Help with docking; how does the Clamp O Tron attach?

[konokono]

Hello, I have been trying to dock for the past 7 hours and have utterly failed each time =( First time, I didn't have lights on my ships and I ended up with a night time rendezvous. Go figure. But the next couple of times I was able to get the parts to touch but not attach.

The part in question is the "Clamp-O-Tron Docking Port". I have a few questions about it:

1. Does this part attach to itself?

2. The part has a "male" side and a "female" side. By male I mean the side with the smaller radius. Does the part attach male/male, female/female, or male/female? I think I've tried female/female and male/female but neither worked. Before I spend another 30 minutes trying male/male I want to confirm if that's the problem or if it's something else. So do they attach male/male? Or do you have to turn them on? Or am I completely missing something? I was really confused when I touched the parts and they didn't attach.

3. I've read various conflicting information about this issue online, it would be helpful if the devs included a note in the game about it!

Thanks

[CelestialMechanic]

First, you attach the docking port so that the part with the larger radius (the same as the 1.25m rocket parts) is attached to your rocket, and the smaller radius faces out to dock, on both ports. Then, I think you actually need to target the docking port itself rather than the ship it's attached to. Once you're close, right click and you should be able to target that port specifically.

[konokono]

Here's a picture of my ships and how the clamps are not attaching.

Edited May 9, 2013 by konokono

[Nazari1382]

There aren't different sides. Connect two docking ports by getting them within a few meters facing the two port faces against each other as flat as possible. Make sure they are the same size port too. They act like magnets and will stick together within a few seconds. You want to be moving slow, around 0.1 - 0.3 m/s. It will change the view of your ship when it's done.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Nazari1382

[Read have Read]

Yellow stripes to yellow stripes. The jagged flange is the side you surface attach. The Jr size will not mate with the regular and vis versa. Get close, 1m and at 0.1ms and straight and you should see it auto-magnetically attract. Try the lazor docking cam.

[sal_vager]

Docking ports are not male and female sorry, only the side with the hatch will work, the side with the metal skirt is just so there's no unsightly gaps when fitted to a round part such as a fuel tank.

Also please use Imgur for images, like this

[Deadpangod3]

Ahh, I think I see the problem, I think their backwards, try turning them around

[konokono]

I updated the photo using Imgur. It's a little hard to make out because of the lighting, but my two docking clamps are very close, <0.1 m/s relative speed, and the sides facing outwards are the larger "female" sides. So I guess I'm trying to dock using the wrong sides of the clamps?

edit: ok it seems like i'm trying to attach the wrong sides. Will try flipping them when I get home!

Edited May 9, 2013 by konokono

[RoboRay]

Yes, those are backwards.

You want the side with the little hatch and viewing window in the middle showing:

[corvus2606]

Then, I think you actually need to target the docking port itself rather than the ship it's attached to. Once you're close, right click and you should be able to target that port specifically.

This could not be less true. Although it helps with lining up, the targeting system is completely separate from the docking system, There is no "turning on" docking ports, nor is there any requirement ever to target them, in fact, i frequently dock without even having the other ship targeted. If you are within the 'Magnetic' force radius, the ports will attract, it is not as complicated as people try to make it.

[konokono]

My docking ports were indeed backwards. Thanks for the help