Newcomer / Intro How to find docking ports?

[Cmdr Jan van Sol]

Hi,

Outpost and stations ..
I try to land on a outpost with a given landingpath 2, but flying around the outpost, there i see nothing of a landing port colored rectangle
It is timeconsuming to inspect a outpost and difficult to orientate on the outpost object.

Is there a structred approach to find a landingsport with the orange rectangles ?

 

[Iskariot]

Hi,

Outpost and stations ..
I try to land on a outpost with a given landingpath 2, but flying around the outpost, there i see nothing of a landing port colored rectangle
It is timeconsuming to inspect a outpost and difficult to orientate on the outpost object.

Is there a structred approach to find a landingsport with the orange rectangles ?

Have you used the 'compass'?
It is a reliable tool to guide you to your landing pad after you've requested docking permission.

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

The pad should light up for you. Also, try a docking computer a few times as they'll show you what's where for future reference.

Some people don't like using a slot for one but my preference is to have one on all my ships.

 

[Cmdr Jan van Sol]

Have you used the 'compass'?
It is a reliable tool to guide you to your landing pad after you've requested docking permission.

Thanks
I don't not yet know how this works exactly . .a compass is the small left rader with the dot
This must lead me always to the dictated number landing pad?

 

[Cmdr Jan van Sol]

The pad should light up for you. Also, try a docking computer a few times as they'll show you what's where for future reference.

Some people don't like using a slot for one but my preference is to have one on all my ships.

Thanks
I know of the existence of a docking computer and if manual landing is keeping troublesome for me then i am forced to use one.

 

[Iskariot]

Thanks
I don't not yet know how this works exactly . .a compass is the small left rader with the dot
This must lead me always to the dictated number landing pad?

Yes, it really works quite well.
You will get the hang of it.

Use it to guide you in the direction of your pad and then once you spot your designated pad number the rest is a piece of cake.
Make sure you approach the pad from the correct side. Otherwise you won't be able to dock. The holo number should be more to the back of the pad.

Learning all the new stuff is great fun. Have a good time.
If you are in your sidewinder don't worry about losing a few.
The first sidewinder is your learning ship. It is free. Use it to make all the mistakes you can think off

Also don't forget about the tutorials. They are very helpful.

 

[Maenden]

Have you used the 'compass'?
It is a reliable tool to guide you to your landing pad after you've requested docking permission.

He means that round thing with a dot in it.
It's got its uses but it takes a bit of practice to understand what it's trying to tell you.

Another useful indicator is the distance to go. Obviously as you get closer the distance decreases.

I think the answer is not to get too close before you ask for docking permission.

If you make a mess of it you can always cancel your docking request and try again.

But as Tyres said, ignore the purists and get a docking computer.
If you want to practice without using it then you can turn it off in the Modules tab. If you get hopelessly lost or you're in a hurry then you can turn it back on again - even in the middle of a docking manoeuvre.

 

[Iskariot]

Thanks
I know of the existence of a docking computer and if manual landing is keeping troublesome for me then i am forced to use one.

You will get the hang of manual docking. It might seem daunting at first, but after a while you will hardly think about it.
I never used a docking computer, because I like to do it manually, especially on heavy G planets.

 

[rp198419]

Remember too that Coriolis star bases when viewed from the slot-side rotate anti-clockwise and the slot is always on the central axis of rotation.

Bearing that in mind can save you a ton of frustration.

 

[aRJay]

Thanks
I don't not yet know how this works exactly . .a compass is the small left rader with the dot
This must lead me always to the dictated number landing pad?

Yes, or to whatever navigational target you have selected.

When you have a confirmed docking pad the compass points towards it.
If the dot is solid the pad is in front of you, if it is hollow (unfilled circle) then it is behind you.
The distance away from the centre indicates how far off the direct line you are, if the dot is at the edge you are level with the pad.

If you are docking at a station the compass switches to pointing at your assigned pad as you pass through the slot.

The pads on an outpost are the same for each type so after a while you will start to pick up on roughly where to go to find your assigned pad.

 

[Cmdr Jan van Sol]

Now i am keeping persistent steering to the with dot in the centre and came to the entrance of the dockingport.

Now the oreintation of the ship seems to be a problem , because the ship is not accepted for docking

A dockingcomputer can be helpful to learn more, but i can not dock yet , so ...

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

If you are facing the wrong way, it may be an issue. Try a 180. Also, don't forget to raise your nose to near horizontal so the landing gear works.

When you are near enough, you should see a red circle- use the cross hairs to orient your ship and that red will turn blue when you're all nicely lined up.

Additionally, do the tutorial a few times - it really helps.

Good luck!

Edit: use your thrusters (forward, back left, right) for fine adjustments

 

[V'larr]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that the docking port will always be facing roughly towards the body the station is orbiting. You can notice this if you make an effort in supercruise to change your final approach so that you come from the planet towards the station.

 

[Cmdr Jan van Sol]

Thanks!
Yes, the tutorial can be helpful too.. i do have a free vessel, because i am fined and destroyed the ship, but it seems that the free sidewinder ship has no buying offer for a dockingcomputer on this dock station
I am training further ..

When you are near enough, you should see a red circle- use the cross hairs to orient your ship and that red will turn blue when you're all nicely lined up.

Yes this state i get too (probably correct), but when lowering the ship with the trhruster.. i reached the floor, but no reaction
I looked at the tutorial, but no improvement yet

 

[Cmdr Jan van Sol]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that the docking port will always be facing roughly towards the body the station is orbiting. You can notice this if you make an effort in supercruise to change your final approach so that you come from the planet towards the station.

Good point ..seems to me logical that the flightpath of the ship is not crossing the body of the station..otherwise you must jump too
I will look at this!

 

[Painter602]

One other thing to be aware of is .. you can cancel and re-request docking. Usually, you'll get the same port but it will give more time to find the thing.

If you are inside a station, I'd suggest leaving BEFORE you cancel the docking - I'm not sure, but you may become a trespasser and therefore a target (you don't want to find out the hard way).

 

[Greybeard_LXI]

Thanks!

Yes this state i get too (probably correct), but when lowering the ship with the trhruster.. i reached the floor, but no reaction
I looked at the tutorial, but no improvement yet

When this happens to me either I forgot to lower the landing gear or I am facing the wrong way. Check the landing gear and if it is down and locked use the yaw control so the chevrons (arrows -- >>> or <<<) are facing the same way as the ship. You should be facing the pad number with blast shields behind you.

Or maybe I am not at the right pitch/roll angle to the pad.

 

[Eukanuba23]

Have you requested docking permission from the station/outpost? To do that, you need to open the left hand UI panel, select the Contacts tab, select the station by name, and then Request Docking.

Elite is nothing if not supremely intuitive.

EDIT: and you need to be within 7.5km of the station. If you aren't, you'll be denied docking permission, and usually it won't tell you why.

 

[Para Handy]

Okay I am going to say it again...

Under Challenge Scenarios in the Training Menu there is an option called Docking Practice - Just docking, no travel, no missions, just docking...

Do it as often as you like, you will soon be super-skilled.

(It really should be in the main Training Menu.)

EDIT - changed the picture to the new format.

 

[Cmdr Jan van Sol]

Finally i managed to dock .. it took a while .. studying the tutorials of docking a few times .
I practise some more with docking and i hope get a hang to it