KSJC is in Northern California?

So re: "requirements", my understanding is that is mostly to do with elevation data. IIRC the airports and regional products all use the same elevation data to be compatible with each other, so chances are likely that default sim data uses different values and results in terrain issues without use of the regional products. You *might* have a different, third-party terrain/mesh package that coincidentally uses the same data/source and therefore results in no issues, but I don't think Orbx cares for compiling that info when they can instead push you to buy their own stuff.

Orbx says you need either their TrueEarth Northern California or their NA Northern California regional package; you won't need both. And as newtie mentions, it's *Northern* California not *Southern* California that is relevant for KSJC.

Here's a coverage map for Northern California (including portions of OR/NV), note the southern border right at Monterey: http://www.mutleyshangar.com/reviews/joe/nca/img/mapright.jpg

Here's a coverage map for Southern California (including portions of NV such as Las Vegas), note the northern border right at Monterey: https://uploads.mudspike.com/optimized/2X/3/3b3a8452bf07c1e88341f149510d407364be9830_2_690x416.JPG

 

Edit: This is bleeding into that other thread about the value of NA regions, but FWIW @Ray Proudfoot they are a significant improvement for the representation of CA (and Vegas in the case of SoCal). The custom landclass mapping and textures in the NA regions are top notch. I also prefer those over their TrueEarth stuff because I'm a sucker for the seasonal texture changes in the NA packages (once you see the spring green hills of the bay area with your own eyes, it's hard to put up with the year-round brown of TrueEarth).

Edited April 4, 20242 yr by drobinho

2 hours ago, drobinho said:

You *might* have a different, third-party terrain/mesh package that coincidentally uses the same data/source and therefore results in no issues, but I don't think Orbx cares for compiling that info when they can instead push you to buy their own stuff.

I have FSGlobal mesh for the entire planet.

2 hours ago, drobinho said:

Orbx says you need either their TrueEarth Northern California or their NA Northern California regional package; you won't need both. And as newtie mentions, it's *Northern* California not *Southern* California that is relevant for KSJC

Depending on whether it’s in the sale I’ll probably opt for NA Northern Cal.

3 hours ago, drobinho said:

The custom landclass mapping and textures in the NA regions are top notch.

Thanks. I’ll make a decision tomorrow. 👍

3 hours ago, newtie said:

KSJC is in Northern California?

Yes, Its located in the southern end of the "Bay Area". The LA region including San Diego is considered Southern CA. 

I have the ORBX airport and also agree its not the best optimized, but generally if I land in one of the 3 major airports in the bay area I land at SFO. 

Yes, I know. Hit the ? instead of the .

I am very relunctant to buy San Jose when ORBX state "this product requires at least one of the following..."

What happens if users only install the airport? Does every aspect of the airport work correctly? If it does and this is just a visual "improvement" then why are ORBX unique in making these statements?

When I bought UK2000 airports there was no recommendation / requirement that TrueEarth GB was required.

This strikes me as a money-making exercise. In any case most of my flying is an high altitude so would the additional package bring any benefits? Still holding off despite the sale price.

I doubt that KSJC it will actually require any of those products to function. My guess is that worst case you will just have to turn of a BGL file or similar. I would however recommend the North Californa True Earth Scenery. I absolutely love it even though it is a bit red but nothing immersion breaking according to me.🙂 Only problem is that once you go photoreal + autogen you never want to go back (now I have a super hard time with the Orbx LC areas because of how blocky it looks). 

FWIW the ORBX KSJC elevation is 17.000m (https://i.imgur.com/eH9zxI4.png).

Default P3Dv4 KSJC elevation is 18.897m (https://i.imgur.com/QksMePW.png).

Latest charts show KSJC elevation is 62ft/19m (https://www.airnav.com/airport/ksjc).

Given that everything online shows elevation values closer to that default value, and not Orbx's, I suspect Orbx KSJC won't sit well without their regional products. If FSGlobal is using data sources that sets KSJC elevation to 19m, then Orbx KSJC could have terrain anomalies (such as sunken/missing taxiways) without either of the regional products *or* taking the time in ADE to generate a new _ALT file and set a flatten poly around the airport.

Thanks chaps. In that case I’ll not bother. I have KSAN, KSFO, KLAX, KLAS plus Portland, Seattle and Vancouver so plenty of alternative airports to use.

Don't forget KMRY, KSBA and KTVL.

40 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Thanks chaps. In that case I’ll not bother. I have KSAN, KSFO, KLAX, KLAS plus Portland, Seattle and Vancouver so plenty of alternative airports to use.

...or take the plunge on ImagineSim's and let us know what you think...! 😁 

More seriously, if you're absolutely itchin' for SJC then you might be better off considering it over Orbx (though given its age, it could also need some polish like GSX/dynamic lighting/ADE airline codes).

1 hour ago, newtie said:

Don't forget KMRY, KSBA and KTVL.

I’m not completely ruling out other airports but I like a reasonable spread around the world.

1 hour ago, drobinho said:

...or take the plunge on ImagineSim's and let us know what you think...! 😁 

More seriously, if you're absolutely itchin' for SJC then you might be better off considering it over Orbx (though given its age, it could also need some polish like GSX/dynamic lighting/ADE airline codes).

I’ll contact the imaginesim guys as I have their Singapore. I have GSX Level 2 and am okay with ADE so it’s an attractive alternative. San Jose seems to have plenty of corporate jets from AIG. Gives the airport a nice feel.