Hi.

 

There is 03 options depiction modes: Standart, Smooth and DWC.

 

What the differences, advantages and disadvantages between them?

You're not going to like this answer but - so MUCH of it is in what YOU expect. Personally I always use DWC. I find it provides the most accurate winds aloft but uses global mode which attempts to provide an average weather pattern over the area as opposed to reading each STATION as you pass. This is necessary due to limitations within FSX itself.

 

If you like to fly low and slow like a bush pilot - standard might work fine for you.

 

Nothing is cast in stone and each system will react a little differently so pick one setting - fly for a while and notice what is important to you - winds aloft, temps, clouds, haze, etc. Then switch and fly some more.

 

Smoothing basically tries to eliminate rapid wind shifts when flying through areas.

 

HTH,

 

Vic

"Smooth Cloud transitions" tries to eliminate sudden cloud scene shifts. Here are the relevant descriptions of each mode from the manual.

 

Standard

Standard weather depiction mode uses normal SimConnect station-based weather

writes and supports Range Suppression to reduce visual cloud changes (shifts) within

your local view range. Recommended for best accuracy and consistency of SURFACE

weather depiction. May result in simulation stutters/pauses during weather writes

(supports write suppression ceiling to prevent updates below a certain altitude).

Supports Local Range Suppression to prevent changes of weather in the local area,

which could cause visual cloud shifting.

 

Smooth Cloud Transitions

Smooth Cloud Transitions depiction mode uses enhanced SimConnect weather writes

that supports transitional cloud depictions that change over a period of 30 seconds.

May result in inconsistent weather parameters at locations other than departure area

and in winds aloft. Recommended for short-range and local flights or where visual cloud

smoothness is preferred over accuracy.

 

Direct Weather Control

Uses unique method of directly controlling ambient weather parameters resulting in the

best balance of accuracy and smoothness of all weather especially aloft winds.

Recommended for longer-range and airliner-style flights where winds aloft accuracy is

important. Includes full real-time Wind, Visibility and Barometric Pressure Smoothing.

Please note that in Direct Weather Control mode, the conditions are global ambient, meaning they are the same (wind, temp, pressure) for all altitudes and all locations,

based on the aircraft position.

 

When in DWC mode FS ATIS for any airport/station will give improper surface

details. For this reason, AS2012’s Voice ATIS/Flightwatch feature (tune 122.00 or 122.02 on

COM radios) should be used as an ATIS replacement when using DWC.

When changing depiction modes, make sure you Apply/Save your option changes,

followed by restarting Active Sky 2012, to see new weather depiction modes properly

take effect.