and the compass is not easy to look at.

 

I have to slide my head left and down to see it, and get closer to actually read the marks :-/ 

[Seren77]

I know in other simulations you are meant to adjust your compass and heading before take off, is this the case in BoS or are they all set correctly when you spawn.

 

I like flying complex engine management, but my navigation skills are poor. I have trouble finding my car in a carpark. This will be the most challenging thing for me if the map system is going to be this vague in full release.

[Pringliano]

Nope, everything is calibrated when you spawn, but that's perfectly acceptable for this kind of sim.  

 

I am trying to study the "Big Map", printed it in colors, and a soon as I get airborne, I start glimpsing some of the main land and human-built features... Still complex to manage one you enter a dogfight in an Expert server... When you leave it, still flying, you'll most probably get lost again :-/

[Sokol1]

My main problem is that I fly the Yak-1 most of the time, and the compass is not easy to look at.

 

I have to slide my head left and down to see it, and get closer to actually read the marks :-/ 

 

 

Is not possible create a custom "snap view" for this?

 

Sokol1

[Pringliano]

Is not possible create a custom "snap view" for this?

 

Sokol1

 

Hmmm, didn't think about it!  Good idea!  Thx!

[Seren77]

So snap view is like ezdok plugin for fsx we can put the camera anywhere and hit f10 (I think it was) to save the camera state? I'll have to look into this.

[No_85_Gramps]

One thing I found that helped me navigate was to turn the gamma down to .8 in the settings. It has made it a lot easier to discern features on the map, especially the rivers. Had not thought of this to earlier this evening and it has made a big difference.

[Sokol1]

My main problem is that I fly the Yak-1 most of the time, and the compass is not easy to look at.

Is not possible create a custom "snap view" for this?

 

In fact this "snap view" is already set, in keypad "," key:

 

 

For different planes:

 

 

Is only a bit slow - remembers CloD "Lean to Gunsight"...

 

To assign a button/HAT for this is this view is in this "enigmatic" function:

 

 

Sokol1

Edited July 3, 2014 by Sokol1

[Sokol1]

 

For different planes:

 

#$%$¨%&¨&@ edit time...

 

 

Sokol1

[Seren77]

it turns out it is very similar to ezdok for fsx so I was able to figure it out pretty fast, I put a tutorial in the tutorial section, you can save 9 snap views per plane. Very cool.

 

You can also the set the speed of all aspects of the snap in the camera options

[snowsnipersnow_sniper]

SOKOL thank you for that usefull tip. !

 

 

 

 

A in game map that mimic these with good contrast on forest areas, quadrants, would be nice:

 

 

take care on your exemple, there is some green parts ! have not seen yet ( unfortunatly, i dream to find some green )  on Stalingrad Map  : not any kind of green . So your exemple without green parts looks like the one we have !

Edited July 3, 2014 by snowsnipersnow_sniper

[-TBC-AeroAce]

Yeah its very hard with this type of landscape but it makes it that little bit more emersive and fun for me at least. I would start with the basics of time, speed, course and distance flying in a box for example. If u fly on with out hiting ur landmark but u should have defo gone past it make the next turn ect until u get good. Hardest thing is after u get taken off course cause of combat thou

[Sokol1]

SOKOL thank you for that usefull tip. !

 

 

 

 

 

 

take care on your exemple, there is some green parts ! have not seen yet ( unfortunatly, i dream to find some green )  on Stalingrad Map  : not any kind of green . So your exemple without green parts looks like the one we have !

 

 

In this (1943) drawing the green areas represent the forest areas, the season time dont matter.

 

By your logic, the area should by in gray (?) because is winter time... in this case the barely visible areas in actual "Google maps" is more than adequate...

 

I suggest this because the drawing is based on era maps - which certainly shows the areas of forest in green - and because the vintage look, appropriated for WWII game (IMO).

 

Sokol1

[snowsnipersnow_sniper]

+1 for vintage look wishes ( like riginal historical la-5 manual )

 

( pm i was trying to write it like a "joke" but as i'm french it is well known that we are not very brilliant with joke and english language  ;- ) .  For the forest ... i would say "of course" you're right it doesn't matter it's winter or not. I just wanted to joke about a dreaming map with a bit of green ( I'm sometimes fed up with too much snow)

[Gambit21]

Yeah its very hard with this type of landscape but it makes it that little bit more emersive and fun for me at least. I would start with the basics of time, speed, course and distance flying in a box for example. If u fly on with out hiting ur landmark but u should have defo gone past it make the next turn ect until u get good. Hardest thing is after u get taken off course cause of combat thou

I have trouble reading posts that use "u" for "you"

Annoying trend to say the least.

[Sokol1]

 

 

era maps - which certainly shows the areas of forest in green

 

 

 

 

 

Sokol1

[All_Apologies]

Navigation while traveling at 350km an hour is a pain in the butt. Personally I would like to plot all my courses on the map before I take off so I know exactly what headings I need to follow and how long it will take to get to each waypoint. Another addition Id like to see  would be a compass that pops up when you open the big map with some sort of protractor or ruler to measure distance. Its very hard to calculate distance and flight time with what we have now. I do like what sokol posted, very easy to read and has a proper MGRS (military grid reference system). I am curious what geocoordinate standard they used back then.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

I think something we really need is a printable map with a proper scale, without this its nearly imposible with this kinda landscape. Its not like Clod where u have the distintive coatline ect. This map will envolve planed flights, times, distance, speed and all that jargon and even then It will be a challenge when you get off course because of combat, thats where the real challenge will lie.

 

Also depending on how nuts you want to go I would consider getting a flight computer, its like a mechanical wheel that you can uses to enter wind corections ect, I have one from my pilots licence and I can see me digging it out, but then I guess there is probably so kind of software that you can get for that

Edited July 12, 2014 by AeroAce

[5th-GIAP_Sytov]

There needs to be a grid system placed over this map. For example, use a 10 X 10 KM grid system over the whole map. Place letters and numbers to represent the map coordinates just like that found within IL-2 1946.

 

These maps are always oriented NORTH. In order to navigate the map, figure out how long it takes you to fly across a grid square. As a rule of thumb, use 2 minutes to travel 10 Kilometers at a rough speed of 310 kph. That should give you a general idea of where you are.

 

Open up your map, size it properly and as you fly cross country, associate what you see on the ground to what you see on your map. Head North, South, East and West and practice this technique.

Edited July 12, 2014 by Greywulf__1