Which radar to take out enemies with sparrow missiles ?

[Tiberius]

So I have " ACM PD HDN " and just " ACM ".

Both look like a 10 or 20 degree angle on my radar (screenshots wont catch my hud for some reason).

Which one is best ? I fly the Phantom 2 premium plane and usually used the ACM PD HDN but I want a professional opinion.

The square lock is a lock that is flashing, like all other locks, but I have seen videos where people use other types of locks for some reason. Some radar which only aims at what they aim at or something, looking like 4 edges of a square.

I would share screenshots but it does not catch the hud as said.

[JuX]

You probably don't see people use ACM much cause people put their faith on the automated locking and press cycle button to switch targets instead.

Even with automated locking ACM is preferable in close combat, as the cone gets narrow and range relatively short to avoid background locking. So in heat of battle you won't waste time cycling through targets.

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by JuX:

You probably don't see people use ACM much cause people put their faith on the automated locking and press cycle button to switch targets instead.

Even with automated locking ACM is preferable in close combat, as the cone gets narrow and range relatively short to avoid background locking. So in heat of battle you won't waste time cycling through targets.

I never cycle through targets. I usually just turn off my radar, point at the enemy i want to point at and then turn it on again, voila, its locked.

[Rinky]

Originally posted by Kwasmaster:

Originally posted by JuX:

You probably don't see people use ACM much cause people put their faith on the automated locking and press cycle button to switch targets instead.

Even with automated locking ACM is preferable in close combat, as the cone gets narrow and range relatively short to avoid background locking. So in heat of battle you won't waste time cycling through targets.

I never cycle through targets. I usually just turn off my radar, point at the enemy i want to point at and then turn it on again, voila, its locked.

I restart my pc and match till autolocked target is something I want to shoot

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by Rinky:

Originally posted by Kwasmaster:

I never cycle through targets. I usually just turn off my radar, point at the enemy i want to point at and then turn it on again, voila, its locked.

I restart my pc and match till autolocked target is something I want to shoot

Lmao, well I don't see any such point in my setting that says " cycle locked target " or something along that line. This game is already extremely heavy on buttons I have to click, in fact I dont even know anymore what buttons to put the commands for my plane on really as everything is already in use for some function. Hence I hit Y and use the command menue for some stuff such as radar mode.

[Jaes]

To explain the Radar modes:

ACM PD HDN: Pulse Doppler-Head On. This mode is for engaging targets that are being obscured by Ground Clutter. It can also be used against targets flying towards you. This mode is virtually immune to Chaff, but it has a few weaknesses.

First, it can be defeated by the target by performing a "Notch," which is a defensive maneuver where your target turns 90 degrees to your radar beam. You cannot reliably counter this, especially if your target is flying at low altitudes and paying attention outside of knowing where your missile's ideal engagement zone is and knowing when to start a lock.

Next, it is very bad at attempting to lock targets in a rear-aspect engagement. Targets moving away from you will likely cause the lock to break. In order to counter this:

ACM: This is a normal pulse radar mode without the Pulse Doppler filter. Consider this an All-Aspect radar mode. Its primary weakness is that it is vulnerable to ground clutter and chaff. However, when applied smartly, it will net you kills in situations where PD will fail you, especially in a rear-aspect engagement.

Use this mode against a maneuvering target, especially if you can point your radar up towards the sky and away from the ground.

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by Jaes:

To explain the Radar modes:

ACM PD HDN: Pulse Doppler-Head On. This mode is for engaging targets that are being obscured by Ground Clutter. It can also be used against targets flying towards you. This mode is virtually immune to Chaff, but it has a few weaknesses.

First, it can be defeated by the target by performing a "Notch," which is a defensive maneuver where your target turns 90 degrees to your radar beam. You cannot reliably counter this, especially if your target is flying at low altitudes and paying attention outside of knowing where your missile's ideal engagement zone is and knowing when to start a lock.

Next, it is very bad at attempting to lock targets in a rear-aspect engagement. Targets moving away from you will likely cause the lock to break. In order to counter this:

ACM: This is a normal pulse radar mode without the Pulse Doppler filter. Consider this an All-Aspect radar mode. Its primary weakness is that it is vulnerable to ground clutter and chaff. However, when applied smartly, it will net you kills in situations where PD will fail you, especially in a rear-aspect engagement.

Use this mode against a maneuvering target, especially if you can point your radar up towards the sky and away from the ground.

Ok but if I use the ACM PD HDN wouldn't this automatically mean that I dont need to actviate ACM separately and isolated from those as its included anyway ?

Its not like i use PD HDN itself, but ACM PD HDN all together at once as this is what my phantom 2 gives me.

PS: Any idea what button to use for changing this radar mode and what its called in the settings ?