I have been using ASA Build 394 with Vista 64 FSX for a few months now. I really like the depiction I'm getting, but have become more and more confused over how to set the various times in ASA and then FSX. For most flights, I import a flight plan into the ASA startup and download the current weather. If I use the exact downloaded current weather, I usually don't do anything with the times, and for the most part everything seems to work. A lot of times though, I will go to the Config page and make the weather worse, change the surface wind because of an approach plate I have for the destination, etc.. I check the Apply Weather block, but normally do not Save it as such. I will usually leave the Force to Real Time block checked in ASA and do nothing to the FSX time. Some flights, I will use a Saved Metar weather file. I have really become confused on when and how to use Forcing the time to Sim Time, what exact Sim Time to use and how to set the FSX time, especially the month. Yesterday I read something in an old Forum which led me to believe one might not check either Real or Sim time and go with No time. If anyone can give me a little education on how this time works, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Hi,Use Real time when you want real time weather.Use FS time if you want to used a saved file and you want to fly at the time of the saved weather.I honestly don't know what happens if you chose No Time.Thanks!

Hi Thunderbolt,Im still experimenting and will be posting some ideas and discoveries soon, but I might be able to help.Obviously real time would be the most recent weather that is available on the server, It wont matter whatactual time you have in the sim, even if your sim time is set to a year ago, the weather you see will be themost recent for the area your flying in.Use FS time seems to be the same as loading weather from the 'Historical' section. If your sim is set to 12pmon the 5th of may 2008, ASA will look through the archives, download and process weather from that day. TheHistorical section allows you to download and save weather files also, so you can load it offline later if you like.If you change the time and date in FS, ASA will instantly detect it.As for no time (both unchecked), ASA did this automatically for me when I set a historical date. And I think thenext time I loaded ASA it just reloaded the historical time, neither real or sim time.I hope this helps a little at leastDavid.

Hi,Use Real time when you want real time weather.Use FS time if you want to used a saved file and you want to fly at the time of the saved weather.I honestly don't know what happens if you chose No Time.Thanks!

OK Jim,As always, thanks for the reply. I just need to clarify some things. If I download the initial real time weather, and then use the Config page to change something, like the surface wind, and I hit Apply Weather, but I do not save it, What do I do with the time? Since I've changed the Real time weather, does it become Saved weather and I need to force it to Sim Time or can I just leave it on real time? Also, if I am flying ASA on Real Time, do I need to Reset my time in FSX so it is current time too? If I load a Saved flight, the one's stored in the Open button, or a Saved Metar flight, I assume I have to Force to Sim Time. How exactly do I set this in FSX? I assume I use the time reflected in the Config page gray box. This doesn't have a Month as I see it, so what do I use for a month in FSX? One of the reasons I am asking these questions is that on three occassions now I have been tooling along in my Citation and FSX has just frozen up. Neither time did my MS problem and reports window reflect there had been a problem. I'm just curious if I'm not doing the times correctly, could it mess me up? I have not had this ever happen when just using FSX weather, but ASA has totally spoiled me. I'm running an i7 3.2 GHz Quad, 6GB of triple ch memory 1600 MHz with a Nvidia 280 card at 24 fps with out a stutter so far.

Hi Thunderbolt,Im still experimenting and will be posting some ideas and discoveries soon, but I might be able to help.Obviously real time would be the most recent weather that is available on the server, It wont matter whatactual time you have in the sim, even if your sim time is set to a year ago, the weather you see will be themost recent for the area your flying in.Use FS time seems to be the same as loading weather from the 'Historical' section. If your sim is set to 12pmon the 5th of may 2008, ASA will look through the archives, download and process weather from that day. TheHistorical section allows you to download and save weather files also, so you can load it offline later if you like.If you change the time and date in FS, ASA will instantly detect it.As for no time (both unchecked), ASA did this automatically for me when I set a historical date. And I think thenext time I loaded ASA it just reloaded the historical time, neither real or sim time.I hope this helps a little at leastDavid.

Hi David,Please note what I said and asked of Jim above. I think I understand what you are saying, but please comment on what I asked. From what you are saying, I assume if I just make changes to Real Time weather, it's still Real Time weather and I don't have to worry about what FSX is set to? I don't care to download Historical weather although I do like to use Metar files I have saved. Then I know what the weather is like 200' and a half mile, or in ASA's case 800 meters. When I use this saved weather, I'm just confused on how and what to set into the FSX time. Also, while I'm at it here. What is the difference between weather stored in the Config page Open Button and the weather stored in the Config page Load Metar File? You know, I almost enjoy trying to figure these programs out as much as flying them.

Hi,If you modify a file, keep using Real Time.No, the time in FS doesn't matter here.Yes, using a saved file you can use Sim Time. In FS use the date and the time. Use any moth you wish because a METAR does not have a month stamp, just a day and time stamp.No, wrong dates/times are not going to cause FS to freeze. That is something else.Thanks,