Radar Stations

[dag231]

I am sure this has been answered before... but for the life of me I cant locate the thread, so here goes...

In regards to Radar Stations, what benefit is there to build one up past Level 1?

I know, I know - I should know this by now, given how long I have played the game, but I cant access that part of my memory right now because of a beer fueled memory lapse...

 

[Ericus1]

Higher levels means a larger penalty to enemy aircraft when they are in the exact same province as the radar installation. That's also the same effect the higher tech levels of radar have. But radar, especially in DD where the homing effect is broken, is actually rather useless since the likelihood that battles will be fought in the same province is rather remote in most cases.

 

[dag231]

Higher levels means a larger penalty to enemy aircraft when they are in the exact same province as the radar installation. That's also the same effect the higher tech levels of radar have. But radar, especially in DD where the homing effect is broken, is actually rather useless since the likelihood that battles will be fought in the same province is rather remote in most cases.

Ah, thanks... here I thought it allowed me to see further out from specific zones - having a Level 10 radar in the Azores, for example, would allow me to see much of the north Atlantic.

 

[unmerged(47103)]

Ah, thanks... here I thought it allowed me to see further out from specific zones - having a Level 10 radar in the Azores, for example, would allow me to see much of the north Atlantic.

Ah, no....radar is limited by the curvature of the earth, the altitude from which the signal is broadcast and the strength/sensitivity of the set.

At 10m above sea level, the horizon is about 12.4km. At 100m it's about 39.3km. That's why airborn radar gives far greater coverage than a land-based set: at greater altitude, you can 'see' more of the globe before the 'edges' (i.e. the point where the curvature means the surface drops away) create a 'shadow' (area where the radar signal no longer paints the surface).

All increasing the power/sophistication of a set will do is increase the likelihood of detecting something within the area the signal reaches (assuming the signal is strong enough to cover the total area based on the altitude I mentioned above).

Sure, there's also the 'over-the-horizon' technology which can improve the area you can 'see' from a given altitude v. a standard set, but that's a modern technology.

 

[unmerged(110255)]

Ah, no....radar is limited by the curvature of the earth, the altitude from which the signal is broadcast and the strength/sensitivity of the set.

At 10m above sea level, the horizon is about 12.4km. At 100m it's about 39.3km. That's why airborn radar gives far greater coverage than a land-based set: at greater altitude, you can 'see' more of the globe before the 'edges' (i.e. the point where the curvature means the surface drops away) create a 'shadow' (area where the radar signal no longer paints the surface).

All increasing the power/sophistication of a set will do is increase the likelihood of detecting something within the area the signal reaches (assuming the signal is strong enough to cover the total area based on the altitude I mentioned above).

Sure, there's also the 'over-the-horizon' technology which can improve the area you can 'see' from a given altitude v. a standard set, but that's a modern technology.

Wait a minute, so you're actually saying that all that is modeled in the game? That's impressive, and suggests that I should give radars another try. I mean, so far I've only used them in coastal lands, i.e. territories barely over the sea level, so that might explain that they didn't seem to do shit for me.

 

[Ericus1]

No, those are not modelled in the game, he was describing real life. A radar installation in game only works on a the province it is in, and has minor effects even there. They are not, unfortunately, worth it.

 

[unmerged(110255)]

A radar installation in game only works on a the province it is in, and has minor effects even there. They are not, unfortunately, worth it.

That's a shame. Could you, however, give me the Cliff's Notes of what they do actually? So far I'm confused because of conflicting info I've seen here and there.

Then again, I'm playing Arma 1.2, so I should probably ask this in the appropriate forum.

 

[KipAllen]

Hmmm. I thought radar stations were effective in helping interceptors. Not so?

 

[sbr]

Hmmm. I thought radar stations were effective in helping interceptors. Not so?

That is what radar does in HOI2 and Doomsday, it was changed in Arma.

 

[unmerged(110255)]

That is what radar does in HOI2 and Doomsday, it was changed in Arma.

All they do now, is give some kind of handicap to enemy aircraft while they're being engaged in your airspace, right?

 

[sbr]

All they do now, is give some kind of handicap to enemy aircraft while they're being engaged in your airspace, right?

Yes, that is true for Armageddon.

 

[Cesarow]

Why did they change it?

 

[Ericus1]

They didn't change it intentionally, ostensibly they broke it and have never fixed it with one of the later patches.

 

[unmerged(42965)]

If you want to mess up enemy aircraft build AA. They are worth far more than radar since they can actually damage planes. But seriously fighters/interceptors are the best anti-air defenses in game.

 

[sbr]

They didn't change it intentionally, ostensibly they broke it and have never fixed it with one of the later patches.

According to Johan Radar works properly in Arma 1.2, even though it sucks.