Hello All. This may have been asked before, so please forgive me if I ask it again. I have been using the default ATC ever since I first got into FS but due to its crazy anomalies, specially in the turns asked to make when nearing the destination airport, I just ditched it. However, I'd like some sort of ATC interaction instead of sitting there flying a long route with no voice interaction.Hence, I'm putting it to the far more experienced FSX/FS9 users out there, before I shell out,which ITHO is the best ATC package to opt for. I've heard of VoxATC,Radar Contact,VATSIM,etc,etc but have no idea of the merits of de-merits of any of these packages.Thanks in advance for any advice.

I use Radar Contact and I am very happy with it, for IFR it is so much better than the default. For me the only downside is the fact it does not do VFR. G

MCE and or Radar Contact is the combo I prefer, Vox ATC is pretty good too, especially for the localised stuff since you are at Manchester. To be fair though, even the default FS ATC is a lot better when you add MCE to it and use voice control to respond to it.Al

MCE and or Radar Contact is the combo I prefer, Vox ATC is pretty good too, especially for the localised stuff since you are at Manchester. To be fair though, even the default FS ATC is a lot better when you add MCE to it and use voice control to respond to it.Al

+1 Same here. RC4 defintely, MCE for the icing.

Vatsim and IVAO are free, so they can be tried and liked or not as you please. You set the FSX AI traffic to 0 and interact with human controllers and pilots (whereever they happen to be).Radar Contact is a payware keyboars-&-menu ATC replacment that relies on the FSX AI engine.The two other payware packages mentioned are MCE (which can provide a voice control of FSX ATC and of Radar Contact ATC) and VoxATC (which uses its own AI aircraft "engine" so you again set the FSX AI to 0) that both come in a 5-to-7 day trial mode so you can take them for a few test flights to see how you like them. (I'd recommend you do so one at a time.)I'm the odd man out - I use MCE for non-ATC operations with VoxATC running my AI and ATC. (Then I have FS Captain with its own First Officer yapping at me... all these voices in my head[phones]....)

I think RC4 sounds absolutely horrible/robotish imo. PFE sounds a lot better

I think RC4 sounds absolutely horrible/robotish imo. PFE sounds a lot better

I wish there was a HUGE 'like' button for your comment ! I couldn't agree more. RC4, for a lot, is the perfect alternative to the default ATC. I have tried both RC4 (Radar Contact 4) and PFE (ProFlight Emulator) and the difference between them is as big as the difference between an ant and an elephant or in aviation terms, a DC3 to a 787. Don't get me wrong, this is my personal remark and in no way am I trying to stir up the next world war here. Stow your guns in the compartments above guys, becausePFE definitely makes the giant leap into realistic flight simming in my books.The only downside about it would be the amount of work you need to do to set up PFE and the flight plan before every flight but then again, that is exactly what a serious simmer would want to do - Planning!Cheers

I use PFE too. It's not perfect nor is any ATC programme. However, it is the most realistic. If ever there were to be an RC5 it would be playing catch up!!vololiberista

The only downside about it would be the amount of work you need to do to set up PFE and the flight plan before every flight but then again, that is exactly what a serious simmer would want to do - Planning!Cheers

True. But this is also the case for RC4. It was one of the reasons I never used ATC replacement addons before.. I wish there was an addon that actually replaces the FSX ATC, rather than giving support for a pre-fixed flight plan. I want to fly around the world and contact the ATC addon without having to create a flightplan before-hand.ps. is the add-on pack for PFE worth it?

True. But this is also the case for RC4. It was one of the reasons I never used ATC replacement addons before.. I wish there was an addon that actually replaces the FSX ATC, rather than giving support for a pre-fixed flight plan. I want to fly around the world and contact the ATC addon without having to create a flightplan before-hand.ps. is the add-on pack for PFE worth it?

1. Yes, in the sim you can do as you like. In your case you don't need to use ATC at all!! However, if you want any sense of realism then you need an ATC programme.All pilots flying in controlled airspace must file a flightplan. Once set up in PFE it's jsut a click of a button every time you want to use that flightplan.2. Most Definately!!!!!!vololiberista

Yup, Like 'vololiberista' mentioned, once you have the specific plan set up in PFE, its readily available for use over and over again. Although the setting up for a specific plan is a one time ordeal, it still can be quite a pain for casual simmers. I understand what 'squishy' is talking about and I really wish the addons were that simple but, sadly, they aren't. I absolutely don't mind planning out in PFE but I guess Aerosoft probably did not think about the casual simmers out there who would just want to add a 'pinch' of realism to their simulator without having to do all this work.And, yes! - the add on voice pack is worth every penny! An absolute must. The amount of work that has gone into this application really shows and the add-on voice pack really struck a home-run!Cheers

I understand what 'squishy' is talking about and I really wish the addons were that simple but, sadly, they aren't. I absolutely don't mind planning out in PFE but I guess Aerosoft probably did not think about the casual simmers out there who would just want to add a 'pinch' of realism to their simulator without having to do all this work.And, yes! - the add on voice pack is worth every penny! An absolute must. The amount of work that has gone into this application really shows and the add-on voice pack really struck a home-run!Cheers

Because sometimes I just wanna island hop without knowing where to before hand.Also, it's just another program/addon opened in the background that I need to use. And the list is already way too long:-Vroute-REX-PFE-FSpassengers-FPSlimiter-DS3tool (for joystick)-Payload manager?-....Anyway, enough ranting. I'll give the expansionpack a try :0

Because sometimes I just wanna island hop without knowing where to before hand.Also, it's just another program/addon opened in the background that I need to use. And the list is already way too long:-Vroute-REX-PFE-FSpassengers-FPSlimiter-DS3tool (for joystick)-Payload manager?-....Anyway, enough ranting. I'll give the expansionpack a try :0

My background applications are similar in name and number but this nifty little application called 'FS AutoStart' fires up all of them in the background as soon as I fire up the sim. Pretty neat. Saves me a lot of time. I think it's available in the AVSIM library. If not, throw me a message and I'll send you a copy. Cheers

MCE and or Radar Contact is the combo I prefer, Vox ATC is pretty good too, especially for the localised stuff since you are at Manchester. To be fair though, even the default FS ATC is a lot better when you add MCE to it and use voice control to respond to it.Al

Thanks Al, and all you others for your splendid responses. Forgive me for being naive, but what exactly is MCE, and where can I order it from, if I decide to go down that road, as some of you have also given me further food for thought? All I want is load an FMC plan in one of my high-end aircraft, be at gate,get permission from a controller to taxi,etc., clearance to take-off, then en route instructions as long as they are nothing as crazy as the default FSX ATC issuing silly headings all over the place.

Thanks Al, and all you others for your splendid responses. Forgive me for being naive, but what exactly is MCE, and where can I order it from, if I decide to go down that road, as some of you have also given me further food for thought? All I want is load an FMC plan in one of my high-end aircraft, be at gate,get permission from a controller to taxi,etc., clearance to take-off, then en route instructions as long as they are nothing as crazy as the default FSX ATC issuing silly headings all over the place.

Well, being vc10man !!! You will not have long to wait for the full on experience!!!! Hopefully in the next few weeks I will release on avsim a major upgrade for DM's model. There are at least 100 changes. Plus a night cockpit, cabin calls, safety breifing for type 1180 and the authentic checklists which also include a cockpit briefing! All that coupled with PFE makes for a much better experience!vololiberista