PF3 or Radar Contact?

[Boomer 1,619]

1 hour ago, G-YMML1 said:

In my FS world - RC4 is for USA/Canada, PATC - for Europe and rest of the world.

Why so, brother?

[ZKOKQ 984]

Have used them all. PF3 is the most immersive. No problems with vectoring. Great support, and regular updates.

[Bobsk8 12,489]

13 minutes ago, Travelling_Wilbury said:

Have used them all. PF3 is the most immersive. No problems with vectoring. Great support, and regular updates.

Done hundreds of flights with PF3, never had a problem with vectoring, as long as you follow ATC instructions. 

[beechcaptain 105]

I have all 3 and each have their pluses and minuses. 

I have been a user of RC4 since that version became available with FS2004.  RC4 is still a great product and I still use it occasionally with P3Dv3.3.5.  You can fly a SID/STAR without being vectored away by selecting the NOTAM box for departure and arrival airports, they ask you to fly ### heading when able, which allows you continue your SID/STAR until you are ready to comply with the new heading.

I decided to try PF3 and PATC about a year ago, for the extra voices available for pilots & controllers, and for the other features. 

I got to where I like PF3, since I fly PMDG a/c in P3Dv3.3.5 for my VA's (2), as I use published routes with SID & STAR.  PF3 has just been updated to allow listing multiple SID/STAR's for each runway and then you can select from them, when you are ready to start your flight.  You can also assign altitudes for the various waypoints indicated on the SID/STAR charts, which I find enhances realism for my flights.  PF3 voices are good, but a few tend to sound rather robotic.  I like the option to add radio static like when a mike is keyed.  I still use PF3 the most.

PATC initially did not fare so well and was left unused until recently when updates have made it much better.  PATC now assigns the SID & STAR if applicable for the flight plan & runways, requires Navigraph subscription if you want to keep them current.  You have the option to request a different SID/STAR than what has been assigned, if available, just like you can request a different runway for take off or landing.  I think PATC has the most realistic set of voices.  I am using PATC with FSX for flights with the Level-D 767-300ER now that Level-D has provided a Windows 10 update.  I may eventually use it more in P3D with PMDG a/c.

So, do I have a favorite?  Hard to say, as again, they each have their pros and cons.  I would probably have stuck with RC4 if it had more controller voices.  Now, it is a toss up at present.  I'm going to use PATC a bit more and see if it becomes my #1.

I hope I was able to shed a bit of light on each, and can only say, it really is a trial and error thing, IMHO.  Every one of us have our own favorite sim, a/c, etc, so the same can be said of ATC software.  I wish you success in determining which one best suits you.

 

[Boomer 1,619]

Well I went ahead and purchased it and will be back soon to tell you how I find it compared to RC4/

[specialist 51]

I was looking at a few videos showing PF3, and noticed you don't use your own voice to speak to ATC, is that correct? Voices also sound robotic, and that's always been a turn off for me. The only ATC software I used that didn't sound robotic was VoxATC, but it seems like their developer just disappeared after they attempted to update their software. Short of using PilotEdge or VATSIM, there is not too many choices for ATC programs.

[joelpacheco 9]

Radar Contact is good but I moved to Pilot2ATC v2. Very happy so far.

[specialist 51]

6 minutes ago, joelpacheco said:

Radar Contact is good but I moved to Pilot2ATC v2. Very happy so far.

Just checked out a demo flight with Pilot2ATC v2, and the voices sound much better, realistic.

[ZKOKQ 984]

6 minutes ago, specialist said:

Just checked out a demo flight with Pilot2ATC v2, and the voices sound much better, realistic.

Is it Voice only ? Like VOX ?

[specialist 51]

15 minutes ago, Travelling_Wilbury said:

Is it Voice only ? Like VOX ?

Sounds like VoxATC to me. I just wonder if I could add all my IVONA voices. That would give it a nice selection of voices to hear during your flight.

[pete_auau 1,152]

19 minutes ago, Travelling_Wilbury said:

Is it Voice only ? Like VOX ?

you an use  voice or the  key pad

[ZKOKQ 984]

2 minutes ago, pete_auau said:

you an use  voice or the  key pad

Cheers. Might try the demo.  See how it compares to the others.

[pete_auau 1,152]

Just now, Travelling_Wilbury said:

Cheers. Might try the demo.  See how it compares to the others.

thats the  good  thing about the demo  you  can  try it  first to see if  it  suits  you, although it  takes  time  to get used  to it  first :0

[Les Parson 99]

1 hour ago, joelpacheco said:

Radar Contact is good but I moved to Pilot2ATC v2. Very happy so far.

Two questions:

1.) How does Pilot2ATC v2 deal with GA, VFR/IFR and un-controlled airports?

2.) How easily did you adjust and how easy is it to set up the voice recognition software/stuff?

[gregda 21]

Be careful with Pilot2ATC if you think a PC reformat is possible.  Couple of us reported license registration issues on the forum after reformatting and the developer is eerily silent...though has been active answering bug reports.  Not trying to bash...but thought this may get his attention if he sees it.  No biggie though I'll just stick with PFE otherwise.