I am using FSX SYS 7 64 bit and the PMDG 737 -800 and the PC-12 with REX and find the FSX ATC annoying and frustrating, I would like to be able to fly IFR and Radar Contact appears to be able to provide close to a realistic ATC environment.

My question is how will it effect my FSX performance and frame rates, at present with the 737 and REX I get an avg of about 24 frame rates and a smooth performance with an occasional lock up now and then.

Will the addition of Radar Contact adversely my sim performance?

Tess

 

Sorry That is ress, not Tess!!

Install, if possible, on a separate pc and network. Works perfect and has zero performance effect plus doesn't interfere with your flight views, etc.

I have never noticed Radar Contact effect my performance at all.

I love Radar Contact. Wish the author was still working on the next version. I run it on a network PC and it works great.

Thanks guys for the quick replies to my question about performance and Radar.

Besides the Imternal HD I have an additional external 1 TB HD, what is the best location to install RC, the external HD, if not where on the internal HD?

ress

I have RC installed on the same HDD as FSX in an RC4 folder just off the root of C: but I think you can put it anywhere really. Not sure you'd see any difference by putting it on the other HDD but it definitely wouldn't hurt either. No performance issues at all that I have ever noticed. Just wish it was still being worked on to fix the annoyances that exist in it but otherwise it's much better than default FSX ATC. Very good for IFR/airliner type flights.

If you're looking to save space then the external HD is ok but there might then be some performance issue. Of this I cant be certain other than the external is likely usb connected and not nearly as fast as an internal sata connection.

On the Radar Contact site there is a list of " Tested" apps and aircraft. The aircraft I fly the most are the PMDG 737 and the PIlatus PC - 12, the 737 is on the list but the not the PC - 12. Does anyone know if the PC- 12 is compatible with RC?

Once again, thanks all for your patience and quick respons to my questions on RC.

ress

On the Radar Contact site there is a list of " Tested" apps and aircraft. The aircraft I fly the most are the PMDG 737 and the PIlatus PC - 12, the 737 is on the list but the not the PC - 12. Does anyone know if the PC- 12 is compatible with RC?

Once again, thanks all for your patience and quick respons to my questions on RC.

ress

 

The compatibility is simply referring to whether the copilot can control the MCP or not. Provided you use a third party copilot program, this is of no concern. The ATC aspect is not affected at all by the aircraft.

On the compatibility list it says that PMDG 737 is compatible. My question is if I use the FMC on the 737 to load the flight plan can RC be used with the FMC flight plan or do I need a third party flight planner to make the FMC flight plan compatible for RC. Thanks

On the compatibility list it says that PMDG 737 is compatible. My question is if I use the FMC on the 737 to load the flight plan can RC be used with the FMC flight plan or do I need a third party flight planner to make the FMC flight plan compatible for RC. Thanks

 

RC uses the standard FSX flight plan format. So you'd need something to generate that. I use FSBuild which generates the standard FSX flight plan and the one used by PMDG.

OK so FSBuild would be able to be used to generate a flight plan that could be compatible with the FMC and be readable by RC. Can I make a flight plan in the FMC and have FS build convert it for RC or is it the opposite where I must make a flight plan in FSBuild then export it into the FMC? Will it convert the STARS and SIDS also? Thanks again

OK so FSBuild would be able to be used to generate a flight plan that could be compatible with the FMC and be readable by RC. Can I make a flight plan in the FMC and have FS build convert it for RC or is it the opposite where I must make a flight plan in FSBuild then export it into the FMC? Will it convert the STARS and SIDS also? Thanks again

 

You would have FSBuild create both(it will do both at the same time, you don't need to do the creation twice). You tell FSBuild where your PMDG flight plans folder is and that's where it will save the PMDG flight plans(rte). Then, in the NGX, you load that flight plan in the FMC on the RTE screen. I forget now the exact keys you select to get the route in but it is on that screen. I launch RC then after FSX has been started. In the RC screen, you select a flight plan to load. RC I think by default knows where to look for your FSX flight plan files(pln). If not, you'll have to tell it and I don't recall where that is right now either but you can find it via a quick search on here I'm sure. Anyway, this is where you load the FSX flight plan files that FSBuild generated for you. And that's how RC knows what your plan is. RC does not know about SIDS/STARS in the way we'd hope it to. However, you can have FSBuild add the way points from the SID/STAR and RC will use those as part of the plan. Also, you can tell RC that you are flying a SID and it will be less strict on where it tells you to fly on departure thus letting you fly a SID.

Thanks for your time and patience.. You answered all my questions.

@JACKIETOOLS

klamal is right but to answer your questions:

"OK so FSBuild would be able to be used to generate a flight plan that could be compatible with the FMC and be readable by RC." Yes, FSBuild generates 2 flightplans, one for FSX (used by RC4) and one for PMDG.

 

"Can I make a flight plan in the FMC and have FSBuild convert it for RC or is it the opposite where I must make a flight plan in FSBuild then export it into the FMC?" Yes to the second part of your question. FSBuild exports one flightplan to FSX and one PMDG plan. If you have a SID in your saved FSBuild flightplan RC4 will recognise it, but not PMDG.

 

Thus, "Will it convert the STARS and SIDS also?" No, you will have to enter them separately in the DEP/ARR window.

The reason is that PMDG assumes that SID/STARs are given to you by ATC at departure/approach time. It considers them not to be part of the filed flightplan. However, RC4 doesn't do SiD/STARs. RC4 reads the FSX flightplan and assumes that you are flying a SID (whether its in your flightplan or not) *if* your first waypoint is within 30 nm. Otherwise it will give you vectors to your first waypoint. You can ask Approach for an IAP and then enter a STAR but its complicated.

 

Confusing? Yes it is! In this respect RC4 is not state of the art. We are all waiting for RC5 when it will give SIDs and STARs.

 

Regards, Andreas