I use REX for textures and OpusFSX for weather engine. There are some good user customized settings to choose from.

 

Regarding the 30 day return policy at Flight1:

 

When you buy the software, a uniqe license (.lic-file) for your computer is generated and placed at "C:\Flight One Software / C:\Opus Software" etc. which is needed for the program/addon to work. And, when you ask for a refund, the license will become invalid, simple as that.

 

Not completely sure, but I think this is the way it works.

Thats like telling me heres the money back thanks alot, enjoy the software but hope you got a conscience

 

Well, if that is what it is telling you, that's not very positive, is it...? I wouldn't post something like that on a public forum. I am glad to say it is NOT what it is telling me. B)

 

Anyway, luckily Flight1 has a method that at least prevents a reinstall of refunded software, as joherszch posted...

Okay, I just forked out the $ for REX; now I wonder if it was the best way to go. What do I get with Active Sky for an additional $50? Thanks--just having some buyer's remorse.

 

Bluemax

 

REX Essentials Plus is an excellent application and you should let go of the buyer's remorse. Texture sets are excellent, and weather generation is fabulous. It's important to consider how you start using the weather engine, but once understood, you should find it fabulous in terms of depth, atmospherics, cloud rendering, and of course performance is, as w/ all weather generators, relative to the amount of cloud density and range you choose. I recommend using the Plus weather system. When you start the application, it will take maybe 60-90 seconds to initialize. After that, play around w/ whatever textures you wish to load. I would guess most users settle on a theme they like most often so don't end up using the install routine w/ every use by any stretch. After being happy w/ texture themes, the sequence will look like this: Start REX-E+. Wait until initialized. Then start FSX, load up your flight plan. Then, chose the Fly Now option in REX. Weather will load, and at this time you can safely hit the Fly option in FSX to take you to your departure location. By the time this is done, weather will be loading in the background while you are getting ready to start interacting w/ your aircraft for departure, etc. Take off and enjoy. The program takes a little to understand how to configure it, but after that it's a snap and though I don't use HiFi's product any longer can tell you weather rendering is nothing short of fabulous w/ REX E+.

As the OP just want to thanks all for the input on the 2 products. This is a great forum! I don't plan to ask for a refund; I only do that if a product is defective--REX seems to work fine for what it is designed to do.

I have AS2012 but I am thinking about getting REX+O/D for textures only as I currently use Opus for weather engine. Is there is simple way to turn "off" the REX weather engine? I don't wanna have conflicting issues between weather engines. I know in AS2012 the textures are automatically loaded into FSX once I install a theme, after that I close down AS2012 and let Opus takeover. Does the same logic apply with REX?

Is there is simple way to turn "off" the REX weather engine?

 

You don't even need to start REX once you've loaded a preferred set of textures. Even if you do prefer to load wx specific textures, once you're done simply shut REX down. You don't even need to start the REX wx engine in either case.

 

BTW I still generally prefers the current REX wx engine to Opus - sorry, don't have AS so can't compare there. Part of that preference is related to archival wx. Winter is my least favorite flying season in FSX, so the ability to fly with real world wx as it existed on a given day in the spring, summer or fall is a big deal for me especially this time of year.

 

Scott

So its the same process as with AS2012. Question is how will I know for sure the texture sets installed by REX will override the currently installed AS2012 textures? Is there a way to check this in FSX?

 

AS2012 has the ability to find weather and/or load historical weather data too which is a nice feature. I hope Opus will get to this one day with the myriad of updates they produce!

Question is how will I know for sure the texture sets installed by REX will override the currently installed AS2012 textures?

 

John, it should be a case of whichever you load last, as the textures are replacements in either case.

 

Scott

 

 

John, it should be a case of whichever you load last, as the textures are replacements in either case.

 

Scott

Scott I am aware of this but exactly where in FSX are the texture files inserted??

Scott I am aware of this but exactly where in FSX are the texture files inserted??

 

Main FSX Texture directory.

BTW I still generally prefers the current REX wx engine to Opus

 

There is still some legacy assumed dissatisfaction for REX's weather engine, in particular amongst Opus users who may not know just how well REX got it right this time around. I'm not an Opus user and it sounds like a great program, and I was about to become one until I waited patiently to see if REX E+ solved the issues w/ prior REX. They did, and I have yet to see a single screen shot demonstrating why REX E+ isn't as good or even superior to Opus's rendering. Have you installed the newest version that was to address the wind-shifting issue? Things are so good right now I'm loathe to alter anything!

Scott I am aware of this but exactly where in FSX are the texture files inserted??

 

As someone else mentioned, they're in the FSXrootfolder\texture . They're not really inserted as such, they overwrite/replace FSX files of the same name.

 

They did, and I have yet to see a single screen shot demonstrating why REX E+ isn't as good or even superior to Opus's rendering. Have you installed the newest version that was to address the wind-shifting issue? Things are so good right now I'm loathe to alter anything!

 

I see strengths in both Opus and REX and don't regret buying either. REX doesn't break anything in Opus and Opus doesn't break anything in REX so switching isn't really an issue and no matter what, to get the best from Opus requires something better than default FSX textures. Stil, when it comes to wx engines I do about 10 REX flights for every Opus one. Not sure which product you're asking about releases on, though. I'm running the latest released (non-beta) version of Opus, and currently trying the REX-E + beta. Since the + release of REX I've always had more wind-shift issues with Opus.

 

I agree about some opinions on the REX engine being carry-over from previous versions, BTW.

 

Scott