Hi everyone, After reading Maury Pratt's glowing review of Radar Contact using Pro Flight 2000 as a comparison, I was eager to give Radar Contact an evaluation in an attempt to fill the gap in FS. After a number of hours struggling with the poorly documented software package and then actually giving RC2.2 a try, I wonder was Maury Pratt's purpose was. I didn't find RC even close in either ease of use or clarity in ATC instructions. Some of the instructions from ATC operators, once you stumble across the right one, are very difficult to understand. Without meaning to downgrade any human we must be aware that not all voices are made for recordings. RC seems to be indifferent to that shortcoming. My major complaints, two of them at least, is the poorly planned documentation which makes it difficult to tie all this info together. The second surprising issue is what appears to be a high degree of ignorance on airport runway layout and as a result the runway ATC gives you is generally incorrect even at the departure airport. The aircraft chosen is on the RC flightplan and I see no reason why, at KPVD anyway, ATC has you depart, with a fully loaded complement, on RWY 5L, a 4000 foot runway that essentially is used by no one when their stands RWY 5R, a 7700 foot runway. Now there is more involved than the simple wind factor here. To me it displays a lack of research by the software crew. I have used ProFlight98 and was very pleased with it. It is unfortunate that this packaged was not developed further by AETI, but it wasn't. Finally I do wonder what Maury was sipping on when he made his review? At least now I know never to take what he writes seriously.Thanks for your time folks.Blais Located at Kilo Papa Victor Delta (FS2002 correctly calls it Providence.) I'll take Billy's ATC over RC, for now at least.

if you would like a refund, feel free to contact me.fyi, both of your "concerns" are addressed in v3.

Hello, No, I really do not wish a refund. I feel that unless a customer does state legitimate shortcomings in a software product the product will not be corrected. If only the positive aspects of a commercial program are mentioned, without the negatives, the software group looses in the end. Once word gets out on the shortcomings of a software package prospective customers will be turned away. A fair reviewer actually aids us all. I do look forward to your V3 for I will again purchase RC. It does indeed have the germ which CAN be developed further and that is what I am hoping for. Thank You for your responseBlais Klucznik

Blais,I am a bit confused: Are you complaining about Mr. Pratt, or about the product itself?If it is the first, not much can be done about it in this forum.If it is the latter, I too would prefer a nice solid Manual to refer to. I will also agree with you that initial runway assignment (both for takeoffs and approaches) is not always correct, meaning it is not always how runways would be assigned in the real world. But this is why the developers give you the option to simply ask for the runway of your choice, a quick and easy request which is never turned down. Do you find this such a big fuss?And believe me, the developers of RC are the first to admit that their product is not perfect. Otherwise they would not be releasing version 3, would they?

I have used ProFlight98 and was very pleased with it.

Really? Then you are much easier to please than you sound in your criticisms. With all being said and considered, I would not even dare compare RC to ProFlight 98...Regards,Stamatis

First visit back here for ages and some flaming going on?hehe You know, RC does very well at simming the complex world of ATC in the limited world of FS. Pretty unreasonable to expect jd and Doug to know the exact procedures at every airport. I really really don't think MS "ATC" handles runway assignments any better, really not. Anyway, there are some limitations with 2.2 but wait until version 3!

limitations LOL, the old adventure programming language was a limitation to say the least. none of the flight planners exported the runway lengths, so i couldn't use that as a decision factor.yes, v3 is better. and that is an understatement ;-)

Hello Folks, I am not trying to be hyper-critical on Radar Contact any more than I was with ProFlight98. My intention is not to belittle the programmers because I realize that the world of ATC is a very complex issue. The more realistic the programmers try to make their program the complexity issue is raised almost exponentially. John has tried to be understanding and I do appreciate his frustration with people such as myself. For that I am truly sorry because that is not my intention. First, in order to get this out of the way, I purchased ProFlight98 and thought the folks did a marvelous job. True, their dedicated flightplanner was in the same limited category as what is now part of FS2002. It also had database problems but that was easily corrected if the user had Microsoft's ACCESS. The program also didn't allow for Real Weather. Yet, as a sort of first entry, the package, including the extremely well-edited sound files was, in my opinion, top class. Although I no longer use it I just can't seem to discard the CD. Back to RCv2.2 now. I did finally resolve the RC inconsistentcy issue. I found on this very fast machine,Gatewy 700XL P4 2.53Ghz, that the AdvDisp.dll did not work well with RC. As soon as I remove that DLL the RC program responded to key commands as stated in the documentation. It was late this morning when I terminated computer time and am investigating how one changes assigned runways. The available runways at KPVD are 5R, 34, 23R and 16 for just about all aircraft with the now idle 5R and 23L serving as a taxiway. Yet I could not find 5R as a choice. If I have some time this afternoon or evening I will try to peak into the RC databases to see how the runways are assigned. (Maybe John can jot this one down as a note.) The major problem almost from the time I received and installed RC was that I had AdvDsp.dll in the module folder and this was the cause for RC instability when a command was keyed. If anyone took my comments personally I do apologize for that certainly was not my intention. This is one of the problems with a user's forum. Everyone has a chance to read all comments be they positive or negative.Good afternoon folksBlais

Hi again, I goofed up typing out the KPVD active runways. The correct runways are: 5R, 16, 23L and 34The idles are: 5L and 23R The runway I could not find in the list was 5R.Thanks and regret sending bum information initially.Blais

runway information come the planner, so if you are missing runways, they are probably missing in the planner you're using. what planner are you using?

>> John has tried to be understanding and I do appreciate >his frustration with people such as myself. For that I am >truly sorry because that is not my intention. no need to be sorry, and i'm not frustrated. takes a lot for me to get frustrated.>> Back to RCv2.2 now. I did finally resolve the RC >inconsistentcy issue. I found on this very fast >machine,Gatewy 700XL P4 2.53Ghz, that the AdvDisp.dll did >not work well with RC. As soon as I remove that DLL the RC >program responded to key commands as stated in the >documentation. It was late this morning when I terminated >computer time and am investigating how one changes assigned >runways. The available runways at KPVD are 5R, 34, 23R and >16 for just about all aircraft with the now idle 5R and 23L >serving as a taxiway. Yet I could not find 5R as a choice. >If I have some time this afternoon or evening I will try to >peak into the RC databases to see how the runways are >assigned. (Maybe John can jot this one down as a note.)i'm surprised advdisp.dll was the "culprit". i've used it from day one, and version 3.0 relies on it entirely. i would try downloading the latest one, and try it again.as far as missing runways, rc doesn't have a database. runway information comes straight from the planner. if the runway is missing, the planner didn't export it. what planner are you using? >> The major problem almost from the time I received and >installed RC was that I had AdvDsp.dll in the module folder >and this was the cause for RC instability when a command was >keyed. again, this is totally unheard of. try getting the latest. i think it is 2.89>> If anyone took my comments personally I do apologize >for that certainly was not my intention. This is one of the >problems with a user's forum. Everyone has a chance to read >all comments be they positive or negative. i just read them as someone that needs help, i try to point them in the right direction, and i encourage them to read. >>Good afternoon folks >>Blais

Blais,No big deal. It is a learning curve with RC, and even I would like a nicely ordered manual.However, when you do get V2 worked out, you'll be ready for the ease of V3, and will already know what to expect and can jump right in.Please ask all question you have. We're just kiddin' around. We're actually more than happy to help you out.(edit: I wish I could type)

Hello John, I searched both AVSIM and FLIGHTSIM but could find only V1.90 of the ADVDisplay file. I already have V1.97 but I'm not sure where I got it from. I don't see a file date of approx. 2.89 or anything close. Could I be so much out of date? I am going to play with RCv2.2 this evening and see if I can progress further down the road. At least the inconsistent display won't be a problem for now. I use FSNav, 4.51 which I just purchased. Lovely program. FSNav indeed does display ALL the runways at KPVD. It was late this morning so I will try the 'Request alternate Runway' again this evening. As an unrelated note, I wasn't able to have ACCESS open the database files as you are most likely aware. They are properly password protected, as one would expect.Thank you for your continuing support.Blais

Gee, Thank You Scott. I will get the sequence down. I do plan to hang in there. Besides the support is excellent.Blais

when exporting from fsnav, during the export process a screen will appear with runways on the left side box, or right side box, i forget. do not move runways from the left to the right, or the right to the left. just click next...

Blais,All of Peter Dowson's latest modules - AdvDisp and FSUIPC included - are on his page at http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.htmlIf in doubt, you can always DL and install the latest versions from there.