Hi Stephen,

 

I am just cruising from Bali (WADD) to Amsterdam inbound.

During my outbound flight EHAM-WADD I faced a lot of tail winds.

 

Now it was the same: Tail winds over India, Afghanistan etc.

 

However, when I checked the OPUS window Upper Atomosphere Weather Report, I saw FL380: Temp -66, Wind 288/62, which is for my current heading head wind as expected from my outbound flight.

 

Only after forcing in the pull down menu OpusFS1 Live Weather/ Load Dynamic Weather, the forecast weather was injected properly into FSX.

 

I have set in Weather Download Options: Live Weather Update Every 17 Minutes or 80km.

 

1. Does this refer 'only' to the current location weather, but not the GRIB data?

2. Does current location weather override the GRIB weather?

3. Why do I have to trigger a weather download with my current settings?

 

Thanx in advance.

Hi Andreas

 

With your current setting of 17 minutes and 80km you should have the latest METAR data available without having to do a manual update. How long was it since OpusFSX did an update?

 

If you display the local weather report you will see when the weather is updated. If it is not being updated as expected then check your configuration carefully. The current upper wind is provided by GRIB data, the METAR provides surface conditions.

 

We are coming out with another beta later today with further stabilisation for systems that are still suffering troublesome wind shifts.

 

Regards

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

 

the header of the window properly states right now

 

Weather Report at (30, 29) Last Updated 12:39 Hrs - Live

 

(CET) fine. But cruising at FL 380 it was as if the uipper atmosphere winds was not present in FSX, but an older one from the south Asian region from where I came.

 

Which version number will today's beta have? Thanx.

It is good practice to update the weather manually when you update your destination ICAO prior to takeoff. The latest beta is 2.70.3. This should follow the targets and keep FSX happy.

 

Let me know how you get on.

 

Regards

Cheryl

Passing Lodz in Poland I observed that the GRIB does not fit to the winds outside (and it was quite a duration that it did not fit):

See the OPUS window 310/37 in comparison to MFD2 and FMC with 221/26, which seems to be an interpolation of the surface situation:

 

 

But three minutes later, suddenly the winds aloft fitted better, ignoring the surface weather, but taking the GRIB data, despite the fact that closing in to Western Europe the density of METARs increases.

 

 

Please don't misunderstand me.

I think you do a great job, and I simply would like to understand how the weather engine works.

 

So, when is the surface interpolation 'stronger' than the GRIB data, when v.v.?

And can I influence either direction?

And did pushing 'Load Dynamic Weather' influence the situation.

 

Thanx and Merry XMas!

Edited December 21, 201213 yr by 19AB67

The upper winds have nothing to do with surface conditions at all and the targets are set using the GRIB forecast DAT, but they are only targets. You cannot control the winds they are calculated by buggy FSX, all you can do is set targets and hope FSX can comply to them, albeit after a nudge or two. Yours just took some time to come around. Some systems are better than others.

 

Firstly I assume you are using beta 2.70.3 and had Sim Friendly GRIB Winds set and also Wind Stabilisation enabled, these two options alter the forecast data a little but really help FSX cope better.

 

So the surface interpolation does not matter at all, as soon as you are above FL200 it is all down to the GRIB wind targets. The METARs give you the weather and surface wind conditions and have no impact on the upper winds or temperatures.

 

You will notice FSX coping better with certain wind changes than others. The new beta has a big brother feature which will give FSX a nudge or three in the right direction should your system not fully cope. You can follow the targets and actual ambient conditions in the weather report windows. Make sure you specify your destination in the Weather dialog. If FSX is coping well it should keep ahead of the targets in the climb and descent, otherwise you can whitness its failing due to the wind calculation bugs.

 

Regards

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

 

Some systems are better than others.

 

What do you mean by 'system'?

 

I assume you are using beta 2.70.3

 

Ups, the header says 'Opus FSI SErver - Flight Simulator Server for FSX, Version 2,71.0'.

 

had Sim Friendly GRIB Winds set

 

No; should I? What does it change?

(According to RTFM I ask myself, whether all buttons and ticks are documented in your manuals, then I could read first those...)

 

also Wind Stabilisation enabled

 

Ups, no, was not enabled. What is the meaning of Recovery Altitude and Forced Recovery altitude?

 

So the surface interpolation does not matter at all, as soon as you are above FL200 it is all down to the GRIB wind targets. The METARs give you the weather and surface wind conditions and have no impact on the upper winds or temperatures.

 

Ok.

 

The new beta has a big brother feature

 

Which version is it? I just downloaded opus.msi and still have Version 2,71.0.

How do I get other versions, betas?

 

Thanx.

Hi

 

What do you mean by 'system'?

 

Just some FSX systems. For instance in house we have reasonably high spec systems and only run FSX + OpusFSX on them with scenery and aircraft add ons and we have no wind shift problems and our FSX systems are able to keep very close to their target wind speed and directions. It can depend on what additional loading you are putting on FSX, we do not use annything other than OpusFSX and the sim is very stable and compliant.

 

Ups, the header says 'Opus FSI SErver - Flight Simulator Server for FSX, Version 2,71.0'.

 

So you have release version 2.71.0.

 

had Sim Friendly GRIB Winds set ... NO should I?

 

Its up to you but if your system suffers from wind shifts it is advised, since the Sim Friendly option will reduce the chances of problems and still give you realistic winds aloft. We are improving it all the time but also check the link below.

 

also Wind Stabilisation enabled ... no, was not enabled. What is the meaning of Recovery Altitude and Forced Recovery altitude?

 

Wind Stabilisation will be automatically enabled as you climb to FL200 and above, it is essential to prevent wind shifts due to the FSX winds aloft bugs. If you are a high flyer then best just enable it from the start. Please refer to this SimForums topic http://www.simforums.com/forums/target-and-recovery_topic44370_post263964.html#263964

 

How do I get other versions, betas?

 

You are welcome to participate in the beta development cycles, they are almost continuous. You can download the latest beta via the Beta button on our downloads page. Please check our Announcements topic for additional details. Betas are posted very frequently during a development cycle, each cycle aimed at adding or improving a specific feature. At present, we have added a Lower Atmosphere report and wind targets to help nurse FSX up through the climb and back down through the descent onto the approach (make sure you always specify your destination though).

 

Merry Xmas to you all, and a very happy simming new year.

 

Regards

Stephen & Cheryl

Happy New Year!

 

I am just cruising on my flight CYYC-WJA71O-KBOS on FL370.

I am not sure, but still I have the feeling that touching the OPUS controls influences the winds/temps aloft injection.

While local weather update is controlled by time or distance flown, I still don't have understood

- how detailed the GRIB data is?

- when a update becomes available for the FSX while cruising?

- the difference to the FSX inherited weather update every 15minutes?

 

Please advise.

Thanx.

First, make sure you have turned OFF the FSX weather generation or any other weather injection. The FSX upper winds are not very accurate. Nothing beats the world wide GRIB forecast data, it provides the most accurate forecast data.

 

The GRIB forecast data is downloaded at a 1 degree lat/long accuracy covering the entire globe. The forecasted data is as accurate as it gets on this scale and is used to determine all upper wind and temperature targets.

 

Provided you do not set the Stabilised GRIB Data option, the GRIB data will be dynamic and will be updated each time the weather is updated. Your time and distance settings are a guideline and I recommend you set all the defaults with the Download GRIB Forecast, Sim Friendly GRIB Winds, and Wind Stabilisation options enabled.

 

Just make sure you upgrade to the latest release version 2.80 and always specify your Destination and intended cruise altitude within the Weather dialog, then leave the rest to the LWE.

 

Regards

Stephen