Asa Global Mode...?

[Guest]

I am having some trouble understanding the manual. I really miss a 'weather-for-newbies' chapter: I mean, what's METAR, PIREP, etc.? I know these are very common abbreviations for all you guys who have been using weatherprograms for ages, but I have never ever used a weather program and I feel the manual is letting me down... :( Okay, having said that: I have a more specific question. To get visibility graduation and smoothing (which afaik makes for instance the horizon less harsh...?) the Global weather environment is enabled, meaning... there is only ONE station for the entire world...?!? Does that mean the weather at the departure airfield is the same as on the destination or what...? Or does it simply mean all the weather all over the world is the same as it is in your current situation? If so, does this mean the weather will only change when new weather is loaded (default 15 minutes)? Does ASA look where you are and then globally apply that specific weather? Seems to me having various weather stations along the way is A LOT nicer because than the weather changes no matter when it is updated... right?

[Damian Clark 1,150]

I am having some trouble understanding the manual. I really miss a 'weather-for-newbies' chapter: I mean, what's METAR, PIREP, etc.? I know these are very common abbreviations for all you guys who have been using weatherprograms for ages, but I have never ever used a weather program and I feel the manual is letting me down... :( Okay, having said that: I have a more specific question. To get visibility graduation and smoothing (which afaik makes for instance the horizon less harsh...?) the Global weather environment is enabled, meaning... there is only ONE station for the entire world...?!? Does that mean the weather at the departure airfield is the same as on the destination or what...? Or does it simply mean all the weather all over the world is the same as it is in your current situation? If so, does this mean the weather will only change when new weather is loaded (default 15 minutes)? Does ASA look where you are and then globally apply that specific weather? Seems to me having various weather stations along the way is A LOT nicer because than the weather changes no matter when it is updated... right?

Hi,Points noted about a wx for newbies chapter. We'll see what we can do.Vis Grad and smoothing really has nothing to do with the horizon once your vis has cleared at upper altitude. See my other post in reponse to your questions in this regard.Global mode means that there is not variable weather between different stations, but at any given time the weather is replicated out to your maximum distance/visibility range. Obviously there are some limitations in cloud depiction here, but its the only way we can actually achieve direct wind and visibility control. Many also much prefer the density of clouds that only global mode can provide. Since ASA is constantly interpolating and updating the 'global conditions' to match your specific location and current weather, the updates are taken care of. Updates happen actually about every second, so there are no delays.This is explained a bit in the manual. Of course, you are not required to use DWC/Global mode, and actually the default option for this is OFF. You'll experience wind shifts, but if you are flying low-altitude flights or using FSUIPC 4 wind smoothing this is probably moot.Hope that helps..Best,

[Guest]

Okay, clear, thanks! I'm beginning to understand it all little by little. :(