I have been using FS Meteo since almost one year ago and have enjoyed it so much. I'm considering purchasing the ActiveSky WXre because of its exclusive features. But I gave ActiveSky v1.5 a try some days ago and noticed that its METAR source seems to be the NOAA server, which are not always up to date. Second to my observation, the most updated METAR info is that one available from IVAO network, followed by NOAA servers, then, closely to NOAA, VATSIM. I wonder if WXre would have a feature for grabbing METAR from those three networks/servers and mount a pool of the most updated METARs from all the servers.

Seems you've done your homework on researching the sites with the most current METAR data.Since METARS are just snapshots of the weather at the moment they are observed, and weather is constantly changing, why such a concentration on grabbing METAR data?The new ActiveSky wxRE will use TAF data, and the wx engine will monitor the forecast times versus the simulator time to update the weather when the METAR is no longer current. So I don't see why the pooling feature would be needed. :-)Bruce

>Seems you've done your homework on researching the sites >with the most current METAR data. >>Since METARS are just snapshots of the weather at the moment >they are observed, and weather is constantly changing, why >such a concentration on grabbing METAR data? >>The new ActiveSky wxRE will use TAF data, and the wx engine >will monitor the forecast times versus the simulator time to >update the weather when the METAR is no longer current. So I >don't see why the pooling feature would be needed. :-) >>Bruce Hi Bruce, Based on what I know about aviation weather (and it's not that much), I think updated METAR is always more precise about the weather for the time it's being taken than a x-hour earlier forecast. Also, NOAA TAFs are not available or very outdated in many regions outside the USA. And I'm not saying the this feature would be needed or indispensable, but it would be certainly another interesting advantage from the FS Meteo! Anyway, if I have any flawed argumentation, please let me know, ok?Regards.

I'm going to add what I know about surface observations (METARs) and coded terminal forecasts (TAFs). Please realize that I've been retired from meteorology for over six years and what I say may be out of date.METARs are weather observations in coded form that are routinely taken (by humans or by automated equipment) each hour and made available to them at about eight minutes before each hour. There are requirements for additional weather observations during the hour if and when weather changes occur. These reports can be at any time depending on the frequency of those changes. It takes about fifteen minutes for NOAA to receive data from the all reporting stations in the western hemisphere. An additional half hour is required for them to receive weather information from the rest of the world.TAFs are coded terminal (airport) forecasts and are (I'm going by memory here) valid for a twenty-four hour period and issued every six hours. I do not know the transmission schedule of TAFs. Again, there are requirements for additional TAFs if and when an unforecasted event occurs (yes, this does happen).Again, I'm going by memory here and that some of this information may be out of date.

Hi guys I think you are both right,The TAF processing and dynamic weather already in wxRE is a great solution to this problem, and once you try it you will see the true benefit.However, having the latest ONLINE information available for those who wish to fly this way is important. The pooling process could be one way to ensure the latest info from any source is always considered by the processor. This is something I will work on!Thanks for the input..-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