More accurate weather?

[gpktm]

I've noticed that every time I'm using live weather in FS the sky is always clear. So, tried to see how accurate the weather is in FS. Exact in time when there was a rain falling outside my house I loaded FS and used live weather option. and guess what??? The sky was clear again! Is there any software or any configuration to make the weather more accurate?

So I suppose, or the weather data are not accurate or FS using only data from only few weather stations.

I'm leaving in Athens and the closest weather station is only few kilometers by my house.

[ashaman]

If you want an alternative to the integrated real weather, you have two main choices.


1) freeware, FSmetar is you friend: http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/fsmetar/

Though I never used, it has a lot of positive feedback.


2) payware, ActiveSky 6 is actually the most accurate tool in the field: http://www.hifisim.com/

I do use it and find it to be the top.


Keep in mind that both the software above need at least the freeware version on FSUIPC to be installed.

[garymbuska]

I also use Active Sky 6 and think it is the best weather simulating software money can buy. I really like the active radar that comes with it. There are no panels to add or any cfg files to edit just press ctrl + F12 and you have a live weather radar that shows your flight path if you have a plan filed. So now you can se the bad weather before you fly into it.

[born_2_fly]

I also use Active Sky 6 and think it is the best weather simulating software money can buy.

+1

[gpktm]

I cannot understand how FSMetar works  ??? I'm doing exactly what the manual says but the weather doen't changes.

Here are the steps I'm follow.
1. Install and run FSMetar
2. FSmetar -> Download Metars from Internet -> IVAO Srver
3. Run FS2004
4. Search airport in FSMetar
5. FSmetar -> Force connection to FS
6. Change to FS

Am I doing anything wrong? Can anyone post the correct steps?

[flaminghotsauce]

I've a question for you Active Sky users:

Does it download real weather, and recreate it, or is it just a great weather generator? I don't much like the real weather I get when I download it, it's usually not very accurate.

What I'd like to see is downloadable radar-accurate weather, even if it's an hour old. I'm thinking about ACtive Sky, but if it just excels in making it's own weather, I don't want to waste my money on it.

[chief1995]

I would like to try FSMeter, but I have "Silver Wings" weather installed now. Would I have to uninstall Siver Wings before I install FSMeter?
Even though I have been flying for awhile I am still "Computer Challenged" when it come to installations

Thanks All,

Chief

[gpktm]

I've a question for you Active Sky users:

Does it download real weather, and recreate it, or is it just a great weather generator? I don't much like the real weather I get when I download it, it's usually not very accurate.

From what I read it downloads real weather info.

[ashaman]

To flaminghotsauce:

AS6 downloads form servers the current weather and gives the most accurate rendition of it under FS9.

It can save and replay a given metar file too, can create downdraft, microbursts, windshear and thermals, and a lot of other things I can't remember right now.



To chief1995:

Nowhere is stated that you should uninstall Silver Wings. When you want to use the weather files form Silver Wings, you simply don't use FsMetar, and when you use FsMetar you don't use the weather files form Silver Wings.

I suppose the weather from Silver Wings you say you use are weather files like the defaults (I never used Silver Wings, so can't say.).

[beaky]

A word about downloaded weather (at least as regards FS9):

When a station reports "clear skies" it may very well be clear above the station, even though there are clouds nearby.
And when winds aloft data is unavailable, well, there just wn't be any wind above a certain altitude in the sim.

And unless you set the sim to update the wx as you go, it's even less accurate.

Worth considering in FS9 as well as real life...ground station reports should be taken "with a grain of salt".

I generally wind up tweaking a little even when using real weather; sometimes a look at real METARs and weather maps for the area in question does the trick.
Not entirely sure where FS gets its weather info... more than once, I've looked at official METARs and maps and found all the missing information, or even quite different information.
I really should look into ActiveSky... sounds good.

[dave3cu]

I would like to try FSMeter, but I have "Silver Wings" weather installed now. Would I have to uninstall Siver Wings before I install FSMeter?

Chief,

Ashaman is correct.

Silver Wings only installs additional 'Weather Themes' to select from in the weather setup window. These themes (just like the default themes)  have no effect when using either 'user defined' weather or 'real world' weather (FSMetar).

Dave

[chief1995]

Thanks guys that clarifies things on "Silver Wings" for me.

Chief