Jet2

Hi Jim, getting quite bad wind shifts on ocassion at high levels with the latest ASE build on FSX (when I say bad, enough to knock my level-d out of VNAV, not turn it upside down). I know the solution is DWC, however I use Real Atis too (marvelous BTW) and using 'global mode' makes real atis not function correctly (it told me the weather at KMCO was -53 degrees yesterday with DWC enabled in global mode!) it's my understanding that ASE in 'station mode doesnt provide or doesn't do an excellent job at wind smoothing so I looked to FSUIPC. I realise I need to check the box 'allow changes to FS own weather' and then select the wind smoothing option, which I limited to 1 degree every 2 seconds and it seemed to work quite well. So my golden nugget question is this:- will this setting affect thermal generation and/or wind shear effects at low altitude (i.e landing in gusty wind), is it one of those FSX trade off situations where you can only really have one or the other. I'm led to believe this is so but just for conformation if you would. I think i'd rather have the high wind shifts than lose wind shear and heavy turbulence. Thanks.Kind regardsMark

Me too, it's what makes them the best. Jim is always on when you need him and i've never not got things sorted out.Kind regardsMark

Hi Jeff, Steve's right, you are a star! Sorry for dismissing you so quick, Jim had me convinced it was my simconnect install. I changed the dynamic rate of change on ASA interface to 100% and voila! All seems to be working. Here's me corrupting every program i've got installed on my PC trying to sort this issue out and all I needed to do was move one slider! Huge thanks Jeff.Jim, No mention of any of this in the manual, does seem very strange to me, could explain why I thought I had it working once, maybe I forgot to move the slider to 0% on that occasion like I normally do, be leaving at 100 now though. Just need my ASE re-activating when you get time. Thanks!Kind regardsMark

Jim, could it be something to do with the license key problem i've now developed, i'm using the same key for ASE and ASA, although ASA appears to be activated ok (I think?). I've just been reading that multiple activations can cause problems resulting in incorrect updating in ASE.Kind regardsMark

Jim, got my install sorted, fresh FSX with sp1 and sp2. Did a quick test and still ASA is not updating. Heres my ASA simconnect log:I have also attached my ASA_log after running fs about 9 mins. BTW do I need the SDK's installing too, up to SDK SP2. Is this a requirement for it to work?13:56:48:0679 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:56:48:0683 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = False / mConnected = False13:56:48:0814 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:56:49:0218 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:56:49:0218 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:56:49:0218 - FSX Connection Attempted13:56:49:0218 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:56:54:0219 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:56:54:0219 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:56:54:0219 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:56:54:0619 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:56:54:0619 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:56:54:0619 - FSX Connection Attempted13:56:54:0619 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:00:0219 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:00:0219 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:00:0219 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:00:0619 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:00:0619 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:00:0619 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:00:0619 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:06:0219 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:06:0219 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:06:0219 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:06:0619 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:06:0619 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:06:0620 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:06:0620 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:12:0220 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:12:0220 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:12:0220 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:12:0620 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:12:0620 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:12:0620 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:12:0620 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:18:0220 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:18:0220 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:18:0220 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:18:0620 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:18:0620 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:18:0620 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:18:0620 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:24:0220 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:24:0220 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:24:0220 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:24:0620 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:24:0620 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:24:0620 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:24:0620 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:30:0220 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:30:0497 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:30:0497 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:30:0898 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:30:0898 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:30:0898 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:30:0898 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:36:0198 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:36:0198 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:36:0198 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:36:0598 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:36:0598 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:36:0598 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:36:0598 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:42:0198 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:42:0198 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:42:0198 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:42:0599 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Failed to connect - Please ensure FS is running: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.13:57:42:0599 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:42:0599 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:42:0599 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:48:0199 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:48:0199 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:48:0199 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...13:57:48:0199 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Connection request sent ...13:57:48:0211 - Sim general message:SimConnect Msg: Data request sent ...13:57:48:0213 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:48:0213 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:48:0213 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:54:0114 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:57:54:0114 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:54:0114 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOT NOTHING ...13:57:54:0114 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:57:54:0114 - FSX Connection Attempted13:57:54:0114 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:00:0314 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:00:0314 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:00:0314 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOT NOTHING ...13:58:00:0314 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:00:0314 - FSX Connection Attempted13:58:00:0314 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:06:0214 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:06:0214 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:06:0214 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOT NOTHING ...13:58:06:0214 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:06:0214 - FSX Connection Attempted13:58:06:0214 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:12:0114 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:12:0114 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:12:0114 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOT NOTHING ...13:58:12:0114 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:12:0114 - FSX Connection Attempted13:58:12:0114 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:18:0314 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:18:0314 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:18:0314 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOT NOTHING ...13:58:18:0314 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:18:0314 - FSX Connection Attempted13:58:18:0314 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:24:0214 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:24:0214 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:24:0214 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOT NOTHING ...13:58:24:0214 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False13:58:24:0214 - FSX Connection Attempted13:58:24:0214 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False13:58:28:0618 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Connected to FS14:08:17:0112 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Connection closedKind regardsMarkoops, here it is

Thanks Jim, i've gone a bit crazy with FSX trying to sort it and i've managed to corrupt my install, keeps giving some sort of smartassembly warning. Also having trouble with .net frameworks now! I'll do as you ask very sonn but heres my Order id: #231725Jeff, thanks for your help but it's a different issue i'm having, something to do with simconnect, I never use DWC anyway, prefer the individual stations, thanks for your time though, very kind.Kind regardsMark

Jim, please ignore my earlier rather hasty post, I was, and still am a little sick and tired of it all, but I would never ask for a refund. I have just done a complete reinstall of FSX including SP1 an SP2 and still the problem persists. If I move from one airport to another using 'go to airport' from the menu, the weather is exactly the same as the initail set, everywhere in the world. Please help!Kind regardsMark

I'm switching between ASA and ASE and still no luck and now i'm getting a message stating 'this license has already been activated on other computers several times' I only have one computer! Getting sick of all this now and close to asking for a refund, never had this program working in FSX yet.A very dissapointed customerMark

Jim, having no luck and starting to get very frustrated with this now, once again it is not updating, metars change but the weather in FSX doesn't. I simply don't understand why the weather sets correctly on initial start up the just seems to get ignored. Here's what simconnect log says:19:46:56:0977 - Pre Connect FS_Connected = False19:46:56:0982 - FSX Connect Pre Attempt: Instantiated = False / mConnected = False19:46:57:0129 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: fsx_simconnect is NOTHING ...19:46:57:0133 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Connection request sent ...19:46:57:0146 - Sim general message:SimConnect Msg: Data request sent ...19:46:57:0148 - FSX Connect Post Attempt: Instantiated = True / mConnected = False19:46:57:0149 - FSX Connection Attempted19:46:57:0149 - Post Connect FS_Connected = False19:46:57:0378 - Sim general message:Sim Msg: Connected to FSIs this right? If not, what should it say?Kind regardsMark

Thanks Jim, All is now well and I can confirm it is working correctly. I couldn't have done it without your help. I'm a private pilot myself and TS (not TSRA, TSGR) usually just means thunderstorm, there isn't necessarily rain hitting the ground, that's certainly the case in europe anyway, I have thunder and lightning many times without associated rain. Anyway, it's very much not important and I actually quite like it the way it is! Thanks again for your help, I can get back to enjoying ASE again!Kindest regardsMark

Jim, Done some investigatory work and you may have given me a tiny bit of duff info! (No disrespect intended!) I'v reinstalled the FSX SP2 SDK from the internet and ASE now seems to be working, i'm not counting my bunnies yet though but i'll let you know. One quick off topic question, the updated weather I got happened to be this metar string: KMCO 211725Z 10009G14KT 10SM TS SCT037CB SCT080 BKN250 32/22 A3006 RMK AO2 TSB24 OCNL LTGICCG E TS E MOV N T03220222Everything was set corectly in FSX except it was raining quite heavily in the sim, as you can see from the metar string there is evidence of rain, it seems ASE is interpreting that if there's a thunderstorm there should be rain. I've seen this happen before, is there an option i'm missing?Kind regards

Jim, What physically is simconnect? Is at an exe file or whay extension does it have? There is nothing in my winsxs folder with the words simconnect anywhere. Only in \roaming\fsx there's an xml document called simconnect. ASE always says it is connscted to simconnect (or instantiated or some strange word!)Kind regardsMark

Hi Jim, tried what you mentioned but still no luck im afraid, after initial weather set it wont update. How come it's setting the initial weather if it's not connected to simconnect btw? Going to try a reinstall of FSX, please let me know if you think of anything else in the mean time. ThanksKind regardsMark

Ah damn it! I was worried I may have to do something like that. Is there any way of just re-installing simconnect that you know of or is reinstalling the SP's the only way to go? Does simconnect come with FSX SP2 patch? Thanks very much for all your help as usual Jim, never a dark day on the support front!!Kind regardsMark

Thanks jim, am I right in saying simconnect is located in the same folder as the FSX config? Is that all I need to have or does something need to be somewhere else or some settings changed. I wont bother trying the full version just yet if you've identified my problem. What can I try to resolve the communication problem or what could be causing it?RegardsMark

Morning Jim, after the initial weather set ASE is still not updating, i've reinstalled it and updated to latest fsuipc but still nothing. Sat on the ground at KMCO last night, weather injected fine so I went to bed, woke up this morning and even though the metar string in ASE had updated, the weather in FSX was exactly the same as the initial weather set, its as if ASE is ignoring FSX. There were no other programs running last night.Is there any chance I can try the full version rather than the ASA update version I have, I can send my order details, might be worth a try. I'My ASE_Log file is too large to attach here and I cant find an email address at hifi to send it to.Kind regardsMark

Done a little testing before I nip out to watch more of the world cup! Tried starting ASE first and it made no difference. I was lucky enough to get this excellent program for free as i'm a long time customer of HiFi, hence I do have the upgrade version, surely this won't make a difference to having the full version? Going to try a reinstall too. Would upgrading to the latest fsuic make any difference? I'll let you know how i get on. Off topic question. Does ASE reproduce those wonderful towering cumulus clouds or 30000ft cumulonimbus, like in Asv6.5? I know ASA is a bit week on this with poor cloud heights during thunderstorms.Kind regardsMark

Thanks Jim, i'll try loading ASE first, ill also do some other testing first before I pester you too much, seems strange ASA is fine and ASE wont work. What are the fundemental differences between the two in terms of features and how they communicate with FSX, I may stick with ASA if there's not too much difference. As for my log file (ASE_log) all it says is:-12:51:57:0285 - Flight Plan Retrieved - Dataset data about to be processed17:35:06:0688 - Flight Plan Retrieved - Dataset data about to be processed13:49:34:0972 - Flight Plan Retrieved - Dataset data about to be processedThanks for your helpKind regardsMark

Hi Jim/Damien, ASE is behaving strangely. I did a flight yesterday and most of the destination weather was the same as my departure (wind,temp,pressure) even though the 2 airports were 4000nm apart! I did a test today sat on the ground at MYNN and after the initial set (which was ok) the weather did not update. I checked the ASE interface and that was succesfully downloading and displaying the latest metar, but it was not updating it in FSX. I fired up ASA and did the same test and everything updated as normal, strange? I'm using the latest builds, FSX SP2, FSUIPC 4.25 (weather settings off), Vista basic 32bit. I'm not in 'global mode' in ASE. Not sure where the ASE ini is so I cant post it. I also have FSC running on wide client from my laptop and traffic board via simconnect though ASE is on the host machine. Am I setting something up wrong? Any help would be good but i'll stick to ASA for now.RegardsMark

Hi guys, this is an isolated incident, but i've never seen anything like it before so thought i'd post! Cruising at FL350 over Iran as I post this topic 1500Z (near the OISL OISF &OISR stations) I noticed my airspeed suddenly drop to about 180kts IAS!, at the same time the 'barber pole' on the IAS was showing 200kts max ias, the aircraft also dropped violently and the altimeter showed about 28000ft, a huge drop. Checked ASA and it was showing OISF barometric pressure as 653 QNH! OISR was 800 and it was similar story for all stations in Iran, I noticed from another website that these staions wer 'not reporting' so wonder if it's to do witht ASA advanced interpolation, (or whatever it's called!) Sure it's just a data problem.All this was in FS9.1 with latest ASA build and with LDS 767. RegardsMark

Thanks Jim, that's a tiny bit dissapointing, i'd have said they needed to be even bigger than before! What are they limited too may I ask? Surely not 6000ft, is there any way to unlimit them,fsuipc provides options for limiting cloud heights for people that dont want large ones, I have a very powerful machine and loved the ones ASV6 produced. Sorry to be a pain, it's no big deal really, just asking, cos I know you guys listen!. ThanksRegardsMark

Hi guys, just a quick question, flown through a couple of areas of reported nearby thunderstorms (within convective sigmets too) and don't really recall seeing many nasty towering cumulonimbus as I cruised, remember seeing them with ASV6.5, also as i remember ASV6 had an option to 'extend thunderstorm layers' up to about 20000 as i recall, ASA seems to have no such option. Just wondering what determines the cloud height and tops levels or if there's anything I can change to help this effect. I did check the FS9 written weather for one of the stations that ASA was reporting thunder storms at and it was showing thunderstorms 4/8 scattered but 'tops were at a dissapointing 6000ft, no other clouds. Havent really looked into this very much, thought i'd ask what was influencing cloud heights first. I have default weather settings in FSUIPC with no restrictions on cloud thickness. Using ASA B433 with FS9.1 ASG graphics and latest fsuipc. Thanks alotKind regards Mark

Thanks Jim, i'll send an email to the address you stated for you to have a look, going to insatll a fresh copy of FS2004 on my system first with no addons to make sure it's not something in my setup that's causing the problem. I have noticed something extremely strange; if i slew (press Y) and climb using the slew mode the temperatures are perfect and match the data in ASA as soon as I press Y again to turn off slew and go back into flying mode the temperature jump instantly to a ridiculous level, seems to add about 9 degrees on, i.e if l sew to 9000ft and stop there, ASA main program says the temperature should be 1.4 and the temperature on my aircraft does read 1 degree, if I then press Y again to go back to normal the temperature jumps instantly to 10 degrees, very strange?Regards Mark

Hi Jim/Damien, finally started using ASA again after sticking with AsV6 because of the teething troubles, it's starting to perform as the weather engine it promised to be! There is however still one nagging bug that has not changed for me, its the same as it was with the first release and I noticed it wasn't mentioned on the list of fixes for b406, that is the grossly incorrect upper temperature altitudes, seems to be worse t lower levels (excluding ground temps) just climed out of EGNM with ground temp of 13 and 3000ft temp of 19! then it slowly decreases during the climb. Is this an issue your still working on or am I the only one? ThanksMark

Hi Jim and Damien this is happening every time now so i thought id report it for some help. Flying into EGNM from anywhere in europe i get strange temperatures, starts off ok at high altitude but during the descent things change quite quickly, not sure when it happens exactly but I remember seeing temps of +1 at 19000ft which is obviously wrong and even though the surface temp is only +4 tonight at EGNM the 4000ft temperature was reporting +18*c which is very very wrong, the aloft temps in ASA on the Report tab seemed to read ok but there not being written to FS. Interestingly I restarted FS at EGNM restarted ASA and climbed in slew mode and temperatures reported ok all the way up to FL400, just seems to be when doing a full flight back to EGNM, third time its happened now. Don't suppose you know whats going on?! I have Flightsim commander and aismooth running as well. ThanksRegardsMark