ActiveSky FS Released

[mmcmah 421]

30 minutes ago, JRBarrett said:

Current or historical GFS model data from the NOAA can also be pulled from https://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov but typically clients who do that are not receiving the entire worldwide model, but a limited subset of model data in GRIB format, covering a particular geographic location. The file sizes are typically quite small. X-Plane does this for providing current winds aloft data from the GFS model

Yes ASFS does this as well.

With regards to the GFS models data, I read on their forums or here (too many threads!) that they are going to be adding an option to weigh the global model more than the METARs since some METARs stop at 5000 feet, resulting in blue skies when there is actually high level cloud cover.

[Bobsk8 12,792]

5 minutes ago, sonny147 said:

wow this is an in depth discussion !

And soon it will be probably be over 80 pages of the same comments.....😉

[Bunchy 227]

1 minute ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Check my lowest reading here. An almost unbelievable 17% in March 7 years ago. Wise choice with Davis. 👍

Indeed a wise choice. I've seen your posts over at the WX forums and thought, I recognise that gentleman!

I upgraded from a Vantage Vue to the Pro in late December, went for the aspirated radiation shield too, based on yours and many other comments. I put my anemometer just shy of 10M up on the chimney breast with a seperate transmitter, which is very interesting during named storms!

[fppilot 4,389]

2 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

At the current price, it might be worth getting just for the active air effects combined with default live weather (clear air turbulence, drafts, microbursts, gusts, wind variation and gust-related turbulence).

In these now 44 pages and counting in this topic is there any good summary or accepted conclusion on changes, improvements, additions for textures?  ex, bldg CU, TCU, CB, ACCAS?

[Bobsk8 12,792]

Just now, fppilot said:

In these now 44 pages and counting in this topic is there any good summary or accepted conclusion on changes, improvements, additions for textures?  ex, bldg CU, TCU, CB, ACCAS?

Here is my summary, spend the $25 , about the same price as a McD's Happy meal today, and see if you like it.

[JRBarrett 3,102]

18 minutes ago, fppilot said:

Let me bring this full circle.  The issue I was illustrating in my post is with MSFS live weather and/or MSFS ATIS/AWOS reports.  Over the now almost 4 years of MSFS, I do not recall hearing even once a reported DP other than either 10, or 12.  

ATIS reports use simconnect weather variables. There are variables for temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction and visibility, but there is no variable for dewpoint. There has never been a DP variable in the entire history of the MS franchise, nor is there DP in P3D simconnect, which is derived from MS ESP.

It is probably high time that they did add such a variable to simconnect, at least for the purposes of accurate ATIS reports. 

I am quite sure that the MB weather model does contain several parameters relating to atmospheric moisture, including dewpoint, humidity and saturation mixing ratio, and those parameters are likely used it setting the actual injected weather.

Edited April 21 by JRBarrett

[Cpt_Piett 4,745]

8 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

Here is my summary, spend the $25 , about the same price as a McD's Happy meal today, and see if you like it.

I ended up with that conclusion. I figured it would be far more efficient to test the product myself. Besides, I’ve used AS extensively in several other sims, and didn’t mind supporting HiFi. 

Edited April 21 by Cpt_Piett

[Ray Proudfoot 9,008]

9 minutes ago, Bunchy said:

I put my anemometer just shy of 10M up on the chimney breast with a seperate transmitter, which is very interesting during named storms!

The highest wind speed I’ve recorded was when a squall line passed through. 65mph gust that redistributed several bins and fence panels and rain of a biblical nature for a few minutes. It’s what makes weather recording so interesting. 😁
Anyway, I’ll stop there as we’re hijacking the topic. 

[fppilot 4,389]

8 minutes ago, JRBarrett said:

ATIS reports use simconnect weather variables. There are variables for temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction and visibility, but there is no variable for dewpoint. There has never been a DP variable in the entire history of the MS franchise, nor is there DP in P3D simconnect, which is derived from MS ESP.

 

DP is in USA metars, ATIS, and AWOS.  So MSFS included it in the audio reports.  So include it in the variables and get it right.  Simple,  So also simple to remove it from the reports, and to remove the embarassment.

Edited April 21 by fppilot

[Bunchy 227]

2 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

I ended up with that conclusion. I figured it would be far more efficient to test the product myself. Besides, I’ve used AS extensively in several previous sims, and didn’t mind supporting HiFi. 

I've said my piece on the cloud textures, but that aside, I'm glad I purchased it. It seems to be giving accurate weather, so go for it.

Stu

[Cpt_Piett 4,745]

5 minutes ago, Bunchy said:

I've said my piece on the cloud textures, but that aside, I'm glad I purchased it. It seems to be giving accurate weather, so go for it.

Stu

Shouldn’t cloud textures be the same whether AS or MSFS is in control of the weather?

[Bunchy 227]

Just now, Cpt_Piett said:

Shouldn’t cloud textures be the same whether AS or MSFS is in control of the weather?

You would think so, but they seem bland in comparison.

Not so much contrast and the cumulus seem to have quite flat bottoms, so when you get a few together the effect of the flat bottoms seem like banding.

That being said, it depends on the type of weather being depicted as to what you see obviously. 

The texture of the clouds viewed from above are fine, just lacking the same level of contrast.

To me it looks like the same difference as switching between ultra and high cloud settings

 

Stu

[fppilot 4,389]

17 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

Shouldn’t cloud textures be the same whether AS or MSFS is in control of the weather?

I got spoiled by REX SF 3D cloud textures in FSX, so hopefull we will get improved and additional textures for MSFS someday.

[MarcG 3,021]

This is with Live Weather - AS Preset Control from EGKA over the Channel to France, first pic was with Clouds on HIGH and pretty much what I could see out my window at home, I switched to ULTRA for the second one, pics taken in VR.

After about 30minutes I switched to Passive mode just to see the difference then back to Preset Control mode and the clouds were completely different (didn't take a pic), think I need to get my head around those two settings somewhat.




...and here's something I've not seen in Live Weather since before SU7 (if ever), proper atmospherics around the Sun;

Edited April 21 by MarcG

[mwilk 1,107]

Has anyone been able to use ASFS historical weather when planning a flight using Simbrief? Someone mentioned being able to do it in the previous 44 pages but I wasn't able to track down who it was. When I try to do it Simbrief times out before it can download the weather.