Hello, I've been happily using AS from many months but I would like to understand the big picture - how the weather data is passed between my various programs. I'm using FS9, get my flight plan from FSBuild, fly online (VATSIM) with SB3, and have a registered copy of FSUIPC. I have AS running on a networked PC, connected through WideClient, but I don't think that's relevant to my questions. Here goes...FS9* When AS starts, it creates a snapshot weather file. How does FS9 know that it should use the weather data in that file and not its own weather data?* Can I switch over from AS weather to native FS9 weather using the settings in World > Weather... (such as RW weather from Jeppersen, or User-defined weather) and if so, how do I tell FS9 that I want to switch back to using AS weather?SquawkBox 3* SB3 offers an option under its Weather tab to "Enable SquawkBox weather control". If I select it, does this option make SB3 the overriding weather, causing FS9 to ignore both its own weather settings and the AS snapshot file? If so, how does this work?* Is there any difference between these three sources of RW weather: VATSIM weather through the "SB3 Weather Control" option, VATSIM weather through AS's "VATSIM Online Weather" option, and Jeppesen weather through FS9's RW weather option?FSBuild* Where does FSBuild find the AS weather data? Until now I had assumed that FSBuild simply read the weather snapshot file created when AS last ran, but recently I noticed that FSBuild has no wind data until AS is started.FSUIPC* This program offers a "Weather setting off" button. Does this button switch off all weather settings - AS, SB3, and FS9, and is it therefore just a short-cut to selecting the FS9 weather option 'Clear skies (clears all weather)'?* If I press the button, how do I then switch weather settings back on again?* Do the Winds, Visibility and Clouds settings in FSUIPC override those of AS? Sorry if the answers to the individual questions are already dotted around the forum - I wanted to bring all this into one big picture.Cheers and thanksGeoff

Hi,Thanks for writing! I'll just go right down your list:1. Because AS communicates with FS, sets FS weather to user defined and then transmits data to FS through FSUIPC. FS does not directly read the snapshot file.2. Not sure why you would want to do this in a single session, but close AS and then in FS do whatever you wish. If in another FS session, just don't start AS and then use whatever you wish in FS.3. If you do this you will get a mess. At one point you will have AS weather and at other times SB3 weather. It's an either/or setup not a both setup.4. Yes, VATSIM I believe gets their data from NOAA, and Jepp is its own weather source. But VATSIM weather is the same through SB3 or AS.5. Yes, from the snapshot file. The FSB folks would know more about this.6. No, just the weather settings in FSUIPC. It does not clear all weather. There is another button for that.7. You would go through all the weather tabs in FSUIPC resetting everything back up again.8. Yes, that is why we recommend that users use the weather settings off button.Thanks,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/banners/hifi-community-sigbanner.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/

Great, Jim. Many thanks, everything's a whole lot clearer.>1. Because AS communicates with FS, sets FS weather to user>defined and then transmits data to FS through FSUIPC. FS does>not directly read the snapshot file.So that's how it's done. That makes everything else easier to follow.>2. Not sure why you would want to do this in a single session,>but close AS and then in FS do whatever you wish. If in>another FS session, just don't start AS and then use whatever>you wish in FS.You're right, I wouldn't want to do it. I just thought the answer would help me understand what was going on - and it did.>3. If you do this you will get a mess. At one point you will>have AS weather and at other times SB3 weather. It's an>either/or setup not a both setup.Got it, thanks.>4. Yes, VATSIM I believe gets their data from NOAA, and Jepp>is its own weather source. But VATSIM weather is the same>through SB3 or AS.What I suspected.>5. Yes, from the snapshot file. The FSB folks would know more>about this.Strange, this one. I imagined that FSB would just pick up data from the snapshot left by AS the last time AS ran. But as long as I know that I need to run AS for FSB to pick up any weather, I'm happy.>6. No, just the weather settings in FSUIPC. It does not clear>all weather. There is another button for that.>>7. You would go through all the weather tabs in FSUIPC>resetting everything back up again.>>8. Yes, that is why we recommend that users use the weather>settings off button.These last three all clear.Much obliged, Jim. Thanks again.