For me, the most hassle-free freeware options are:

1. FSLTL injector: better model matching but fewer AI landing

2. MSFS real-time traffic + AI companion: worse model matching but more AI landing

Either way you'll probably want to get FSLTL for the models and liveries, and I would still recommend AI Companion to get a map view of traffic in the sim.

Edited November 26, 20223 yr by Johan217

2 hours ago, Noel said:

My understanding is RTOT uses FlightAware or some such and so has largely matched real live traffic

 Exactly, similar to FSLTL but not quite as good as with FSLTL you get proper aircraft types (for the most part) and liveries which you definitely don't get either with ST. The issue with BOTH RTOT and FSLTL is that even though it's based on real movement data, it's still the AI engine of the sim controlling them so you get aircraft using the wrong runways often opposite direction with no separation. Massive departure lineups because the sim has no idea how to provide arrival/departure separation. Very slow exit and speeds, overshoots, aircraft parking wherever they want unless the airport has properly coded parking which is still VERY rare even with good payware airports. Using ST aircraft makes this even worse as often it subs in the default A330 or whatever it is when they should be 737's which of course just clutters up smaller airports with large aircraft where there isn't parking large enough for and shouldn't be there at all.

Edited November 26, 20223 yr by Dave_YVR

1 hour ago, Dave_YVR said:

Very slow exit and speeds, overshoots, aircraft parking wherever they want unless the airport has properly coded parking which is still VERY rare even with good payware airports.

This is very true. Even high quality payware airports have major issues with airport design. In terms of the slow exits after landing I find it helps a bit using AIGround. 

On 11/21/2022 at 11:53 AM, Noel said:

About 1/2 the time now I find myself turning Realtime Online Traffic (RTOT) w/ Simple Traffic off due to meaningful impacts on my wonderful 100% stutter-free performance that I won't give up for anything now.   I leave multiplayer on and every once in a while manage to see another MSFS flyer nearby!  

I would be willing to fiddle a bit w/ installation but my main goal is to get control over how many planes are affecting performance and this is based on the assumption that less traffic would make a difference, and I'm not 100% certain it will.  I say assumed because for example I just came into LOWW, a good 40 miles out and started seeing some degradation in performance and yet couldn't see another plane anywhere so turned of RTOT and voila performance returned immediately.

Thanks in advance.  Not willing to do constant fiddling to make it work (why I bought ST) and greatly prefer simple installation routines as in...simple.

 

 

I suggest having a serious look at FSLTL. One of its features that you should find interesting and should make you very happy, is the ability to adjust the amount of AI traffic on the fly, from within the sim.

You might want to have a peek at the user guide here: https://www.fslivetrafficliveries.com/user-guide/

59 minutes ago, JimBrown said:

I suggest having a serious look at FSLTL. One of its features that you should find interesting and should make you very happy, is the ability to adjust the amount of AI traffic on the fly, from within the sim.

You might want to have a peek at the user guide here: https://www.fslivetrafficliveries.com/user-guide/

Thank you Jim et al I am doing my first flight with FSLTL and yes it's really a perfect fit for me.  I was able to assign the Injector off of the MSFS main thread and it really looks great!  I have the total traffic down to 10 within 50km and it's more than enough already.  

Yes, the within the sim part is fabulous thanks!  Geez!

Thanks All!

Edited November 27, 20223 yr by Noel