I am also interested in Radar Contact to replace the weak stock ATC. However, I'm concerned with the copy protection scheme used by RC3. I seem to recall having read that you have to use a PC-locked serial, and maybe also have the CD in the drive periodically or permanently?Is that true? Can you precisely describe what are the constraints coming along with purchasing and using RC3?Thanks.Eric.

You install, run to get the product ID, copy that, send that to [email protected] (or you can just do it from the program if you wish), get the key in your e-mail, run RC, put that in, you're done.No CD. That's only to install. Where did you hear you have to leave the CD in?That key is good unless you change hardware, or reinstall Windows.

Wow, what a quick reply...So, according to what you say, it's a PC locked key.I have one main PC I use for FS2002, and 2 other PCs I use alternatively as WideClients, depending on their availability (we are 6 people at home using these machines). Or, I may just use the main PC alone without WideServer if the 2 other PCs are busy. This means I would have to install RC3 on 2 or 3 machines (but it won't be used on more than one any given time, because only me is flying). I'm not going to buy 3 copies. Will that be a problem to ask 3 keys in a row?In addition, one of these machine serves as a test machine to install and try all sorts of things, so that it may be re-imaged or reinstalled every now and then to put it back in a clean state. I guess I would need a new serial every time?I've read that a new serial would be given back at any request. Will that still be true after the 4th, 5th, ... request?I am myself a software developer and I understand why you chose to implement copy protection. I also know that no copy protection scheme will prevent piracy. In the short term, pirates will use the software without the constraints, whereas loyal customers will bear with them. Doesn't that seem contrary to what it should be? For this reason, I always select to not buy copy protected software unless there is absolutely no other way around.Eric.

Eric,You won't need to purchase 3 copies. All you need to do is install on as many machines as you need, and send the Prod ID's in and you will receive the keys.As for the test machine, there are people who do reinstall Windows a bit, and they have no problems getting keys.I don't know what the limit is before Rick starts getting twitchy, so he and JD can tell you, but JD and Doug and Rick pretty much trust their users - within reason, of course. ;-)

OK, that's pretty good news. I will invest more time in the manual to check if RC3 is what I want.The only remaining issue for me is with AI handling. I know RC3 does not handle AI, but knows where AI is and can therefore direct your flight depending on AI movement. I definitely want AI active and I want to melt in between all this traffic. I know this is one (the ?)weakness of RC3. I'm not looking for the most realistic ATC, but for a better, interactive, requestable ATC without loosing AI.I read one thread about an idea someone had: the idea was to transform RC3 into a multiplayer server, in which any of the 'players' could be generated by RC3. This would also put the AI calculations workload on the RC3 computer. I hope this idea will be pursued.Eric, France.

>I know RC3 does not handle AI, but knows where AI is and can >therefore direct your flight depending on AI movement.I think that's an overstatement. It does provide traffic advisories when AI aircraft come close to your path, but that's all. When you think about it, it's easy to understand why RC3 cannot make truly intelligent traffic related decisions when it only controls one aircraft: yours. Not to mention that an endevour such as an intelligent ATC system would probably be much too big for a small company like JDT LLC. And for contemporary PC's, by the way.However, RC3 will also gladly vector you to runways where AI take off and land in the opposite direction or on a crossing runway. Considering how simple-minded the built-in ATC engine is when allocating runways (wind, length, open/closed for take-off/landing) I was a little disappointed to find that RC3 has its own way of making such decisions. As it is, you have to consult the FS ATIS frequency for the active runway and request vectors for it or for one that doesn't conflict with it. Or, of course, you can take your chances.Also--and again this is not the RC team's fault--RC3 has no knowledge of taxiing aircraft. The built-in ATC still does a much better job at directing you from gate to runway and back. And one of the things that used to thrill me with the FS ATC was when I heard the guy I could see next to the runway threshold being told to hold short because there was a Boeing 737 on final, me.Nevertheless, if you're genuinely interested in more realistic ATC communications, there really is no way around RC3. Within its limitations, it's a very good product.

Yes, I realize I overestimated RC3 abilities to react to AI. I perfectly understand the limitations and why they are such. I don't blame RC team or whoever.You are perfectly right about built in ATC. It's good on the ground and on final. But that's all.Another alternative is network flying (VATSIM). There, you get everything : a real ATC and other real planes. I'll stop this here as we're getting a little bit off topic now.Eric, France.

It would be amazing if they could, since Micro$oft can't... Like i mentioned the other day: Planes landing in both directions on the same runway at the same time.. :-roll

>It would be amazing if they could, since Micro$oft can't... >Like i mentioned the other day: Planes landing in both >directions on the same runway at the same time.. :-roll I had an even worse situation at gatwick (or heathrow, don't remember). I was cleared for take off and started to roll on the runway. At the same time, a plane landed right over my head, totally ignored by ATC, while another plane started its takeoff at the other end of the runway. We were 3 on the runway. I still managed to takeoff in the midle of this mess (hey, I had been taxiing in queue for the past 15 minutes, I was not gonna give my turn :-)).Eric.

>Eric, >>You won't need to purchase 3 copies. All you need to do is >install on as many machines as you need, and send the Prod >ID's in and you will receive the keys. >>As for the test machine, there are people who do reinstall >Windows a bit, and they have no problems getting keys. >>I don't know what the limit is before Rick starts getting >twitchy, so he and JD can tell you, but JD and Doug and Rick >pretty much trust their users - within reason, of course. >;-) Just had to comment on what u just said....first of all...great product...cant live without it anymore..But......what u just said kinda offends me.......I don't care if I reinstall windows everyday......if thats my dessision then thats my dessision......If I desided to do so and emailed u guys every single day for a new key then thats none of ur buisness(not ment in a rude way in any way).....I payed for the product......the reason why I have to even email u guys is cause of a copy protection u guys implemented.....not my fault...u choose to do so...so ur problem if that means u have to send a new key to the same ppl everyday....u could have picked another copy protection.....but u chose this one......that was ur choice at the time u released this program...so u take the hassel that will give u.....NONE of ur customers have to be accountable for what they do on their computers......if I need a key every day......then thats not a question for any in ur team to question....what does it matter to any of u...I can only use it on my computer anyway!!...Just my 2 cents..

Dude...cut down on the caffine. :)Sidney Schwartz [KPDX]MyTraffic/Radar Contact/FSMeteo/FSSE/FSassist/FDCHorizon Flights--flight plans and scenery for FS2002http://sidneyschwartz.homestead.com/index.html

I didn't say anywhere that reinstalling Windows and asking for a new key is a problem. And contrary to your comment, RC will run on any number of computers, all you have to do is install and ask for a key. So if someone wants to spread RC around to all their friends, then they can all install, and the one guy can ask for all the keys.We doubt anyone will do that.In the meantime...relax.

Hi,I'm a new RC user and it appears to be a great product. A few glitchy things here and there but that's software. I wanted to comment on the protection mechanism. I too am a software developer and have been for 20yrs. Protection mechanisms are necessary to protect our income. There is a fine balance however between adequate protection and irritation for your customer. Despite risks of piracy, I am against the machine locked mechanisms as they are high overhead for both customer and developer. One can sit back and say it's not a big deal, but it's the little irritations that add up. I can't believe that the h/w lock is going to save the RC guys any money (over traditional keys) and simply irritates legitimate customers.Suggestion, ditch the h/w lock in the next version and go with a traditional license key. There are some very good ones out there that protect your s/w and don't ##### people off.Check out TurboPower's product. We use it and it's quite good.>I didn't say anywhere that reinstalling Windows and asking >for a new key is a problem. And contrary to your comment, >RC will run on any number of computers, all you have to do >is install and ask for a key. So if someone wants to spread >RC around to all their friends, then they can all install, >and the one guy can ask for all the keys. >>We doubt anyone will do that. >>In the meantime...relax.

seems that turbopower is exiting the software retail market. looks like they had some nice stuff.

Yes,However it looks like the products are going opensource, so I expect they will be available free. ProActivate is an excellent product and requires zero code.BTW, on the h/w lock and key issuance...although I'm against the h/w lock, turn around time has been excellent. thx.>seems that turbopower is exiting the software retail market. >looks like they had some nice stuff.