Free Weather Radar Program?

[ak49er]

Greetings all, I currently am using Glass Flight Deck v1.05 for my MCP, I am also using FreeFD for my PFD, ND, EICAS, TCAS, FMC, and Standby gauges, both programs were free and seem to work well together, and I can somewhat control the AP in FS9 using the mouse interface on my MCP displayed on a TFT on my MIP. The ND from FreeFD has many modes including TCAS, but no weather radar. Does anyone know of a free or cheap weather radar module or program? I see plenty of Weather Radar gauges but no external modules. I want the module version as I have a simpit and my forward display reperesents the windscreen view and I do not want to have a gauge just hanging there. I though I had seen where someone had used a waeather module and displyed it using Project Magentas ND. Any help would be greatly appreciated, BTW when is mycockpit going to have a fly-in?

[Michael Carter]

This isn't free, but it's considered the best by some: Reality XP WX Radar.

I have it because it was bundled as a freebie with the Flight One / Dreamfleet Boeing 727.

It is an excellent program. It processes real-time weather from either Active Sky, FS, or IVAO and VATSIM.

If you buy it separately, I think it's either $25 or $35 US dollars.

[Trevor Hale]

The other unit you might have seen us talking about is SA_WXR This is a program with limited support, but it too costs money to register.

I do not believe anyone has any free weather radar displays. If you find one, consider it a good find.

Best regards,

Trev

[JBaymore]

......I am also using FreeFD for my PFD, ND, EICAS, TCAS, FMC, and Standby gauges, both programs were free ........The ND from FreeFD has many modes including TCAS, but no weather radar. Does anyone know of a free or cheap weather radar module or program?

Hi.

I too use FreeFD at the moment for my ND and PFD. Would also like a weather radar add-in for the FreeFD ND. Too bad Don Lafontaine dropped finishing that software. Oh well.

You mentioned that you use the FreeFD EICAS. Most people I have hear had REAL trouble with that part of the FreeFD suite. I can't get it to run at decent framerates either (which is the stated "problem"). How do you get it running? What version are you using?

Also you mention the FreeFD FMC. Never seen that. Where did you get it?

I have moved to FSXpand for a lot of stuff now. Seems like a good alternative to FreeFD...... price is not too steep.

Appreciate any info you can give.

best,

.....................john

[JBaymore]

The other unit you might have seen us talking about is SA_WXR This is a program with limited support, but it too costs money to register.

I do not believe anyone has any free weather radar displays. If you find one, consider it a good find.

Trev,

Your comment above seems to imply a possible "lack" of supprot for that WX radar. I have been looking at possibly purchasing it. Any further feedback?

best,

..................john

[Trevor Hale]

I would like to purchase it as well, however apparently it takes days not hours to get a key after you purchase it. Also there have been some people here that have said their support forums are ignored.

I have no experience, with their support, all I know is the IMHO I am waiting to see what other software will become available to work with the ND for magenta. Before I give more money to someone who will not improve or support their product.

Trev

[JBaymore]

Crap! That does not sound good. Thanks for the candid (and VERY fast) reply. ;)

I really want a weather radar available in my pit. Guess I'll have to keep searching.

best,

...............john

[ak49er]

Thank-you for your replies. My configuration is FS9,FSUIPC,WideView, FSWide, running on an XP Machine, My Glass COcokpit software runs on Windows 2000 Professional. I believe that limits me from using Reality XP. (XP means Windows XP right?) I need to research the SA_WXR for its OS requirements. I am not sure what version I am using, I am not at my sim now but it is the one from the linki from the WEBWayback site linked through a guy on avsim the forums. I too am having trouble with the frame rates and it manifests itself on the two different CPU's I am runnning it on, but it is a minor problem for me, I just move the throttles slower than normal to cpmensate, which makes for smoother speed transitions. I beleive the FMC came standard with that download. I cannot confirm until Tuesday night. Its has a beige color skin to it. Additionally, I like using the FreeFD as it has guages EICAS configurations for Airbus, 747, 737, and others, which allows me to configure for different aircraft.

[JBaymore]

I don't know if the XP in that title means that is the only operating system it works under or not. Sorry.


I am not sure what version I am using, I am not at my sim now but it is the one from the linki from the WEBWayback site linked through a guy on avsim the forums. .

Interesting. I am the originator/moderator of the SimV Homebuild Cockpits forum....... and I put up a hotlink on a sticky a LONG while ago to the WEBwayback machine link I found for the FreeFD software. Didn't know that FreeFD was listed somewhere on AVSIM too. Got a link for there by any chance?


I too am having trouble with the frame rates and it manifests itself on the two different CPU's I am runnning it on, but it is a minor problem for me, I just move the throttles slower than normal to cpmensate, which makes for smoother speed transitions. ........... ........ ............ Additionally, I like using the FreeFD as it has guages EICAS configurations for Airbus, 747, 737, and others, which allows me to configure for different aircraft.

I gave up on it it was so problematic. Go to FlywareFSX site ( http://cockpitsolutions.com/flyware/ ) and check out FSXpand. They have a time limited demo version. I think you'll like it. ;)



I beleive the FMC came standard with that download. I cannot confirm until Tuesday night. Its has a beige color skin to it.

Really! I don't remember that as an option in that download package. Maybe the AVSIM posting has a link to a different and later version than the one I searched out. I've been using FreeFD for years........ didn't realize it had a FMC. I know that Don Lafontaine STARTED on a CDU unit.... but it was never finished beyond a "first go" ... unless I missed something.

And have you been able to update the database for the ND navigation? I have been trying to figure out what format it is in so that I can update it. The waypoints are LONG outdated, and many are missing now.


Appreciate your thoughts.

best,

....................john

[pylet]

For the price, free if you have purchased any PM software, it's hard to beat WhazzUp Plus with pmWeather. It's not the prettiest or most accurate. Not only does it display weather on the ND when selected on the EFIS (WX) but will display terrain as well when selected (TER). Plus you can use your ACARS function in the CDU to get your destination wx while enroute. Those others are better to look at but then again I have dust bunnies living in my wallet.

[JBaymore]

..........but then again I have dust bunnies living in my wallet.

Probably from buying the PM stuff. ;)

Seriously, thanks for the suggestion. I'll have to check it out. Never heard of PMWeather. But from what I have seen PM is way, WAY out of my price range.

best,

.................john

[Bob Reed]

Well unfortuenitly there are more problems then that with PM's GetWeather. Trevor and I where trying to fly online together the other night and we could not stay connected. Once he turned of PM's GetWeather no more trouble. Have also heard it has a frame rate problem. Just what I have heard since I bought the SX weather thing I have not tried to use Getweather.....

[Bob Reed]

Also should note. I would doubt that PM's GetWeaterh will work with anything other then PM...

[ak49er]

Oops, you, of course, are correct JB, it was not AVSIM, but actually it was your link you mentioned that I used, and thank-you by the way for that link. Additionally, if you say it did not come with a FMC, but only a CDU that too, is most likely correct. I have not even tried to use the FreeFD CDU, I only have displayed it. GFD v1.05 does have a CDU/FMC but I still have not tried it either, JB any other info a newbie to FreeFD should know, tips, tricks, hints?

[JBaymore]

Here's a quick shot of my pit so far:

http://www.mycockpit.org/photopost/showfull.php?photo=1154


best,

..................john

[Bob Reed]

John.... That looks great! Can you post more pics?

[JBaymore]

..........but actually it was your link you mentioned that I used, and thank-you by the way for that link.

No problem. I was REALLY disappointed when FreeFD went "bye bye". I based my whole pit idea on the availability of that FREE offering. I imagine that others did too. It really got me started on even pursuing the possibility.... without those core functions... hard to have a pit in the first place. As a professional artist by profession...... PM is just WAY out of my league ;) .

I had the latest FreeFD files....but others didn't and were clearly searching for it to no avail. You could find no active download reference for it anywhere searching the web. Suddenly I remembered the archiving function of the Wayback machine site... and sure enough... there it was. So I posted the link on the SImV Homebuild forum for others like you to get it. Glad that worked.

One BIG thing that I REALLY want to get is an updated navdata file! I am hoping that SOMEONE that is a bit more "up" on programming and databases can figure out the format of the existing FreeFD database, and work on getting the current navdata cycle converted to the FreeFD format. ANY TAKERS?

The biggest "tip" I can give you on FreeFD is to use FSXpand (payware but reasonable) for the EICAS screens. I fooled with the FreeFD one for a long while...and never got it solved. And others seem to have the same problem. For me, the PFD and the ND from FreeFD are working nicely. I don't really use the other panels at the moment.

More stuff........

I have my FreeFD ND set up on a separate PC that also runs Teamspeak for online comms (with PTT mapped to a CH yoke button) and the Phidgets interface. That PC has a Hagstrom KE-72 encoder card that is hooked to (among many other things) a homebuilt EFIS panel. That panel on the glareshield controls the FreeFD ND's various modes like approach, map, etc., and functions like range, TACAS, VORs, NDB, arc/rose, and so on. I use FlightSim COmmander flight planning software to get a Squakbox format .sbp plan directly into the FreeFD directory... so that I get the "magenta line" function on the FreeFD ND.

Unfortunately... the FreeFD navdata is WAY outdated compared to FSCommander's current database! :sad:

So... some thoughts for you.

best,

.....................john

[JBaymore]

John.... That looks great! Can you post more pics?

Bob,

Thanks. :D I'll try to do that.

best,

.................john

[Westozy]

[quote=JBaymore;35290]No problem. I was REALLY disappointed when FreeFD went "bye bye". I based my whole pit idea on the availability of that FREE offering. I imagine that others did too. It really got me started on even pursuing the possibility.... without those core functions... hard to have a pit in the first place. As a professional artist by profession...... PM is just WAY out of my league ;) .

Hi John,
I can relate to this aswel, PM is way out of my league as I am building my sim on a $40/week budget! I don't know if you've already seen this page on my site but it describes how to do a great panel with PMDG software. http://aerosimsolutions.googlepages.com/pcconfiguration
Without the projector, I have spent less than US$3000 on my sim and I will complete it this year for not much more. (Never finished, just "complete")

Gwyn