Question on setting wxRE for time interval METAR update...

[Tabs 2,790]

I just want to make sure I'm doing this right because what I'm seeing on the wxRE status screen while flying a flight is a bit confusing...I want the program to download a new update every 8 minutes rather than updating every time it hits a new station. Here's what I have checked/unchecked in an attempt to accomplish this:Unchecked "Update METAR on New Station"Unchecked "Update Aloft on New Station"Set "METAR Update Interval" to 8The confusion is arising out of the fact that the active METAR string doesn't seem to be changing in the wxRE window while I'm flying. The active station does change as I proceed along my route, but I've timed 8+ minutes sitting in the plane, I ALT-TAB out to the wxRE window and I still see the exact same METAR there, even if the active station has changed. I've seen it doing this before when I'm up at cruise altitude already 60+ miles from my departure airport.Any idea what I'm doing wrong here?Thanks!Ryan

[Damian Clark 1,038]

Hi Ryan!Sounds like you are doing everything OK with the options. wxRE may be busy dealing with other processing (such as wake turbulence detection) and might be waiting for the completion of such tasks before forcing an update - which may alter the exact update interval by up to 4-5 minutes in certain sitations. I would expect your 8 minute interval update to occur between 8 and 12 minutes. Another possibility is that the newly downloaded METAR report is invalid (you can tell by checking the status screen - METAR date/time will show PARSE ERROR) and wxRE has thrown it out until it gets a good one.Something you can do to test this: set the update interval to 5 minutes and then type some text at the end of the METAR string (like TEST).. then wait 5-7 minutes and see if your text has been deleted, showing that a new string was downloaded/processed.Let me know if you continue to have problems getting the update to occur and we can do some more troubleshooting..-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/wxrebeta.jpg][/td][/tr][/table://http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/ima...[/tr][/table

[Tabs 2,790]

Damian,Here's some pictures to illustrate what's going on:Ok in this first one, I'm airborne heading to LAX from PHX, it's still showing BLH as the active metar, even though I'm approx 60nm past it and it shows another station as the active now.http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/24572.jpgThis one was really puzzling - I landed at LAX and then took off again for SFO - I had just entered SFO into the force destation box (changing it from LAX). Why was LAX not the active station? - I was still within the 60nm ring I set for forced updates, and it hadn't even finished the new update yet.http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/24573.jpgAnother example - I was way past KOXR, yet it hadn't updated yet.http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/24579.jpgThis one shows it perfectly - I'm only 30 miles out from SFO, I have the force ring set at 60nm, yet it's still showing KMRY way up to the north as the active METAR. It didn't update - as evidenced by the TEST still there...http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/24580.jpgThe wierd thing is that is seems to update if I ALT-TAB out and actually watch the wxRE window for a bit - almost like it not beign the active window has something to do with it.Any ideas?Thanks,Ryan

[JSkorna 137]

Under Options is "Disable All wx Updates When Forced" checked or unchecked?Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Support

[Damian Clark 1,038]

Thanks for the pics Ryan..Question... are you using FlightWatch non-stop during your flight? If so, one drawback to the current audio play system is that it must be run in sync and all code stops processing (such as the download routines) until playback is complete. This could interfere with the update timers. If this is the case, I suggest using "Update METAR On New Station" to make sure updates are processed more frequently.Otherwise, I am not sure what it could be... Could I get your wxre.ini file? I will recreate the flight with your options and see if I get the same results..-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/wxrebeta.jpg][/td][/tr][/table://http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/ima...[/tr][/table

[Tabs 2,790]

Damian and Jim,Here's a shot of my options screen and the ini is attached as txt: (I turn the VATSIM on and the TAF off when online)http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/24591.jpgSpeaking of weather - this is a near live shot of what's about to hit Tucson (I'll be turning the computer off now ;) ) Gotta love monsoon season!http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/24592.gifINI:http://forums.avsim.com/user_files/24594.txt

[JSkorna 137]

OK I knew it!! Uncheck the box "Disable All wx Updates When Forced" and save. See if that changes anything for you.Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Support

[Tabs 2,790]

It seems to be working now! I'll report back after doing some more flying tonight...Ryan