AS will update weather during your flight if you wish, and at intervals that you wish (15 mins, 1 hour, etc). It can also download any weather condition from up to two years ago

 

It will actually update from 5 minutes all the way up to 30 minutes and you can download historical weather from as far back as January 1, 2007, not only two years ago.

 

As far as FSUIPC goes, I originally got it for nothing more than the wind smoothing component which ASA and ASE didn't do a very good job of back then, but didn't really need it for anything else since I could program most of my control buttons for my X52 thru the FSX control menu. However since getting AS2012, I am no longer using FSUIPC for the wind smoothing element or any of the weather control features since AS2012 has finally got a good handle on those if use fly using DWC mode.

 

Since the NGX came out I am now using FSUIPC to program all my buttons thru its interface since the NGX uses keystrokes to map functions, which I them translate using FSUIPC to map those key strokes to my X52 buttons. Prior to the NGX I mostly flew the LDS767 which had an interface built in that I could map my X52 buttons to its controls, but since i dont fly in anymore and the NGX didn't include a way to map joystick or throttle buttons to it's control, FSUIPC became mandatory for me when flying it. I've pretty much adapted FSUIPC to now control all my map-able keystroke functions to my X52.

 

If you only need it for wind smoothing if you own AS2012 and dont care about mapping buttons or keystrokes to your joystick or yoke, then you probably get away with skipping it, especially if you only fly default a/c. Although you can do much more besides those few things I mentioned with FSUIPC. If your a casual FSX user you can probably get away without it flying default a/c and just mapping controls thru FSX'es control menu.

If you need it, it is a must have. If you don't need it (like I don't need it) it is not a must have. Simple as that. You just have to read the manual and figure out if you need what FSUIPC offers. I figured out I didn't need anything so I didn't buy it. After buying rudder pedals I checked FSUIPC out again but since everthing works perfectly fine as it is, I still didn't buy it. When the day comes that I actually DO need FSUIPC for something, I will buy it.

 

Life can be so simple. ^_^

 

I do agree with the Swiss Army knife analogy but not everyone has or needs a Swiss Army knife... The fact that FSUIPC is the Swiss Army knife for FSX doesn't mean it's a must have for everyone. I don't own a Swiss Army knife, do you? ^_^

 

BTW Nowadays I mainly fly the PMDG 737NGX with FS2Crew, ProATC/X and OpusFSX as my main addons. Hardware is a simple Logitech joystick and Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals. I fly almost everyday if possible and so I think I am a pretty serious simmer (specially looking at time and money spend on FSX ^_^ ). And still I don't use FSUIPC... One thing you should NEVER do is buy something only so you will be regarded as a serious simmer... :rolleyes: B)

Will I have to disable my axis' on the FSX settings? And is it possible to set a brake axis?

 

It's an either/or proposition on the controller level. You either let FSX control a device, or you let FSUIPC do it. FSUIPC does all of mine and among other things got me around a problem I had with my Saitek yoke and pedals. The Saitek's sometimes lose their little minds (especially following a reboot), forcing an unplug/replug cycle, which would in turn require a full recalibration in Windows which was a time-waster and a pain in the whatsits. With FSUIPC in place, I simply unplug/replug when this happens - the calibration is always right back on target.

 

As for brakes, yes you can do brake axes. I'm not familiar with your device, but if you've got an available axis, you should be able to make it work. One of the other nice things about FSUIPC control is that you can also set curves on them. I've found many planes brake too aggressively, and setting curves on the toe brakes helped immensely.

 

Scott

dont care about mapping buttons or keystrokes to your joystick or yoke

 

Why don't you use Saitek's key mapping software that came with your X52? That's what I use. It even has a handy little system tray icon to let you quickly switch key profiles when you switch from aircraft.

Hi Tamba765,

 

I have FSUIPC installed. I didn't really know what it did until late last year when I bought a Saitek yoke, pedals, throttle quadrants, and found that they just wouldn't work with the supplied software like it said they should. I spent nearly two frustrating weeks persevering with the software to no avail. In the end I turned to FSUIPC after getting advice on here and within a few hours everything worked as i wanted, to the extent that I can assign any button or axis in FSX to any control on my yoke set up. I can even set up profiles for each plane in my hanger so different controls work different things in the plane.

 

I think it was definitely worth every penny, and it's so easy to use too. Brilliant!

 

Happy flying

 

A BIG + 1!

 

I just got the Saitek Pro Flight Yoke and Throttle quadrant and FSUIPC provided the solution for proper mapping of the throttle, propeller and mixture axis's so I now have independent control over multi prop engine aircraft for the aforementioned functions. When you take the time to read the operating manuals of FSUIPC, you then will realize what a brilliant piece of software this is and it's capabilites that make sim flying what it is. BUY IT.