I use VOX ATC and had to had NextUp addon voices to give me what I wanted. Vox ATC is not perfect by any means, but guess what.....it's there 24/7. I've tried VATSIM twice, guess what, NO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS when I wanted to fly, how could you use VATSIM and "Not look back" ? ... let me know when VATSIM has some semblance of coverage say 8AM to 10PM local time in all/most major USA airspaces, then we'll talk; until then VOX ATC is better than anything else out there.Randy Jura, KPDX

Agree with you Randy.The problem with VATSIM is coverage. Since the controllers are real humans and being volunteers (which is very realistic), the coverage is sparse at best. Better in some areas than others.VATSIM is a great concept, but I see the problem being coverage 24/7. You may depart one area, then you are flying on your own in others which isn't realistic. I don't see any solution for this.The next version of Radar Contact is what you really want to consider. Check out the Radar Contact forum.Barry

Chris,Sorry about your personal experience you so went into detail about. In reading your complaint I do have to question how thoroughly you did your research before buying though. The VoxATC site talks about the demo on the first page, their FAQ section answers most of your comments above so you would have known had you read it. Had you read the review I did of this product in January you would have also had advance knowlege of these matters. I am also curious if the ATC voices are correctly installed and selected. The default Microsoft SAPI 5 voices do sound robotic... this hasn't bothered me personally because as a real pilot I know that what you hear on the radio is usually many time more unintelligible. The ATC voices can themselves be demoed on their site so a decision as to whether to spend the extra money on them could have been made before purchase. If anyone actually reads the information provided on their site they will see that they have NOT in fact neglected to disclose any of this.Not out to make an enemy with you Chris. It's just your post comes off as very negative and reads as if you you did adequate research to answer these questions before buying... sorry, you didn't. I have been extremely happy with using VoxATC and do use it almost exclusively (wish I had the time available to commit to VATSIM) and have always been happy with the customer service provided and updates that have been free. If you do start working towards a private pilot certificate in real life you may want to use this program again... you won't find a row of numbers on the instrument panel and a dialogue box on a HUD in real life.Now have fun flyin'Zane

>Thanks! I'll look into it. >Also - If I fly with VATSIM, am I still able to use AI traffic>and the Ultimate Traffic program I like to use? Will VATSIM>be able to handle AI traffic or will it also be ignored as>well?>>Thanks for the help.>>Chris CatalanoChris, If you fly mostly in the "rest of the world" (a term most Americans can't understand ;-)), then I'd recommend IVAO over VATSIM. More controllers here. Just download "Eye of IVAO" and see if there's enough traffic and controllers in your favourite area. If yes, then you can register at IVAO and go about downloading and setting up the required software.Cheers,Keith

>Thank's for the head's up Chris! As far as VATSIM,when it's>100% voice,and I don't have to type,I will go back to it.Well keep waiting 'cause that's never going to happen. Text IS the primary communication on VATSIM I believe, also what about all the handicapped (deaf/mute) pilots? How would they communicate on a 100% voice environment?

as soon as RC adds voice control, it's adios VOX ATC and I'll gladly go back to JD's creation.Randy Jura, KPDX

Here's the problem with your arguement - I was sent an email solicitation about VOX ATC - I had no idea that demos existed - I just read the ad that was sent from the VMAX website (www.simpilot.com). Their website - the only one I knew of - was offering this program to the public & there were no demos or reviews of this program mentioned - in fact, I presumed that it was a BRAND NEW program - not one that had a history. How could I have even thought to suppose such a thing. I read the really nice ad, & thought it sounded like great brand new, innovative program. I especially was drawn to the part that talked about handling SIDS & STARS. What can I say. I didn't think that I could "research" the history of a product that was brand new.Chris Catalano

Chris, Why on earth did'nt you give the trial version a try before buying the program. It was readily available. CE

>Whatever...an additional bandwidth and resource stealing>piece of software. Are you saying that the software is taking computer resources without asking? ;)

Check my detailed post above - it's a great question, but as you will see, I had no knowledge of such a thing sine my solicitation for the product came from an email ad which made no reference to same.Chris Catalano

Chris,Thank you for the review of the product. You bring up many valid points of shortcomings in the product. I have been following this product since I first saw it announced here at AVSIM last year. Its high price steered me away from it, and your review even further.Perhaps, in the future, you could vent your rage with yourself someplace else, however. It is obvious that you did not do a single bit of research before you purchased it. A simple google search brings up many hits, including their home page as the first, very obvious, link.I hope you get your money back.Thomas

>How could I have even thought to suppose such a>thing. How? Very easy. A single question posted on this forum or a scan of different forums would show you there was already an Avsim forum devoted to this product. You can only blame yourself.Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

I certainly would have contacted the company and requested them to make it right before trashing them on a public forum. But I guess we all do things differently!Cheers!

I'm a little suprised to see so many people telling Chris off and saying only he is to blame for not doing his research.The truth is we should not need to reseach a product before buying it. I certainly don't and would like to think I can buy something and get a refund it I'm not happy.It is for that reason why I wanted Flight One to publish my product; because they will refund if a customer is genuinely not happy with the product.Furthermore, if I see a customer is not happy with FE I contact them directly and offer a refund.I would certainly not be happy if people had to research my product rather than just buy with confidence.

Chris:At the end of the day it is "Buyer Beware" and you should have been much smarter about your purchase and done far more homework to avoid this mess. With that said, you are now a paying customer and have every right to YELL FROM THE HIGEST MOUNTAIN that you are unhappy with the product and you think it is the worse add-on ever. The fact is that if you are dissatisfied for any reason even IF it were indeed the BEST add-on ever you have the right to complain if it doesn't meet your standards or expectations. Those who rebuke you for doing so do nothing but perpetuate the "oh poor developer" paradigm so rampant here in the community. Furthermore, you have absolutely no reason to contact the developer and give him a chance to fix it, or contact him first before posting in the forum. Why should you unless you are a part of his tech support staff. You should keep your issues with VoxATC a secret in hopes that you will somehow receive a personl patch???? Hogwash.I am absolutely positive that you are NOT their first dissatisfied customer and I am sure you will not be the last. If the developer did not remedy the software, even after receiving just one letter of complaint, then the ownus is on VoxATC and not you.The developer knows very well what he is selling, and now you know very well what you have paid for..."turn-a-round is fair play." Regards,Mike T.