Simviation Forum - Realistic weather?

Jan 22^nd, 2010 at 9:15pm

Cessna the Aerial Hawk Offline
Colonel
formerly infringement153

Gender:
Posts: 18

I don't really like the default weather capabilities fsx has--I can't set updrafts, I can't set moving fronts or pressure zones, it takes forever to customize weather because you can't save settings and weather is tied to weather stations (in real life, weather isn't that convenient to pilots), and, to a less important extent, I can't make tornadoes or hurricanes.

Google searches turn up only payware, does anybody know of freeware that would improve the system?

Thank you for reading.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Jan 22^nd, 2010 at 10:41pm

machineman9 Offline
Colonel
Nantwich, England

Gender:
Posts: 5255

Well you could always use the real world weather system where it downloads the current weather either at the start of the flight or every 15 minutes.

I imagine a lot of the weather is already hard wired into the game and may be hard to adjust how it affects things and how customisable it is.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Jan 23^rd, 2010 at 10:52am

Capt.Propwash Offline
Colonel
Let's get a little mud
on the tires!
KCHS, Charleston, SC, USA

Gender:
Posts: 1958

you have to remember 1 thing. FS8 (2002), FS9 (2004), FSX (2006) are "Simulators". you are only going to get "Simulated" weather. it is NOT going to be spot on perfect or 'non-perfect' like it is in the real world.

even if you "Download real world weather - updates every 15 min" ... you will NEVER see a hurricane or tornado in FS. Microsoft did not program in the information to give you swirling clouds. And in real life, if you are flying planes, the weather stations around different countries are what you have to go by to get ATIS information; otherwise how do you know what the barometer reading is?? how do you know what the wind is doing 30'000 feet up when you are on the ground??

unfortunately, you almost have to use the USER DEFINED WEATHER if you want the 125 mph winds @ surface, raining, 1/4 mile or less visability (but you will never see that 200mph tornado --- unless you download a pilotable tornado and turn it into an AI; give it a flight path, then go fly near it........ .but you will NOT feel the effects from it) http://www.surclaro.com/fsdownload-detail-13526.html -- you might have to sign in to actually get it.

other than the User Defined Weather, there is ACTIVE SKY, or REX (Real Environment Xtreme), or maybe a few others but most are payware due to FSX only being out for such a short time (4years) and noone really wants to do free weather work for the sim quite yet. sorry.

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.

Computer Specs:: Acer Aspire Laptop..Win7 Home Premium 64-bit (sp1), AMD Athlon II X2 P340 (Dual Core) [2.2 Ghz], ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 (256mb), 4GB DDR3......FS9.1(sp3) / FSX (sp2)..... Ultimate Terrain X, Ground Environment X, REX, FTX ORBX PNW-PFJ-NRM-CRM, OZx, Tongass Fjords, Misty Moorings

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Jan 25^th, 2010 at 7:45pm

Thud Offline
Colonel
KEVB/KDAB

Gender:
Posts: 485

http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/weather.html ?

Windows Vista (32bit) HP Pavilion a6000 E2180 @2.00 GHz 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200 3GB RAM IPIB-LB Motherboard Nvidia 512MB 9800 GT

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Feb 1^st, 2010 at 12:32am

Cessna the Aerial Hawk Offline
Colonel
formerly infringement153

Gender:
Posts: 18

Thud wrote on Jan 25^th, 2010 at 7:45pm:

http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/weather.html ?

Costs as much as the simulator itself...

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Feb 1^st, 2010 at 9:07am

JBaymore Offline
Global Moderator
Under the curse of the
hombuilt cockpit!

Gender:
Posts: 10261

ActiveSky.... very good.

Yes they cost as much as the simulator. Becasue they are complex pieces of software to develop... and thay sell WAY fewer copies than the simulator itself.

Simple economics. If you need to make 1 million $ in gross revenue to cover costs and profit..... you can sell 1 million copies at 1$ each........ or 1 copy at $1 million.

best,

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

Intel i7 960 quad 3.2G LGA 1366, Asus P6X58D Premium, 750W Corsair, 6 gig 1600 DDR3, Spinpoint 1TB 7200 HD, Caviar 500G 7200 HD, GTX275 1280M, Logitec Z640, Win7 Pro 64b, CH Products yoke, pedals + throttle quad, simpit

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Feb 3^rd, 2010 at 6:55pm

Cessna the Aerial Hawk Offline
Colonel
formerly infringement153

Gender:
Posts: 18

JBaymore wrote on Feb 1^st, 2010 at 9:07am:

ActiveSky.... very good.

Yes they cost as much as the simulator. Becasue they are complex pieces of software to develop... and thay sell WAY fewer copies than the simulator itself.

Simple economics. If you need to make 1 million $ in gross revenue to cover costs and profit..... you can sell 1 million copies at 1$ each........ or 1 copy at $1 million.

best,

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

Yes...makes sense.

Still, despite their pricing being logical, I'm not paying $40 for an addon.

Looks like default weather for me.

Thanks for all your help, everybody.

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: