How do I tune the radios in the FSX Acceleration F/A-18?

In FSX Acceleration and FSX: Steam Edition, tune the default F/A-18 by selecting COM1 with C or NAV1 with N, adjusting the standby frequency with =/- and Shift+=/Shift+-, then pressing X to swap it from standby to active. COM carries ATC voice; NAV1 receives VOR and ILS guidance.

These instructions apply to the stock Microsoft F/A-18 supplied with Acceleration content. Its cockpit does not reproduce the full real-world Hornet radio-entry system, so FSX keyboard commands and the ATC menu are more reliable than clicking apparently relevant cockpit buttons.

How do I work the radio in the FSX F/A-18?

Select the receiver, change its standby frequency, and transfer that frequency to active.

1. Choose COM or NAV. Use COM1 for ATIS, ground, tower, approach and centre communications. Use NAV1 for a VOR or ILS.
2. Select the receiver. Press C for COM1 or N for NAV1. To select the second receiver, press C followed by 2 for COM2, or N followed by 2 for NAV2.
3. Set the whole-MHz portion. Press = to increase it or - to decrease it.
4. Set the fractional portion. Press Shift+= to increase it or Shift+- to decrease it.
5. Activate the frequency. Press X to exchange the selected radio’s active and standby frequencies. Reselect the intended receiver before pressing X if you have used other radio commands.
6. Confirm reception. A valid COM1 frequency should produce the appropriate choices in the ATC window. NAV1 guidance appears only when the aircraft is within range and suitably positioned for the VOR or ILS.

The keyboard commands may tune the radio without opening a visible civilian-style radio stack. Our explanation of manual COM1 tuning and standby-to-active transfer covers the same FSX control logic in more detail.

Which receiver should I tune?

COM radios carry voice communications, while NAV radios receive navigation signals; entering the right number in the wrong receiver will not work.

For a fuller explanation of active receivers, navigation radios and identifiers, see our guide to how COM, NAV1 and NAV2 differ.

Can FSX ATC tune the Hornet radio automatically?

FSX ATC can place an offered facility frequency directly into active COM1, avoiding manual keyboard tuning.

Open the ATC window and select the option to tune the required ground, tower, departure or other listed facility. The available entries depend on your position, radio range and the services defined in the simulator’s airport database. Our guide to opening and using the FSX ATC window explains the menu sequence.

ATC auto-tuning does not set NAV1 for a VOR or ILS. Enter those navigation frequencies manually and press X to make them active.

Do I speak into a microphone?

Stock FSX ATC is menu-driven and does not recognise spoken microphone transmissions. Tuning COM1 makes the relevant text responses available in the ATC window; you answer by selecting one of the numbered menu choices.

If it did not work (“no me sirvió”), what should I check?

If the method did not work, the frequency is usually still in standby, the wrong receiver is selected, or the default keyboard assignments have been changed.

• Frequency left in standby: after entering the number, select the intended radio again and press X. This is the mistake we see most often.
• Wrong receiver: built-in ATC normally expects its frequency on COM1. An ILS or VOR normally needs to be active on NAV1 in the stock Hornet.
• Changed key assignments: inspect FSX’s Controls settings for commands including COM Radio (select), NAV Radio (select), Increase Selection, Decrease Selection and Radio Frequency Swap. Imported profiles and non-standard keyboard layouts can replace the defaults.
• Keyboard focus elsewhere: close text-entry boxes and menus, then click inside the simulator before entering the sequence. Number keys may select ATC menu entries while that window has focus.
• No electrical power: restore aircraft electrical power or load a ready-to-fly state if the avionics and cockpit displays are dead.
• Outside reception range: a correctly tuned station may remain silent when the aircraft is too far away. ILS indications also require a suitable intercept position rather than merely the right frequency.
• No sound but ATC text works: the radio is tuned correctly; check FSX’s voice and sound settings instead of retuning it.
• Modified aircraft panel: third-party Hornet panels and gauges may replace or intercept the stock radio controls. Their operation can differ from the default Acceleration aircraft described here.

Why can’t I enter the published frequency?

FSX’s radio system and navigation database predate widespread 8.33 kHz COM channel spacing, so some modern real-world frequencies cannot be entered exactly.

Use the frequency shown by FSX’s ATC menu, map or installed scenery rather than assuming a present-day real-world listing matches the simulator. Add-on airports may also replace stock frequencies, creating a mismatch between the original FSX data and the scenery you have installed.

Which radio should I use for an ILS or carrier approach?

Use NAV1 for a normal land-based ILS, then transfer the frequency to active and select the Hornet’s appropriate navigation or approach display mode.

For an Acceleration carrier mission, use the navigation frequency supplied in that mission’s briefing or instructions. Do not assume every carrier uses the same value: moving-carrier add-ons may rely on a scripted gauge or another navigation method instead of the stock FSX ILS system. A COM frequency can provide voice communications, but it cannot generate localiser or glideslope guidance.