I asked this question in another thread, but haven't gotten any responses, so I thought I'd start fresh. I like the textures from REX, but I'm not happy with the weather engine, even though improved by Essential. So, I'm thinking I'll get Active Sky, if only to have similar weather to those I fly online with who use it. I'd prefer to just get Evolution, as I only want the weather engine. If I do, will I be missing out on improvements to the weather engine that are in AS2012 but not Evolution? I've looked at their website, but can't find an answer. Anyone who has had both care to comment?

I don't have Evolution, only 2012. I have REX Too. 2012 has changed the sim for me, such realistic clouds and fantastic winds and turbulence.

I've got ASE and it does a fantastic job simulation weather.

Of course the weather engine in AS2012 is better than AS Evolution. It's an upgrade. However, I doubt any professional FSX weather person would be able to tell the difference between the ASE and AS2012 weather engines other than there probably is more options. This is what HiFi said was better than ASE - http://www.hifitechinc.com/products/active-sky-2012. Personally, I don't see that much difference between the ASE and the AS2012 weather engines but they are there.

 

Best regards,

Jim

I have supported each version of hifi's product and have found each version improvemed over the previous. Active Sky 2012 works real well, highly customizable for what my pc can do, the snowy runways textures in winter are excellent.

As2012 with Rex textures.

I am curious as well. I have upgraded almost every time a new active sky is released for for some reason, I don't see the need to upgrade this time. I need visual evidence this time - yes, I am talking screenshots that compare both versions and an explanation of why they screenshots are different.

I had ASA, which then turned into ASE and now have AS2012. I've noticed a steady improvement in each version even though I dont really use the textures in AS2012. There has been another service pack to ASE but I dont really know if it puts the weather generation at the same level of AS2012. When I was using ASE prior to AS2012 it did a really good job although I did notice some inconsistancies when it came to weather or winds being incorrect at arrival airports, plus I had to use FSUIPC's wind smoothing to keep the S-turns at bay. Since upgrading to AS2012 I have had nothing but perfect arrival conditions, meaning the wind and weather depiction was spot on AND with AS2012 I no longer need to use FSUIPC's wind smoothing as AS2012 takes care of it perfectly.

 

I dont know what the price difference is between buying ASE and AS2012, but even if you dont have plans to use the AS2012 textures, I would still buy the newest version since its the latest and greatest, plus it will most likely be the platform they will continue to improve on. Since I own both and have both currently installed, I never go back to using ASE since AS2012 just seems to work better.

As2012 with Rex textures.

 

what he said. and ill say it again.. REX textures with AS2012 handling the weather. There is that OPUS thing too but everytime i go look at forum posts about OPUS all the talk is about clientside this and client that and how people are having issues getting it to work. I prefer just one click and it works. Hence REX textures and AS2012

what he said. and ill say it again.. REX textures with AS2012 handling the weather. There is that OPUS thing too but everytime i go look at forum posts about OPUS all the talk is about clientside this and client that and how people are having issues getting it to work. I prefer just one click and it works. Hence REX textures and AS2012

 

That Opus "thing" is very simple to use. If you only have one PC, there is no "clientside this and client that". Once you have set it up, you click on the OpusFSX Server icon, and it opens instantly. You then click your FSX icon as you would normally do, and click Fly now. FSX loads, the OpusFSX weather automatically initilizes in about 10 seconds, and then you do whatever you would normally do.

 

I have a multi PC, five monitor setup, and use the networking function. I found it very simple to set up. It is no more difficult than trying to network any other program.

 

I will not go into this any further, as the OP didn't ask about OpusFSX, and I don't want to hijack this thread. I just wanted to clarify some misconceptions that were stated.

 

Bill

AS 2012 will not work with FS9. ASE will work with both.

I have FSX with ASE and can only use it set to "Smooth Cloud Transitions" in "Depiction Mode" settings. This gives me strange winds some time seconds before touch down.

The "Standart" options makes my FSX to stutter when ASE downloads new weather.

Still can't find solution for this.

I'm not positive, but isn't there a setting in the FSUIPC that conflicts with the smooth cloud transitions?

 

Best regards,

Jim

Perhaps this will help -

 

http://www.hifitechinc.com/news/49-development-news

 

Vic

Yes, indeed, Vic. That is just what I'm needing. Thanks for the link. I'll be waiting for ASCore to come out.

 

I'm pretty interested in Opus as well. I need to spend some more time on the website. I can't tell if it's freeware or payware yet. If freeware, I think I'll try it out while waiting for the new ASCore.