After much debate I decided to try VOXATC 6.05 and here's my first impression:

 

But, first here's what I needed in a ATC, am sure just like everybody that's looking for an ATC add on...it has to be as real as it gets. I was/am using PilotEdge and for the most part it's really great. The major downside is lack of traffic (radio chatter) and lack of coverage. So that's why I needed something world wide. So my choices: PilotEdge, Radio Contact 4.x(was really leaning towards this until I heard version 5 was being delayed), PFE (cannot recall what it stands for) and VOXATC.

 

Being a real pilot I use FSX to keep my skills up and in the aviation mind set, so push to talk is important. Also, since I fly single engine land, VFR and IFR are important.

 

Ok, reading the instructions showed me that VOXATC has a lot going on, but the amount of typo's is staggering. Made me wonder if the software was written by one person or just not QA'ed. I dug a little deeper and VOXATC is made my RCsimulations, which seem like a pretty big Company, at least their website has a lot going on. So, I pushed by the typo's thinking maybe english is not their first language.

 

Got my PC mic configured, added had two voices along with Microsoft Ann. So I got three voices already....cool.

 

Did a quick VFR flight. I like the fact that you're contacting FSS (Flight services) to open/close flight plan.

Liked the fact that you are requesting traffic advisory. However, some of the phrases I just never heard or was always told do not do that. For example, unicom and CTAF are different, but they can be the same. So, with an airport that is listed with a CTAF and AWOS you would not ask for airport information. VOX does not care it always makes you request airport information on the unicom. Maybe this is how it is overseas, but I'm in the US. Also, not sure where VOX is getting its list of frequencies because some are wrong.

 

Oh, before I forget, I got traffic advisory and I did see traffic while airborne. Actually, one was really close and went right in front of my...cool.

 

Next, I did IFR from/to Class E airports. Here's where it got weird. So VOX assume you've called Departure/Center over the telephone and got your clearance. Because all it told me once airborne was to contact center with current altitude and final altitude. which is fine but I got no squawk code.

 

Also, it seems like VOX get's in a loop and repeats the same instructions like 3 or 4 times...every now and then.

 

All in all I like it.

 

I'll do several more flights IFR from class E to class C and see how that goes.

 

Then I'll try a VFR transition Bravo airspace and see how that goes.

 

Please let me know if you guys have figured some of this issues out, or not seeing thme and maybe its just me. I hope they keep improving this software, though.

 

-Ray

Ray,

 

VOXATC always frustrated me with issues such as those you have mentioned. I'll admit that I didn't always have a top quality headset. So I accepted that and knew VOXATC would probably not hear everything I say. Added to that, whenever I was asked to repeat my radio call, I would get a response from ATC just from pressing the mic key. This would completely reduce the immersion value of speak all requests. If VOXATC refines these problem areas I might purchase the version 6 and future releases.

Ivona voice packs were the deal maker for me but at $50 a voice its very expensive but the voices are 100% natural and fully immersive. I really could not do this program on default voice alone so tack on another $100 for 2 voices (for me)

 

I love the way it hands out sid/stars in real time as well. Traffic is only around 5-10 miles fro arrive dept and the only chatter after that is from the computer generated voices (ughhh) so I turn on Live internet ATC streaming after take off.

 

initially when started I had to repeat my call backs for atc to progress however now I never use the radio since Voxatc has a FO who does an amazing job. I do like the way the instructions are printed out so I never miss a thing.

 

overall it does a difficult job very well

Yeah agree with you both. I had to buy another headset (creative tactic 3d model #gh0140, around $50 from tigerdirect) because my other Corsair HS1 - around $99 (year ago) just would not work using usb. I'm still on the 7 day trail (VOX) and so far I like it.

 

Here's what I did, because I had two voices from cepstral (i think that's the name) from previous applications. They are old versions 4.2 and 32-bit but seem to work fine on win7 64-bit.

 

So I use those two voices for controllers and I speed them up, just a little to act like the real world. That's a really great feature! Would be nice if you could separate the speed for controllers and pilots.

I also like the fact that VOX gives you the read out, just in case you didn't get it...soon I'll turn that helper off and do it for real, once I understand what phrases VOX wants.

 

Flying an IFR from class C to class D, and so far this is great.

 

One thing I'm missing is GA traffic, anybody know how to get it. Traffic is 50% and It's using Traffic X database.

 

I would be nice if Ivona afforded a voice pack because they have nice voices. Guess, that'll be my new missions, getting voices of all kinds for controllers and pilots.

 

Haven't tried the FO feature yet, but will once I fly the heavies...that's going to be great.

 

Also, like the fact I can pause FSX/VOX and do family stuff and come back where I left off :-)

Push to talk (PTT) works great on CH Yoke...but no way to turn PTT off on keyboard, so I had to assign a key I never use, del key.

 

-Ray

"One thing I'm missing is GA traffic, anybody know how to get it"

Use the free world of AI traffic and download as many as you want at every airport you fly. Vox will then use them at your airports. eg when Im in alaska it loads up the bays with alaska air and brtish airways at london etc etc etc

My AI engine Traffic X has GA traffic, it seems as though VOX is not putting any at the airports. Maybe it's just a random thing, because I do recall seeing a caravan in the air in route. I'll keep an eye out...I'm curretly at Cayman islands and I see three learjets...two of them on top of each other and the third parked right behind it...

 

-Ray

 

BTW...ivona has a voice package deal for 5 American voices for 99 euros. Think I'll try them out but first going to try their 30 day trial...have you tried their trial...I wonder if I'll get all the voices I want or just one...

you have to turn off traffic x, you know that right? disable it completely and use the vox slider.

 

thanks for the tip I will check them out

anyone know how add (import) new voices? I cant remember

you have to turn off traffic x, you know that right? disable it completely and use the vox slider.

 

thanks for the tip I will check them out

 

From reading the documentation you have to turn off FSX traffic (which I did), the software I have is called Traffic X from Just Flight...add on. So far I haven't seen anything smaller than a Caravan. I get lots of commerical traffic, and it's correct traffic. I.e. I'm in Jamaica, so I see lots of Air Jamaica's. But no Pipers, 172's and stuff like that.

 

-Ray

Ray, I have traffic x as well.

 

"I'm curretly at Cayman islands and I see three learjets...two of them on top of each other and the third parked right behind it..."

 

this is because Traffic x and voxatc are competing. If you go Voxatc then you have to bin traffic x . the manual wont tell you that because of course it doesn't know you have it ;-)

Ray, I have traffic x as well.

 

"I'm curretly at Cayman islands and I see three learjets...two of them on top of each other and the third parked right behind it..."

 

this is because Traffic x and voxatc are competing. If you go Voxatc then you have to bin traffic x . the manual wont tell you that because of course it doesn't know you have it ;-)

 

Ok, I'm just a little lost here. VOX said it would use your traffic engine to generate traffic. So how is Traffic X and VOX competing if VOX is supposed to be using your engine. Help me out here. Are you saying you have to uninstall traffic X?

 

You have Traffic X, installed? Are you seeing GA traffic with traffic X? Or, are you using another traffic engine, I think you mentioned free world.

 

Thanks,

Ray

I use My Traffic X. I turn the traffic sliders to 0 in FSX and let VOX generate the traffic. I'm not a big fan of the way VOX handle AI in its' current form. I'm hoping with a future update Tegwyn will alter the way VOX generates AI traffic.

"So how is Traffic X and VOX competing if VOX is supposed to be using your engine."

 

this doesnt sound right. What if you dont have traffic X?

 

 

Vox is a fantastic traffic generator and uses any AI traffic available. All of my flights are full of traffic way better than traffic x ever did

 

if your in oz you can go to ORBX to the free section and down load there AI traffic and you will have as many quantas and virgin as you need

 

World of AI is great traffic http://world-of-ai.com/ but you need to do a little work. Go to the download section and choose an airport and then download the AI for it. For example I bought Bangkok airport and downloaded Thai airlines , Ethiad etc and Vox uses them all correctly without any accidents and by there call signs. Theses aircraft are then used all over the world depending where there flight plans go to

 

I have traffix disabled. Logically if traffic x is working and Vox atc is working there are going to problems

My first negative (maybe) of VOXATC.

 

Not really a ding...because I purchased it, but I noticed that VOXATC does not handle ground traffic while taxiing. Airplanes seem to just disappear before they run into you...not sure about vehicles. Also, I noticed that you get no instructions to cross a runway or approval to back taxi. I ran into one scenario where I was give permission to taxi to runway 30 via taxi way Alpha...Taxi way Alpha is an intersection. So at the end of alpha I waited until I was given further instructions...none was given...so I proceeded...right into the path of a LearJet 45 on roll out. It was not stopping so I went to the grass to avoid a collision. I was told to call this number later (just kidding :-) )

 

Now while landing a C130 was given cleared for take off, but then was given an instruction to hold, because I was on short final. Cool!!!

 

-Ray

 

-Ray

I want you to try something

 

1. load up at a gate at a busy airport

2. turn vox on and do your checklist, start up and radio calls etc

3. then turn Vox OFF. If you have it configured correctly then you will be the only aircraft at the airport.