Falcon 4 BMS Tutorials: Data Link 

For anyone not using standard the standard BMS keyfile - Right-Control + P is "IFF IN" and on the HOTAS Throttle Comms Switch Right. It's designation in the keyfile is SimCommsSwitchRight -- Huge thanks to Krause for this great tutorial!

Link 16 is fully integrated into the GCCS system in reality. fun fact: i'm a trained GCCS administrator.

Dude, i've seen a few made by others, but you make the best BMS training vids. Great job and thanx.

this is awesome.. there is so much about BMS i have yet to learn thanks for sharing!

Great informative video Krause, thank you!

Very nice tutorial as usual. and i am glad you took out the fisherman. that will teach him next time. ;)

Fantastic tutorial. Thanks very much, I really appreciate your videos.

excellent vid. Keep'em coming ! So useful and entertaining

I had the same problem with Ctrl O. First of all its Left Ctrl o and on the keymap it's named "Comms-switch left". If you press this key combination your wingman will show up on your HSD - but only for 8 sec. If you want them to stay there, you need to click the ASGN on the FCR (a-a mode) till it reads CONT. Taints tutorials are pure gold to all of us so bare with him, if He gets tired of explaining the same stuff over and over.

Thanks for your tutorials, it was very helpfull !

Many thank´s !!! Will test tonight !

I have a question. Does AWACS transmit target location via datalink to hsd? (because in freefalcon wingmen, air defence rings, ground target locations were shown on hsd by default) how to enable this

Ok, got it. If "CTRL O" is a no go try "F5/F6" which for me is "IFF In / IFF Out" on the controls page

This should be upvoted or put in the disc' so other people don't get lost, Thanks for the info mate :)

@Jellybeantiger All the TMS and DMS buttons are in the HOTAS bindings.

@TheSuay I don't know because I don't play SP much, however, the FCR functions just assign targets, it doesn't tell your wingmen to magically do anything. For that, you need to probably use the comms as you figured out.

@CaptainPaul12 right-ctrl-o is comms switch left and right control-p is comms switch right.

hi there .. first thing big thx on great instructions and tutorials, just one question ... lets say i made a markpoint and i want to remove it how can i do that ?

I have tried everything you explained to see my wingmen on my HSD, when you say hit Control C im guessing its my computer not the panel???

I read the BMS -34 and if I understood it correct if I'm using FCR AG in SNOWPLOW and pass the SOI to the HSD I should be able to send the cursor position as a DL STEERPOINT instead of just a temporary radar cursor DL but I doesn't look to work for me...

control P seems to be the keystroke but whats the hotas function?

"there's illegal fishing going on over there, send in an airstrike"

@SANC2775 Enable FOV perspective in the advanced controls

can you use JDAMs with mark points?

What's the difference between Demand (DMD) and Assign (ASGN)? The manual mentions both as the same thing, but that's gotta be more than that,right?

thx man :)

@DiamondEyeProduction Correction, it's called HOTAS IFF In/Out on the BMS keymap. Default is F5 and F6.

I've searched a lot now..maybe Im blind. But I cant find the manual which contains the steps for what we see here in the video. In Open Falcon we had the Dash-34 where it was in. But in my installfolder there is only a manual for the F-16 AM and Dash-1.

@getous Go to page 107 on the BMS manual "Air-To-Air Intraflight Data Link"

Hi tanit, I am finding your tutorials helpful. one question though. In a single player, say in campaign or TE's, how would you order your flight to attack specific targets? so for example, say 4 bandits at 12o'clock. I assign bandit 2 to my wingman, bandit 3 to element leader, and bandit 4 to element leader's wingman. What command would I use so that they would attack the targets I assigned them? I tried Attack Targets and Weapons Free in flight commands and they all attack randomly. any idea?

Nice Tutorials Krause, I have question. You refer to different flights in a package having numbers as 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, ect which I understand and can put in the DED. However the training tutorials in BMS saved TE missions "007 Training cap" we have flights in the same package but because they have different call signs they have the same number ie. 1.1 so how do we show these flights in the same package.

I have one question though. Im playing the campaign atm and im having trouble adding other flights from my package. Flying a deep strike with 2 F-15s as protection, i cant seem to add them. In the briefing they are listed as 1-1 while i am listed as 2-1, however ingame on the data link im listed as 1-2 though 1-4 and i cant seem to add them no matter what i input into the data link. Great vids btw. Helps someone brand new to flight sims a lot! Thanks in advance!

man,how is your track ır program? or headset? what d you use?

Krause, I have a question that by this video and reading an online Falcon BMS manual about Data Link, I was wondering... Is it possible to have more than one Data Link Host - or even a whole group of Data Link Hosts - in a same Package? This being done in order to exponentially increase the situation awareness. Let's say, for a hypothetical situation: We have a Package made of 5 flights, each of these being a 4-ship flight, so it's a 5 4-ship Package, and I'm the flight lead of one of these (let's say, the flight 1, so I'm flight #1-1). I'll be hosting one piece of Data link, doing the exact same way you do on your video, my DL Page will look like this: #1 11 #5 21 #2 12 #6 31 #3 13 #7 41 #4 14 #8 51 And by the same time, I have all the other members of my flight hosting another piece of Data Link, only changing the #5 2X, #6 3X , #7 4X and #8 5X so the "X" will their corresponding elements of the other flights in the package. In other words, my wingman (flight #1-2) will have his DL page marked as follows: #1 11 #5 22 #2 12 #6 32 #3 13 #7 42 #4 14 #8 52 And the other elements of my flight doing tha same, only hosting their corresponding element numbers on the other Flights of the Package... And the hypothesis is that if this is possible, and/or practical, then every single aircraft (and not only the flight leads) in the whole Package will have the complete package properly DL'd on their screens, thus hugely improving the situation awareness of everyone. Have you ever tried that to see if it's really possible? Can the sim actually handle that much information? And yet, do you think it would be possible in real life? Thanks in advance for taking time reading this long-ass comment and testing the hypothesis, if you will. =)

You can only see planes in your package through the datalink. To find tankers you'll have to use TACAN. If I'm not completely mistaken i think that AWACS gives you the TACAN frequency when you ask for vectors to the tanker...

Is it possible to use datalink to connect to AWACS via link 16 in BMS like it is possible in real life?

Great video thanks, I also found that HOTAS IFF out worked instead off comm left button, I couldn't find that keystroke listed. Thanks anyway

When I fly I often find my self in need of refuel. I though that it would be nice to add the tanker onto the data link. But how can I find the number of the tanker?

@tanit Cheers. Will try! :)

Just a helpful hint when you are in MARK if you press 0 on ICP it will automatically change you steer point to that mark point so you don't have to go to ICP 4 and enter in 27.

what's a "package" in BMS?

thanks for another great vid! Much more fun than RTFM! shooting illegal fishermen was LOL

The datalink numbers correspond to the order of the flights in the ATO, NOT the callsigns. The first flight you make will always be 1-0, the 2nd 2-0 etc.

I read at 72nd VFW, that the wingmen should have their datalink set to dmnd instead of asgn - is that true? what's the difference between those two modes?

I need help!!! When I try to move the cursor around on air-to-ground mode, it gets stuck... It has a range limit around the steerpoint. I saw in your video, krause, you clicked on the SP buttom on the first MFD and then on another one in order to activate something to give you freedom to move your cursor around. What is it? Please, help me!! Thank you for teaching us@:

@DiamondEyeProduction Also make sure its right CTRL

Right CTRL o still don't is it cause the update 3 would you know which one it is now?

QUESTIONS HOW CAN I USE 3D INSIDE THE PLANE LIKE A 10C WARTHOG DCS?

@DiamondEyeProduction Actually, if you - like me, used the BMS profile to begin with, CTRL-O is actually "View online status" - the Comms switch is not bound by default, so you need to do that yourself. I THINK it's the one named "HOTAS CMS Up/Down/Left/Right"

Currently they are using Link 16 as the Data Link that networks all the Units together. Link 16 allows the Units to exchange J Series Messages that allow for the dissemination of Surveillance Data, Weapon Coordination etc. Again like in the game the whole purpose to enhance situational awareness and reduce the amount of information that would have to be conveyed via Voice to the Pilots and Controllers.

So how come your ownship (41) is part of the DL? Is that so your position can be broadcasted, or is it an oversight?

Lexicon question: Can "Package" refer to a group of aircraft that aren't all of the same make/model? I know it's Falcon 4 and you fly the viper, but I was wondering if packages were usually made that way, or if that's just a limitation of the sim itself.

You seem to be able to move you head vertically as well as left and right in the cockpit. How do you do this? I have TrackIR, but my virtual head seems to be stuck. I can look around, but I cannot move my whole head the way you seem to be able to.

Krause at 7:03 you typed in 11 so how did you know that this was the flight 11? If I add 11 will the DATA link add the closest flight to my aircraft to the "11" flight? How does it work becasue I'm confused...!?

@DiamondEyeProduction You have to hold it down for about 2 seconds. You might have to do it twice.

Where can i find Anti-aliasing? My cockpit is very choppy. Thanks.

So say you launched AIM 120 at enemy from about 50 km range and you have to turn away to evade enemy missiles, can other planes like AWACS provide that missile with course updates? Also if you have to turn away for some reason and you stop supplying your missile with course updates, if you turn back to face the enemy will the plane automatically start supplying the missile with data again?

i get all that. your teaching method works for me very well. the problem i'm having is the assigned numbers are all the same for the most part. sometimes their not but 95% of the time they are. also i can't seem to find which keys zoom the mfd's

I am currently using 4.0AF. Is it easy to transition to BMS? And are you still active with BMS?

But the controls call in my BMS: "HOTAS-IFF in" "Hotas-IFF out"

@SANC2775 Look at the video description. I uploaded a screenshot of my advanced control settings.

Great tut but CTRL O doesn't do anything for me. Maybe I'm using a different keymapping. What is the command for CTRL O so I can look it up? Thanks.

what is control of? or what do you mean? type contrl and what else?

Does it works with other flights, NOT from your package?

Ctrl+O does not work. Others mentioned that the IFF in/out function is necessary for friendlies to appear on the HSD display, so it would be F4/F5.

sad... i can't do it in falcon 4.0 allied force

Okay so wait a second, you can have 8 members in the datalink group, but you can only transmit data to the first 4 of these members?

TMS up?Where is that?

@tanit Ah okay thank you, sorry for not looking closer before hand.

If you loaded a TM Warthog profile, you're looking for the HOTAS IFF IN and IFF OUT commands.

Would love to see a tutorial video on multiplayer communications. Lots of "contact niner-oh-niner-niner-three-niner-two angels oh-niner". Still have a ways to go on just flying the ship and mastering the systems, but after that I'd still be hesitant to jump into MP as I wouldn't easily decipher what everyone is chatting about. Related, perhaps info on what it means to be a good wingman, etc.

Good vid but when I assign target to AI wingman he doesnt do any thing how do I get the wingman to attack datalink target.

KRAUSE i want a baby from you!!!!! Your tutorials are very helpful, very thanks

great tutorial as usual, but I'm just wondering, who do they do this in real life? And also, do you have a video explaining every button in the cockpit? Especially those that aren't implemented in-game... Just wondering what they do in real life :) Cheers!

Poor fisherman ;(

It boggles my mind that we've only just recently come to this level of digital force integration. I watch videos of hyper realistic A-10 simulators and have no idea how anyone can keep track of anything, anywhere, any time. "South of the T-junction, 200 meters, one times BMR." Which T junction, presuming you don't have the luck to be circling the only one in visual range? How exact is it to 200 meters? Referencing what known steer point? The thought that we only now have the capacity to digitally share something as basic as status and eyes-on....God. I don't know how the military does it's job.

Control + O" and "Control + P" don't work for me

Well I dunno what to tell yah. When I bound the IFF keys it worked fine following the instructions of this video. I haven't played in some time though so mabye I'm forgetting something.

You will find IFF in and out in the game if you used the BMS profile.

Check out my cockpit orientation tutorial

Actually you said that you could only find them in the config file, not the game. But anyway, I don't know how to solve your problem, if you are doing it right.

I find it difficult

"zero fly" is actually "OVERfly" that's an "oh" not a zero : )

what would be CTRL+O / CTRL+P in BMS 4.33 ? Thx again for the tutorials

markpoint Overfly, not 0 fly

I think it would be better if you named the controls by the actual name. Like: "To host the datalink, hold comms switch left for 2 seconds, by default that's control and o", instead of referring to the default controls and nothing else. That's because some people just bind all their hotas to their stick and throttle and not use the keyboard. Or like I did, I made my own controls from scratch.

what a cruel world. illegal fishing = f-16 gunning your boat

Bombing illegal fisherman? wow, glad you ain´t at the White House... ;-)