Hmmm, the METAR indeed did not say OVC. Forgot to check that. Why do we even have METARs if they are incorrect? Hmmm.....

 

I can depict the OVC only if I set a very thick overcast layer, at least 6000ft. Then I almost see no holes.

 

LOWW 1120Z should have been the latest METAR at that time, didn't check it as I said.

 

Historical in AS2012 doesn't say OVC, but mostly broken at various altitudes.

Before SP2, I searched this forum for all posts that contained "clouds," and tried all the suggested settings in FSX, aircraft.cfg, fsuipc, and AS 2012. None of them gave me a solid overcast, so I returned to using ASE (SP4 ver. B695), which does depict a solid overcast properly.

 

With SP2, I still have not gotten an overcast that is not really broken. SP2 did make the broken clouds darker and the clear holes smaller, but I have yet to get a solid overcast.

 

To compare "real weather" with what SP2 gives us, I fly in the Ketchikan AK (PAKT) area, as they almost always have overcast wx. I compare what I see in SP2 with webcam images I see at http://akweathercams.faa.gov/ ASE, Standard Depiction, gives me an overcast that is solid and looks like what I see in the Webcam.

 

In case the problem some of us are having with overcast depiction is because of our PC graphics hardware, what I am using is listed below.

 

I will go back to ASE, and wait for SP3.

 

I hope this problem can be fixed, as I do like all the other AS 2012 features, and hope I can make it my default wx engine soon. Thanks for all your work, and (expect for this one issue) a great upgrade.

 

Howard_S

-------------------------------------

 

Server PC:

CPU: Intel i7-980X (3.6 GB)

MB: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R

Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 480 (600W max)

RAM: Corsair DDR3 1600 MHz (240pin DIMM; 2x6 sets = 12MB total)

Monitor: Samsung BX 2331 (23-inch, LCD TFT, Response Time2 ms)

Native Res 1920 x 1080; Aspect ratio: 16:9 @ 60Hz

Internal Hard Drives:

C, D HDs: WD6000BLHX VelociRaptor VR200M, 600GB, Serial ATA

E HD: Intel X25-M SSD (34nm) 160GB

Operating System: Windows 7 64 Professional (OEM)

 

Client PC:

CPU: Intel i7-950 (3.2 GHz.)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R

RAM: Corsair DDR3 1600 MHz (240pin DIMM; 2x6 sets = 12MB total)

Monitor: ViewSonic VX924 19" color TFT SXGA LCD, 1280x1024 native res

Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTS 250

Hard Drives: C HD, 1 TB; D DH, 500 GB; WD Caviar SATA drives

Operating System: Windows 7 64 Professional (OEM)

 

FSX Delux, SP2, (Acceleration not installed)

 

 

My above Webcam link did not display properly. It should be:

http://akweathercams.faa.gov/

 

Howard_S

If the METAR says BKN050, we tell FS to render a broken layer at 5000. There isn't much room for any weather engine to change that. If you are trying to promote the competitive product, that is not allowed here. If you have constructive comparisons in effort to improve AS, that is more than welcome. Thanks!

 

Damian, I could post screenshots for you and others here to judge. I'm afraid they would not be beneficial to AS2012 against OpusFSX comparison. I don't care about OpusFSX, as I want AS2012 become better in cloud layers depiction.

 

Meanwhile I'll play with ASE (SP4 ver. B695) as Howard suggested. AS2012 is not there with the overcast and clouds layers for me yet. And yes, I've seen amazing complex cloudiness variations (low, high, hard deck etc) and imc overcast in fs9 with ASE. I know the strong sides of AS2012, why to repeat them...

 

Dirk.

I will go back to ASE, and wait for SP3.

 

I'm not sure I understand this. SP2 is in beta, we are trying to collect information to improve it. But you've given up already?

 

How are you not seeing overcast layers with the overcast enhancement feature? How can ASE beat this? Standard mode is standard mode in either product, but ASE does not include overcast enhancement. Sorry, I do not understand and am pretty confused. Any clarification, screenshots much appreciated! If you are seeing through the overcast enhancement layers, then there is a bug or configuration problem and we'd really like to investigate. Also, you must sign your post with your real full name. Thanks!

 

Damian, I could post screenshots for you and others here to judge. I'm afraid they would not be beneficial to AS2012 against OpusFSX comparison. I don't care about OpusFSX, as I want AS2012 become better in cloud layers depiction.

 

Meanwhile I'll play with ASE (SP4 ver. B695) as Howard suggested. AS2012 is not there with the overcast and clouds layers for me yet. And yes, I've seen amazing complex cloudiness variations (low, high, hard deck etc) and imc overcast in fs9 with ASE. I know the strong sides of AS2012, why to repeat them...

 

Dirk.

 

Why don't you post a screenshot of overcast conditions in AS2012 SP2 IFR/High Altitude profile so we can really see what you are experiencing? Also please sign posts with your full name. Thanks!

For anyone interested, a little comparison. Both engines don't do overcast, and both now look very very similar. The streched cloud appearance is due to zoom 0.30, did that only to cover the bigger area.

 

really don't know what you're doing wrong Word Not Allowed, but this is what I'm getting for an overcast sky with AS2012 SP2:

(click for larger image)

 

Nikki, ok, thanks. The problem is apparently that the METAR was not reporting overcast.

First are my screenshots with AS2012 sp2, then the ones taken with OpusFSx, about 5-10 min time difference between them, in the same location. These are AS2012:

 

 

 

 

 

The tunnel:

 

 

 

 

 

Now AS2012 off, OpusFSX on, click update, without exiting from the flight:

 

 

No tunnel:

 

All multi-layered:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dirk.

 

PS: In overcast situation or cloudiness fronts the difference is even more spectacular.

 

Dirk.

 

I'll play with ASE sp4.

Hi Dirk,

 

I've been looking on the internet for the last half hour for a source weather for EDMB. First of all EDMB does not have a weather station itself. Thus, both programs should get the weather from some close weather stations (AS2012 at least reports its sources). Everywhere I looked no close station reports "Overcast at 8000feet". All of them report broken clouds (as is reported by AS2012 through its interpolation algorithm). And you know what "broken" means? "Holes" in the sky (or "tunnel" to borrow your words). It is "eye-candy" versus accuracy here. As simple as that. You choose. Period.

 

Kostas Terzides,

ActiveSky developer

<br />Howard_S, on 11 November 2012 - 07:47 AM, said:<br /><br /><br />I will go back to ASE, and wait for SP3.<br /><br /><br />I'm not sure I understand this. SP2 is in beta, we are trying to collect information to improve it. But you've given up already?<br />

 

No way! I stil want to eventually use Active Sky 2012 all the time, and I will try anything else that is suggested. I just mean that when I fly for fun, I'll use ASE, as I want my wx to look real, and not always see blue holes in an overcast.

 

I will keep following this thread, and try every suggestion and install every beta-patch. Like I said, I love Active Sky 2012, and I want to be able to use it in my fun flights. It is just that the failure to depict a solid overcast is unacceptable to me when I fly for fun. I will still be beta-testing SP2 and trying everything that is suggested.

 

I definataely have not given up. Sorry if my disaapointment in SP2's overcast problem made me sound too negative.

 

Howard_S

Guys, please sign your posts with your real full name.

Kostas, I picked the location spontaneously from AS2012 map. Mind you there was no overcast reported nor did I see overcast with the both (there's no overcast if you refer to the screenshots). Overcast is much more spectacular with OpusFSX. My main attraction is multi-layered cloudiness as I wrote. See yourself what looks more attractive.

 

Dirk.

 

Actually the other report does show overcast, but not AS2012, so you are not comparing equal conditions here. As I understood it, you were originally stating that the main problem with AS2012 SP2 is lack of solid overcast. But now its multi-layered cloudiness? I'm confused.

 

Once again, you need to sign your posts with your full name.

Hi Dirk,

 

you're wrong. The first screenshot you uploaded (from Opus) clearly states "Overcast 8000feet". Where did this came from? And I don't understand what "attractive" means. This is purely subjective. As I told you it's accuracy vs "eye-candy".

 

Kostas Terzides

ActiveSky developer

SP2's overcast problem

 

Hi, I don't believe we've established that there is a problem. Still waiting for screenshots of overcast conditions in AS2012 SP2, which would probably help. I've even opened a thread on this to collect more information, but nothing yet. All complete reports that we have received indicate that overcast is working and solid. So if it isn't for anyone, we need more information, please!

 

Also please remember to sign your posts with your full real name. Thank you!

I don't have any screenshots but what I did was use AS2012 to search for IMC - then specified less than 200ft ceiling and less than 1m vis. Found a station in northgern canada. On the runway I could not see anything from the cockpit. In spot mode I saw a tiny portion of the runway. Noting vertically. Took off and never saw the ground again until I crashed trying to land VFR. So it appears to me that if the METAR warrants it, AS2012 will depict full overcast.

 

Vic Baron