boris4356

I was a FS Genesis lifetime member as well. I found that the quality of their products the last couple of years before the sale had gone downhill. Justin was putting things out too fast without much quality control to try and make a quick buck. He also made a lot of promises that he never kept. He would start to update an older product, and then drop it to go to something he thought he had a better chance of making money on. I have since moved on to FS Global Ultimate. I have found it to be much better quality then all of the FS Genesis products. Bill

Your welcome DustBeats! Bill

Hi Michael, Sorry for taking so long to reply back to your earlier post. I fly the A2A B17 all the time, and I always seem to have instrument time recorded in the logbook after each flight. No idea why it does that. I don't have any issues with the flights being written to the logbook though. I have been using the same logbook file for a long time copying it into new installs etc.. Do you do any manual editing of the logbook? I seem to recall reading somewhere that it can screw up the logbook if you add or delete entries. Bill

Hi Michael, I found that I had issues with flights not being recorded in the logbook when I pressed the ESC key as well. I now click on "end flight" in the menu tab, and then just click on the X on the main screen to exit out. I no longer have flight times not being recorded in the logbook by using this method. Bill

I recently purchased FTX Global and FTX Vector, and I have all the Scenery Tech LC regions running with them. They work well and compliment for the time being, but after seeing Iceland with the Orbx OpenLC there is no question that as each Orbx OpenLC area is released, I will purchase them and uninstall the corresponding Scenery Tech area. For the best experience, you should also have a high quality mesh for the areas in order for Vector to display the way it was intended. Bill

There are 4. There is also FS Global Real Weather.(FSGRW) Bill

This is on the fringes of being SPAM. He already posted it in the Opus forum as well. It has no place in this discussion here. Bill

Hi Ryadh, I have a separate PC that FS Global Real Weather is installed on, and I have the network bridges installed on all the other PC's. In your setup I would guess that you could install it on your PC that is running the gauges. On the Wideview server PC, check the top box in the Wideview Weather interface "Do not update clients weather via Wideview" to disable the client weather interpolation through Wideview, In the network settings tab of FS Global Real Weather on your gauge PC, set it up for multi PC's. Place the Wideview server PC's IP address in the main upper box of the FSGRW network settings, and use the provided default port. The client PC's IP addresses go in the bottom box, and use the same provided default port. You install the FSGRW network bridge on the rest of the PC's, including the Wideview server. I think all PC's have to have a copy of FSUIPC(free copy or paid) and be networked to the PC that FSGRW is installed on. I am not sure if all PC's need an internet connection, or just the one that FSGRW is installed on Hope this helps! Bill

FSGenesis was sold to another Flight Sim company, and the Galaxy memberships were discontinued. Justin Thyme started a new company called Toposim or something like that, where he will custom fix problems like airport plateaus created by his FSGenesis mesh for a fee. Bill

Third party Weather with Wideview has always been hit and miss for me performance wise. I have ASE, REX, and OpusFSX, and all of them are great programs in their own right! But it was FS Global Real Weather that would make the difference for me. Wideview, in my experience, was smooth as long as I used FSX weather. This is what Wideview was originally designed for. As soon as I tried to run it with any third party weather engine, the problems started. I tried running it with Active Sky Evolution, Real Environment Extreme and FS Global Real Weather. These were all installed on a separate PC without FSX, networked to the Wideview setup. I also have the Wideview server PC only displaying gauges with no scenery views. When the Wideview weather page on the server was set to "By Weather Interpolation", the weather on the client PC's updated a minute or more at times after the server, and stuttered with cloud shifts every couple of minutes. There was also extreme lagging. When the Wideview weather page on the server was set to "By Multiple Nearby Weather Stations" the stuttering was milder, but the weather would not update when the server updated. I had to continually force a manual weather update. There is a setting in Wideview "Do not update clients weather via Wideview" that allows weather for the clients to bypass the Wideview server and be injected directly from the source. I tried to set up multiple simconnect cfg's to do this, but could not get it to work with ASE, REX or FSGRW. I sent the developer of FS Global Real Weather, Bernd Podhradsky an email, and described my dillema. I asked him if it were possible to have FSGRW handle multiple networked PC's. He thought it was a good idea, and said he would look into it for a future update. Build #12 was later released with this capability. I installed the new build, but I could not get it to connect. Bernd suggested that he call me, and set up a TeamViewer session so he could have a look at my setup to see what the problem was. He then issued Build #14 the next day with all the bugs ironed out. The customer service that Bernd provided was second to none! He really went out of his way to get things working. He is very patient and a pleasure to speak with! I checked the top box in the Wideview Weather interface "Do not update clients weather via Wideview" to disable the client weather interpolation through Wideview, and then set up FSGRW for multi PC's. I placed the Wideview server PC's IP address in the main upper box of the FSGRW network settings, and used the provided default port. The client PC's IP addresses go in the bottom box, and use the same default port. You install the FSGRW network bridge on each client including the Wideview server. The weather injects into the Wideview server at the same time as the clients with this setting, so the physical effects of the weather are still felt on the airframe. This has really revolutionized my cockpit simming experience! I finally have smooth consistant weather updates in a Wideview setup without stuttering or cloud popups. I can see the weather develop gradually around me, and it doesn't disappear before I get to it. The way FSGRW handles the weather just feels right, and looks like what I see out my window at home. I like their use of more stratus clouds versus cumulous when the forecast calls for it. They go for realism not style. There is a setting that you can adjust though, if you wish to see large puffy cottonballs all the time. There is however an issue with haze appearing and disappearing instantly. This is a well known bug in FSX, and Bernd is trying to find a solution. There is also the white flashes issue with simconnect. There is a setting in FSGRW that will help with this, but you have to give up the clouds moving with the wind. I don't use it, and find that the flashes are not that frequent. I have not experienced any violent wind shifts, and the upper level temps and pressures are stable with no wild swings. I also like the way it handles turbulance and wind movement. It really makes landings a challenge! Throw in the local weather effects, and you have a real magic carpet ride! The swaying, bouncing, and rocking effects of the turbulance on the airframe look good in a multi monitor setup with 2D full screen windows without a VC displayed, and they feel natural. The user interface is simple, and easy to use. The current weather info is very detailed, and you can also get the weather for any ICAO you desire on route. There is also a nice flight planner. If you are using Wideview, and have experienced some of the same issues that I have, I highly suggest that you get FS Global Real Weather. It will make a huge difference in the quality of your simming experience! Bill

This program is fantastic! I continuously travel around the world in my B-17 home cockpit, and I use it for manual flight planning. I stumbled upon it while searching on Google trying to find out what airports were in FSX. I plan my Hops out well in advance on 5x8 index cards. I use this program to find out if the airport I am planning on going to is included in FSX, how long the runways are, what their surface is, the elevation, radio frequencies etc.. You can search for an airport by name, search by country, or by ICAO. It also gives a Google Earth map view of the airport that you can zoom in or out. FSXDB is loaded with all kinds of goodies. I will also bring it up on a separate networked PC while I am flying to access info. It is well worth giving it a look! You won't be disappointed! Bill

I just recently landed at CYAY on my second indepth round the worlder, and noticed the same scenery. I have MTX 5.4 as well, and have noticed these pockets of added scenery in a few places. On my way through Quebec, I landed at CFB Bagotville(CYBG) and it looked like a carbon copy of the Canadian Forces Bases that I grew up on. I was really impressed! Definitely not FSX default. Until this post I also wondered where it came from. I remember seeing it in the read me that there was added BGL's, but it didn't really dawn on me until now! Bill

Here is one thing to keep in mind that no one has mentioned yet. Regardless of what textures you are using, if you have a good quality 3rd party weather engine that models haze, fog, overcast, etc.. properly, you do not see those textures clearly all that often in many parts of the world. To me, this would make the differences between GEX and FTXG negligable if you already own GEX. I was tempted to give FTXG a try, but since I have all the GEX regions and UTX and Scenery tech Landclass, taking the above reasoning into consideration, it is just not feasible to shell out another couple hundred dollars at this time(including LC). Maybe in the future, who knows. Bill

I prefer the GEX textures with Scenery Tech Landclass. In my opinion, I find the FTX textures too dark. But like everything else, what looks good to one person, can look like crud to another! Bill

5++ I am currently flying around the world in the A2A B-17 in real time with no accelleration, and in real world weather. I am trying to land in at least one city in each province, territory, or state of every country. I stay in the seat for the duration of the flight, with only bathroom breaks and to get refreshments . I average 3-5 hours at a time, sometimes longer when time permits. If I am on longer legs like when I flew across the Pacific Ocean Island hopping to South America, I will save, and resume later. Bill

I have this case, and find it to be very good, and it is not that expensive. http://www.ncix.com/...re=COOLERMASTER Found a link for it in the UK. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooler-Master-HAF-Plus-Case/dp/B003XEDTLM Bill

Hi Paul, A standard DVI-D to VGA convertor will not work. You can only convert from DVI-I to VGA. If you do a Google search on DVI-D to VGA convertor, you may find a product that will work, but you will also see many instances of products that don't work. Bill

It is not really that difficult to build your own panels. I have a one person B-17 based enclosed cockpit that is five feet wide by seven feet long. I could have made it five feet long as well if I needed to. If you are flying a complicated airliner, the panels are more difficult with rotary encoders etc...but it is still not that difficult. Here is a post documenting my build that may help you with some ideas. http://www.a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=22072 Bill

That Opus "thing" is very simple to use. If you only have one PC, there is no "clientside this and client that". Once you have set it up, you click on the OpusFSX Server icon, and it opens instantly. You then click your FSX icon as you would normally do, and click Fly now. FSX loads, the OpusFSX weather automatically initilizes in about 10 seconds, and then you do whatever you would normally do. I have a multi PC, five monitor setup, and use the networking function. I found it very simple to set up. It is no more difficult than trying to network any other program. I will not go into this any further, as the OP didn't ask about OpusFSX, and I don't want to hijack this thread. I just wanted to clarify some misconceptions that were stated. Bill

Hi Kevin, Have you tried using wideview=false in your FSX.cfg with your eyefinity setup? That may help you achieve what you want. You can achieve any view desired in OpusFSX. The interface is very user friendly. The problem is that FSX does not play nice when you try to have the virtual cockpit stretched on a multi PC networked setup. You can easily setup the VC views with OpusFSX, but they will jump out of alignment when you bank or taxi etc..This is a limitation of FSX, not OpusFSX. You probably would be able to achieve what you want using OpusFSX with eyefinity on a single PC. If you want to go multi PC, you will have to go with 2d views, and use a separate monitor on the server PC for gauges.. Bill

Hi Frank, I started out with a generic cockpit, but whenever I would fly a different aircraft, I would always be thinking that I really would rather be flying my A2A B-17. Thats when I decided to specialize and make it B-17 specific. I haven't regretted it, and don't really miss flying other aircraft. Bill

Hi Manny, With OpusFSX you should get the same FPS you are getting now with your 3 monitors. I haven't noticed any change on my 3 server monitors FPS when I don't start up the client PC. As far as I can tell, running the client PC doesn't impact the FPS of the server monitors, and vice versa. The FPS you would get on a client PC with two monitors would depend upon the PC specs of the client. OpusFSX doesn't increase or decrease FPS. You suffer the same framerate loss with each additional view you open with OpusFSX, as you would with each additional view you open in FSX without OpusFSX. Bill

Hi Paul, If you only have one PC, there is no need to run the client. Bill

Hi Frank, I am a fan! It has really made things so much easier for me. I went down the route trying to get WideView, Active Sky and EZDOK working in a network , and it was a nightmare. They are all very good programs in their own right, but there was just too many issues trying to get them synced and playing nicely together. I like the fact that with OpusFSX, everything you need is in one product with a quick startup time. I don't think you have to be a hardcore cockpit builder to benefit from this software. Your 30" with TIR is a good alternative to a multi monitor view setup. The camera shake and weather would probably compliment your setup. Keep in mind though, that all controls and gauges must be on the server. The networked PC's can only be used for views. The bezels on a multimonitor system would bother me as well. With my setup though, it's like an aircraft window frame, so it feels natural.The distortion in Eyefinity and Surround is the main reason why I settle for lower framerates with an individual monitor setup. Bill

Hi Guys, I'm not a rep for OpusFSX, but I have been using the software for about a month, so I will try to give you some insight and answers to your questions from a customers point of view. I have a B-17 based enclosed home cockpit with two networked PC's for a five monitor 180 degree surround view. I have three 24" monitors for the Front, Front Left, and Front Right views, and a 40" HDTV for the gauges on an I7 2600K PC (the Server), and two 24" monitors for the Left and Right views on a Q9550 PC(the Client). The three Front view monitors and the HDTV are connected to an AMD HD6970 and an HD3870. The two side monitors to an NVidia GTX 680 4 GB. These views are not in Eyefinity or NVidia surround, but as separate monitors. The NVidia GTX 680 was originally going to be installed in the server PC with the three monitors and the HDTV, but the 680 can't do four monitors in gaming mode, and doesn't like to have a secondary card for additional monitors installed. The frame rates plunged, with bad stuttering. The AMD 6970 actually handles the load relatively well. The five views are set up as 2d windows with no gauges or cockpit bmp in the OpusFSX GUI, and are then undocked to each monitor. You can also set them up as VC views if you wish. You can also set up views in Eyefinity and NVidia surround if you don't want to go the individual monitor route. I switch to full screen once the sim is loaded.The views set up in OpusFSX have the same framerate loss as you would get from setting up additional windows in FSX. It makes camera GUID's that get placed in your aircraft cfg. What makes OpusFSX special is that you can align the views with precision in the Opus interface, and add camera shakes like EZDOK. I average approx 20-30 FPS in unlimited on the front three monitors. It can dip to 10 FPS in heavy scenery on the ground or extreme heavy weather, and go as high as 30-50 Fps in the air. Even when it dips to 10FPS, the surround view more than makes up for it. I did the one large 42" screen view before, and I will never go back, no matter how low the FPS can get at times. The thing with one large view is you only see in front of you. There is nothing like a panoramic 180 degree view. It overwhelms the senses, and most of the time you don't even notice the slow down. You do have to have FSX and any other scenery installed on all PC's. This is the same requirement that WideView has. The networking is very simple. All you do is set up your PC's for sharing as per the Getting Started Guide, and install OpusFSX on all the PC's. You place the network ID's, and the path to FSX in the cfg windows, and you are ready to go. You open up FSX on all the PC's, then click the FSX Server shortcut, and the FSX client shortcuts. It takes about 10 seconds for the server and clients to link. Then you click fly now on all the FSX's, and they all sync up, the real world live weather loads automatically and takes about 20 seconds to initilize. All that's left to do is fly. You can set up the start up to be automatic in an XML file if you so desire, but I prefer to do it manually. The real world weather happens behind the scenes, and there is no setup required. It is currently a work in progress, and new functions are added on a regular basis. There are no textures, just a weather generator. I don't know very much about the technical aspects of weather generating, but I have seen some excellent weather with fog, haze and very nice cloud formations. Hope this helps to understand this software better. Bill