Sorry but you are wrong, the LWE generates the weather in accordance with the downloaded METARs and injects that, subject to wind stabilisation.

 

Goodbye OpusFSX.  I am tired of being treated like this.  You can tell me what should be happening all you want.  This file doesn't exist on my system.  I don't know why, but I can't cross check these METARs when this file can't be located.  You can argue all you want, but the weather that loads in to FSX at the destination airport is NOT CORRECT.

 

Anyway, you don't have to worry about me anymore I guess.  I don't deserve and don't need to be treated like an idiot.  I'll move on back to AS2012.

The file is \OpusFSX\Themes\OpusWeather.txt and is always generated when the METARs are downloaded. The Opus weather reports are all easily displayed and will show you the exact weather that is injected which matches 100% the METARs that are downloaded, the METAR day and time stamps are at the front of the METAR report and also included in the Opus Weather reports so that you know when the weather was reported. All you have to do is check the data and see that it exactly matches the downloaded NOAA METARs, METARs that you said we did not use even though all you had to do is read them and access the NOAA ADDS site. Just as all you had to do is look at the Opus reports to see that the injected weather was 100%. But accurate weather at your destination also relies on you specifying your Destination to the LWE, and allowing the LWE to update the weather in FSX and make sure the METARs are freshly downloaded, all done automatically and all necessary since FSX cannot store 100% accurate weather at great distance. It was you making the unfounded statements not me, first claiming the Opus METARs were wrong. If you really haven't got the OpusFSX\Themes\OpusWeather.txt file then your system cannot be set up correctly, the LWE needs to access its Themes folder otherwise you would have no weather at all !

 

Stephen

Never even got opus off the ground. So I went back to AS2012. There is no doubt when it is working and with the interface you can see exactly what it is doing. I got so frustrated trying to get opus set up it joined the hanger with all the rest I just don't use anymore. Cpt out.

One final statement. FSX cannot store accurate weather at great distances it has limited memory as a result of being a limited 32-bit program coded before the days of multicore technology. Most of its memory is used for scenery and bitmaps and the like. Memory savings are made by not storing highly accurate and detailed weather for places at great distance from you, including surface winds at distant airports. Something I'm sure would have been remedied if development had continued and a 64-bit version produced.

 

So why would you think any inaccurate surface winds are the result of either downloading the wrong METARs (you can see for yourself that is plainly not true), or the result of injecting the wrong surface conditions (when you can see for yourself the RW winds, Static winds, and Cruise winds within the Destination weather report window). Not one single statement was substantiated with any evidence or supporting facts, just wrong assumptions, even when all the information is plain to see on the screen, in the OpusWeather.txt file, in the Spy window, in all the live Opus weather reports etc..

 

No mention was made of your settings, were you even allowing the LWE to update the weather, to know what your destination was, etc.. I flew four flights this morning and about six flights yesterday and the destination surface winds were 100% correct by the time I was 30 to 50 miles away. We are now working on beta 3.03.5 with the aim of coaxing FSX to accept RW surface winds at the specified destination at much further distances.

 

Stephen

Probably running the FSXCLIENT program that places FSX in freeze mode. You just run the FSXSERVER program but must set the system up in accordance with the simple instructions. All you had to do is ask.

 

Stephen

OpusFSX is not difficult to set up. However you may run into problems with folder permissions etc if you install FSX in the Program Files folder as opposed to its own folder since OpusFSX will not have the necessary permissions to write to the FSX folders and the software will not function. Nevertheless if you do have FSX installed in Program Files it is just a case of setting the required permissions as detailed in our Getting Started guide.

 

As far as OpusFSX is concerned there are a few simple rules such as do not install in a sub folder of FSX, Program Files or Opus Software. Many people have complimented us on how easily they managed to get it up and running within a few minutes even without reference to our documentation.

 

Cheryl

Ok guys. Here's how I see things, but take it with a grain of salt, because I like Opus and have been known to recommend it to others.

 

First things first, If you are running FSX and Opus, have entered destination cruise altitude, enabled automatic settings, clicked on Update weather and still the two files are missing from the Opus installation folder structure, then something funny is going on.

 

----

 

Then the winds inside FSX

 

If you have have setup your Opus like me (Destination, Alternates, Cruise altitude set, automatic settings + stabilization AND NOT using the beta that was released this week), the weather in FSX will only be 100% match to the NOAA data when you are on the ground at your origin/destination or airborne and below the Opus "Recovery altitude" (as well as FSX allows it to be represented).

 

If you are using _wind stabilization_ (and/or sim friendly targets) like I am, the weather should look correct (clouds, temperatures, preasures), but the winds will not be 100% match:

 

1) The cruise winds might not be a match because stabilization is trying to suppress wind shifts, 2) listening to the FSX ATIS or looking at FSX weather from anywhere else than the Opus weather report window, will give you a different result than the METAR.

 

But for me this all is only true, when I'm using stabilization and I'm above the recovery altitude. The only drawback with this has been the AI runway assingment and I'm extremely happy to see that it is being looked at!

 

---

 

To summarize: Do winds inside FSX (with Opus wind stabilization activated) match the NOAA METAR 100% of the time. Absolutely not, BUT the winds match the METAR extremely well when you need it to match (landings and takeoffs). And please remember, this is only how I see things (and based on the way I have decided to use Opus, where I prefer winds stability over total accuracy).

Previously, armed with knowledge of your destination the weather at your destination would be in sync with the METARs before you reach 32nm from your destination. This was done deliberately under the assumption that people would use the Opus Destination Weather Report and treat that as providing a perfect ATIS from over 400 away.

 

If you have been keeping up with the announcements and posts in Coming Soon and Flight Planning Assistance topics as well as a few other relevant topics in our SimForums, then you will be aware we are currently involved in a Flight Planning beta dev cycle that is now preparing beta 3.03.5. in this beta we have been looking to coax FSX into storing accurate surface conditions for your destination, including the RW surface winds, at much greater distances to your destination. The aim of this is to allow users to make use of longer range FSX ATIS and also to coax FSX into assigning correct runways to its AI aircraft whilst still much further away from the destination. This has to be done carefully since FSX has limited capabilities when it comes to long range surface conditions. If you read the Coming Soon topic you will know that we have already had some success in this front, having extended the range to 75nm in some of the test flights performed in house.

 

Many more tests are needed but we hope to be able to coax FSX into accepting the RW surface conditions, and possibly cloud cover, for your specified destination up to 160km or about 86nm away. This would typically coincide with the maximum distance you can receive ATIS from FSX whilst flying at altitude. These weather injections are not affected by the current wind stabilisation so the previous Static winds do not apply.

 

We are also pleased to announce that Navigraph has kindly allowed us to supply and install (if not already installed) a set of Navdata files used in the Flight Planning Assistance software.

 

But on a side note, throughout these discussions we have been conducting test flights and with the recommended default settings have not once failed to receive 100% accurate weather by the time we are 30nm away from the destination. In all these tests, the Opus Destination Weather Report provided perfect ATIS from over 400 miles away allowing the correct STAR and descent profile, with the aid of the Opus Lower and Upper Atmospheric Reports, to be prepared.

 

Whether sceptic or not, thousands of users will soon be enjoying the latest betas just as they have the previous betas and releases. It is for these users that we continue to develop and strive to squeezing what reality we can out of the ageing FSX software.

 

Regards

Stephen

Sounds great. Should work well with ProAtc in preparing descent with STAR and proper runway. 

AI seems to be a big issue there too so if winds are consistent well in advance the AI should be in unison. 

Thanks

Goodbye OpusFSX.  I am tired of being treated like this.  You can tell me what should be happening all you want.  This file doesn't exist on my system.  I don't know why, but I can't cross check these METARs when this file can't be located.  You can argue all you want, but the weather that loads in to FSX at the destination airport is NOT CORRECT.

 

Anyway, you don't have to worry about me anymore I guess.  I don't deserve and don't need to be treated like an idiot.  I'll move on back to AS2012.

Out of all the users (myself included with 100's of flights completed with no weather/data anamolies) I guess there had to be an exception. Looks to be you got the short end of the stick. If you'd like I could use a program called "Teamviewer" to remotely access your computer and check out your OPUS setup and whether you have things installed and configured correctly or not.

Never even got opus off the ground. So I went back to AS2012. There is no doubt when it is working and with the interface you can see exactly what it is doing. I got so frustrated trying to get opus set up it joined the hanger with all the rest I just don't use anymore. Cpt out.

Getting OPUS set up is as easy as installing the software. Choosing whether FSX will be on the same or different computer than OPUS and pointing OPUS to the FSX directory and then configuring the weather options to "download weather, use primary server". As offered above, if you would like I could use Teamviewer to remote access/view your computer and reinstall and set you up or make sure you have things configured correctly or incorrectly.

Sounds great. Should work well with ProAtc in preparing descent with STAR and proper runway. 

AI seems to be a big issue there too so if winds are consistent well in advance the AI should be in unison. 

Thanks

There's a development of a program that will make AI follow SID and STAR procedures. From the small amount who have tried it the program seems to work really well. The developer is also in the process of developing it and making it so that it will read all available SID and STARS in your FS area and assign aircraft onto them.

http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=177138&CatID=fsxutil&Cookie=1

 

 

Getting OPUS set up is as easy as installing the software. Choosing whether FSX will be on the same or different computer than OPUS and pointing OPUS to the FSX directory and then configuring the weather options to "download weather, use primary server". As offered above, if you would like I could use Teamviewer to remote access/view your computer and reinstall and set you up or make sure you have things configured correctly or incorrectly.

Thank you kindly. I will not change back for now. I am currently happy with my current weather situation. I have three REX, AS2012, and Opus. I have no major issues with opus other than I us FSCaptian which is an ACARS add on that I am very pleased with. The AS2012 weather works seamlessly with it. No extra buttons to press or any other issues that I have observed on a personal basis.You just load it and go. It works well with the said other Add On. You can set what you want and then fly. I have to use planning software for flight plans, fuel planners for fuel, then on top of that I am a real world pilot so I have no issue with this. No mater what flight level I choose or am able to deviate to it works. I purchase all of these add ons to gain in realism of the sim. The first is flight model. This I want as close to real as possible. Second would be the ground textures in and around the airport. I hate seeing roads were there are none. So I found an addon that fixes that. Third would be the weather. More of a set  and forget and if I end a flight and then start another in the same realm or outside in another country it works no adjustment needed. 5 min intervals and bam it interpolates into the sim for my current GIS/GPS position. The only thing I don't use of AS2012 is the textures. I use Rex for this. I limit my selection to what I usually see while in flight. Nuff said, Thanks again, Cpt out.

For those who have not been reading the Coming Soon and Announcements on our SimForums, I thought you would be interested to know, as promised the Beta 3.03.5 has now been posted. Our tests conducted over numerous flights have shown the destination weather to be spot on, in 100% agreement with the METAR and of course all the Opus Reports (seeing as they are all taken DIRECTLY from the NOAA METARs), from up to 240km away, that is about 130nm or 150 miles ! In many instances the weather after an update can be spot on at the Destination up to 270km away, that is up to about 146nm or 167 miles !

 

Announcements ...

 

OpusFSX Beta Version 3.03.5 is now available for download on our website.

 

Remember when installing the OpusFSX_v303_Beta.msi file you must uninstall your current version before installing the new version (do not delete your previous \OpusFSX installation folder).

 

After installing please check all the settings in your Configure and Weather dialogues. You can download from http://www.opussoftware.co.uk/opusfsi/downloads.htm

 

Flight Plan En Route weather reports now update as you pass through the weather cells and any station report for your specified Destination no longer show the 'Static XXX/XX XXC' data. Delays for camera view changes increased slightly. GRIB data can also be used when importing from a METAR file.

 

The interpolation, weather update and injection procedures for the Destination and Alternate sites has been changed along with all wind handling and smoothing procedures. All the changes have been aimed at enforcing the Destination weather including all surface conditions and coaxing the simulator into accepting the RW surface conditions at your specified destination at much greater distances than before. In house tests now show the destination weather is accurate out to about 240km (about 130nm or 150 miles), in some instances even out to 270km (about 146nm or 167 miles). As a result of the new weather updating methods far fewer updates are now required as you approach your destination.

 

Navigraph Navdata in the form of the Navaids.txt and Waypoints.txt files are now supplied as part of the OpusFSX installation. These files will be automatically installed into your <SIM>\Navigraph\Navdata folder whenever you need to use nav data and the files do not exist. These files supplied by Navigraph provide navigation data for those who want to make use of the flight planning assistant and en route weather reports, but do not fly the big jets and hence do not have any Navigraph, or similar, data on their systems.

 

Regards

Stephen :biggrin:

 

 

There's a development of a program that will make AI follow SID and STAR procedures. From the small amount who have tried it the program seems to work really well. The developer is also in the process of developing it and making it so that it will read all available SID and STARS in your FS area and assign aircraft onto them.

 

Wow thats great. Anything to keep it a little more organized and orderly. 

Wow thats great. Anything to keep it a little more organized and orderly. 

Are you referring to the AI? From what I have gathered from the original Avsim thread is that the program itself does its own spacing for the aircraft on the various arrivals. Sort of like that AI Smooth or AI Separation (My choice program, much more straight forward and allows better control and handing) in making sure aircraft don't get too close to one another.

 

The current program installs SID/STARS for EGLL, KJFK, KLAX, and KORD. But the developer is making it so that it will "scan" the airports around you that have available SID/STARS and will have AI utilize them as necessary. You can also choose to add or omit specific arrival or departures based on how you would like your flow of traffic. Easier explained in the documentation or on the original thread than I can.

Thank you kindly. I will not change back for now. I am currently happy with my current weather situation. I have three REX, AS2012, and Opus. I have no major issues with opus other than I us FSCaptian which is an ACARS add on that I am very pleased with. The AS2012 weather works seamlessly with it. No extra buttons to press or any other issues that I have observed on a personal basis.You just load it and go. It works well with the said other Add On. You can set what you want and then fly. I have to use planning software for flight plans, fuel planners for fuel, then on top of that I am a real world pilot so I have no issue with this. No mater what flight level I choose or am able to deviate to it works. I purchase all of these add ons to gain in realism of the sim. The first is flight model. This I want as close to real as possible. Second would be the ground textures in and around the airport. I hate seeing roads were there are none. So I found an addon that fixes that. Third would be the weather. More of a set  and forget and if I end a flight and then start another in the same realm or outside in another country it works no adjustment needed. 5 min intervals and bam it interpolates into the sim for my current GIS/GPS position. The only thing I don't use of AS2012 is the textures. I use Rex for this. I limit my selection to what I usually see while in flight. Nuff said, Thanks again, Cpt out.

If you have your sim working the way you like then by all means.

Correct AI runway selection depends entirely on the accuracy of the destination weather within the simulator.

 

Hence the current development and beta posting of OpusFSX, aimed at overcoming the inaccuracies within FSX. This beta, soon to be Release Version 3.1, now gives perfect ATIS at over 400 miles away using the Opus weather report windows, and mor importantly, produces perfectly accurate weather inside the sim at distances of 240km (130nm) and further, way beyond the range of the FSX ATIS at altitude and in plenty of time for all AI traffic to be coordinated with the RW conditions.

 

Stephen :smile:

Correct AI runway selection depends entirely on the accuracy of the destination weather within the simulator.

 

Hence the current development and beta posting of OpusFSX, aimed at overcoming the inaccuracies within FSX. This beta, soon to be Release Version 3.1, now gives perfect ATIS at over 400 miles away using the Opus weather report windows, and mor importantly, produces perfectly accurate weather inside the sim at distances of 240km (130nm) and further, way beyond the range of the FSX ATIS at altitude and in plenty of time for all AI traffic to be coordinated with the RW conditions.

 

Stephen :smile:

Thats a big accomplishment to overcome in FSX and will surely help. What about at startup and departure airport. Right away the AI seem leaving will fairly quickly line up with the winds but those arriving will land on whatever the winds designate themselves at startup.  Therefore common to have aircraft landing while your on takeoff the opposite way. 

I think your working with PROATC on this if im not mistaken.