Downloading weather data?

[n1066945]

Hi, I'm running fsx sp2 with ASN.  Since the latest update every time I want to look at the flight release in the admin or commit to a flight in the admin I'm getting the downloading weather data crawler which I didn't get before.  Is this something that is new in this release or have I got something configured wrong?  I have gone and checked the profile.cfg weather settings and they are correct so I'm wondering why the admin has to download the weather again instead of just taking it from ASN.

Thanks

Mark

[peter]

I had that too, but I think it is gone since the very latest release (I think its RC2).

Cheers,
Peter

[n1066945]

Umm, that's the one I'm using and I still have it. It doesn't seem to affect anything, its just a little annoying having to wait for it to download what ASN should already have.
Thanks
Mark

[Travis]

The Administrator should only download weather at that point if either METAR, TAF or Upper Winds data is missing, or that your data is out of date. I use Opus, and have yet to write an importer for their TAF & Upper Winds data, so I always get the "Downloading Weather" & progress bar.

So the next time this happens, do a manual check that all three airports (Departure, Destination, Alternate) have METAR and TAF data... and that you have Upper Winds data for those locations too.

This afternoon I'll run some tests to see if the code is working as it should (I'll lie to it and tell it that I have all data and see how it reacts).

[Travis]

I think that I see something... I'll run it past Dutch, but that may be tomorrow before I can get ahold of him.

[n1066945]

Thanks for checking Travis! I didn't have a chance to fire up the box tonight, maybe I can check it tommorrow!

Mark

[Travis]

Hi Mark,

Dutch called me soon after my last post and I think we have a fix ready for the next build. Give us a day or so to refute (or approve) my findings. Until then, just click "Ok" on any dialog requests....

[n1066945]

Travis, did you get a chance to implement a fix for this issue in RC3?

[Travis]

Mark,

I believe that it is fixed... but you must tell me if it's okay for you!!

I'm an Opus user, and I have two PCs. On my "fancy new powerful PC" I have a 10-day old Opus weather file.

On that PC, I just ran the PC3 Admin and made a local cargo flight (to an airport which I have in my Opus weather file).

The Administrator asked me - "Your Opus data is 239 hours old. Do you want to use it?" I clicked "Yes" because I wanted to see what would happen.

Well I knew that as an Opus user, I did not have readable TAF and Upper Level Winds data on my new PC. (I do on my development PC, but not even Dutch has that. )

So I generated a Dispatch Release for a short cargo flight, and since I didn't have TAF & UL Winds, I did experience a "Downloading Weather" progressive bar. 

That Dispatch Release can be viewed here... and do please notice the difference between the METAR dates and the TAF date (all underlined):

---

CASTLE AIR AND CARGO      DISPATCH RELEASE        FSCAPTAIN 1.5.1

FLIGHT 9014 KMOD-KRDD    25-OCT-14 04:14Z

AIRCRAFT (TBA)           OUT: _______             OFF: _______
TYPE     C208            ON:  _______             IN:  _______

CREW INFORMATION:
DISP: J H KENT           / ____________________________ (SIGNED)
PIC : RUFUS T. FIREFLY   / ____________________________ (SIGNED)

FUEL CALCULATION         WEIGHT/FUEL BREAKDOWN
MIN      200LB                     ZFW   6375LB
TAXI      15LB                 T/O MIN    685LB
KRDD     165LB             PLANNED TOW   7075LB
KCIC      57LB            ENROUTE BURN    165LB
RSV      135LB             PLANNED LDW   6895LB
HOLD      45LB             ARRIVAL FOB    480LB
***************
TOTAL    700LB

WEATHER INFORMATION:
KMER 141645Z VRB04KT 7SM SKC 20/08 A2986
KRDD 141653Z 34004KT 10SM CLR 16/08 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP097 T01610083
KCIC 141655Z 15006KT 25SM SCT180 BKN250 20/08 A2983
KRDD Winds Aloft not available
KRDD 242350Z 2500/2524 13007KT P6SM -SHRA SCT035 BKN060 FM250300 
     13007KT P6SM VCSH SCT040 BKN070 FM250800 15009KT P6SM -SHRA 
     BKN035 OVC050 WS020/19040KT FM251400 17015G25KT P6SM -RA BKN035 
     OVC050 FM251700 18025G34KT P6SM RA BKN020 OVC035 [KOTH 194NM]

FLIGHTPLAN:         (CRUISE ALT: 8000FT)
VIA    POS     HDG   ALT   DIST  TIME  ETE   FUEL   WIND DIR SPD  ADJ
---------------------------------------------------------------------
       KMOD    000  97FT      0  0:00  1:14   700LB    8 130   0    0
       SHELI   262  2197FT    6  0:11  1:03   685LB    8 130 104    6
V109   ECA     344  6747FT   13  0:05  0:58   667LB    8 130 117    6
V585   ORANG   333  8000FT   10  0:03  0:55   655LB    8 130 123    6
V585   LODDI   333  8000FT    5  0:01  0:54   649LB    8 130 145    6
V585   EPPES   333  8000FT    6  0:01  0:53   642LB    8 130 145    6
V585   WAGER   333  8000FT    0  0:00  0:53   642LB    8 130 145    6
V585   SAC     333  8000FT   18  0:06  0:47   620LB    8 130 145    6
V23    CAPTO   346  8000FT   14  0:05  0:42   603LB    8 130 145    6
V23    EYPOF   346  8000FT   12  0:04  0:38   589LB    8 130 145    6
V23    GRIME   345  8000FT    9  0:03  0:35   578LB    8 130 145    6
V23    YUBBA   345  8000FT    6  0:01  0:34   571LB    8 130 145    6
V23    GRIDD   345  8000FT   12  0:04  0:30   557LB    8 130 145    6
V23    TALUM   338  8000FT    5  0:01  0:29   551LB    8 130 145    6
V23    JINGO   338  8000FT   15  0:05  0:24   533LB    8 130 145    6
V23    GONGS   338  8000FT    6  0:01  0:23   526LB    8 130 145    6
V23    RBL     338  8000FT   22  0:08  0:15   499LB    8 130 145    6
       DIBLE   340  5900FT    7  0:02  0:13   493LB    8 130 120    6
       LASSN   000  2400FT   10  0:03  0:10   485LB    8 130 112    6
       RW34    000  801FT     6  0:02  0:08   480LB    8 130  98    6
       KRDD    355  502FT     0  0:08  0:00   473LB    8 130  98    6
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                            182 NM TOTAL DISTANCE

LOAD MANIFEST:
 1)   2 Units    Fixed Weight            340LB
 2)   1 Box      HMB Pumpkins             35LB
 3)   1 Box      Green Peanuts            53LB
 4)   5 Boxes    Misc. Items             892LB
 5)   1 Box      Documents               480LB
                                      ********
                        TOTAL PAYLOAD   1800LB



C208 LOAD PLAN:
STN TYPE  UNITS     WEIGHT    DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------
001  C    1/Seat    170LB     Pilot
002  C    1/Seat    170LB     First Officer
003  G    1/Tiedown 254LB     Forward Cargo
006  G    1/Tiedown 254LB     Mid Cargo
007  G    1/Tiedown 254LB     Aft Cargo
010  G    1/Tiedown 254LB     Rear Cargo
011  G    1/Bay     148LB     Cargo Pod 1
012  G    1/Bay     148LB     Cargo Pod 2
013  G    1/Bay     74LB      Cargo Pod 3
014  G    1/Bay     74LB      Cargo Pod 4

SUMMARY:
C FIXED      2 340LB    
G CARGO      8 1460LB   


REMARKS:
- ON ARRIVAL EXPECT TAXI TO RAMP 42.
- NOTE TRANSITION ALTITUDES KMOD=18000 KRDD=18000.
- ARRIVAL WINDOW 12 MINS EARLY TO 5 MINS LATE.

FYI, "HMB Pumpkins" are a local product (HMB = Half Moon Bay) that's exported in the autumn. Likewise, "Green Peanuts" are raw peanuts harvested locally in the California Central Valley in autumn, and when boiled are a favorite of yours truly.

---

On my "development PC" with the old ActiveSky weather file, the Dispatch Release squawked that it was looking at a file that was several years old, but I instructed it to use the file and all of the METAR & TAF data was in sync... years old, but in sync.

So I think that it's working according to my expectations.  ("Old but complete data" is taken as instructed, and "newer but incomplete data" is taken and enhanced with RW data.)

But if you notice anything amiss, do let us know.  My next step in this area would be to implement logging of the source & timeliness of each type of WX data....

[n1066945]

Thanks Travis, I'll have to do some checking. I was under the impression that when I saw the wx download crawler it wasn't using any of the ASN weather. I'll check it out and see.
Thanks
Mark

[n1066945]

Travis, after doing a couple of flights it seems that all is working correctly. Thanks for all of the hard work you and Dutch have put into this beta.
Mark

[Travis]

Thanks for the feedback Mark! And remember, "It's not work as long as it's fun."