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TACAN Radio Navigation System

This is a fairly basic Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) System. It serves as a radio based navigation system used in both military and commercial aviation. The system functions by allowing a plane to navigate based off of its relative location compared to an active RADAR or Radio Navigation Station. The system can also allow the plane to serve as a navigation beacon for other aircraft if the need arises. One vehicle must have the transmitter activated in order for it to be used as a navigational beacon. The navigating vehicle does not need the transmitter active unless coordination with another vehicle is required. It works in the game by comparing the GPS coordinates of the current vehicle or building to the GPS coordinates of an actively transmitting site or vehicle with the same system installed. The "X" and "Y" coordinates of your vehicle serve as "X1" and "Y1" for the mathematical calculations used by the system. The "X" and "Y" difference is calculated by subtracting X1 from X2 (Transmitting Vehicle) and Y1 from Y2 (Transmitting Vehicle). The linear distance to the target is calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem (a^2 + b^2 = c^2) and the X and Y differences as "A" and "B." The system is also setup to calculate the bearing to the target by using trigonometry and an arc-tangent function.

The instrument panels are setup in a way that allows easy switching between frequencies 0 - 9. The panels should have up and down buttons to change the frequency, a seven segment display to show frequency, and at least a button or switch to turn on the transmitter.

In order to use the system, you will need at least 2 vehicles or structures with the system installed and at least 1 actively transmitting its GPS Coordinates. To install the system, you will need:

- A GPS system on the vehicle
- 2 Radio Antennae (One for transmitting (TX) and One for Receiving (RX))
- 2 Instrument Panels
- - One for TX with a TX Mode Activation Switch
- - One for RX with an optional Back-light Switch
- A numerical display for:
- - Linear Distance to Target
- - Bearing to Target
- - X Difference (E/W) (Optional)
- - Y Difference (N/S) (Optional)
- - Along with your X and Y Coordinates (Optional)

The Instrument Panels should be setup like this:
**(Numbers are channel settings in micro-controller)

TX Panel (Top or 1):
1: Up Arrow Push Button (TX Freq. Up)
2: Seven Segment (TX Freq.)
3: Down Arrow Push Button (TX Freq. Down)
4: Toggle Button or Flip Switch (TX Mode On)

RX Panel (Bottom or 2):
5: Up Arrow Push Button (RX Freq. Up)
6: Seven Segment (RX Freq.)
7: Down Arrow Push Button *RX Freq. Down)
8: Toggle Button or Flip Switch (TACAN Console Lights) (Optional)

Each vehicle needs to be on a different frequency for transmitting and receiving. For example, the ship is set to transmit on frequency 1 and receive on frequency 2; while the helicopter is set to transmit on frequency 2 and receive on frequency 1.