Updated: 2023-06-13 --- ## What is a Transponder? A transponder is a radio beacon on an aircraft that replies with the position of an aircraft when interrogated by an [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#IFF|IFF]] interrogator. Transponders can be set with particular codes that they will supply in addition to the position of the aircraft. There are 5 transponder modes: - Mode I- a two digit code used by military only, usually to denote mission tasking - Mode II- a four digit code used by military only, usually set based on modex, not functional in [[DCS]] - Mode III- a four digit code used by civilian and military, used for unique identification - Mode IIIC- ON/OFF, when set on, transmits own aircraft altitude information, combined with III in [[DCS]] - Mode IV-ON/OFF, secure ID used by military only, what fighter “[[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#IFF|IFF]]” interrogators check --- ## How Does vCSG-3 Use Transponders [[SRS]] allows players to set transponder codes that are readable by [[LotATC]], [[VAW-126]] uses this information to set callsigns and ID information in [[LotATC]] and more easily track player flights. [[SRS]] supports power ON/OFF mode I,III,IV and IDENT Mode I is used for mission tasking, the codes are set based on the fragged tasking for the flight - Mode II is set via having the modex in the [[DCS]] username - Mode III is set based on the flight assignment of the aircraft, e.g. Victory-2-3 - Mode IV should be set to ON to allow fighter interrogation >[!note] >Aircraft should IDENT only when requested by a controller [[APPENDIX D - COMMON KNEEBOARDS]] ![[APPENDIX D - COMMON KNEEBOARDS#Transponder SOP]] --- ## Mode I Codes Mode I codes are two digit codes, the first digit can be set 0-7, the second digit 0-3, they are set based on the flights assigned mission | **Mission** | **Mode I Code** | | ---------------------- | --------------- | | UNTASKED | 10 | | DCA | 11 | | OCA | 12 | | STK | 21 | | SCAR | 22 | | CAS | 23 | | SEAD/DEAD | 31 | | SUW/SSC | 41 | | Undersea Warfare (USW) | 42 | | Tanker | 51 | | SAR/CSAR | 52 | | ISR | 60 | | AEW | 61 | | EW/ELINT | 62 | | SIGINT | 63 | | SPECIAL 1 | 71 | | SPECIAL 2 | 72 | | SPECIAL 3 | 73 | --- ## Mode III Codes Mode III codes are 4 digits long, with the first digit representing an aircraft belonging to vCSG-3, the second digit representing squadron, and the final two digits representing position in flight. - First Digit: The first digit of a Mode III represents a vCSG-3 aircraft and will therefore always be **3** - Second Digit: The second digit denotes the squadron using the following schedule | Squadron Name | Squadron Callsign | Transponder Code | | ------------------ |---------------------|----------------------| | VF-103 Jolly Rogers | Victory | 1 | | VFA-14 Tophatters | Camelot | 2 | | VFA-86 Sidewinders | Winder | 3 | | VMFA(AW)-224 Fighting Bengals| Bengal | 4 | | VMA-513 Flying Nightmares | Nightmare | 5 | |VAW-126 Seahawks| Closeout | 6| - Third Digit: The third digit represents the number of a flight in a squadron. *ie* Bengal 2 would use **342**x - Fourth Digit: The fourth digit represents the position of an aircraft. *ie* Winder 1-3 would squawk **3313** ### Special Mode III Codes There are several special mode 3 codes with unique purposes **7700** is an emergency or aircraft in distress **7600** is a NORDO or no radio aircraft, it indicates they cannot hear any other stations **7500** is an aircraft being hijacked **1200** is a VFR aircraft indicating they are not under ATC control, this is what you would squawk if you were flying around without ATC/CATCC --- ## How to Set a Transponder-SRS Overlay One way to set a transponder in [[DCS]] is to use the [[SRS]] overlay, once [[SRS]] is connected, hit the “toggle radio overlay” button. Once the radio overlay is open, the mode 1 and 3 codes can be set and the mode 4 can be toggled on or off as well as the IDENT Once the codes are set, the overlay can be closed without issue ![[SRS Toggle Radio Overlay.png|400]]) ![[Cockpit Overlay Transponder Example1.png|200]] --- ## How to Set a Transponder-SRS Chat Commands SRS also allows you to set your transponder by sending a message in [[DCS]] in-game chat simply type the commands in either local or global in-game text chat > [!example] SRSTRANS <SOME COMMANDS\> > [!example] Example Commands > SRSTRANS POWER:ON or SRSTRANS POWER ON > [!example] Example Chained Commands SRSTRANS POWER ON M1 12 M3 7777 M4 ON > [!example] Command list **M4:** OFF or ON **M3:** OFF or a 4 digit number **M1:** OFF or a 2 digit number **IDENT:** OFF or ON **POWER:** OFF or ON An example of a command for Evileye-2-3 doing a strike mission would be ``` SRSTRANS POWER:ON M1 21 M3 3523 M4 ON ``` --- ## How to Set a Transponder-In Game Hornet 1. Hit the UFC “IFF” button until “XP” is displayed in the top left, IA is the interrogator and is non-functional in [[DCS]] 2. Hit the field select button for the mode you would like to set, when a field is colonized, that indicates that it is powered on, in this example, modes I and 4 are off and modes 2 and 3 are on 1. Certain modes have submodes like 3A/3C, the field select button will also cycle through these modes 3. For a mode where the code must be set, use the keypad to type the code then press enter, the mode and code will be displayed in the top display, here mode 3C code 3411 has been set 4. To ident, hit the I/P button in the top left while on the IFF page The usual configuration should be mode 1-4 ON, 3C, 4A and codes set for 1 and 3 ![[Hornet UFC IFF.png]] --- ## How to Set a Transponder-In Game Tomcat The [[APPENDIX A - ALSSA BREVITY LIST#IFF|IFF]] panel is located in the [[RIO]] cockpit on the right side, all the way outboard and aft. 1. Master Mode Dial- Norm, STBY will place all modes off, EMER will set the M3 to 7700 2. Mode 1-3C toggles- center position is on, in this example, mode 1,3,and C are set on and mode 2 is off 3. Mode 4 toggle- On and OFF, forward is the ON position 4. Mode 1 code- Spin dials for the two digit mode 1 code, here “11” has been set 5. Mode 3 code- spin dials for the 4 digit mode 3 code, here “3134” has been set 6. Ident Switch, place in forward to ident, center the switch to cease ident ![[Tomcat IFF.png]] ---