OpusFSX Upper Winds ?

[EpicWin 21]

My opusFSX is generating totaly unreal wx data, well probably jsut wind, compared to FSGRW or ActiveSky, FSGRW generating almost same data as ASN, but opusFSX is generating totaly different stuff.. Is it just my settings or is there something wrong?

[Opus Software 84]

Sounds like you simply do not have any GRIB forecast data and are flying with simulated winds.

 

Please read and follow the guidelines in our Recommended Practices.

 

That way you will know if your GRIB data is available prior to flight by examining the various reports both on screen and generated text files.

 

Have you set all defaults in all weather dialogs? Are you always specifying your Destination and Max Cruise Altitude before flight and before updating the weather?

 

You will need to specify a Max Cruise Altitude of at least 6000 feet in order to get GRIB forecast data downloaded.

 

If you have done the above then check your FSXSERVER.log and FSDECODER.log files in your x:/OpusFSX folder for any reported errors.

 

Of course the upper winds and temps in Opus are perfect, that's why people use the weather engine. The latest NOAA METARs combined with the latest GRIB forecast cycle data provide the ideal solution. But what you get does depend on your settings. GRIB forecast data is not really needed for low level VFR flying.

 

Stephen :-)

[EpicWin 21]

yup, GRIB data doesnt download.. all defaults, firewall off they wont download

[Opus Software 84]

Have you done the above? Try opening the Spy window during weather update (sat on the ground, you will not get a GRIB download once airborne). What about those log files?

 

Stephen :-)

[EpicWin 21]

in spy windows i get this "MET  Unable to Extract and Decode GRIB Data"

later that day, solved, at first i istalled it to program files and i got that message above, then, installed in C/Opus and working.. weird, but, i got that going for me which is nice

"MET  GRIB Data Extracted and Decoded"

[EpicWin 21]

Hey again me, is it normal that upper winds are Two days old?  :o 



Today is 1.2 and GRIB is from 30.1

[Opus Software 84]

Hi, you have the Reused indication in the report which signifies you have the Reuse GRIB Data option set in the Weather dialog, this will reuse your existing downloaded GRIB data which is handy if you don't want to download it again or the GRIB server is offline.

 

As you probably know each GRIB cycle forecast contains 360 hours (15 days) of forecast data and is typically made available about 9+ hours after the cycle time. If you have the Reuse GRIB Data option disabled, the LWE will assume the cycle is valid for up to 12.5 hours after its cycle time. Once older than 12.5 hours it will look for a newer posting. GRIB data is only downloaded when you are on the ground, it is reused whilst in flight due to the time it takes to download.

 

In the latest OpusFSI beta we posted today you have the option of selecting how old you prefer the GRIB data to be ranging from 12 hours to 10 days old, so you can decide whether you are happy using the existing 15 day forecast or want to download the latest data.

 

Cheryl

[EpicWin 21]

Wow, thanks for the asnwer! Thank you  B)

[Opus Software 84]

You're most welcome, OpusFSI Beta Version 4.45.3 is available for download. This beta will most likely become the next release version in a few days time.

 

Regards

Stephen :-)

[JRBarrett 3,070]

Hi Stephen and Cheryl,

 

I've been away from Opus for many months, but have come back to it with the advent of FSX-SE. I'd like to say first of all that I was pleased and surprised by the many advances that have been made in the program since I last used it. The flight planning features, incorporation of Navigraph data, and the many weather map options are great!

 

I understand that the GRIB data is only downloaded once, before departure, and understand why this is done. Knowing that any GRIB download contains forecast data for up to 15 days forward my question is this: Are the upper winds injected into FSX (after downloading and decoding) static - or do change based on the current zulu time? For instance, I am planning a flight today, emulating a Delta long-haul from Tokyo to New York, which takes, typically 13 hours. The upper wind forecast charts from aviationweather.gov show that the there is a jet streak - the region of maximum wind speed in the jet stream at FL 360 - currently over Lake Erie. 12 hours from now, that jet streak is forecast to be about 350 miles farther east, over eastern New York state.

 

If I were to depart now from RJAA, when I arrive over New York state 12 hours from now, would I find the simulated jet streak in its forcasted location for 2200Z, or in its current location from the forecast valid at 1100Z?

 

I know that surface METARS with associated clouds and precip are only injected within a radius for a few hundred kilometers around the aircraft, and are based on the latest MET reports current at the actual zulu time, but was not sure if the upper winds for the entire world are set once before departure and then remain the same until landing, or if the extracted GRIB winds are advanced to correspond to the current zulu time as well, since you have forecast data going forward many days in the initial GRIB download.

[Opus Software 84]

First I would advise you download the latest OpusFSI Beta Version or the next Release Version which will be posted in a couple of days. These versions include the new World Weather Themes and also extracts both upper and lower level GRIB data as standard. Hence, forecast data is used to determine conditions from the ground up to the top of the Stratosphere at an altitude of 50km. The Stabilised GRIB Data option that would force static data has also been removed.

Live Data ...

To answer your questions, GRIB upper and lower wind and temp (and all other data) is never static, it will always vary as you fly along to reflect the forecasted conditions for both your current location and the current time. In the past the upper winds and temps would only be static if you set the Stabilised GRIB Data option (now obsolete).

Saved World Weather Theme Data ...

If you load a saved World Weather Themes then it will use static data but only as far as time is concerned. The saved GRIB forecast data will still vary from place to place, it just represents a snap shot of the conditions when the World Theme was saved.

Yes, you will always find ALL the above surface data matches the forecasted data for your location and time (if live weather), no matter where you are in the world or however long your flight has been (I assume your flight is less than 15 days long).

As far as weather injection is concerned, BOTH the METAR (surface weather reports) and GRIB (surface and above surface data) for your current surrounding area (weather region) are mapped and injected in to the sim. As you fly along the weather inside the sim is updated and each weather update reflects the forecasted conditions at that current time. Furthermore, use of the OpusFSI Dynamic Wind Control (needs FSUIPC4 installed) will typically hold the ambient winds and temps to within 1 knot and 1 degree of the true real world forecast.

Regards
Stephen :-)

In short, YES, you get the true real world forecasted surface data and the reported conditions injected for your current location and current time. The weather is updated and refreshed as you fly along, no matter where you fly to or how long your flight lasts, ALL surface and upper data (from ground up to 50km altitude) coincides with the forecasted and reported data for both location and time.

Stephen :-)

I have made a note to investigate preparing the forecast data in the background when the time interval changes, in preparation for the next weather update.

You should check out the new World Weather Themes although these will be frozen in time, reflecting the Zulu time specified when the Worlds weather (METARs and GRIB forecast data) was saved.

The new Stratospheric winds and temps were added for X15 rocket plane flyers.

Stephen :-)

[JRBarrett 3,070]

Good info, Thanks Stephen!

[Opus Software 84]

You're welcome Jim. I will have investigate the background preparation for Zulu time changes and see if I can introduce it in the next release in a few days time. So make a note to download and install that release version when it's posted.

 

Many are using the new World Weather Themes to save their weather on long haul and continue the flight at a later date. Of course, all data will be just a snap shot, representing the weather and forecasted data at the saved Zulu time.

 

Stephen :-)

 

P.S.

 

I seem to recall all the time and location data is prepared in advance, either on the ground after the download or airborne after it reuses the existing data. So it's all prepared ahead of time and all the LWE need do is access the correct data for the required location and time period. :-)