Microsoft download weather....

[Andreas Schmitz-Schunken]

Hello!

Anybody know there it a delay in the Microsoft weather download? The use realtime or older weather data.... ???

Yesterday 23:00 we have a heavy thunderstorm here near cologne... flashes every 5 sec. Hail and heavy rain.... I fire up FS, download
weather and have blue skys (like in afternoon was).... ???


Andreas

[Big Vern]

I've recently started using real weather and it does seem fairly current though I suspect the speed of the download means the data is
quite generalised. Also MSFS may interpret it differently to the rw.

I must say though I'm quite impressed with the facility and on the main PC at least (laptop not connected to Internet) I would not go back
to MS static weather.

[fruitfly]

MS weather downloads the forecast from the server every 15 minutes. But the real question is how often are the servers updated with
real world data! My guess is every couple of hours or so. That is the delay that determines how true to life will the simulateed
weather be.

The next important thing is the interpretation of the downloaded 'code' into 'pretty clouds', so there are no abrupt changes, fog
doesn't have sharp boundaries etc...
All in all - the default is not good enough for me any more; I'm spoiled by a certain 'active' payware.

[rfbarber]

There is a TON of outstanding weather programs out.

There are several posts @ Flightsim.com that address this issue. That would be a good place to start.

Chip B.

[NeilC]

Real World Metars are put out every 30 minutes (at 20 past and 50 past the hour).

Microsoft seems to update the weather every 15 minutes, so worst case scenario your weather could be 14 minutes out of date

Of course it is all reliant on idiots like me at work putting in the correct current weather, cloud layers, etc

By the way, Microsofts current weather works brilliantly with FsP, as the weather conditions change you can watch the adrenaline levels changing in the passengers.

I landed in gusty winds, heavy rain and turbulance last week and the passengers were so happy I had made it safely that I got a points bonus.



Post Edited ( 06-05-05 14:01 )