Simviation Forum - Water view for long distances

Jun 10^th, 2009 at 11:06pm

SteveS Offline
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I've started flying overseas flights and have noticed the water draws different in the distance, almost like a different set of water textures, in square block shapes. I've tried moving the sliders around for water detail in each position and it doesn't correct the problem. I have tried different free water downloads like Real Environment Pro and waterzone and the same results appear. Any idea for a cause to this issue? Thanks.

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Reply #1 - Jun 10^th, 2009 at 11:21pm

Capt.Propwash Offline
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As you get closer to where FS was drawing the water, does the water become the correct Texture??

have you ever driven on a highway and looked off in the distance and thought you saw water on the road, but when you get up to where the water should be .... its dry?? ??Why is the water moving away from you at a constant speed relative to yours?? It is nothing more than your eyes playing tricks on you. (the scientific explanation... you are seeing light reflecting off the silica/sand and the asphalt at just the right angle that it just looks like water)

The cpu is trying to figure out exactly what it is, what texture it is going to call it, and then call it up out of storage, then send that info to the video processor who then reads the info, and puts it where it is supposed to belong.

Dont worry, mine does it too.. lol

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Reply #2 - Jun 10^th, 2009 at 11:31pm

SteveS Offline
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As I get closer it does correct the water texture and it appears like the rest of the water. It's a little odd looking as you pan from right to left and the perfect square block of different water that stands out. I'm sure I'll learn to live with

My first flight overseas and I kept thinking "alright, land!" only to realize it's water Sad

.

Thanks.

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Reply #3 - Jun 10^th, 2009 at 11:39pm

Groundbound1 Offline
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Yeah, I think it has something to do with how far the sim will perform detailed rendering. Just like when flying over land, the real detail e.g. peaks of mountains, autogen trees and buildings etc., only fill in as you approach them. I think MS did this to keep your machine from having to work too hard by rendering everything at once. I wish something could be done about it, but I too will have to deal.

Now one thing you might try, is reducing the visibility to 30 or 40 miles. That way the "goofy"water will be a bit hazed out.

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Reply #4 - Jun 11^th, 2009 at 9:08am

JBaymore Offline
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I beleive that I remember reading that this is a well known "bug" with fs2004. I sometimes see it in certain weather conditions whrer visibility is really high.

best,

..................john

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Reply #5 - Jun 11^th, 2009 at 2:08pm

Travis Offline
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What Groundbound said is the real solution.

In real life, unless you are flying at unbelievably high altitudes, the natural haze of the local environment generally limits ground-based sight to less than fifty miles, and generally a lot closer than that.

I fly at (usually) less than 5,000 MSL and have never been able to see past 20-25 miles in any direction, even on the clearest day. It's simply ground haze.

This is what MS tried to utilize to keep processor runtime down a bit. They failed, however, in letting the user pick the visibility limit, since most people would choose unlimited just out of random "I want to be able to see everything; why would I limit my vision?".

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Reply #6 - Jun 11^th, 2009 at 8:38pm

CAFedm Offline
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To see a more dramatic representation of this area of detail, while over water (most noticeably), select "top down" view and pan out. A large cross appears with the aircraft in the middle, the cross being the higher texture detail being displayed. It's a pain for high-flight but as mentioned, simply setting visibility to something closer than unlimited works well.

Brian

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Reply #7 - Jun 12^th, 2009 at 6:25am

Fozzer Offline
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Remembering my actual visibility, in real life, at <2000 feet AGL in the Club's Cessna 150/152, I restrict my visibility in the Sim to between 5 and 10 miles Max...and sometimes even less if the weather is a bit naff!... Wink

....!

Remember all that Fog, Mist, Smoke, etc which accompanies you during your flights aloft!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...lost in the Mists of Time... Grin

...!

ALT > Menu > Weather > Custom Weather > Visibility......etc...

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Reply #8 - Jun 12^th, 2009 at 2:31pm

SteveS Offline
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Thanks guys. I thought I'd include a picture. You can see the line where the the water seems to just change textures. I do have my visibility to the lowest setting.

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Reply #9 - Jun 12^th, 2009 at 2:49pm

Fozzer Offline
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...I see what you mean now... Wink

...!

I get exactly the same view in my FS 2004 when flying over water, but as I generally keep to low VFR Altitudes in my GA Aircraft, I just put up with it!...

...!

Maybe a fiddle around with certain settings in the fs9.cfg File may help?

I'm sure someone will come up with a permanent cure... Wink

...!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...all at Sea.... Cool

...!

In "Scenery", I have "Water Effects" turned off, and display "Land only"... Wink

...!

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Reply #10 - Jun 12^th, 2009 at 3:11pm

Capt.Propwash Offline
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as you can see in the pic below ..... I am in KSFO to start with. The Red + is the plane.

the larger + area is where the simulator draws the most detailed texture. outside of that + area the scenery is blurred so that your CPU / Video Card is not trying to load EVERY TREE, EVERY TOWER, EVERY HANGAR/AIRPORT... etc etc etc. It knows it should be there, but it is not close enough to you to say "you need to be able to see this", What it IS telling you... is it is out there somewhere, but you just cant see it at the moment.

The more detailed + area will move with your plane to keep the detail area with you. There is no way to change the programing that Microsoft has set up for it; Sorry. It happens on everyones computer.

The thoughts and expressions contained in the post above are solely my own, and not necessarily those of Simviation.com, its Moderators, its Staff, its Members, or other guests. They can not, are not, and will not be held liable for any thoughts, or expressions, or posts that I have made, or will make in the future.

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Reply #11 - Jun 12^th, 2009 at 4:03pm

Groundbound1 Offline
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SteveS wrote on Jun 12^th, 2009 at 2:31pm:

Thanks guys. I thought I'd include a picture. You can see the line where the the water seems to just change textures. I do have my visibility to the lowest setting.

[img]

Don't forget, by default the visibility settings only pertain to an altitude of 15,000 ft. You can however set it to any altitude you like up to 99,999 ft.

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Reply #12 - Jun 15^th, 2009 at 10:39pm

SteveS Offline
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Dyer, IN

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Thank you everyone for you input, I've modified my fs.cfg file in a way that keeps me from seeing past the limitation. This is the line I changed:
MAX_UNLIMITED_VIS=50000

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