Yes, whatever textures you have installed already, is what FSMetar uses. After a bit of research it seems Vololiberista is using the HD Environment clouds. FSMetar coupled with a registered version of FSUIPC works excellent!

Thanks Dave.That's the cloud textures I'm using,They look great!The guys that do some of the freeware don't get enough credit.I just did a flight out of Riverside and the weather was right on the mark. :(

J.D.When you were in FS, did you make any changes to settings?Guys, Let's be clear that by out of range, I mean outside of the range that the sliders/settings in FS will provide. We always recommend using the FS interface to make changes and not edit the FS9.cfg file. That is why you'll never see a post from me suggesting an edit of that file!Thanks,

I changed mine to 12 in the CFG file and after exiting FS9, I checked the value and it reverted back to 8. I'm using XP Home Version. So I don't know how others are achieving a permanent change. I even SAVED the file after changing it to 12.Jim D.

Hi JimIt will only change back if you have gone into the Display options menu within FS itself.If you just start up FS, fly, and then shut it down, it will remain unaltered.Neil

What a tip!!! :( I have changed mine to 12 in the CFG file and after exiting FS9, I checked the value and it stayed at 12. I'm using XP Home Version.I have purchased REX for FS9 but will probably not install it on my primary sim as it looks soo good already. This little tip has made it even better.! :(

J.D.When you were in FS, did you make any changes to settings?Guys, Let's be clear that by out of range, I mean outside of the range that the sliders/settings in FS will provide. We always recommend using the FS interface to make changes and not edit the FS9.cfg file. That is why you'll never see a post from me suggesting an edit of that file!Thanks,

That is a real shame Jim, as if you had mentioned it to me when I started banging on about lack of real OVC depiction you could have stopped my whinging earlier :( I realise that you don't like giving out tips which involve advanced editing of files (although it is quite simple, even for a bear of very little brain like me). But it is sad that others are missing out on it. Could you not write a batch file so that when ASA starts up, it just writes that one line to the .cfg file. You could set up a slider within ASA maybe to determine the value written to the .cfg file?Neil.ps. You just have to sort out some sort of destination force now, where the arrival zone shows the weather of the arrival airport, not some interpolation which means you end up landing in bright skies when it should be low vis and cloudy. Then I will be happy as larry. I saw someone making the same point on your website the other day. Please say it is in your next up date. Please, please, please....................

How much does this affect your frame rates?

A lot!!! A typical Northern European weather system with all its associated clouds is a frame rate killer (especially if you have an add on weather engine as I do). Having said that on such days go into FS9 and turn off aircraft and ground scenery shadows. It makes a noticeable difference.Also as I have mentioned earlier along with attached illustrations if you have an add on weather engine it should generate the correct cloud profile, winds and weather according to the METAR and the the correct interpolation of temperature dew point, pressure etc. In these cases it isn't necessary to fiddle with cfg settings. The weather engine overrides them. If it doesn't change it for one that does!Vololiberista

I think due to this mod, I fell in love (again) with FS9! :( I am using ActiveSky Advanced plus those certain freeware HD cloud textures. WinXP Home. FS9 config Cloud draw distance and cloud density both set at 12.Those expanding cloud decks give so much more the feeling to be up there.

DieselTen, Nice pics there!A question if you don't mind: do you have any visibility limits set (ASV or FSUIPC)?

I have set my visibility limits by ASA. Here's what they look like...

That is a real shame Jim, as if you had mentioned it to me when I started banging on about lack of real OVC depiction you could have stopped my whinging earlier :( I realise that you don't like giving out tips which involve advanced editing of files (although it is quite simple, even for a bear of very little brain like me). But it is sad that others are missing out on it. Could you not write a batch file so that when ASA starts up, it just writes that one line to the .cfg file. You could set up a slider within ASA maybe to determine the value written to the .cfg file?Neil.ps. You just have to sort out some sort of destination force now, where the arrival zone shows the weather of the arrival airport, not some interpolation which means you end up landing in bright skies when it should be low vis and cloudy. Then I will be happy as larry. I saw someone making the same point on your website the other day. Please say it is in your next up date. Please, please, please....................

I'll second this. I can't imagine how many posts there have been on the problem of achieving this kind of total cloud cover. What other tips does the man Skorna have up his sleeve? :( Works a treat for me and doesn't need resetting each time either. Running WINXP Home.

Hello to all "overcasters". :( I did change what is suggested here, now, do we have to change those max thickness and stratus separation as well, in AS? Cause now i got a bunch of stratus and cumulus going through each other. Which is not pretty much beautiful sight, more look like they fighting for "place in the sky".I use those:REX - without WX engine from it, which is not working BTW...AS 6.5 - max thickness 10000, stratus separation 7000, clouds limited to 6.

Hello to all "overcasters". :( I did change what is suggested here, now, do we have to change those max thickness and stratus separation as well, in AS? Cause now i got a bunch of stratus and cumulus going through each other. Which is not pretty much beautiful sight, more look like they fighting for "place in the sky".I use those:REX - without WX engine from it, which is not working BTW...AS 6.5 - max thickness 10000, stratus separation 7000, clouds limited to 6.

If you have a weather engine that correctly interprets METARS you don't need to adjust "anything!" If you do need to, then the weather engine you're using is frankly not up to it! Get one that does the job properly.Vololiberista

Hi All,My comments for today!1. If a certain member doesn't quit bashing products, then I will report that member to the leadership. One does not improve upon the default FS systems without modifying those systems in some way. It can be done behind the scenes or with user defined options and we went with user defined options.2. Until this thread came to light, I, even being a long time user of FS04, didn't know any of this was possible! So this has been a new learning experience for me! SO, with that being said, let me say that I have no other hidden knowledge relating to any other settings. Everything that I thought I knew about FS2004 and ASv6.5 was written up a long time back and is one of the most viewed threads here at AVSIM! That has been combined with another pinned topic at our forum, but it is still there. :( 3. Because this is a value outside of the slider range of FS, for RIGHT NOW, I/we will not make anything official in regards to this value. Individual users have the freedom to use, share, experiment, and post anything about this as they please. The same will hold true for any kind of option/batch file for now.Now, someone that has FSX, see if the same can be done with that program and report back!Thanks!

Hi All,My comments for today!1. If a certain member doesn't quit bashing products, then I will report that member to the leadership. One does not improve upon the default FS systems without modifying those systems in some way. It can be done behind the scenes or with user defined options and we went with user defined options.2. Until this thread came to light, I, even being a long time user of FS04, didn't know any of this was possible! So this has been a new learning experience for me! SO, with that being said, let me say that I have no other hidden knowledge relating to any other settings. Everything that I thought I knew about FS2004 and ASv6.5 was written up a long time back and is one of the most viewed threads here at AVSIM! That has been combined with another pinned topic at our forum, but it is still there. :( 3. Because this is a value outside of the slider range of FS, for RIGHT NOW, I/we will not make anything official in regards to this value. Individual users have the freedom to use, share, experiment, and post anything about this as they please. The same will hold true for any kind of option/batch file for now.Now, someone that has FSX, see if the same can be done with that program and report back!Thanks!

Oh, but YES! we have no bananas, we have YES, it works wonderful! 12 is the way to go!

Now that's the one true tip of the last few years...Thank you guys, tried it last night and yes it makes a big difference. :(