no real weather updates

[FSX68]

I just know got this message and the real weather server is working.65043

[Dangerousdave26]

The last couple of days I have gotten that periodically while on a flight. It seems to be intermittent so it could be a server issue on their end of an internet issue between us.

[FSX68]

The last couple of days I have gotten that periodically while on a flight. It seems to be intermittent so it could be a server issue on their end of an internet issue between us.


Thanks for your response. I was beginning to wonder if I was the ONLY one that had this issue. I did google and found others that did have/has this issue. There were many helpful
well intentioned responses to making backup of of FSX.CFG and let FSX make new fsx.cfg file to use 3rd party software that makes real weather. It could be the Jepessen (SP) servers
are down. In all the years of using FS9/FSX, I have never experienced such a thing as this.

[FSX68]

I wonder if this has anything to do with no real weather updates in FSX:

http://www.simflight.com/2009/03/31/jeppesen-discontinues-simcharts-for-fs/#

[Dangerousdave26]

Actually we call it Jeppesen Weather but it does not come directly from Jeppesen.

Look in your FS9.cfg file and your FSX.cfg file for the Weather Section.

[Weather]
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1
... SKIP A Whole Bunch :icon_lol: ...
WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com
WeatherServerPort=80
... SKIP the Rest ...

The weather comes from fs2k.zone.com for both FS9 and FSX. In other words the weather comes from Microsoft who intern collects it from Jeppesen.

This arraignment was probably set up to help keep the loads light on Jeppesen's end.

Also note you can not change the destination of the weather. If you do the Sim will change it back the next time it starts.

The bottom line is the discontinuing of SimCharts has nothing to do with the Weather.

Someday MS will shut the weather off but who knows when that will come.

[FSX68]

Actually we call it Jeppesen Weather but it does not come directly from Jeppesen.

Look in your FS9.cfg file and your FSX.cfg file for the Weather Section.

[Weather]
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1
... SKIP A Whole Bunch :icon_lol: ...
WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com
WeatherServerPort=80
... SKIP the Rest ...

The weather comes from fs2k.zone.com for both FS9 and FSX. In other words the weather comes from Microsoft who intern collects it from Jeppesen.

This arraignment was probably set up to help keep the loads light on Jeppesen's end.

Also note you can not change the destination of the weather. If you do the Sim will change it back the next time it starts.

The bottom line is the discontinuing of SimCharts has nothing to do with the Weather.

Someday MS will shut the weather off but who knows when that will come.

I examined my fsx.cfg and I have those entries. I make a back up file and let FSX make a new one and tried that one and still no real weather updates.
I've heard that there are some good 3rd party weather programs that are better at the real weather updates then the stock FSX one. I don't know at this time
is the link to the weather update is down. I can click on it and It takes me to the cite, just no familiar gui update actions like I am use to seeing. Don't know why
all of a sudden it started all this either.

[Dangerousdave26]

Since you can get to the site fs2k.zone.com then my guess is that the problem is your firewall blocking FSX from going out the internet to get the weather.

The fastest way to check that theory is to turn the firewall off then try and download real world weather. If it works then just look for the rule that tells it to block FSX and tell it to allow.

[FSX68]

Since you can get to the site fs2k.zone.com then my guess is that the problem is your firewall blocking FSX from going out the internet to get the weather.

The fastest way to check that theory is to turn the firewall off then try and download real world weather. If it works then just look for the rule that tells it to block FSX and tell it to allow.


I disabled the firewall and still have the problem. I feel ambivalent about a complete reinstall but then that would be like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

I went to fs2k.zone.com


Flight Simulator Real-World Weather
You’ve reached a Web page that is part of the real-world weather services for Microsoft Flight Simulator. If you can see this page, your Internet connection is capable of reaching the Real-World Weather service from within Flight Simulator.

You cannot download anything directly from this page. To download real-world weather for Flight Simulator, follow the instructions below.

How to Download Real-World Weather in Flight Simulator 2000 and 2002: Make sure you’re connected to the Internet.
1. In Flight Simulator, click the World menu.
2. Click Weather.
3. Click Real-world weather.
4. When the download is finished, click the check mark.
How to Download Real-World Weather in Flight Simulator 2004: Make sure you’re connected to the Internet.
1. In Flight Simulator, click the World menu.
2. Click Weather.
3. Select either Real-world weather option.
4. Click OK.
5. After the weather dialog loads click OK.
For more information on the Flight Simulator weather features, see the Dynamic Weather (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34710) article on the Flight Simulator Web site or read this Knowledge Base article (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=836186).
For more information about other Flight Simulator features, visit the Flight Simulator Web site (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34712).

[mjrhealth]

Try this

http://www.hanse-coders.net/index.php?page=self&id=1

Does a much better job than default FSX and is free

[stansdds]

I used to get that message from time to time. I switched to Active Sky X and now Active Sky 2012. Since switching, the only times I have not been able to get real time weather was when my ISP was having problems.

By the way, I think Active Sky 2012 is well worth the money if your computer is fast enough to handle it.

[Dangerousdave26]

One day I was really curious on what FS was doing when it downloads real world weather. I ran a program called wireshark to see what communications were going on when FS downloads the weather. What I found out is FS downloads .bin file and stores it on the PC. That .bin file has all the weather data in it.

We need to answer a few questions before we can trace down where the problem is coming from. Is FS not getting to the server or is FS not able to write that .bin file to the hard drive.

If FS can not get to the site or does not go out to the site then wireshark should tell us that. This would signify that something is blocking the traffic. If we see it getting to the site and requesting the .bin file then the issue is probably that the file can not be written to the location FS stores it.

Wireshark should help us answer those questions.

http://www.wireshark.org/

If interested I will write instructions step by step to run a test. It will take a bit of work to do that so I would like to know before I start.

Here is a video on how to use wireshark. Its fairly easy.

[FSX68]

One day I was really curious on what FS was doing when it downloads real world weather. I ran a program called wireshark to see what communications were going on when FS downloads the weather. What I found out is FS downloads .bin file and stores it on the PC. That .bin file has all the weather data in it.

We need to answer a few questions before we can trace down where the problem is coming from. Is FS not getting to the server or is FS not able to write that .bin file to the hard drive.

If FS can not get to the site or does not go out to the site then wireshark should tell us that. This would signify that something is blocking the traffic. If we see it getting to the site and requesting the .bin file then the issue is probably that the file can not be written to the location FS stores it.

Wireshark should help us answer those questions.

http://www.wireshark.org/

If interested I will write instructions step by step to run a test. It will take a bit of work to do that so I would like to know before I start.

Here is a video on how to use wireshark. Its fairly easy.

I am interested however, when I viewed the wire shark video, it looks a little intimidating to me (not a geek here). But, if you are going to help with out with instruction on running a
test, I am interested. I appreciate any help trying to crack this nut, Thanks again for you assistance.

Do I need to download a copy of this wire shark program? Looks like there is a 64 bit version, I use WIn 7 64 Bit OS.

I think FS is getting to the server, At least I can when i click on that link (fs2k.zone.com)

:salute:

[TeaSea]

Does one risk conflicts if using FSX and REX?

[FSX68]

Does one risk conflicts if using FSX and REX?

I wouldn't know I don't use REX.

[papab]

Does one risk conflicts if using FSX and REX?


None at all
Rick

[TeaSea]

I wouldn't have thought so, but this thread got me thinking....which program is actually loading the weather and are they using the same source? Or, is only FSX doing the download and REX referring back to it's data?

[papab]

TeaSea

From the REX Site:



http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/fsxweather.html

What is the Intelligent Synoptic Weather Processor? It is a completely re-defined process and takes weather processes to a new level of detail. Included are the same features in relation to configuring synopic, meso, and micro weather features, but the ISWP interacts and allows the user more flexibility in setting visibility smoothing features and weather update smoothing features.
This is not just limited to current or archived weather data processing, but now it is further expanded to rather robust custom weather theme generator. Thus, if the weather is boring where you live or normally fly you can have the ISWP create a unique weather theme that covers all seasons and various level of severity at the click of a button. The ISWP now looks at over 20 different weather data elements to determine the best weather conditions and influence in the Flight Simulator environment.


We are currently in BETA with REX Essentials which ,in my opinion, will blow your socks off when it is released............and it is FREE to verified REX users!

http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/forums/index.php?/topic/16842-rex-essential-need-to-know/


REX is a must have for Flight Simulation in my honest opinion.....
Rick

[Dangerousdave26]

You should already have the appropriate Wireshark version installed on your system.

It does not matter which program you start first for this example I will start FSX first. It will be helpful is FSX is in Windowed Mode instead of Full Screen Mode. Press Alt Enter to switch between the two if necessary.

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather1.jpg

Now start Wireshark

If you are not sure which network interface you will be capturing from on your PC select the Capture option from the menu bar in wireshark. Select Interfaces.

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather5.jpg

The appropriate network interface should have an IP Address like 192.168.x.x

Press start by side that interface.

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather6.jpg

The capture should start but unless you have alot of other programs running on your network accessing the network it should show no traffic.

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather7.jpg

Now go back to FSX and select one of the Real World Weather options and press OK.

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather2.jpg

If you were actually downloading weather you would see this

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather3.jpg



http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather4.jpg

And Wireshark should be capturing the data.

Once you have your error message or the down load has completed press the stop button in Wireshark. You can close out FSX we no longer need it.

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather8.jpg

Find the save button that is to the right of the stop button and save the capture as a wireshark file.

Double check where Wireshark is saving the file so you can find it later.

http://www.sim-outhouse.net/images/Real_World_Weather/realweather9.jpg

Zip up the file and post it to this thread.

I will take a look at it and let you know what we found.

Then we can figure out what we think about it. :icon_lol:

[FSX68]

You should already have the appropriate Wireshark version installed on your system.

It does not matter which program you start first for this example I will start FSX first. It will be helpful is FSX is in Windowed Mode instead of Full Screen Mode. Press Alt Enter to switch between the two if necessary.



Now start Wireshark

If you are not sure which network interface you will be capturing from on your PC select the Capture option from the menu bar in wireshark. Select Interfaces.



The appropriate network interface should have an IP Address like 192.168.x.x

Press start by side that interface.



The capture should start but unless you have alot of other programs running on your network accessing the network it should show no traffic.



Now go back to FSX and select one of the Real World Weather options and press OK.



If you were actually downloading weather you would see this







And Wireshark should be capturing the data.

Once you have your error message or the down load has completed press the stop button in Wireshark. You can close out FSX we no longer need it.



Find the save button that is to the right of the stop button and save the capture as a wireshark file.

Double check where Wireshark is saving the file so you can find it later.



Zip up the file and post it to this thread.

I will take a look at it and let you know what we found.

Then we can figure out what we think about it. :icon_lol:

Here is the file you requested. Only got to the part where we can select 'Real World Weather' and then the error box appears, so we can't go any further.

[Dangerousdave26]

There is no request going out the internet to the weather server.

My guess is that something is blocking the communication. We already ruled out firewall. What security software do you have installed and running? What firewall is installed?

The other funny thing I see is the PC called out to Microsoft Update if you have not run updates recently try running them.

You may not take a screen shot of the Processes tab in the Windows Task Manager. This will tell us what is running. We can use it to shut off processes until we find the one blocking the communication.

[TeaSea]

Well,

Learned something new here.....

Not my problem but still very interesting. Thanks guys!