Anyone out there who uses any activesky, could they clear the air for me...The one big thing getting me, Do i have to install the Activesky textures?Or can i keep the default ones, or the REX ones instead.... Liam

Install whatever you like. AS Evolution has nothing to do with textures. So you can use REX or any other payware or freeware texture addon.

I'm using the REX textures and ASE for a few months now -- with eye popping success! It's like a whole new sim! :(

Ahhhhh, okay.ive had issues with sky textures before and im reluctant to add more, however id like to use the weather engine from ASE Looks like ill be buying this then.the only reason i want to switch is, currently in manchester its hammering it down with rain, huge thunderstormsi turn the default real world weather on and bam...i only get overcast..... lolLiam

the only reason i want to switch is, currently in manchester its hammering it down with rain, huge thunderstormsi turn the default real world weather on and bam...i only get overcast..... lol

ActiveSky will not always get it right either...

For the FS9 version of ASE it is OK unlike the FSX version. The reason is that ASE in FS9 does not require the use of global weather mode (all points in the FS universe have the same weather which creates errors as you approach airports with regard to AI patterns and ATIS). In the FS9 version let FSUIPC do the weather smoothing. Be sure global mode is off.This is from the ASE manual. I use their very nice AS6.5.

6.5 here as well. I've recently turned back on GEPro integration, using its ground textures and sky textures based on weather. And I'm using ActiveSky Graphics clouds... yeah, I know, but the last couple of flights, excellent weather, fitting atmosphere due to texture submission. What more do I want, fast program, common sense UI. Oh wait, that's 6.5.:Big Grin:Never really grew into ASA and later ASE.

Well, i havent bought one yet, i was just saying ASE because it is the latest.All im afrter is an accurate weather engine, none of this sky, cloud textures etc etc...Like i said above, Huge thunderstorms at Manchester EGCC about 4 hours ago, when i used the built in real world weather, it gave me overcast, no rain, no thunder.....I presume 6.5, ASA and ASE all have / use the same weather servers to download the data from, if so, i might got for 6.5...what do you guys say? out of experiance Liam

I use real-world weather for AS65 but not in real time. I download the archive for the local time in the geographic flight location closest to my flight time (translated of course to Universal Time) so the effects of time of day like the sun and clouds affecting convective weather issues are applied for those locales. AS65 does provide convective effects such as thermal vertical drafts. It seemed to follow topography as in the real world. If you fly over rough terrain when there is significant wind you'll get turbulence.There used to be a problem with the effects of missing reporting stations but that has now been corrected.I do use their optional graphics under the Weather Influenced theme.I also have folders addressed by weather type and geographic area containing archives of those weather types. I'll also save if available a radar image of that same area and time for preflight viewing. This lets me pick a saved weather situation if so desired.

Hi,I am interested to a Ase switch from AS 6.5 but I want to know if there is the GE Pro integration like in AS 6.5. I think this feature is absolute fantastic and I would not like lose it. Thanks. Bye.

According to the manual there is some integration, there's a GE Pro button, so that's a good sign. I'm not certain of the extent of the integration however.Some quotes which may be of help:

If you are in FS9 mode and have GE Pro installed ASE will also ask if you wish to install GE Pro textures to match the same weather data. Clicking ‘OK’ on the resulting dialog will launch GE Pro in client mode to select the most appropriate textures for the weather data passed.

The "Install GE Pro Textures" button will be available only if GE Pro is installed on this system. When clicked, it will use the Route Average weather conditions for wx-influenced texture selections and automatic installation by GE Pro. If you’d rather use a specific station’s weather conditions for wx-influenced selections, use the “Install GE Pro Textures” button located on the Report Screen. This feature is also only available if the current FS Version selected is FS9.

For absolute certainty, scroll down for the HiFi Sim Forum.:(

I am in the same area as you Liam and used REX to get the weather and it sure was thunderstorm & rain.I have only just purchased REX so am still getting to grips with it but have used ASv6 from day one with both FS9 & FSX.I prefer the AS weather engine interface and am still considering buying ASE, however you can get ASv6 to inject the weather into FSX but of course it will not add the textures like it would in FS9. OTOH ASX WILL put weather and XGraphics into FSX AFAIK.If it's only weather you want I would look at Active Sky, check out their forum.

I will do.All i want is a good weather engine, i presume AS6.5 ASE and ASA all use the same engine/serversi dont want any of the textures and all that, just want a more accurate weather engineso whats the best to go for?...Liam

I used AS 6.5 for years and waited to upgrade to ASE because I thought there couldn't be much improvement, certainly not 50 US bucks worth! But I just recently switched to ASE with REX Clouds and textures, and the freeware Perfefect Water found here in the library and have found a world of difference. While I still get it once in a while, there is far less "cloud pop" in my ASE install and the clouds just seem far more realistic. But I'm afraid if you want a guarantee that you'll automatically get in your home PC sim exactly what you see out of your window, it won't be coming soon.