Rex/Milviz WXAdvantage radar will not be updated for V5

[JRBarrett 3,042]

I recently subscribed to the Discord channel for Rex Simulations. Yesterday they announced their product update roadmap for various existing products for P3DV5.

Apparently the WX Advantage weather radar product will not be updated for V5. I do know that the True Sky EA clouds and precipitation cannot generate data that can be used for driving a weather radar emulation, but the old style standard weather should still be usable for that purpose. 

I asked about that, and the response was simply that there are “other complications”. I don’t know if this means that it would be too difficult to modify the existing WX Advantage code base yet again to work with V5, or that the particular technique they have been using to extract cloud/precip data from the sim can no longer be done in V5 even with standard (non EA) weather.

This is unfortunate for those add-on aircraft that offer an integrated VC display for the WX Advantage radar.

In fairness, Rex has been supporting the WX Advantage product with free updates through evolving versions of P3D for a long time, and perhaps the changes required to make the existing code base compatible with V5 are too extensive to consider making yet another free upgrade. I don’t know if they have plans down the road to create a new weather radar add-on specifically for V5, or if they are simply out of the “weather radar business” going forward.

This should not affect add-ons that use the Active Sky radar API to create in-sim weather radar displays. It didn’t make the cut for the initial release of the PMDG 747 for V5 due to some kind of miscommunication between PMDG and HiFi, but should be available at some point for PMDG, and I believe FSL has already made the necessary changes to support Active Sky-generated radar in their Airbus line.

[chapstick 2,757]

7 minutes ago, JRBarrett said:

I do know that the True Sky EA clouds and precipitation cannot generate data that can be used for driving a weather radar emulation

I wasn't aware of that. If so, that makes TrueSky completely worthless aside from taking nice screenshots (if you ignore all the visual artifacts).

[KenG 492]

Yes, very disappointing I was hoping for at least a new product like Weather Advantage Plus.

So we finally get cloud base to surface precipitation, but it comes at the cost of no one being able to detect the precipitation. 

[JRBarrett 3,042]

Just now, Chapstick said:

I wasn't aware of that. If so, that makes TrueSky completely worthless aside from taking nice screenshots (if you ignore all the visual artifacts).

It’s my understanding that this applies to the current implementation of True Sky in P3DV5. Since the True Sky technology is licensed for use in P3DV5 by LM from Simul, perhaps data to drive a radar display could be accessed using Simul’s SDK. It remains to be seen how complicated that might be in terms of licensing for third party developers since two different companies are involved. 

[julian46 21]

I just bought it - working fine in P3D 4.5 Hotfix 3 with ASP 3D beta 2 (at least)

https://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/forums/index.php?/topic/53688-db2020051101-rex-product-compatibility-update-1/

Edited May 12, 2020 by julian46

[JRBarrett 3,042]

29 minutes ago, julian46 said:

I just bought it - working fine in P3D 4.5 Hotfix 3 with ASP 3D beta 2 (at least)

https://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/forums/index.php?/topic/53688-db2020051101-rex-product-compatibility-update-1/

Yes, still supported up to P3DV4.5 HF3, will not be updated for P3DV5.

At least this is how it stands at the moment - perhaps they will change their mind. 

[ark 1,288]

1 hour ago, JRBarrett said:

Apparently the WX Advantage weather radar product will not be updated for V5.

Well that is not good news! 😮 🤕

Al

Edited May 12, 2020 by ark

[jabloomf1230 2,445]

Although it was a decent product, REX could never keep up with all of the LM updates and hotfixes. This is just another example of LM gently guiding people to the PDK and away from "creative" access to the sim. I have a feeling that MS will also limit 3rd party access to MSFS to "official" methods. We are gradually seeing the flightsim ecosystem close and begin to resemble that of other mainstream video games.

[JRBarrett 3,042]

29 minutes ago, ark said:

Well that is not good news! 😮 🤕

Al

This might be an option:

https://forums.hifisimtech.com/threads/free-wx-radar-gauge-for-popup-or-vc-integration-x64-p3dv4-build.8594/#post-54031

[xxd09 68]

Milviz boards say WX Radar will be up dated to v5

xxd09

[Milviz 919]

That is correct.  MV owns the rights to the WXR and was working in conjunction with Rex on this.  We are now taking it over and will be providing support and updates.

Please note that updating to WXR for v5 will require a small cost. 

We will supply further info soon.

Thanks.

[fs1 295]

2 minutes ago, Milviz said:

That is correct.  MV owns the rights to the WXR and was working in conjunction with Rex on this.  We are now taking it over and will be providing support and updates.

Please note that updating to WXR for v5 will require a small cost. 

We will supply further info soon.

Thanks.

Truesky is also planned to be supported in the new WX. Regards, Federico

[JRBarrett 3,042]

2 minutes ago, Milviz said:

That is correct.  MV owns the rights to the WXR and was working in conjunction with Rex on this.  We are now taking it over and will be providing support and updates.

Please note that updating to WXR for v5 will require a small cost. 

We will supply further info soon.

Thanks.

Excellent! The small cost is certainly fair after all the free updates that have been provided over the years. 

[xxd09 68]

It does look like WX Radar may not be updated for v5 hotfix1

xxd09

[Milviz 919]

Please see above.  We are already working on the fix.