Landing radar question

Terekhov · May 28, 2020

What do the six lit segments at the top of the column to the left of the landing radar mean. There always seem to be six lit segments at the top of that column, and I've never seen them change.. I'm aware that the lower part of that column indicates thrusters. I understand the rest of the landing radar.

I've been wondering about this for a long time but have not come across an explanation yet...

Navigare Necesse Est · May 28, 2020

Indicator for unread messages in inbox?

Maggie_Oz · May 28, 2020

This is the older screen I think, but I think it is still a VSI

Terekhov · May 28, 2020

Specifically my question is about the section at the TOP end of the left hand column - there always seem to be six lit segments there...

I've circled them on my image in my post at the top of this thread.

Terekhov · May 28, 2020

Navigare Necesse Est said:
Indicator for unread messages in inbox?

nice try - but we all know that unread messages are always stuck at "1"

777Driver · May 28, 2020

Sliding bar is v/s (digital readout is in m/s) The top part of that bar seems to be some kind of v/s limit, when speed reaches 10m/s it hits that cap.

Not sure what the landing minimum damage amount is. 10m/s is 36km/h, you would want to keep the vertical speed below that anyway.

Not a great design, or documented as far as I am aware.

Terekhov · May 28, 2020

Hmmmm... Possibly it's a limit, but with shields on. I'd have thought that you'd gat away with more than that... (no intention of trying that, and I usually take time landing neatly rather than 'slinging it at the pad'). I might try turning off shield boosters on a landing and seeing if the number of lit segments change... If it were a limit however, I'd have thought a better indicator would be to turn the actual bar red wither completely or the segment above the limit...

I'm always landing visually, just using the centring part of the display when I'm close to the pad, so I can't say I'm watching to to closely what the left hand column is doing (except not going anywhere near even 50%.

Winterwalker · May 28, 2020

Sensor health or power? Presumably pad radar relies on sensors somehow, ever checked this bar when your ship is half shot to bits?

777Driver · May 28, 2020

Winterwalker said:
Sensor health or power? Presumably pad radar relies on sensors somehow, ever checked this bar when your ship is half shot to bits?

That left bar is to do with vertical speed, always has been. Sensors hull & shields are unrelated.

McKeon said:
I'd have thought a better indicator would be to turn the actual bar red wither completely or the segment above the limit...

I think it is just an additional visual cue for excessive vertical speed. The HUD is overdue for a bunch of features.

Winterwalker · May 28, 2020

777Driver said:
That left bar is to do with vertical speed, always has been. Sensors hull & shields are unrelated.

He's talking about a different (top) segment of the left bar, which he's circled in yellow and which is always on, even though his vertical speed is zero in the opening post picture.

edit: suggestion, not a quick view of engine pips?

777Driver · May 28, 2020

Winterwalker said:
He's talking about a different (top) segment of the left bar, which he's circled in yellow and which is always on, even though his vertical speed is zero in the opening post picture.

edit: suggestion, not a quick view of engine pips?

I know buddy, read my replies

THey are connected, the left hand bar climbs as vertical speed increases, that top bar speed limit always stays the same, ship health, shield health, type of ship doesn't matter.

Florenus · May 28, 2020

I think it's a bug.
I believe those bars supposed to be just darker - going red when you fill them up, indicating that you're going down too fast - but they're light up now for some reason.
I think this looked different earlier in the game.

image from wiki

Docking

To use a Station's services, the player must first dock. Docking is a two stage process: request docking permission then move to and land on the designated landing pad. Pilots can equip a Standard Docking Computer or an Advanced Docking Computer to automate docking with a space station or...

elite-dangerous.fandom.com

HAMM3R · May 28, 2020

I just realized I hadn't realized there is a bar left of the radar

777Driver · May 28, 2020

Florenus said:
I think it's a bug.
I believe those bars supposed to be just darker - going red when you fill them up, indicating that you're going down too fast - but they're light up now for some reason.
I think this looked different earlier in the game.

image from wiki

Docking

To use a Station's services, the player must first dock. Docking is a two stage process: request docking permission then move to and land on the designated landing pad. Pilots can equip a Standard Docking Computer or an Advanced Docking Computer to automate docking with a space station or...

elite-dangerous.fandom.com

Yup, 4-5m/s is the safe speed. Best to test this FA-OFF on an outpost for smooth decent rates without rational correction. With the ship facing the opposite direction so as not to lock onto te pad.

Bottom Hat · May 28, 2020

I just normally slam into the pad, and that's the end of that task. The shields look after any problems, and if I don't have any, that's a job for the repair guy.

As for the station, I don't really care if I hit it - it's a big boy. So, I'll stick to belly-slapping pads I think, it's a skill in itself!

thistle · May 28, 2020

There's a what on the thingy?

I did not know this. I also just bang into the landing pad until it stops me doing it.

LumberTubs · May 28, 2020

HAMM3R said:
I just realized I hadn't realized there is a bar left of the radar

Me neither. I read the OP and immediately thought "Oh my god, what have i been missing all this time?" but then I remembered that I've been landing perfectly fine for years now (except the odd occasion when I boost - B on xbox - when trying to deploy landing gear - B+down on the d pad).

Terekhov · May 28, 2020

"I just normally slam into the pad, and that's the end of that task."
"I also just bang into the landing pad until it stops me doing it."

Heathens.... Try some Real Life GA - that will give you some respect for the ~~air~~ errm... Space/Ground interface!!!!

If I'd have slammed an aircraft on the ground and told the instructor thet "It's OK - Rob in the workshop will sort it out" I very much doubt I'd have soloed (or even been allowed back on the airfield)!!!

CMDR X · May 28, 2020

Could it be for rotational speed (rotation with the station). Full meaning perfect speed with the dock.
Maybe that's why it is always at full because everyone has Rotation Correction enable. Not by my PC
maybe someone can test it out. Disable RC and see if it moves.
X.

Ashnak · May 28, 2020

McKeon said:
"I just normally slam into the pad, and that's the end of that task."
"I also just bang into the landing pad until it stops me doing it."

Heathens.... Try some Real Life GA - that will give you some respect for the ~~air~~ errm... Space/Ground interface!!!!

If I'd have slammed an aircraft on the ground and told the instructor thet "It's OK - Rob in the workshop will sort it out" I very much doubt I'd have soloed (or even been allowed back on the airfield)!!!

Then better don't watch any buckyball videos. Especially not the ones where people repeatedly slam their ships into anything solid to get their hull down so they can reap the bonus time.
Nah, as long as you hit the pad (or the control tower) with a healthy ship, it's nearly impossible to collect enough damage to blow up. The only problem is that the smaller ships tend to bounce off again unless you manage to stick it in the angle between the pad and the tower. Planetary surfaces, on the other hand, are a different story.