Well I can honestly say after trying the ASN demo and now updating my Opus to the latest beta, ASN adds nothing that I dont already see with Opus, at least for the majority of flying I do anyway which is max alt of 15,000

 

The latest Opus beta seems to have cured windshifts and cloud popping in weather updates. At least for me in the flights I have tried today. I hadnt updated for a while......

 

I think if you are already an Opus user, the ASN experience is very similar with a couple of added bells and whistles. It also looks like if you are an Opus user then the updates will continue to roll in.

 

Both great programs though for sure, but for me there is no beneift to switching to ASN based on what I have seen, especially for the price and in relation to the latest Opus beta.

 

Competition is great for us though and I wish ASN and Opus (and all the weather engine makers) all the best.

 

 

I've spent the majority of the morning going back and forth also from ASN and OPUS trying to see if the difference was big enough to switch as for me I never owned AS2012 so it's full price for me. I also think since I've been using OPUS so long now I'm missing the real wow factor. I do like the weather search and briefing, but that's not enough for me to take the plunge. I with they would have waited and incorporated P3DV2 into it as watching how OPUS can handle the volumetric clouds is a real sight of wow. I like ASN and hopefully they will refine it a little more as I Seem to take a bigger FPS hit using it, but I will keep an eye on it for now or until REX4,OPUSFSI,FSGRW2, or as I nickname them "Cloud Wars". You know Xplane has ZERO competition in that area..hint, hint, Insta-Buy.

By first glance, ASN looks very amazing. I haven't tried it yet, but as an Opus-user, I must say Opus is a great and constantly developing weather add-on. Therefore they might quickly catch up with ASN. Maybe the Opus users should hold off for a little bit. On top off all, Opus has some very good features that ASN doesn't have. Such as the DHM feature, that doesn't only create camera shakes like EZCA, but also effects the aircraft itself. Opus also handles TrackIR and I must say their profile is really good. Last but not least, Opus has an in-game ATC-window-style interface that let's you check METARs for local, arrival, and alternate airports, but also forecast winds, average winds and temp enroute etc.  

It gives that info in the Briefing page as well as telling with FL will give you the most favourable winds.

 

If it does then how about -7C, with cruise level set at FL270?

 

Dirk.

I don't know why,but my frame rates are bad (normally 30,now 10) with ASN,I have REX on 512 clouds and visibility at 70 miles in FSX,and ASN.

I upped the cloud draw distance to 125 with the added overcast layer and have seen zero FPS impact. Turns out I think I am using REX textures even though I am not totally positive about it. Just flew from BUF in snow and it was pretty awesome. 

 

Didn't have as much turbulence which was nice because I thought perhaps it was over done turns out it was just the conditions I was flying in when I tried it yesterday. 

Is there a slider for turbulence? I really seem to rock n roll in the snowy weather.

Yes there is

Plus a checkbox for 'enhanced turbulence'. (default is 'activated'!!!)

 

 

Turns out I think I am using REX textures even though I am not totally positive about it. Just flew from BUF in snow and it was pretty awesome.

 

If you've ever loaded REX textures and haven't either: loaded textures from someone else; or restored default FSX textures from backup - then you're using REX textures.  Changing textures is something you have to pretty consciously do, and restoring back to FSX default textures is something you REALLY have to consciously do.

 

Scott

What program and textures are those? 

That's ASN with REX Essential+Overdrive Textures.

Is there a slider for turbulence? I really seem to rock n roll in the snowy weather.

 

There are several.  Look in the settings option under both clouds and winds (I think that's right, not at my sim PC right now).  You can also control rates for updrafts and downdrafts.

 

Scott

Maybe the Opus users should hold off for a little bit. On top off all, Opus has some very good features that ASN doesn't have. Such as the DHM feature, that doesn't only create camera shakes like EZCA, but also effects the aircraft itself.

 

Actually one of the reasons I'm so interested in alternatives is because I'm not a fan of eyepoint-based DHM itself, and turbulence in Opus is tied to DHM.  Even if you turn all the DHM options all the way down, you still have to have DHM enabled to get "bump aircraft", which breaks the ability to change eyepoint.  This is simply one of those personal preference things, but I use small changes in eyepoint (mapped to a rocker switch on my yoke) a lot in the GA aircraft I fly, so locking eyepoint gives me fits.

 

The other reason is Opus' lack of support for historic wx beyond 24 hrs, something which would likely require them to invest in and implement their own servers as REX and HiFi have done.  The ability to do some processing server side most likely helps with the really short initial wx load times.

 

It's interesting to note that it sounds like Opus is also developing a completely new wx product (as, of course is REX), so there are certainly reasons to proceed with caution.  I have to admit that when I saw the first shots of the new REX textures, I started wondering, how much of these spectacular images was due to the textures and how much due to REX' yet to be released new wx engine, but as with computer upgrades you can spend your life waiting for the next thing.

 

We all have our hot buttons when it comes to product features, but so far ASN is hitting all of mine in a positive way, especially when it comes to fixing long term problems like abrupt wind, temperature and pressure shifts, cloud popping and offering a solid implementation of turbulence effects directly on the aircraft.

 

 

Scott

Well I can honestly say after trying the ASN demo and now updating my Opus to the latest beta, ASN adds nothing that I dont already see with Opus, at least for the majority of flying I do anyway which is max alt of 15,000

 

The latest Opus beta seems to have cured windshifts and cloud popping in weather updates. At least for me in the flights I have tried today. I hadnt updated for a while......

 

I think if you are already an Opus user, the ASN experience is very similar with a couple of added bells and whistles. It also looks like if you are an Opus user then the updates will continue to roll in.

 

Both great programs though for sure, but for me there is no beneift to switching to ASN based on what I have seen, especially for the price and in relation to the latest Opus beta.

 

Competition is great for us though and I wish ASN and Opus (and all the weather engine makers) all the best.

 

 

Agreed, I have enjoyed tinkering with the trial of ASN (they should be applauded for providing a fully functioning trial, as fewer developers are seeming to offer this), and I have had some good results this evening, by limiting upper max visibility to 50-70miles ;

 

 

.......but just exactly as Glenn said, it's too close to call next to Opus.  There is no phenomenal game changing improvement if you've been using the last few Opus releases.   Even if I were a Millionnaire (I'm not), I would find it hard to justify $50 dollars to change from Opus to ASN.

That's ASN with REX Essential+Overdrive Textures.

 

Ok good that's what mine looked like!! Glad to see that the textures are working right.