Please bear with me here, I have zero experience with any of these products. Since I don't know what fs2crew does is there a good place to go to see if it is for me. I do fly the PMDG aircraft exclusively so when I saw the announcement I was curious as to what to expect. I use Saitek products and have them programmed through FSUIPC. If using fs2crew, voice, does that make some or all of the items I have programmed in now handled by the F/O. IE flaps gear etc?Again please be gentle.... :-)

You won't need to handle flaps or gear with most of them. In fact I disabled them along with the condition levers on my CH TQ with FSUIPC for the JS41 as it kept screwing things up. I have the button version for the JS41 and it really is a blast. You still retain all the systems and everything else but the workload is such that you feel like you're actually flying the plane rather than playing a button simulator. It's made a world of difference for me - I didn't care much for the 747X or LDS 767 fs2crews that I had but the newer versions are fantastic. If you have the JS41, I'd pick that up (I like buttons, but voice might be better.) I really don't think you'll be disappointed. It made the plane a lot more enjoyable to fly.-stefan

You won't need to handle flaps or gear with most of them. In fact I disabled them along with the condition levers on my CH TQ with FSUIPC for the JS41 as it kept screwing things up. I have the button version for the JS41 and it really is a blast. You still retain all the systems and everything else but the workload is such that you feel like you're actually flying the plane rather than playing a button simulator. It's made a world of difference for me - I didn't care much for the 747X or LDS 767 fs2crews that I had but the newer versions are fantastic. If you have the JS41, I'd pick that up (I like buttons, but voice might be better.) I really don't think you'll be disappointed. It made the plane a lot more enjoyable to fly.-stefan

Thanks Stefan, I am picking up my new headset/mic today and will get fs2crew on Friday (?). Does fs2 work ok with radar contact?

Hi,On my side I'm used to flying exclusively on IVAO. Since I have discovered Fs2crew, I can say I'm a big fan (I have it for LVD767, PMDG747, MD11 and soon...NGX!). It releases you from a lot of tasks specially in the very busy moments of the take off and landing (lights, gear, flaps...).When you have traffics and human controllers to manage, it's a great improvement.However I only use the button version because I'm afraid that oral checklists and orders (fs2crew) + oral ATIS (Active sky) + oral ATC communications on IVAO would be too much for me to handle.Regarding the hardware configuration, it didn't change much things for me. Just remind that fs2crew uses it's own keys (different than the default fsx ones) so if you set keys to your hardware like me, check there is no conflicts.Furthermore, Fs2crew improves my knowledge of the aircrafts by implementing the real checklists to follow at any moment. And finally it adds a part of enjoyable realism with the crew announcements.What more can I say? I really love fs2crew products and I'm really happy and eager to see the NGX version coming.Have fun.Romain

Thanks Stefan, I am picking up my new headset/mic today and will get fs2crew on Friday (?). Does fs2 work ok with radar contact?

Phil,Get a USB headset... they're the easiest to work with.

Does fs2 work ok with radar contact?

yes it does

Phil,Get a USB headset... they're the easiest to work with.

Got the new headset and set it as default in the PMDG but what is weird (or maybe not) I hear the engines and environment through the headset but the atis comes over my speakers. One thing I did not check is the sound settings in FSX that may be where my issues are. I had a nice headset in the past but the flight attendant (wife) caught the cord in the vacuum and ruined them. So have just used speakers for a while.

Phil,Get a USB headset... they're the easiest to work with.

Agreed. USB headset is bulletproof. I have the Creative Fatal1ty USB headset and it is really good for the money. You can even pull out the mic. from the speakers so you don't look like a total nerd all of the time :)

Anyone have a recommendation of a decent headset that will work with a trackclip pro?-stefan

Agreed. USB headset is bulletproof. I have the Creative Fatal1ty USB headset and it is really good for the money. You can even pull out the mic. from the speakers so you don't look like a total nerd all of the time :)

This what I purchased: TEKNMOTIO PULSEWAVE 7.1 with removable mic. The mic is not the issue, it is the cleaning bill for uniform shirts. :-)

i also got the Fatality USB headset and as a budget headset it ticks all the boxes. Sounds pretty good too.

I somewhat disagree about the USB headset. I use to use one, but I switched to traditional micro plugs when I bought my new soundcard. If you are using MB sound, it doesn't necessarily matter. I also found that different headsets react differently with non-FS2Crew sounds. So as an example, one headset will leave the engine sounds on the speakers but the voices in the headset. MY current headset brings all sounds in the headset. (Which, while less realistic, I actually prefer, since it keeps the noise down and doesn't wake sleeping children.) But, Bryan is right, the USB headsets are essentially idiot proof.One thing that no one has mentioned: Do the voice training with your headset as you intend to fly. Windows 7 has decent speech recognition, but it isn't perfect, so I would buy the headset you want and then do the training.