I've read all 95 pages of the AS2012 U/G and set up FSX accordingly. Although the U/G tells me how to do certain things, I'm not sure what results to expect. I can't readily find answers to the following questions. Some questions may be redundant. I'm still an AS2012 beginner.

 

I'm not ready to try the in-depth options yet; my questions are about more basic things. For now I just want to see better looking skies. And I want to see them whether I define weather myself in FSX or I let AS2012 do it through DWC or Standard Depiction.

 

I want to always see AS2012's enhanced textures. To do that, must I always start AS2012 and then FSX? Or were the default FSX textures replaced during the AS2012 installation process?

 

During AS2012 build #4363 installation, an "initial_backup" up of FSX weather textures was made. Does this mean that after installation I should see the AS2012 default graphics theme-enhanced textures for clouds, lights, etc, without having to do anything else?

 

What does restoring the initial_backup do regarding textures?

 

If I want real-time weather, is it best to use AS2012 Direct Weather Control instead of telling FSX to download real-time weather? In fact, should I specify any weather options in FSX, or should I use only AS2012's options to define specific weather?

 

I have been using Plan-G to create flight plans and loading the plans within FSX. Should I import existing plans into AS2012 instead, or otherwise do all plan creating/loading within AS2012?

 

Do you suggest using Standard Depiction Mode if I want to encounter changing weather conditions during my flight? (The U/G makes it sound like Direct Weather Control Mode gives me the same weather from JFK to LAX, which obviously isn't realistic.)

Do you want to use AS for weather or FSX? 2 totally different things there.

Whoa - lots of questions there -

 

ok - when you first run AS2012 it backs up your graphics textures. Then you will select a theme or let AS2012 select one for you. That theme is installed in FSX and will be what you see from then on. If you do nothing else to change textures, you will always see the AS2012 enhanced. The ohnly way to see the old FSX textures is to restore the backup.

 

You always need to run AS2012 before FSX especially if you are loading new texture themes. You must have AS2012 running to download realtime weather BUT let AS2012 handle it, not FSX. Just set the FSX weather to user defined. Set the cloud draw distance to 60. Set 3d clouds on. Set high density cloud coverage.

 

If you want enroute weather for your flightplan you need to load it into AS2012 and process it before you fly. You will still need to load the plan in FSX for the GPS to control flight etc.

 

Start with Standard depiction and see how that goes.

 

Just remember, once you load a texture theme from AS2012 into FSX (FSX MUST not be running) - that theme will be used until you change it.

 

Have fun,

 

Vic

I wasn't aware I could choose to control the weather both ways. Since I'm not trying anything fancy just yet, is there an advantage of one over the other?

 

I think that if I tell FSX to load Jeppesen's real-time weather every 15 minutes, the weather is updated for every weather station on my route. I don't know if AS Standard Weather Depiction does the same. For now since I'm familiar with it, I'd like my weather to work this way (unless there's a better way for a novice).

 

I'm flying only small GA planes right now so that should simplify my needs. I would like to see AS's enhanced textures for sky, clouds, etc. Specifically with that in mind, can I just see the AS default textures and let FSX control the weather for now? Then I think I'll try some other AS texture themes. I don't think DWC is the best choice for fairly short trips in my Cessna, is it?

 

Do I understand Vic correctly? Even though I'm using SWD, should I still tell AS to download real-time weather instead of having FSX do it? How do I tell AS to do (or not to do) that in SWD mode?

MH

one OR the other but not both as far as weather reporting.

 

Yes, you can use FSX native weather reporrting with AS textures, but why? AS2012 is MUCH more efficient and accurate than the built in FSX and provides many corrections to built in issues that FSX has.

 

If you really want to do that, just start AS2012 with FSX NOT running - select & install your texture theme. Then shut down AS2012 and start FSX. It will then use the AS2012 textures. You do not need to load AS2012 again UNLESS you plan on changing the weather theme and loading new textures.

 

But with the best weather engine in the business already on your system, just fire up AS2012, load the theme you want ( only do this once unless you are changing themes) and go fly. Disable the weather in FSX ,select user defined and just go fly. AS2012 will read the correct weather along your flight and adjust accordingly.

 

HTH,

 

Vic

Thanks Vic, this is just the kind of help I need. I can't find this kind of what I'll call scenario-based help in the manual, nor a tutorial that addresses this basic information. So first I'll set up FSX as you said earlier (I'll purposely repeat to make sure I'm doing it right).

 

I'll start FSX, select Free Flight, click the Change button below Current Weather, select User-defined weather, and click OK. I should stop there, not clicking Customize and going further, right?

 

To set the other three things you mentioned, I start in FSX by selecting Settings. (Note: Under Display Settings, the weather slider is set to Medium High.)

 

I click the Customize button (just above Reset Defaults). On the Settings Display page I click the Weather tab. Cloud draw distance is already set to minimum - 60 mi. Detailed clouds (3D) is already selected. I've had the Cloud coverage density set to Medium (I seem to recall stuttering when I had it maxed), but I'll slide it two clicks to the Maximum setting.

 

For a flight session, I'll start AS2012 first, using the default graphics theme and Standard Weather Depiction to begin with. (Under what circumstance might I prefer the Direct Weather Control option?) Eventually AS2012 issues messages:

 

3:17:41 PM - **** AS2012 Initial Weather Synthesis Complete! ****

3:17:41 PM - New Hurricane Data found...

3:17:41 PM - Fine tuning weather synthesis...

 

I think that means I'm ready to go (although I just noticed an additional message: 3:19:50 PM - Synthesis updated...). So I clicked he Start FSX button, then sent AS2012 to the system tray. I'm on a VFR flight and am experiencing slight stuttering even in the Cessna. I have an i7 quad-core processor with 6GB Tri-channel RAM and a pretty good graphics card, but I still must be marginal. I do have UTX-USA and FSG mesh installed, and most settings set high. I'll try disabling unnecessary services and programs and crippling my antivirus to see if that frees up enough resources to run better.

 

Have I missed anything? Any further suggestions?

 

MH

No you are doing just fine. Each system is different - some have problems with Standard depiction and need to use DWC. Try them both and see which runs better. Not sure if this would affect stutters but it's worth a try. What is your CPU speed? And which graphics card?

 

Have you set up your system per this guide: http://www.simforums.com/forums/topic29041.html

 

That's an absolute must. AFTER doing that, run this tool on your cfg file: http://www.venetubo.com/fsx.html

 

Know that heavy cloud coverage during thunderstorms, etc in a high density area like KJFK or KLAX will tax any system so plan accordingly. Look for smoothness in your sim, NOT frame rates. Smooth at 18fps is a whole lot better than choppy at 60fps.

 

Just remember that any texture or graphics changes you make in AS2012 must be made with FSX not running.

 

Read up on the use of snapshots in the manual - once you have some texture sets that you prefer, you can save them and have AS2012 use them according to the weather.

 

Enjoy!

 

Vic

Your links get into some extremely deep stuff and my personal experience has been (almost completely so) that when I try something to improve performance, my life goes down the portacan and I spend many days undoing the damage instead of flying. My system was built by Jetline and I'm very confident that their custom setup is working well for me. It's always possible that performance could be improved, but the tweaks recommended in your links are something that I would not personally feel confident in doing - rather like doing my own heart surgery.

 

CPU is i7 930 Extreme (3.33GHz factory o/c) quad core

Card is 896GB Nvidia GTX260

 

MH

I understand. If you are satisfied, then stay with what you have ESPECIALLY if you do not feel comfortable tweaking. Your system is marginal by today's standards BUT still very capable of giving you excellent results with proper settings. What's the old saying? - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

 

Most of all - have fun!

 

Vic