Confused about AddOns like FTX, UTX, GEX, REX, FSG and so on...

[carst]

Hello everyone,

 

I am back to the flightsim community after nearly 5 years absence and want to start all over again with P3D v2. But I am kind of confused about all the addons changing mesh, landclass, terrain, texture resolution and so on.

 

 

Can someone explain me what all the major addons do and how they are related to each other? Perhaps some Addons are just not needed when you have another one instead.

 

From what I gather FS Global stands out from all the other addons as it changes the mesh (in height) by using NASA SRTM data and other sources for this. I guess there is no better addon out there doing it in the same quality. Correct?

Then there is the GEX (textures) & UTX (landclass) series published by Flight1. Correct?

There is also the FTX global & regional series (textures & landclass) by OrbX. Correct?

And there is Real Environment X (textures), which I already used back in 2010 when it was completely new, which is a weather engine, but also a major texture addon, changing clouds, airports, but also things that get touched by FTX or GEX like oceans, rivers and lakes. Correct?

Are there any other major addons that I am missing?

 

 

 

 

So summing that up, it seems GEX&UTX are useless if you have FTX (and vice versa). So IMO I need FS Global 2010 (FTX ready), the ftx series (or the GEX/UTX series) and REX. But REX could have problems with the other texture addons 'cause they are partly overlapping.

 

 

What to do / buy? All your advices are welcome.

 

 

 

Sincerly,

Carst

[vgbaron]

You are correct re FTX & GEX/UTX. Each has it's fans. I prefer GEX/UTX for varying reasons. But this applies only to the FTX Global and FTX Vector and OpenLC products. The individual airports and regions are no problem. Global and vector are.

 

FS Global is quite good.

 

Rex is the leader in the cloud field but ASN is the leading weather program. You also have Rex Weather and Opus.

 

My preference is ASN by far for varying reasons but a lkot depends on how you fly and how accurate you want the weather to be. For correct temps and winds - ASN.

 

Vic

[mallcott]

FTX Global/Vector/OpenLC for me - I don't get on with the colours in GEX and I haven't used UTX in years.

 

If you're buying into a professional level sim then you already understand the various elements that combine to create the virtual world, and if you don't, go find out (FTX has downloadable documents that explain the various elements) - but the most important advice we can give you is don't rush into it:

 

P3D is perfectly serviceable out of the box, there is a V3 on the horizon (as a separate purchase we believe) but it could be days, weeks or months away - L-M arent saying and anyone who says they know are talking out of their assets.

 

REX textures happily co-exist with other weather engines and FTX products (you can include or exclude specific texture types at will) but again, although ASN is the de facto choice for weather (bear in mind that P3D has NO real time weather engine), REX is getting close to release on their next-gen weather engine, so jumping in with both feet for ASN may also not be the best advice - REX does come with its own real-time and manually created weather engine.

 

Then there are the all-in-one FTX Regions - you can research those on your own.

 

My advice is simply to get P3D, fly around a bit and then compile a list of what YOU need to optimise YOUR sim for YOUR use. Then come back and ask. The question you have posed is too imprecise and non-specific to enable anyone here to tell you what you need.

 

Personally, I'd add REX as the first addon, simply to get the weather engine and sky/airport/wet textures for variety.

[Clutch Cargo]

I would tend to agree with the above post. You have been away a long time in "flightsim" years. A lot has changed and you are starting with a new platform to boot. Too many install P3D and right-off-the-bat start bogging it down with so many add-ons and so called "tweaks", they complain about VAS, low FPS, stutters, etc.

 

Get familiar with the default version for awhile (it's really not bad at all). How long is up to you, of course, but I would think weeks into a couple of months would give you a good feel on how this platform works. In the meantime, as suggest take notes on what's out there for add-ons. Read reviews, posts and decide which way to go be it photoreal, lanclass based and so forth. Get free trials when available to see how they work on your system. What one simmer raves about on their system may not work so well on yours.

 

In meantime, enjoy the journey!

[carst]

Thanks guys, I will go slow first, just install REX and probably FTX Global, so I don't have to deal with the vanilla/basic textures & clouds.

 

I am doing airliner flying in a professional simulated manner mostly (PMDG, AS A320, etc.) and so I am not very intested in Addons for VFR flying, just wanna have nice airports, surroundings and good lookin' earth from above...

 

 

Sincerly,

Carst

[mallcott]

Just to update the previous post, I have now installed v3 with FTX Global Base and UTX Europe v2.2 (FTX Global Vector not yet being made v3-ready). Very impressive.

For the sake of easy update I did back up a vanilla install of the v3 installation like in the FSX days, saved to a spare hard drive.

After discussion with REX and specifically in advance of their new v3 patches to enable before/after comparisons I then added Essentals + Overdrive (specifically, just re-routed the Simulation Folder interface to the P3D v3 folder for the weather engine (ASN still having problems it seems). All working fine.

 

For airline flying you probably won't need much more than that, covering the areas you fly in.

 

Now the slightly contentious bit: At this point, with ground and cloud shadows providing far better slope definition I'm not convinced that aftermarket mesh is going to be needed - not for IFR in the FL's anyway.

[vgbaron]

Although some have reported install issues, I have had absolutely no problems with ASN.

 

New version released to correct install issues:

 

http://www.hifisimtech.com/forums/showthread.php?5216-ASN-for-P3D-B5765-posted!

 

Vic