Simviation Forums

Still reading, learning and practicing with Navigation, VFR, IFR, VOR, ILS, etc. One thing is still confusing me...ADF. I've read what it's for and how it's supposed to work, but I'm having a bit of trouble with the frequency part. In the radio stacks, you can tune an ADF frequency for the ADF indicator. How does one find the ADF frequency to tune?

Nigel

You can find them on the sim's map (the transmitter that ADFs (Automatic Direction Finder) use are called NDBs (Non Directional Beacon)... OR .. even more fun (and realistic), you can use real sectionals and charts.

In real life, since they're just plain old AM recievers, you can tune in AM radio stations too. Like, if you're buzzing along and know where a big city's AM radio station antenna is.. you can use it for reference too (and listen to it.. catch up on scores and news..lol )..

Thanks Brett! I couldn't find the NDB frequencies in the FSX maps (they show ILS and various COM frequencies, but no NDB frequencies that I could see), but I did find a site for Approach Proceedure Charts. After more reaserch and reading, am I correct in finding that the NDB frequencies are listed as LOM GB, LOM IAF and VOR DME in some charts? I'll try a KBUF and see what happens.

Thanks and Regards,
Nigel

Just go to the sim's map and click on the NDB. If the NDB shares space with an airport, VOR, ILS or an intersection, they'll all pop up in a window. Click on any of those to get info on them ..

In real life, since they're just plain old AM recievers, you can tune in AM radio stations too. Like, if you're buzzing along and know where a big city's AM radio station antenna is.. you can use it for reference too (and listen to it.. catch up on scores and news..lol )..

When I was doing one of my long cross countries for my PPL my instructor and I were looking for radio stations on the ADF, and the only one we could find was out of Richland Center, Wisconsin (small, rural WI town), and it was elctronic music/dance music/techno, really not what you'd expect in that situation.  So we flew along the country-side, blasting techno and dance music. 8-)

So we flew along the country-side, blasting techno and dance music. 8-)

Makes for a really funny mental image.

 So we flew along the country-side, blasting techno and dance music. 8-)

I would just be eternally grateful that it wasn't "Country Music"!.... ...!

....(and the NDB tuner knob on your Radio Stack had fallen off!)... ...!

LOL... ...!

Paul....I love my ADF's and my NDB's... 8-)...!

Back in the olden days more than one pilot used commercial radio stations to tune their ADF.  However there were real problems with identification and stability and the postal routes, then the main trunk routes were lined with NDBs. It is the most imprecise of the navaids, and doing an NDB approach to an airport takes a lot of practice.  But the old pilots called it the Bird Dog, because it always points directly to the station.  So whatever it tells you, it shows you where the station is.  To track it in a crosswind takes a little practice but it is worth learning.  The NDB or non directional beacon as the ground station is called, and the ADF the automatic direction finder, in the aircraft are subject to a lot of interference,  In a thunderstorm it points to the electrical centre, not the station!  The signals can 'bend' and often the range is short.  Given all that it is a simple but powerful tool for non-precision flying, and also teaches much more about radionav than the more precise modern instruments.

With further reading and investigation, I believe I resolved some of my confusion. First, I didn't have the "Display NDB" function activated on the maps. Second, I discovered that not all airports have NDB's. I know air navigation is a complex thing to learn and so that's why I keep reading, practicing and asking questions...many thanks to all who reply to my "trying to learn" questions! As I've stated previous, I'm using FSX for fun of course, but also as a tool to give me some basic knowledge of the things I'm going to need to know and have to learn in aviation school. I've said it before and I'll say it again...anyone who can pilot a fixed-wing or heli aircraft is a GENIOUS!

Nigel

PS: So what ADF frequency do I tune to listen to some Classic Rock while flying  :-?  ;D  ;)