terramaster is a 3rd party scenery downloader... you can use it to download the scenery manually instead of waiting for it to come in while you're flying... some of us use it to populate our terrasync directory so FG doesn't have to...
on adjusting the LODs and visibility: the further out you allow to be displayed, the more realistic it will appear but also the more memory will be used... let's repeat that... the more you can see, the more memory you need...
here's the settings and notes i have for what i use...
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# the following distance numbers are based on the horizon distance of 369km @ 35000ft altitude
# visibility 370000 takes fgfs up to ~9.5G of RAM usage with these current settings
# visibility 150000 takes fgfs up to ~4G of RAM usage with these current settings
# visibility is in meters
--visibility=75000
#--visibility=150000
#--visibility=370000
# haze-factor is in kilometers
--prop:/local-weather/config/ground-haze-factor=75
#--prop:/local-weather/config/ground-haze-factor=150
#--prop:/local-weather/config/ground-haze-factor=370
# vis-range is in meters
--prop:/sim/rendering/clouds3d-vis-range=75000
#--prop:/sim/rendering/clouds3d-vis-range=150000
#--prop:/sim/rendering/clouds3d-vis-range=370000
--prop:float:/sim/rendering/clouds3d-density=0.50000000
# set AI viewing to pixel mode at zero pixels to see them soonest
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/ai-detailed=0
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/ai-range-mode-pixel=1
# set AI viewing to LOD mode at 45km to see them roughly 25nm out
# 92.6km for 50nm
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/ai-detailed=92600
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/ai-range-mode-pixel=0
#default LOD settings - LOD values are meters
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/detailed=1500
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/rough=9000
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/bare=30000
# my testing LOD settings - LOD values are meters
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/detailed=3000
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/rough=18000
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/rough=30000
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/rough=65000
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/bare=75000
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/bare=150000
#--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/bare=370000
so basically here's the deal... at 35000ft ASL, the horizon is ~370km away on all sides of you... the three sets of lines in the top section are matched so i'm using the same range... if i switch visibility to 150000, then i switch the others, too... i'm using the 75's here so i also use the 75 one in the bare LOD... the bare LOD is the main one that i sync with my visibility and clouds visibility range since it is for distance... without all the memory assist comments above, here's what i've been flying with recently...
--visibility=75000
--prop:/local-weather/config/ground-haze-factor=75
--prop:/sim/rendering/clouds3d-vis-range=75000
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/detailed=1500
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/rough=30000
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/bare=75000
the above are what i'm currently using but if i were to switch up and really want to see realistically @35000ft, then i would change out my numbers and hope i don't run out of RAM on a long flight... with the numbers i'm using (above), my FG is using 2Gig of RAM... if i take off and fly across the ocean to Saudi Arabia, it'll get up to 4 or 5 Gig of RAM used... if i increase my numbers for a realistic view at 35000ft, i may not make it because of RAM usage climbing to 10Gig or more and causing my machine to swap... again, remember, it is not just what's in front of you that's loaded... what's to your side and behind you is also loaded...
so, for ""full effect"" at 35000ft:
--visibility=370000
--prop:/local-weather/config/ground-haze-factor=370
--prop:/sim/rendering/clouds3d-vis-range=370000
--prop:float:/sim/rendering/clouds3d-density=0.50000000
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/detailed=1500
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/rough=30000
--prop:double:/sim/rendering/static-lod/bare=370000
IIRC, with the above, the bare scenery will be loaded when the far edge is 370000 meters (370km) out... when i get within 30000 meters (30km) of something, it'll be displayed using its "rough" view... in other words, not very detailed... when i get within 1500 meters (1.5km) of that object, it'll be rendered using its best view...
i'm hopeful that in the future the LOD and similar settings as above can become variable so they change automatically as you climb and descend... so the higher you fly, the more the base scenery (land mesh) will be loaded and able to be seen... the lower you are, the closer the horizon so the numbers would drop and less scenery would be loaded...
"You get more air close to the ground," said Angalo. "I read that in a book. You get lots of air low down, and not much when you go up."
"Why not?" said Gurder.
"Dunno. It's frightened of heights, I guess."