Could we make this a sticky, and get some comparison's between the two? I am currently using FSMeteo 5.1, and thinking of going Activesky, but after searching the forums, found little in the way of "head to head" comparison's

Hi,I will leave it to some of the beta testers who are (or should I say WERE) users of both products to give you some honest comparisons. I am a little biased :) so I will stay out of it... I will use any information shared here on the website so other folks in the same situation can get a better idea. Thanks!-Damian[table border=0" cellspacing="30" cellpadding="0][tr][td align = "left"]Damian ClarkHiFi Simulation SoftwareDeveloper of ActiveSkyThe next-generation weather environment simulation for FS2002!http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky[/td][td]http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxresmallbanner.jpg][/td][/tr][/table://http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/ima...][/tr][/table

Anyone? Hmm.. perhaps this means that it's unanimous... there IS no comparison :)-Damian[table border=0" cellspacing="30" cellpadding="0][tr][td align = "left"]Damian ClarkHiFi Simulation SoftwareDeveloper of ActiveSkyThe next-generation weather environment simulation for FS2002!http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky[/td][td]http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxresmallbanner.jpg][/td][/tr][/table://http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/ima...][/tr][/table

First of all congratulations to you all what looks like a great job :-)Damian I'm also an user of FSMETEO 5.2 but you've got me almost as a new customer ;-)Would appreciated indeed some feedback from (beta testers)user(s) especially flying over Europe... :-) with all respect but version 1.5 didn't convinced me :(Most important factor for me is a stable connection to the download servers and availability... (offline and online)Thanks for you time and answer(s) in advance...Andr

Andr

I can second that. No problem at all with connection.

Thanks Henri for your explanation / picture and great help...It seems to be that I'm one of the many new customers of Damain his software :-)Andr

Thanks Patrick :-)Andr

I live and virtual fly in Europe and I have FSmeteo 5.2:It's hard to compare because the philosophies are different and Wxre is still in beta stage. This is my perspective, of course it's not an exaustive one just some pics.Feature FSMETEO: WXRE:Built in Smooth transitions No yesTAF aware No YesAwake turbulence No YesIcing support ?? YesCAVOK clouds Probability AlgorithmTurbulence algorithm ?? Yes6 hour forecast aloft Yes (don't know source) NoBuilt in Aloft simulation No YesFSFlightMax comp. Yes YesFSGarmin comp. ?? ??RC3 comp. Yes YesData display Gauge (separated) Text inside FS Metar decoding Yes NoSupport By mail By ForumClouds package indication No YesFSUIPC settings advice No YesProduct Documentation Yes YesWeather documentation No YesFS Flight Plan use Yes NoNo FP enroute briefing No YesDestination lock Yes YesOffline cycles Yes YesPrivate servers Yes NoAutomatic Modem connection Yes NoVATSIM metars Yes YesFSUIPC Run options compat. Yes YesProduct maturity More lessFor end results I think the shots speak for them self. About the connections never got any problem with Wxre.Jos

Thanks Jos

I disagree with several of your comparisons, explained below:Feature FSMETEO: WXRE:Built in Smooth transitions No yesFS Meteo DOES Provide smooth transitions, not sure how you could say it doesn't...Icing support ?? YesOf course FS Meteo supports Ice! Crap just the other day, I had a hell of a time decending into DCA because of it ;-)Built in Aloft simulation No YesWhat???? It sure does! It uses "Real" winds aloft data and simulates where needed.FSUIPC settings advice No YesYou're starting to worry me here man! ;-) Not sure where you're getting this info, but when I purchased FS Meteo, it came with very good FSUIPC settings advice!I guess that's about it, everything else sounds good!Oh and don't think I'm a die-hard FS Meteo user, as I'll be purchasing WXRE as soon as it's made available ;-)

>FS Meteo DOES Provide smooth transitions, not sure how you >could say it doesn't... It depends how you define smooth. In fact if you go from scattered to overcast how does that evolves? Not talking about wind or pressure evolution that is controlled by FSUIPC options.>Of course FS Meteo supports Ice! Crap just the other day, I >had a hell of a time decending into DCA because of it ;-) Didn't say it doesn't I interrogate it. Really never noticed that but couldn't confirm.>>Built in Aloft simulation No Yes >>What???? It sure does! It uses "Real" winds aloft data and >simulates where needed. Sorry, you didn't understood the line (English it isn't my mother language). What I said is that FSMeteo doesn't have proprietary Aloft simulation it gathers the winds and temperature from the server. There was a nice discussion on MSFS forum about this topic.>>FSUIPC settings advice No Yes >>You're starting to worry me here man! ;-) Not sure where >you're getting this info, but when I purchased FS Meteo, it >came with very good FSUIPC settings advice! The only reference to FSUIPC options on the manual are on:Requirements;Disable extended visibility;Report bugs;I'm refering to the FSMeteo manual(FSMeteo-Userman.doc) wich is the doc that I have along with the Gauge Readme. Then of course I have the FSUIPC user and SDK documentation. Wxre has a complete tab by tab explanation on the manual.Of course I can be biased since I belong to the beta tester group and be excited by the dynamic created during the test (one of the best I ever seen and I saw a lot). But I tried always to be critic (the investment on FSMeteo being the reason). In fact when it cames to programming comercial addons my expectations are high since all my work is freeware.Jos

I think the big plus is what you get for $14.95. You get not only get the most advanced weather enginer within the "limits" of FS2002 but you get great support from us right here, as you can see right now. In all fairness of Fsmeteo I do not think it's fair to put up a comparision chart but rather go to Active Sky website and see the differences.Wake turbulance works very well btw :). If you set up Active Sky exactally how it says so in the docs, you will be in for a great ride :)Capt.Richard Dillon (KATL)www.jetstarairlines.comhttp://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxrebeta.jpghttp://jdtllc.com/images/RCsupporter.jpg"Lets Roll" 9/11 -----------------------Specs AMD 1600 XP MSI KT 266t pro2 512MB DDR 2100Asus GF4 ti 4200 128MBSBliveCh Products Yoke and Pedals(usb)Windows 2000 Serivce Pack 3

It depends how you define smoothWell, I just purchased wxRE and can say the transitions are the same (FS Meteo and wxRE) The clouds are much better with wxRE though. You sound like you never really used FS Meteo though if you don't think it had smooth cloud transition. I thought wxRE's cloud transitions were a little more abrupt tonight as a matter of fact.

RichardI must agree with you the comparision is not complete and could not be fair for FSMeteo. It was my prespective and what I think it is important. I missed several points like microclimate carrier weather on FSMeteo or say that USA winds aloft download is available for Wxre. Only the user can make the final judgement, personally I'm very happy with Wxre and really think that Wxre brought new things to the weather arena and it's going to push the FS2002 weather cap. to the limits.Jos