Hello! 

 

I hope some of you have the time to read/help. I recently bought FSX, and while I've always been semi-interested in flight-sims, this time around I got really addicted. After a few weeks, I layed down the cash to get my very own PMDG NGX, and haven't looked back. It's an incredible machine/program/simulation. However: I really like the ability to plot in the entire route with SIDs and STARS in the FMC, and enjoy sitting back and watch the plane do the job. BUT, I also like to communicate with the ATC, if nothing else, so to not feel so much like the last person on earth flying around in non-restricted airspace.

So far, it's been okay not to use the ATC while I got a hand of the basics of the NGX. But now that I'm getting more used to the NGX, I really feel the shortcomings of the default ATC. It limits me in two key ways:
1) It will only use the flightplans made in the default flight plan creator. This means that I have to plot the default flight plan in the FMC, and very often the waypoints and airways proposed by the FSX FPcreator don't exist in the FMC database. This means that it will be a discrepancy between the IFRplan the ATC has and the one I'm plotting in the FMC (from rfinder etc.), and needless to say, this sucks as I'm unable to use LNAV (which I spent quite some time understanding). 

2) It won't give me SIDs and STARS, which I, when I learned them (Also took some time to learn), really liked. 
It's probably bad in several other ways, but I'm not yet proficient enough to notice. 

So, in order not to feel like a allmighty loner in the air, I need some third party software. Most cruical is the ATC, and while there is several out there, none of them *sound* as good as the original. Also, I'd like a "passenger"-software, and I feel the option is between FSpassengers and FScaptain. I also need flight planning software with the possibility of importing the flight plan into both the PMDG FMC (and the FScaptain or fspassengers) and the ATC that I choose, so that the plane and the ATC have the same information. 

The most important thing with the software is that it's forgiving while I learn it (so that i won't give up) and that it is complex and realistic.

At this point I'm leaning towards a combination of NGX, PRO-ATC/X and FSCAPTAIN, but seeing that these are pretty expensive ad-ons, I really want to be sure before I buy them. Also for flight planners, there are so many out there, so please make suggestions. Pros/Cons are welcomed. At this point I'm not interested in visual ad-ons, as it is the systems I'm interested in. 

Needless to say, the software all have to be compatible with the NGX, that's why I post this here. 

In advance, thanks for any help:)  

 

Erebus

 

I haven't used either of them products so I can't help with them, but I can tell you what I use.

For all my planning I have been using PFPX since it was released. This is the most realistic planning tool available as it gives you the tools to dispatch a flight almost exactly the same as a real one(ie loadsheets, flight plans and if integrated with topcat takeoff and landing speeds) . You can plan your flights and export them in FSX format for FSX and the format for the NGX FMC with the click of a button.

Also if you love the NGX you will love the 777 and PFPX allows for ETOPS which is more that I'm sure you will enjoy learning about for long haul flights.

For Atc I have been using VOXAtc which is a voice recognition tool that provides pretty good atc in FSX. It covers every part of your flight from startup to shutdown and will even assign SIDS and stars based on your route.

You could also use VATSIM which is free and provides atc through real people over the internet depending on who is online at any given time.

 

Just Google PFPX, VOXAtc or VATSIM and take a closer look

 

Hope this is of some help to you.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I personally use vRoute Premium for FP's, but will probably switch over to PFPX sometime in the near future. While some feel it may be overkill for their individual needs, I look at it as "I'll never need anything else. Ever.".

 

For ATC, there's Radar Contact, PRO-ATC or VOXATC. But for a true, 100% realistic experience I'll always go for either VATSIM or IVAO. Some people prefer one over the other, but that's everyone's personal choice. I won't start that debate here, because it's not only pointless, it's also irritating. (Just do a google search looking for the debates and you'll see what I mean)

 

 

Welcome to the addiction! It only gets better. Seriously.

 

I'd love to go into more detail, but I'm at work. I'm sure others can also add helpful comments/recommendations. 

VoxATC and FS Captain both offer demo versions and the complete manuals before purchase. FS Captain even provides a "tutorial before buy".

 

I'd recommend them both, especially when you're really into line-flying (FS Captain) and want ATC to assign SIDs and STARs for your flights (Vox).

Hey, guys! 

Thanks for fast and informative replies, makes me feel welcome! 

@elv: Yes, I'm planning to invest in the 777 in a few months, when I'm really comfortable with the NGX, provided I've got a stable setup of (probably) FSCaptian, ATC and Planning tool. The comfort of a stable setup is important to me if I'm going to invest so much time and money in this hobby. 

@Kerlix: Most likely, I'm not going to be flying online anytime soon, and also I do my simming in an environment where voice-interaction with ATC is out of the question, so for me both VATSIM/IVAO and voxATC seems to be out of the question. I looked in to RC, but it seems it's still in V4, and therefore don't support SIDs and STARs. Also, it seems that Pro-ATC/X has an inbuilt, fairly advanced flightplanner. Wouldn't that also spare me ~40 dollars for a separate FP program? Anyone here have experience with this (pros/cons)?

 

The guys around the internet complained about Pro-ATC/X not beeing completely finished at launch, but said they would keep an eye on it because it was actively beeing updated with feedback from the users. The comments I read were about 6 months old. Anyone who knows what it's like today? And are there any programs out there worth mentioning that hasn't been mentioned? 

Also: It seems like a heavy job learning both FScaptain and ATC in parallell - which do you suggest I start with? 

Again, thanks for your help! 

 

Again, thanks for your help!

 

 

I hate to bust your comfortable bubble but you might want to read the forum rules before making posts. Rules can be located here http://forum.avsim.net/topic/361816-pmdg-forum-rules-please-read-before-posting/ .

 

Michael Cubine

Terribly sorry, I believe I have broken the first rule. 

I can't change my signature before the 14th, so until then, I'll just manually sign with my name. 

If there was any other rule I broke, i'd be happy to change my ways. 

Einar Tryti 

 

 

Terribly sorry, I believe I have broken the first rule. 

If there was any other rule I broke, i'd be happy to change my ways

 

G'day Einar and welcome to the Avsim fora where you will encounter all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures such as the etiquette police and the grammar cops, a few trolls , some pretty high-brow know-it-alls  but in general you will find this a hugely informative and mostly friendly place.

 

The signing your posts rule is simply a way to promote an air of camaraderie among PMDG users. Yes, the mods may delete posts if they are not signed but as long as one is polite and non-aggressive in tone people really won't bother with minor details like that. In any case it's always nice to know who you are conversing with instead of some nameless  faceless oddball nickname.

 

 

 

and also I do my simming in an environment where voice-interaction with ATC is out of the question

 

Online ATC is by far the most realistic option you have. And both IVAO and VATSIM allow keyboard interaction with the controllers (although they -the controllers- do prefer voice). However, you will find that on both networks the guys are very accommodating as far as non-verbal interaction is concerned. Of course it does make for extra workload while in the busy stages of the flight (especially during approach and landing). You can also be a member of both networks and depending on time of day (or night) and where you are planning to fly, choose between either one since coverage does vary.

.

Many moons ago I used to have Radar Contact and found it invaluable as an introduction to the world of ATC. Since moving to online flying I have not used RC for a long time so I have no idea whether it is still being developed or not. Haven't used ProATC so I cannot offer an opinion on that one. 

 

Best of luck with it all!

 

 

Online ATC is by far the most realistic option you have.

 

So, flying for 8 hours without one controller being online is realistic? Again, a matter of opnion.

Terribly sorry, I believe I have broken the first rule. 

 

I can't change my signature before the 14th, so until then, I'll just manually sign with my name. 

 

If there was any other rule I broke, i'd be happy to change my ways. 

 

Einar Tryti 

 

Einar

 

Thanks for your name.

 

Michael Cubine

Remember you don't have to use voice on VATSIM! I'd rather have a Text-Only pilot who knows roughly what he's doing than a voice pilot who has no idea where SPL is. For a beginner, text is probably easier to understand. Of course ATC is not online 24/7 in every region but when it is... As real as it gets :happy:

Hi!

 

Let me make it short! This is the best combination so far:

 

PMDG plane (best planes) + PFPX (best palnning tool) + VATSIM 

 

I would like to add one more add-on to this list: OpusFSX. Best weather tool for FSX.

 

Don't be afraid! You can easily use text only for comms with online ATCs or you can "receive" voice and reply with text. This is up to you. 

I would strongly suggest NOT to use any passenger simulating software, because those add loads of unneccessary s*itload and unrealistic failures, etc. But that's a question of taste, ofcourse.  

Hi!

 

For most tubeliners(ie PMDG NGX, AS A320) ProATC/X works fine. It handles most SID/STAR procedures fairly well and it also includes a FP that works very well with NGX, T7 and other tubliners where one can import a FP into the FMC.

 

Instead of FSCaptain, I would suggest to join a VA, but thats your call:-) I for one, enjoy flying with a VA ACARS much more than I ever did with FSCaptain.

I have been using ProATC-X for a year.  There are things that could be improved but it works every time for me with the NGX and it's a 1000 times better as it is now than the default ATC.  

 

It allocates a SID (including height restrictions) & STAR to you dependent on the weather and allows you to fly those without a lot of interference.  It can import flightplans from a number of sources but also has it's own route planner.  It can output flightplans in a number of formats, including a PMDG flightplan which can be imported into the NGX FMC. 

 

One other product you should definitely look at is FS2Crew for NGX.

 

http://www.fs2crew.com/cart/products/FS2Crew%3A-PMDG-737-NGX-Special-Bundle-Pack.html

 

You won't then feel alone in the sky as you'll have a co-pilot to talk to who will occasionally tell you off if you get things wrong!

 

Lastly, you could join a virtual airline.  This is mine.

 

http://www.virtualnorwegian.net/

So, flying for 8 hours without one controller being online is realistic? Again, a matter of opnion.

Like I said, it depends on where and what time you choose to fly since coverage varies. In any case, when online ATC is available it is by far much more realistic than any of the atc add-on programmes one can use.