Active Sky for FS9

[stephan]

Before i go to the expense of purchasing Active Sky,I need to know the answer one big question.
Do you HAVE to have the internet hooked to your sim computer to run Active Sky,or can it be configured to use FS9's built in weather themes?
I dont have the net on my sim computer,but I want a working weather radar ( some who are in the know,call the radar a storm scope and other terms) that will show me the weather I am heading toward miles ahead in a doppler looking weather radar. I understand Active Sky has such a weather radar.But if it wont work without the net,there's no reason for me to buy is.

[tbus]

From the Active Sky User Guide:

An internet connection is required for automated registration and activation of the product, as well as usage of most product features. This product may be unusable without a working internet connection.

From HiFi Technologies Knowledge Base:

What specs will be sufficient for ASN?

You will need the following requirements for your PC/Laptop:

Windows XP or later (Windows Vista, 7 and 8 compatible)

Microsoft Flight Simulator X with SP2 or Acceleration or Prepar3D v2.4 or later

Pentium 1GHZ processor or better

1GB RAM or better

300MB free hard drive space

Minimum monitor resolution to access all user interface features: 1024x768

Online internet connection (for weather data access) <----------------------

Sound device (for sound and voice features)

Requires an online internet connection with automatic online activation in order to use online features.

From SimMarket Description:

Internet connection for online mode and manual wx file downloads

In short ...... Save Your Money

[stephan]

I knew the net was needed to register it.I could do that just long enough to register,but I dont fly the net and dont want the net on my sim computer. One major bug or crash and I could lose 6 years of work on my sim. I was just wondering if I needed the net to run it or if it would recognize the weather data provided by the weather schemes/themes that comes with FS9,..ie., when you start the sim,you can change ac you want to use,change the season,the weather ans such. I was hoping it would recognize THOSE weather themes and data. If so,I'm game.If not,it wouldnt be of any use. That is the kind of radar or storm scope I'm looking for. One that will show me a radar screen with the weather up ahead as I fly,...the weather that I chose from the drop down menu..not real weather from the net.

[garymbuska]

Hello Stephen
Unfortunately Active sky needs a internet connection to to download the weather. Most if not all pay ware weather programs are the same way.
I have been a longtime use of active sky and think it is the best weather program out there The last release was Active Sky Next and It is awesome but you do have to have a internet connection
to use it..
I am curious you say your other system has internet connection but the one you use for FS9 does not why do you not just hook up the other system?. I ran a 100 foot cable from my sons room under the house to my computer so i could have wired connection as the signal I got with a wireless connection was not that great. 100 feet is about the max length you can use with out going through a switch. It is not that hard to make your own cables I did it and had never done it before the one thing you have to remember is to wire both ends the same way other wise it will not work, There is a standard color code as to what wire goes where. But inn reality it truly does not matter as long as the two ends are wired the same way. all you have to do is to write down the colors of each wire to each pin and repeat that, So you make sure the brown/gray wire for example if it is on pin 1 of one end it is on pin one of the other end.
Now a days you can get a good wireless modem and a receiver cheap .
We wound up using a range extender in the front room so we can get a good wireless connection in our bed room as the signal does not go around corners very well

[tbus]

Hello Stephen
Unfortunately Active sky needs a internet connection to to download the weather. Most if not all pay ware weather programs are the same way.
I have been a longtime use of active sky and think it is the best weather program out there The last release was Active Sky Next and It is awesome but you do have to have a internet connection
to use it..
I am curious you say your other system has internet connection but the one you use for FS9 does not why do you not just hook up the other system?. I ran a 100 foot cable from my sons room under the house to my computer so i could have wired connection as the signal I got with a wireless connection was not that great. 100 feet is about the max length you can use with out going through a switch. It is not that hard to make your own cables I did it and had never done it before the one thing you have to remember is to wire both ends the same way other wise it will not work, There is a standard color code as to what wire goes where. But inn reality it truly does not matter as long as the two ends are wired the same way. all you have to do is to write down the colors of each wire to each pin and repeat that, So you make sure the brown/gray wire for example if it is on pin 1 of one end it is on pin one of the other end.
Now a days you can get a good wireless modem and a receiver cheap .
We wound up using a range extender in the front room so we can get a good wireless connection in our bed room as the signal does not go around corners very well

As for ActiveSky Next:
"The FSX/P3D main installation path (for example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X = default share name: Flight Simulator X)" .... shame sir!

As for the rest:
Buying a new car wasn't this complicated! ...... and non-related to OP's statement of fact

[stephan]

Yo Tbus...
I dont have my FS9 system (computer ) hooked up to the net because I have so much stored in it,...3 hard drives full of sim stuff.
I got a virus once and it wiped me out.Took me 2 weeks to debug my system.
I even went as far as formatting my main drive,but when I reinstalled Windows,there it was.
It had some sort of complete protection programming in it,and even formatting the hard drive didnt touch it.
It sat in the registry of all places.
I have a friend that is a friendly hacker (doesnt do malicious attacks like some hackers...but sure knows how it's done,LOL) .
He works at a local computer sales/repair center and his mom got the same bug.He said it was a bad one for sure.
There at the center,it took him and his crew 2 weeks to debug his moms computer just as it did me,BUT...he had other computers to sideline help AND the net and it still took him and his crew 2 weeks.So,I feel pretty boastful about being able to debug my stuff as quick as a hacker WITH the net.
The next most important reason I dont fly on the net is I repaint almost every ac I like,as well as do other modifications,..so to keep the designers happy,I wont fly their ac publicly on the net looking in a way they didnt intend for it to look.There are many of these designers that place txt messages in their ac zip files when ya download them that demand no modifications. Well,I DO modify them,but to keep them happy,I keep them to myself.
With almost a terabyte of downloads on my drives,I wont chance losing them again by placing my system on the net.
Even the most secure system can be hacked,or a virus can be downloaded by piggybacking disguised as a picture.Not worth the risk for me.

[garymbuska]

Yo Tbus...
I dont have my FS9 system (computer ) hooked up to the net because I have so much stored in it,...3 hard drives full of sim stuff.
I got a virus once and it wiped me out.Took me 2 weeks to debug my system.
I even went as far as formatting my main drive,but when I reinstalled Windows,there it was.
It had some sort of complete protection programming in it,and even formatting the hard drive didnt touch it.
It sat in the registry of all places.
I have a friend that is a friendly hacker (doesnt do malicious attacks like some hackers...but sure knows how it's done,LOL) .
He works at a local computer sales/repair center and his mom got the same bug.He said it was a bad one for sure.
There at the center,it took him and his crew 2 weeks to debug his moms computer just as it did me,BUT...he had other computers to sideline help AND the net and it still took him and his crew 2 weeks.So,I feel pretty boastful about being able to debug my stuff as quick as a hacker WITH the net.
The next most important reason I dont fly on the net is I repaint almost every ac I like,as well as do other modifications,..so to keep the designers happy,I wont fly their ac publicly on the net looking in a way they didnt intend for it to look.There are many of these designers that place txt messages in their ac zip files when ya download them that demand no modifications. Well,I DO modify them,but to keep them happy,I keep them to myself.
With almost a terabyte of downloads on my drives,I wont chance losing them again by placing my system on the net.
Even the most secure system can be hacked,or a virus can be downloaded by piggybacking disguised as a picture.Not worth the risk for me.

I totally under stand what you are talking about. I once got a virus when I was looking for a new antivirus software program. When I went to this on the site little did I know that there was a little Trojan horse waiting for me. The next morning when I cranked up my system I was blasted by dozens of windows going all over the place. It took me the better part of three weeks to get rid of it all. I later found out the type of virus I got was called look here. It had hijacked my browser sending me all over the place. I could not do anything at all
But you are 100% correct even though most routers have a firewall junk can still get through. Esp. when attached to email or a picture
Thankfully I found a website that will help you get rid of junk like this it is http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/
This is a free service bu it is done through email and it is a slow process but I can thank then more than once for solving my problems.
I know use Norton and MALWAREBYTES to check for junk on a regular basis.
But your way is the best way so i do not blame you there.
Malwarebytes is free Or you can pay for it. But it is the best tool for finding spyware and malware out there.

[tbus]

I feel everyone's pain. Been there, done that. That's why I do regular FULL SYSTEM BACKUPS - operating system and everything else - onto two separate disks .... one internal and one external. AND I use two separate imaging programs to do so ..... just in case whatever even infects one of those programs.

It has saved me plenty in the past, but have had no problems in past few years. Running Windows XP SP3 so plenty careful. Doing it this way effectively "wipes" the disk (and infection) whenever I have to "reinstall" the image of the OS and files. I also run MalwareBytes full-time, Avast anti-virus full-time, and Spybot Search and Destroy on random basis. MalwareBytes also has a free Anti-Exploit program which I keep running in the background. Helps detect whenever a program is being used "unlawfully".

Yes, the sheriff is in town, and packing heat!

[Skywatcher]

Active Sky is great! Must have program imo.
Regarding viruses and the net, you can simply run Active Sky and don't browse or do anything else with the net on said computer. No need to completely disconnect a PC to remain safe.

[garymbuska]

Active Sky is great! Must have program imo.
Regarding viruses and the net, you can simply run Active Sky and don't browse or do anything else with the net on said computer. No need to completely disconnect a PC to remain safe.

I now use Active Sky NEXT for FSX and Active Sky Evolution for FS9.
I can not believe the realism in Active Sky Next. This is by far the best weather generation program out there. I kind of curious if they plan on updating to even a better program than this.
But that is a tall order Not sure what can be improved on.

[stephan]

I .at one time,backed up everything.But now,...I have 3 hard drives on my system. Far too much data to try and back up or take a chance on losing. Almost all of the drive contents are sim related. Losing any of it could cause a dominoe effect on the sim I have put together piece by piece. If one program goes,several may not continue to work as I set them up to work. Playing it safe is my best bet.No net.

[Skywatcher]

I .at one time,backed up everything.But now,...I have 3 hard drives on my system. Far too much data to try and back up or take a chance on losing. Almost all of the drive contents are sim related. Losing any of it could cause a dominoe effect on the sim I have put together piece by piece. If one program goes,several may not continue to work as I set them up to work. Playing it safe is my best bet.No net.

Up to you but you're missing out. Like I said, you just use AS and don't connect to anything else, nothing will bring your PC down. You have a much higher risk of someone breaking into your place and stealing your computer!

[tbus]

Stephan knows best! ......

[stephan]

Skywatcher...
ONCE you make your presence known on the net...you have the potential of becoming a target.
You neednt log onto ANY site.You simply have to be on the net.
Hackers,if they find you,can waltz right into your system and take over...just like that.
I have 2 friends who are hackers.
One has no desire to cause any problems for folks.He practices his skills with his own batch of systems.
The other person,however,I couldnt vouch for. He has a bit of a nasty streak in him at times.
Both are very,VERY good at what they do.These gents would have no problem getting into your system when all you do is open the net.
It is a bit complicated,given that one,you would ask...why would they target you.
Answer...why do hackers target anyone? I dont mean those who steal your data.
I mean hackers who get off destroying systems for the pure satisfaction of causing mayhem.
To go into the reasons,methods and mentality of those out there willing to cause problems requires more time
than I feel like spending on the subject,or that most would be interested in reading about.But...
If you get on the net for ANYTHING,you open the doors for invasion.
McAfee, Microsoft Security Essentials,you name it,cant stay on top of all the bugs out there in real time.
As I said,I have 3 hard drives full of sim stuff.
Too much to risk. If you have to get on the net to use AS,you are opening the door.
Hackers ,if they are looking,can tell. They will know.
IMO...to risk it for one little program isnt worth it.
They have programs that dont do anything but scour the net looking for certain systems in certain areas,and when they are active.
You are most likely right. The risk is very small. But,the risk DOES exist,and I see no reason to tempt fate...
not for one silly little program.
The computer I am using now,in this forum isnt my sim system...in case you or others are wondering.

[Skywatcher]

No probs Stephan, as you wish, I'm extremely computer savvy myself so don't offer poor advice. However, I think you said you don't have backups, I would be creating some. You will generally get some warning a drive is about to die but not always.