Hi I've been an ActiveSky user since its initial release. I've always loved the program. And I've recently upgraded to AS6 Build470. However I have one problem (both with ASVe & ASv6): My FS shutters on clouds draw. First thing first, my computer. I have a AMD64 3200+, 1GB ram, 7800GT PCIe and Maxtor 7200 rpm with 8mb cache. I use this computer exclusively for FS9. I have about 6 addon aircrafts all together and FSGlobal2005, Flight Environment and ASv6 plus a nice blend of AI using the best models like AIA, CDAI, FSP, etc. AI at 40%. Nothing else, not a single addon airport. And I don't go crazy on vcard and FS settings. This is my third computer for FS and I keep it clean and well tweaked, from the most popular tips in forums to FSGS paid service.I use FE 256 DXT cloud textures and my cloud draw is set to 40 miles with max coverage and 100% 3D cloud. My sim runs above 20 FPS at all time with no shutters. 95% of the time it's locked and stays at 26FPS. However, on a cloudy day, every time more clouds gets drawn infront of my plane in the far distance, FS shutters at low 10 FPS for 5 to 8 secs then goes back to normal. I can set cloud to 30 miles or use 64X64 clouds or play with all the settings in ASv6. It doesn't matter. Even if I fly in default 737 1000 nms out over the ocean, when more clouds appear infront, my FS shutters.I actually replaced my 6600GT with 7800GT as well as upgrading ASVe to ASV6 hoping to fix it. But it didn't help. After a few days of very specific tests, I realized the only way to fix the shutters is to turn off ASv6 generated weather. In another word, if I use the FS realtime weather, the sim stays smooth when clouds get drawn. I also manually set 5 thick overcast layers using FS weather engine and the sim stays smooth the whole test flight. Something about AS generated weather that's not working right for me. Although the FS realtime weather doesn't look nearly as good as ASv6, that's what I am going to use now. I can't stand my FS shuttering every 3 mins when cruising. I looked at the other couple of available weather programs...well I think they've got their own problems as well.Could anyone confirm that this is not a problem only I am experiencing? Suggestions are appreciated.Jason

Hi Jason,Suggestions:1. Use non DXT clouds and turn off Render to Texture.2. Limit your cloud layers to 3.3. Make sure all your system drivers are up to date along with Direct X.4. If you run dxdiag and go to the video tab is everything enabled?5. Do you have anti-virus running in the background actively scanning?6. Is File Indexing turned on? If it is, turn it off.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.comhttp://sales.hifisim.com/pub-download/asv6...development.jpg http://sales.hifisim.com/pub-download/asv6-banner-proud.jpg

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Hi Jim, thank you for your reply.1. Use non DXT clouds and turn off Render to Texture.I tried both sets of clouds in my tests, same result. I doubt if I can turn of RtoT since I have other DXT textures in my sim (AI, etc.)2. Limit your cloud layers to 3.Did.3. Make sure all your system drivers are up to date along with Direct X.Did.4. If you run dxdiag and go to the video tab is everything enabled?Did.5. Do you have anti-virus running in the background actively scanning?No - I use FSautostart, I kill everything that I don't need.6. Is File Indexing turned on? If it is, turn it off.Already off.Your suggestions, as general tips, are all very good. But please note that I have no problem when weather is handled by the default weather engine, especially when clouds are drawn. I wish I understood more the way ASv6 works. I know it works differently in many ways from the default, which is why it's a better engine. But unfortunately for me, it's causing some performance issue at the same time.Thank you for your continued attention on my issue.Jason

Hi Jason,"But please note that I have no problem when weather is handled by the default weather engine, especially when clouds are drawn"This is strange. AS is doing nothing pertaining to clouds after a weather update. It simply updates the weather via FSUIPC write, and lets FS handle it from there. The "clouds being drawn in front" I assume is the 40 mile cloud draw distance. As you get within 40nm, the clouds that were previously out of range slowly become visible. This would have nothing to do with AS at all. I would imagine that different results between default wx and AS would be simply due to differences in the actual weather specified. I.e. AS may generate some upper layers or additional low layers depending on conditions where FS default wx will stick strictly to the METAR.With the Nvidia card, one important thing is to make sure Anti-Aliasing is TURNED OFF within FS display settings (even suggested on ATI cards but not as important). Nvidia's are known to have big problems handling anti-aliasing of 3D cloud textures and their very complex alpha channels. I believe that anti-aliasing can be turned on manually through driver control panels (Chris may be able to comment more on this) so you can still get some AA without the huge Nvidia performance hit. However, this probably will not help since you don't have this effect with default FS real wx? But worth a shot..Best,

Thank you for the reply.First yes I have AA off in FS.One interesting point in your reply is that ASv6 updates weather through FSUIPC. I assume the default engine doesn't need that (duh!). Could that be my problem? I have FSUIPC 3.53 registered version. However, in some of my testings, what I did is start ASv6 and FS, let the weather all load (nice and cloudy) and start flying for a while. Then I actually shut down ASv6. Its generated weather is still in FS of course. If I keep flying, I STILL get shutters on clouds draw. So it is not even a communication problem between ASv6 and FS because ASv6 isn't running. So one of my questions is how often does FSUIPC updates the weather? Everytime I fly into the range of a new weather station or only when ASv6 commands a global update?I keep saying "clouds draw" because the only thing I can see happening at the time of shutters is more cloud appearing (gradually). Also when I use filemon I see when it shutters is the time when FS9 loads up clouds from /weather/clouds.I understand that AS6 generates clouds diffrently because that's very obvious. And AS6 looks night and day better than the default if I may add. But as I said, it's not a matter of cloud volume because I can manually add in a lot of heavy cloud layers and it would still be smooth. After all, what you said all makes perfect sense to me...so weird...Thank you.Jason

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Hi,The only thing I can add right now is that FSUPIC only updates weather when commanded by the outside weather program so when AS commands it.I almost want to suggest using ASG to load some textures, start FS and use FS downloaded weather and see what happens.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.comhttp://sales.hifisim.com/pub-download/asv6...development.jpg http://sales.hifisim.com/pub-download/asv6-banner-proud.jpg

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Jim, i have such problem too. Default weather working ok, no FPS loss even whith 512x512 non-DXT textures are detected. And one more thing - by using AS decreasing of FPS to occur either 1 minute - exactly as time interval of FSUIPC's weather updates. By the way Jason - check this.Computer is 2,4 P4, 1Gb RAM, 6800GT

Hi RNGR,We ask that you start a new thread next time as it is hard to follow multiple users in the same thread.So the problem is exactly as described? As clouds are drawn FPS goes way down?What do you mean by "to occur either 1 minute - exactly as time interval of FSUIPC's weather update"? FSUIPC does not trigger any update every minute, ASv6 does, at the least, every 10 minutes.So does that mean you get a drop every 1 minute or when clouds are drawn?Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.comhttp://sales.hifisim.com/pub-download/asv6...development.jpg http://sales.hifisim.com/pub-download/asv6-banner-proud.jpg

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you may try to use a non registered version of fsuipc. just delete FSUIPC.dll FSUIPC.ini FSUIPC.key FSUIPC.log and copy a fresh FSUIPC.dll into the /modules/ folder. than dont register, just use activesky and see what happens.regards, tom.

That sounds like an idea indeed, 'cause I was trying to recall if I had this problem prior to my purchase of FSUIPC. Although I have some button settings in FSUIPC...well worth a try for testing anyway.Thanks!Jason

Hi,FSUIPC simply takes what we ask it to and populates certain FS parameters. It's simply a communication device to FS. Once the weather write is complete, there are no further related FSUIPC requests. FSUIPC never 'updates the weather'... we do, via FSUIPC comms every 10 minutes (or as configured) and this generally updates all stations within 300nm of your position.The question is, what is specifically different about the wx AS is setting vs. what default wx is setting that could cause this problem on your system? We are simply populating the wx structures including temp, dew, baro pressure, cloud layers, wind layers, etc, based on the METAR report or other wx condition information. I don't recall a report before like this (stutters on cloud draw). The strange thing is that cloud "draws" occur all the time, not at any specific interval. Once you have new cloud formations within your cloud draw distance, the depiction will be updated. Thus clouds are always being drawn ahead and deleted behind, every single frame. Since this problem doesn't appear to happen "all the time" but only occasionally, it doesn't really sound related to cloud draws at all.It really sounds like something else entirely. Do you use ActiveRadar while all this is going on? Have you tried adjusting options here if you do use it?What other add-ons do you use? Have you tried temporarily disabling them to see if it is some kind of interaction problem?Not sure what else to try at this point but please email me at [email protected] and I'll try some more troubleshooting with you and see if we can get this solved.Best,

Thank you, Damian. I am writing you an email.Jason

I am too :)

Just want to bring this one up again, was thre a solution?