I was so excited last night when I found this product. I have been searching for a replacement for ATC in FSX because FSX ATC is so basic. Then I started reading through the manual and I checked out some youtube vids and became less enthusiastic.I have not used the program yet but when I read the feature list it seems like with the exception of emergencies and holds, FSX ATC does most all the things RADAR Contact does. Am I missing something?Then I listened to Radar Contact on youtube and was not at all impressed by the voices. It didn't sound like radio traffic at all. The terminology was correct, I am speaking of the sound quality. it sounded too crisp and clear, not like a vhf radio. I haven't heard the 3rd party voices yet so they may be better.Then I saw that SIDS and STARS were not really supported. The program just kinda ignores you while you fly them. Which is a plus I guess since FSX ATC wont ignore you if you do that.I am NOT criticizing the product at all. Like I said I haven't tried it yet. I just am interested to hear some opinions on why I should try it.The 2 things that have held up my purchase so far are that I really don't want another addon bandaid that I have to coax to work and the paying then having to wait for someone to send me an email so I can use it, then again every time I re-install it. That one is likely the deal breaker.

I was so excited last night when I found this product. I have been searching for a replacement for ATC in FSX because FSX ATC is so basic. Then I started reading through the manual and I checked out some youtube vids and became less enthusiastic.I have not used the program yet but when I read the feature list it seems like with the exception of emergencies and holds, FSX ATC does most all the things RADAR Contact does. Am I missing something?Then I listened to Radar Contact on youtube and was not at all impressed by the voices. It didn't sound like radio traffic at all. The terminology was correct, I am speaking of the sound quality. it sounded too crisp and clear, not like a vhf radio. I haven't heard the 3rd party voices yet so they may be better.Then I saw that SIDS and STARS were not really supported. The program just kinda ignores you while you fly them. Which is a plus I guess since FSX ATC wont ignore you if you do that.I am NOT criticizing the product at all. Like I said I haven't tried it yet. I just am interested to hear some opinions on why I should try it.The 2 things that have held up my purchase so far are that I really don't want another addon bandaid that I have to coax to work and the paying then having to wait for someone to send me an email so I can use it, then again every time I re-install it. That one is likely the deal breaker.

to be honest, i thik you're missing a number of things. this is mostly from page 14 from the manual, www.jdtllc.com/v4/rcv43.pdfyou can specify alternate airports, which are a requirement for an ifr flight, and you can divert to them in the case of bad weather or emergencyunlinke ms atc, where the transition altitude is 18000, each arirport has the correct transition altitude, and the local transition level is calculated based on the local pressureyou can ask for a different departure runway, careful what you ask for, or you might meet an ai on his take off rollnot sure where you gathered the erroneous information that RC doesn't do sids and starrs. of course they. you can have any departure procedure in your flight plan, and you will be expected to fly it. at the end of the dp or 30 miles whichever comes first, you will be switched to center.once enroute you can deviate for weather, you can change destination to one of your alternates.you will be expected to meet a crossing restriction that is 40 miles from your destination airport.you will have to understand the difference between fligtht level and altitude, know what the transition altitude is, and get away from using the "lazy B" key.you will have step climbs and descents as opposed to being switched from departure to center, and cleared to fligth 410you can allow rc to vector you to the finall approach, or you can ask for an iap approach, and fly an approach per your chart, before being handed over to tower.contrary to popular belief, stars don't end at the runway. stars end when approach tells you they end.you have the ability to miss approachand with the new add-on superatc, you can now use your voice to communicate to the controllers, and not have to use the keyboard.you can read this all in the manual, www.jdtllc.com/v4/rcv43.pdf - it's only 200+ pages. it might clear up some misconceptions or misrepresentations you might have read elsewhere.and the bottom line, it might not be for you. but if you are serious about simming, about understanding how atc really works, not the ms implementation of it, give it a tryjd

And it's simply a fantastic addon that can be made even better by adding a customized voice pack, available for free in the AVSIM library, that makes the voices faster and a bit more natural sounding.

Ok, after reading the review on Avsim I decided to give it a try. I was wrong on all counts. This is truly amazing. What a huge difference. I was really surprised when I payed and had my code via email in about 10 minutes.I'm doing the tutorial flights now.Amazing..love it!!

Had it for a few months now, wouldn't fly without it. Couple it with IYP and its getting pretty close to the real thing.The only problems I have are "no taxi instructions" and waiting for RC 5One of the best add ons for FSX and FS2004.Dave Palmer

Ok, after reading the review on Avsim I decided to give it a try. I was wrong on all counts. This is truly amazing. What a huge difference. I was really surprised when I payed and had my code via email in about 10 minutes.I'm doing the tutorial flights now.Amazing..love it!!

I agree, have had it now for 2 years and can

Then I listened to Radar Contact on youtube and was not at all impressed by the voices. It didn't sound like radio traffic at all. The terminology was correct, I am speaking of the sound quality. it sounded too crisp and clear, not like a vhf radio. I haven't heard the 3rd party voices yet so they may be better.

i think some of the voices are better than others.. i haven't tried the 3rd party ones because a lot of times i have the sound on my computer low or other reasons where it's useful for me to be able to hear the voices clearly. from what people were saying on the forums i'd guess they are much closer to what you are looking (listening?) for..

Then I saw that SIDS and STARS were not really supported. The program just kinda ignores you while you fly them. Which is a plus I guess since FSX ATC wont ignore you if you do that.

i agree it would be cool if RC knew a little more about what you were doing on a STAR, like allowing for the crossing restrictions to match the ones in the STAR instead of the 40nm/11 limit, and maybe getting mad if you don't fly the star you said you were,..but if you already put your star in the flight plan it is pretty close to the same thing. i find that a lot of times i like to just take the vectors because it gives me more to do than just watch the gps heh

I just am interested to hear some opinions on why I should try it.

for me the vectoring is so much smarter than fsx atc, is the main reason i can never go back lol! anyway i see you already got it so enjoy..cheers-andy crosby

Thank you for this great discussion. It has helped me make a choice to get RC. It is hard going from real-world flying to the default atc and knowing the limitations it brings to your simming experience.