Good afternoon,

Wonder if anybody else is having a difficult time tuning NDB's.  For some reason I cannot seem to get the ADF to pick-up NDB's.  When I tune an NDB frequency in the ADF radio I do not get any indication from the RMI.

Pilot error?  Perhaps this is a known issue?  Have others also experienced this?

Jeffrey Whitaker

I'm having the same problem... I cannot tune a NDB. Can someone please help.

+1

Right now I checked my ADF radios and they are working fine.

I suppose you have electrical power onboard. If so, please make sure if the ADF/VOR selector knob [4] and/or [7] is/are turned to [ADF] instead of [VOR] (see image below).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v702/Pinatubo/VORADFSel.png

Hope this help.

Pinatubo.

How to tune the ADF

Check out the screen capture. I have circled three items.

One in green is the switch that turns the unit on and selects various modes. Use the ADF position.

The tuning knob has a few selections. The outer ring selects the proper band, while the inner knob selects the frequency.
In this example I have selected the Georgetown NDB - frequency 323.0. You can access this information from the FSX menu in World/Map, or from approach plates. Using mouse over and left and right buttons to move the knob you select the proper frequency. As you get close to the proper frequency you can check the exact frequency from the window that appears when you stop pushing the mouse button (in orange circle).  As you get close to the proper frequency, check the meter [this shows full strength] at the top of the ADF control panel (also in orange circle). You have to be in range of the NDB to receive the signal. Then select the audio switch and identify the code.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1268/adfsu.jpg

Lou

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LOU,

Thanks for clarifying ... actually, I don't use this option to "flight tips" in FSX, I think that's the name.

In my case, in FULL SCREEN this window doesn't appear too... it seems to be due to DX10.

The left and right ADF control heads are located on the overhead panel.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5228/ovhd.jpg

Lou

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My bad, I forgot this was about the 727...

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9348/727adf.jpg

Here is the 727 ADF control panel tuned to the Georgetown NDB near KDCA. Notice the signal strength is less than the 707's.

Lou

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To avoid this ghost window with DX10, Captainsim team could modify this gauge and add a switch to show frequency during a few seconds !
Take a look at the Etendard IV ADF:

http://img70.xooimage.com/files/e/b/8/2011-7-22_21-0-27-852-2b135e3.gif

Mric29, I like that window. This is not a CS thing, but a FSX hangover. I agree it is a royal pain in the butt to try to tune the ADF - and in the old 707 and some of the 727's it too was a pain in real life. The digital tuner on later planes were a lot better. Still, you always have to identify the code to be sure it is the correct station.

Lou

Thank you LOU, it was my first animated gif!  :)

You are not wrong  but who will fix this DX10 bug, Microsoft? I don't think so...  :-? I call Bill Gates and I tell you.

Does the "gain" button and "BFO" on-off switch have some impact in tuning?

Kjetil,

Good question! I have not been able to receive the audio from the VOR or ADF. I use the meter to see if there is an indication of signal, but the Gain or BFO does not seem to do anything. The distance for receiving a LOM NDB seems to be around 20 miles.

Try this; at a commercial airport with a NDB. While on the ground at the airport, tune in the NDB and see if you get an indication on the meeter and in the ADF instrument. Remember to flip the switch on the ADF to the ADF position.

Lou

The thing that pops into my mind is noise adjustment. Like tuning a naval surface radar more or less sensitive to adjust it in calm or high swells.

Maybe it is in real life to wash out the worst noise in a crowded airport like London Hethrow or O'hare in Chicago. I think it will be a lot of other signals that would interfere with the ADF-tuned signal. And on the other end of the scale, the gain could be adjusted different at Bermuda where I guess it is less signal noise.

Or maybe I am totally off course here.

The old ADF in the 707 & 727 were just like tuning an old AM radio. You would place the frequency under the lubber line and then move back and forth until you got the best signal. If there was a lot of noise and the signal was weak you could turn on the BFO and that would help you tune to the station. Of course, you would always ID the station using Morse code. The later planes had digital tuning in the ADF - that took the fun out of getting on frequency. You could use any AM station as well as aviation stations in the ADF. The only problem with commercial stations was that they only identified themselves every so often.

Lou

LOU has covered the NDB/ADF useage in the Captain Sim aircraft well. I would only add the following regarding the expected range. It appears to me that the default setting in FSX is for between 20 and 50 nm which are low powered NDB's. So if your not getting it think about not using it or expecting to get a signal indication until you are within about 40 nm unless it is a locator beacon where were only good for 10-20 nm.

For many years the NDB was the radio navigation aid standard and in some countries the only available radio aid and some were very high powered indeed and the ranges exceptional, for example, in Australia where I used to fly maritime patrol aircraft the Sydney NDB could be picked up at 400 nm and similalry for the Perth NDB, Townsville was also very good and good be picked up at several hundred miles. The NDB approach was until very recently mandatory here in OZ for any Instrument Rating Renewal no matter if you never really used it, so you got to know them and their idisosynchrasies very well. And if your really wanted a flying and cockpit dexterity challenge try a twin locator approach quite a few of which still exist here in OZ (like at Darwin) and around the world, 8-)