Learn what Orbx Global Base and Global Vector change in FSX, whether either requires the other, and which scenery layer to install first.
In FSX and FSX: Steam Edition, Orbx Global Base replaces worldwide ground textures, while Orbx Global Vector redraws coastlines, roads, rivers, lakes and railways. You do not need both: they are separate, complementary scenery layers. Install both only if you want better surface appearance and more accurate feature placement worldwide.
Orbx Global Base and Global Vector compared
They modify different FSX scenery layers, so neither product replaces the other.
| Product | What it changes | What it does not change | Can it work alone? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orbx Global Base | The worldwide textures used for farmland, forests, cities and other landclass categories | Coastline and road placement, terrain elevation, landclass placement and detailed airports | Yes |
| Orbx Global Vector | Vector features such as roads, railways, rivers, lakes, coastlines and selected airport elevations | Ground textures, terrain mesh, landclass and photoreal imagery | Yes |
Older documentation may call the products FTX Global Base and FTX Global Vector. “Orbx Global” is also used informally for the wider product family, so check whether a listing means Base, Vector or another layer. Our breakdown of Orbx global and regional scenery explains that naming in more detail.
What does Orbx Global Base change in FSX?
Orbx Global Base changes how FSX’s existing landclass categories look across most of the world. A field remains a field and a city remains a city, but each is drawn with replacement textures rather than the default FSX texture set.
Base does not decide where the field or city belongs. That is the job of landclass data. It also cannot move a misplaced coastline, reshape a lake or correct a motorway running through the wrong area.
Much of Base’s effect comes from replacement visual assets, so it may not appear as one simple scenery-area checkbox in the FSX Scenery Library. Do not assume the installation failed solely because there is no obvious “Global Base” layer to move.
What does Orbx Global Vector change?
Orbx Global Vector replaces much of FSX’s default worldwide vector data with more detailed lines and polygons. These define where roads, railways, rivers, lakes, coastlines and similar features are drawn.
Vector can therefore improve an obviously angular shoreline or missing road without altering the texture beneath it. Some product builds also include airport elevation corrections, intended to reconcile airports with the surrounding terrain. Our guide to the features changed by FSX vector scenery covers those improvements and their limitations.
Do you need both Orbx products?
No. Choose the layer that addresses what bothers you, or combine them for a broader worldwide upgrade.
- Choose Global Base alone when the default ground textures look dated but you are satisfied with FSX’s roads, water bodies and coastlines.
- Choose Global Vector alone when feature placement matters more than texture quality. It can draw its data over default FSX textures or another compatible texture set.
- Use both when you want replacement ground textures plus improved worldwide vector features.
- Use neither for a covered area when a detailed regional or photoreal package already supplies its own textures and vector data. The more specific scenery should normally take priority there.
Vector does not technically depend on Base’s textures. A legacy installer or licence bundle may have its own stated requirements, however, so follow the documentation supplied with that particular copy.
Does Global Vector replace terrain mesh or landclass?
No. Terrain mesh controls the shape and elevation of the ground, while landclass decides which general texture category appears in each location.
Vector lines and polygons are draped over that terrain. Installing higher-resolution mesh can improve mountains and valleys, but it does not supply Orbx Global Base textures or Vector’s roads and coastlines. The FreeMeshX terrain-mesh explanation and download shows this distinction in practical terms.
Which product should you install first?
If installing both from scratch, install Global Base first and Global Vector second, then confirm the scenery priorities. This is a clear troubleshooting sequence rather than a functional dependency.
- Select the correct simulator target. FSX boxed and FSX: Steam Edition may be shown as separate installations by the management software.
- Install and verify Global Base. Load a familiar default location and confirm that the ground appearance has changed.
- Install Global Vector. Check an area with recognisable coastlines, roads or lakes rather than judging it by texture quality.
- Check scenery priority. Detailed airports and regional packages should generally sit above global vector layers, with default scenery below them. Use our FSX scenery-priority guidance instead of moving entries at random.
What problems can Orbx Global Vector cause?
Most Global Vector problems are conflicts with more specific scenery or airport elevation data, not evidence that Global Base is missing.
- Sunken or raised airport: an add-on airport may conflict with Vector’s airport elevation correction. Keep the airport package above global layers and, where the supplied configuration utility permits it, disable the Vector correction for that airport.
- Double coastlines or conflicting water: two vector packages are active over the same area. Let the regional or local package supply that coverage and disable the overlapping lower-priority layer where possible.
- Roads or rivers do not follow the terrain: the vector and mesh datasets may differ. Changing texture products will not fix this; use compatible datasets or accept the local mismatch.
- Textures look unchanged after installing Vector: that is expected. Vector changes feature geometry, not the underlying worldwide texture set.