Hello Fliers, I am trying to decide which weather program to use? Thinking about Rex 4  for cloud textures and either Opus or AS for weather engine. Any ideas?

 

Regards,

 

Lamar.

ASN Hands Down

I'd go for FS Global, it's changed my flying pleasure completely.

Phil

Have had excellent results with Rex 4 textures and ASN, and also with Rex 4 textures and Opus.  I have a slight preference for ASN though it's harder on the system (reducing the number of cloud layers below default helps).  But that's mainly a matter of taste.  Speaking of taste, I wasn't as taken with FS Global Real Weather but that's mainly a reaction to the (different) way it renders stratus.  Performance was good.  There's a demo of FSGRW available, so you can try it out.  There are a lot of good choices out there - it's hard to go wrong.

REX4 and ASN.

Spirit

Yep REX4 and ASN = Extremely convincing weather environment :rolleyes:

Currently using Active Sky Next (beta for Prepar3D 2.1) and I'm quite convinced the way Active Sky Next rendered the weather : accuracy, speed of rendering (ASN is on a remote laptop), smoothness during flight passing from one weather condition to another one. 

 

I'm also using REX 4 Texture Direct but on this point, I'm little bit disapointed by cloud textures. I didn't have find yet one that fit my needs. Should spend more time on this topic or hope to find a set or a theme with detailled picture example. So far, almost just clicking randomly.

Rex4 for textures - its weather program.

 

As for Weather, it depends if you are running a solo system, then I would recommend OPUSFSX, it really is light on your resources and I installation is really easy.  Now if you are going to network, and want to look at your aircraft on weather maps and have some real control - Go NEXT.  I have Next on my network and it really works well, one tip - ensure you check on the server system that you have the correct DLL file installed in your DLL.XML file.

Does OPUS have real time weather? RTW is important to me.

 

Lamar

 

 

Does OPUS have real time weather?

 

Yes.  That's mainly what it provides.  Historical weather is more limited than ASN's.  Opus also allows you to save and load themes but real-time download is the main mode of operation.  In my experience it does a good job of matching real-world conditions.

Thanks Alan, by the way, aren't you on BOS IL 2 forum? I think you are a founder also?

Thanks Alan, by the way, aren't you on BOS IL 2 forum? I think you are a founder also?

 

Unfortunately not - that must be another Alan_A (or someone with a similar handle).  My air combat skills don't qualify me to sit in a stationary airplane, let alone join (or found) an IL2 forum - I'm strictly a Gooney driver at the moment!

Hi Alan, I love the Gooney. I fly it also, the ones from 1st flight. I did a little modifaction on the engine sounds. In FSX is have Air Hauler and use the Gooney for my cargo aircraft. Really like the way it handles...... I think that I will go the REX 4 coupled with OPUS weather engine. Went to their site and liked what I read about OPUS. In FSX I have FEX and using the default real time weather. Thought I would change weather programs for P3Dv2.1........I would like to thank all who replied with your suggestions for weather programs.

 

 

Lamar Wright 

I'm late in replying to this discussion, and it looks like Lamar has decided on going with OPUS, but I'm sure that there are many others who are considering one of the weather addons.

 

First of all, I never used a 3rd party weather addon for FSX since it came it came with a (very) basic real weather option (and my old PC could barely run FSX). But P3D does not include even basic real weather, so I went looking for a weather addon.

 

After visiting all the major weather addon sites, I decided to try Active Sky Next's open beta for P3D, and immediately feel in love with it. It was simple to use, yet it did everything I hoped it would ... the weather transitions while flying are smooth and seem pretty realistic. Within a few days I purchased ASN, as I did not want to have to go back to flying without it,

 

If you're like I was, and have never used a good weather addon on before, you're really missing out. Dynamic weather, based on real world conditions adds another whole level of immersion to a flightsim (and often a LOT more difficult flying conditions).  

 

Last night I flew near my first thunderstorm with ASN and I was floored by how well it was done. The wind (and turbulence) kicked up just before the rain hit and it was a struggle to keep my little Cessna on course.  After a while I flew out of the storm and the setting sun broke through the clouds.The winds were still gusting, so my landing was more challenging than I had hoped for . . . but that is what you have to deal with in real flights. (I'm not a pilot, but I've raced sailboats and I sea kayak, so I've had my share of weather changing challenges in real life).

 

Anyone considering a Weather addon, should give the ASN P3D beta a try. I was going to wait until the released version was ready, but I'm sooo glad that I tested this out.

 

 

Anyone considering a Weather addon, should give the ASN P3D beta a try.

 

I agree.  I'm trying to be unbiased, or at least unemotional, since there are several good offerings out there and I've enjoyed using all of them in different ways.  But ASN is producing a level of realism for me that I've never seen before.  The quality of the cloud coverage (with no popping or sudden changes) is wonderful, and the turbulence and ridge effects (especially with some help from Accu-Feel) give me the best immersion I've ever had in a flightsim.  Just finished a short flight in Manfred Jahn's C-47 from Tillamook to Astoria in Orbx PNW, and the sudden chop when I got past the hills and turned north over the Pacific was just breathtaking.  Am still working out the best settings to use and I'll note again that both Opus and FSGRW are lighter on my system but for what I'm getting from ASN, the tradeoffs are worth it.  Highly recommended.