received RCv3 and jumped right into tutorial 1, KDSM-KORDmy setup,,PC1P4-2.8 GHz, 1024 RambusGeForce4 Ti 4600 dual head enabledmonitor 1 - 21" NECFS2002WideFS serverAdvDispmonitor 2 - 17" DellFSNavigatorPC2P3-800 MHz, 512 SDramMatrox G400max dual head videomonitor 1 - 17" DellWideFS ClientFSMeteoAdvDisp Show TextRCv3PC1 and PC2 linked with Linksys router with high speed cable modem using IPX/SPX protocolInstallation went fine, I selected the FULL installation on PC2Started FS2002 and Rcv3 as per the tutorial, selected the PSSa320 aircraft and enable Comm's 2. Hearing the FSATC on PC1 and the RCv3 chatter on PC2 is very amazing. The interaction between FSATC and RCv3 is very well done. I could see other AI traffic moving around and taking off and hear FSATC talking to AI traffic as I taxied to the runway. I waited for the AI traffic to takeoff then took my position on the runway. The key presses using AdvDispl are easy to understand and offer a wealth of choices. Enroute seeing other AI traffic then getting TA advisories from RCv3 is very nice. Your not vectored for the AI traffic but it's there when you look around.Landing at KORD provided an extra bonus. On final cleared to land I heard FSATC directing an AI aircraft onto my runway. Using the AdvDispl menu I selected missed approach, was handed off to Departure and vectored to a holding pattern to try the approach and landing again!The chatter files cranked to full settings provides a full ambiance of ATC sounds. The interaction with FSATC is excellent. The setup under Controller Info and Options is explained very well in the manual and tutorials.One could not ask for more,, off to try tutorial 3, declaration of emergencies, change of destination airport, short final request! John http://www.avsim.com/pss/phoenix.jpg

John,Had much fun writing the tut's. Enjoy! You've only begun to see the enhancements ;) . When you've time checkout the Save/Load options. Practice approaches into fully/partially/uncontrolled fields yet, etc...Shoot, I might run one myself for fun now that developement's completed ;)Remember, the tut's don't, cannot cover every conceivable situation. They are but an overdraft of what's possible. Get creative in your flight planning, don't be intimidated in the least! To my kowledge, RCv3 can handle just about anything you throw it's way.No one should be disappointed! And I say again, applaud our betas! This company isn't just John, Rick and myself! When a persom see's their name on the Credits Page, believe me... they've earned it! These guys are priceless!

did we meet or exceed your expectations?

by far, exceed!just did a short flight from CYXU to CYYZ, enroute selected emergency "cracked windshield", selected request landing nearest airport, was vectored to Waterloo and requested "short final", AMAZING STUFF !!John http://www.avsim.com/pss/phoenix.jpg

Hello,Just ordered my copy of Version3 today as well.Couple of concerns though.........1. Did I misunderstand this in an earlier post or do you in fact hear MSFS ATC as well as Radar Contact's ATC??? I may be wrong, but it seems hearing both would be confusing.2. This is a quote taken from another thread:>>Simulation hasn't come far enough yet to incorporate MVA charts for specific areas. So, RC vectors to the final, blind to MVA's, and thus the responsibility for avoiding terrain in still on the pilot and not on RC<

>This really concerns me because my sole purpose of buying >Radar Contact was the understanding it was a "step above" >for instrument training. But considering the comment quoted >above from one of the beta testers, I'm left wondering if >this was a wise choice. How can I fully expect to avoid >terrain as a pilot when I'm socked in IMC and cannot see? >Isnt this where real world ATC would be helping me??? >>Thanks for any comments and I look forward to getting my >copy soon. >>MichaelHello John, This was my basic question to the RC folks. It seems the answer is 'Your responsibility'.Cheers

Hi Michael,We would haved loved for RC to be able to know where every mountain is, but it just was not practical for this release. RC does compensate for field elevation, for example, you will be kept much higher, when flying into DEN for example.What you can do, when flying into a mountainous area, is look at your charts before you fly, check out the highest peaks, and then check Terrain Notams for the destination airport.Then RC will issue you headings and descents for you to fly if it is feasible. You should stay high enough that you don't fly into the mountain, until you are established on final.In the real world a pilot is always aware of the elevations around them and would never accept a descent issued by a controller that would place them in proximity with terrain.Maybe in the next release we can find a way to incorporate MVA charts for RC to consider. Thanks,Larry

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http://www.jdtllc.com/images/RCbeta.jpg

Hi Michael, >1. Did I misunderstand this in an earlier post or do you in >fact hear MSFS ATC as well as Radar Contact's ATC??? I may >be wrong, but it seems hearing both would be confusing. I don't find it to be so. It does make you listen more attentively, though, which I guess is the way it should be. You can turn down the volume on just the fs atc if you find it too distracting. You can also turn it off entirely and use just the RC chatter.>How can I fully expect to avoid >terrain as a pilot when I'm socked in IMC and cannot see? >Isnt this where real world ATC would be helping me??? It depends on the airport. First of all, you should have "terrain notams" enabled for any airport situated in hazardous terrain. This will allow you to deviate from atc's instructions if you need to. In some cases you will be able to follow atc's instructions even in IMC. Of course this requires that you have charts and/or be familiar with the airport. For example, I know KPDX well enough to know that I don't have to worry about terrain if I'm approaching from the south. If I'm approaching from the north, I have to maintain at least 7000 until atc turns me onto base, at which point I should be clear of the hills.The other option is to request and fly an iap.Sidney Schwartz [KPDX]Horizon Pilot--flight plans and scenery for FS2002http://sidneyschwartz.homestead.com/index.htmlhttp://jdtllc.com/images/RCsupporter.jpg

Hi Larry, This is the answer I was long looking for. ThanksCheers

Thanks Guys,Those answers helped a lot.Ok, where's that darn postman at???????Michael