The Docking Computer thread.

Speccy · Jan 10, 2015

Docking computer on a Sidewinder?

Hi, is it possible to fit a docking computer to a sidewinder? I'm asking on behalf of my brother in law, who bought the game after seeing me playing it.

We've had a look in quite a few outfitters around the Eravate system, but had no luck. Is it because you cannot fit a DC to a sidey? Or do we need to look elsewhere?

Is there a guide that shows you which outfitters sell what? This one doesn't seem to work: http://roguey.co.uk/elite-dangerous/equipment/upgrade/standard-docking-computer/

Many thanks.

pvtspoon · Jan 10, 2015

I think the sdc is great, if it moved too slot that's great too but upgrade it too launching as well, my headache is (npc)ships trying too dock when your half way through the letter box not just small ship big type 7/9 & leaving you with 26% dmg in a clipper that's 171k repair bill thanks npc's

JasonDL · Jan 10, 2015

I agreed

saagri · Jan 12, 2015

Anaconda Docking Computer

I had a type 9 and had a docking computer to do some tasks on the side while it docked. For me, the landing would fail a small fraction of the time. The ship just slides to the left and off the pad. Now I have an anaconda with the computer and it seems like it lands more consistently. Anyone else experience this?

rdizz · Jan 12, 2015

The docking computers are manufactured by the same company who sells the insurance. Don't use them. Quite buggy atm.

My first experience with one was also my last.

Steve50 · Jan 12, 2015

People still use docking computers? Wow

saagri · Jan 12, 2015

I used them to fiddle around during the docking to help cut down on the boredom that is trading. I have dual monitors so I could keep an eye on the ship.

Schoolboy · Jan 12, 2015

Steve50 said:
People still use docking computers? Wow

I still use docking computers and use that time to plot my next way point or read the forum about people dis' n the docking computer

To the OP I found the docking computer seems better suited to the type 6 than my asp which slides almost to the point of outside the bays. Also the more times you dock in the same station it seems to remember the layout and lands better, which is strange as all the stations are the same. Could just be my imagination.

PS I do manually dock when smuggling illegal goods or when I fancy docking in quicker than 30kmh

AluminumAlloy · Jan 12, 2015

Do NOT buy the docking computer, it's evil and it just tried to kill me.

I thought being lazy was an OK thing to do, so I installed the docking AI onto my Cobra. There I was outside a station that was rather orbiting a planet quite close.

And the story begins. The docking computer spun my ship in the opposite way instead of facing the station, goes head on directly to the planet and engages super-cruise sequence, obscured travel indicator doesn't kick in and i'm left with the bar on my HUD showing that the frame-shift drive was charging. Luckily I was quick enough to cancel it... then immediately cut power to the docking AI, docked manually and sold the module as soon as possible.

Commanders, I suggest you remain docking manually.

Steve50 · Jan 12, 2015

I bought one once just to hear the music but after using it once I removed it and never used it again.

Manually landing is waaaaaay way way faster. ...and fun

SpionKop · Jan 12, 2015

You need to buy a Docking Computer manufactured in the UK. It will then land you on the correct side of the landing pad.

Tanall · Jan 12, 2015

AluminumAlloy said:
I thought being lazy was an OK thing to do, so I installed the docking AI onto my Cobra. There I was outside a station that was rather orbiting a planet quite close.

And the story begins. The docking computer spun my ship in the opposite way instead of facing the station, goes head on directly to the planet and engages super-cruise sequence, obscured travel indicator doesn't kick in and i'm left with the bar on my HUD showing that the frame-shift drive was charging. Luckily I was quick enough to cancel it... then immediately cut power to the docking AI, docked manually and sold the module as soon as possible.

Commanders, I suggest you remain docking manually.

Take a real close look at the docking computer module...

Is it labeled 'MechJeb' per chance?

Deyu · Jan 12, 2015

That's why:

Tommyknocker · Jan 12, 2015

Been using mine since day 1. It defiantly needs an instruction manual and I have had some problems before having it work on my cobra 100% now.

I do as follows:

1) always be in front of the station or have the landing pad in sight.
2) NEVER open a side panel after you have requested docking permission (tried landed me sideways once... embarrassing)

I usually grab a coffee, serf the net whilst my docking computer does it's thing, and so far (bout 200 uses) it has never failed me when using those steps.

I find it gets confused if you open a side panel so it is best to forgo it until docked.

Kandarus · Jan 12, 2015

So it is true. AI will be the end of us all!

snotface · Jan 12, 2015

AluminumAlloy said:
I thought being lazy was an OK thing to do, so I installed the docking AI onto my Cobra. There I was outside a station that was rather orbiting a planet quite close.

And the story begins. The docking computer spun my ship in the opposite way instead of facing the station, goes head on directly to the planet and engages super-cruise sequence, obscured travel indicator doesn't kick in and i'm left with the bar on my HUD showing that the frame-shift drive was charging. Luckily I was quick enough to cancel it... then immediately cut power to the docking AI, docked manually and sold the module as soon as possible.

Commanders, I suggest you remain docking manually.

There are a few bugs with a docking computer. If you are trying to land at a platform and your in observation mode, i.e looking around at the view, the docking computer sometimes turns you up side down. When you are entering a station you should also make sure you are coming in from the front and not just from the side.

The results of using a docking computer out weigh the non-usage. Why risk smashing into something when you could be drinking a coffee and watching everything go by nicely.

But as I said watch out for the glitches when in the observation mode.

Mikey2305 · Jan 12, 2015

used a DC on my ships hundreds if not thousands of time and never had the slightest problem. its the first upgrade i go for, not because i cant dock. absolutely 100% reliable every time for me.. just used it to dock while writing this. might humbly suggest that there might be another reason for this other than the DC?

Ithsha · Jan 12, 2015

Similar experience for me to Tommyknocker. The docking computer mostly works fine if you follow those rules and I've used in hundreds of times without issue.

Until last Sunday... when it decided to get stuck on something in the docking bay... by the time I noticed the loitering count down it was too late and the guns had taken out my Python and the full load of gold inside! 5m credits worth of ouch.

Athera · Jan 12, 2015

Maybe you were Wanted ! Your docking comp tried to claim the bounty for itself. Not as dumb as people say it is

FX2K · Jan 12, 2015

Steve50 said:
I bought one once just to hear the music but after using it once I removed it and never used it again.

I had hopes that they would enable the docking music when you request docking even without the computer...
Actually, not sure if they have since I turned all music off at release

hmmm, may have to try it.

Tommyknocker said:
Been using mine since day 1. It defiantly needs an instruction manual and I have had some problems before having it work on my cobra 100% now.

I do as follows:

1) always be in front of the station or have the landing pad in sight.
2) NEVER open a side panel after you have requested docking permission (tried landed me sideways once... embarrassing)

I usually grab a coffee, serf the net whilst my docking computer does it's thing, and so far (bout 200 uses) it has never failed me when using those steps.

I find it gets confused if you open a side panel so it is best to forgo it until docked.

The docking computer has issues, thats for sure... personally I think it may have something to do with specific ships and ship configs, such as thrusters etc.
It seems to work really well for some ships, but not so much for others, although I didn't make note of the specifics.

I don't really use one, but every now and then I buy one to try it, especially after changing a ship. Latest test involved a T9 and whilst the computer managed to get it through the slot, albeit scaring the hell out of me, even from a perfectly setup approach, it couldn't find the pad, I don't know what it was doing but it would have got me killed that's for sure.

If you make coffee during it now, I would think twice doing the same when changing ships