This page is for the use of current owners of LoranGPS version 5.0 through 5.7. This page is the list of maintenance updates in version 5.x and a download able new program. You can download the upgrade for free if you own any version 5.0 through 5.7. You are urged to upgrade to 7.3 for $30 to obtain the latest in features. 

Update Your 5.X Software

Download the last (5.7) version of the program - 4/02/03 (2.4 Mbytes)

Download the (5.X) Manual (3.2 Mbytes)

Note that this program is not stand alone. In order to run it you need a full installation of version 5.0 (or later) of the LoranGPS program. Do not download this program if you have an earlier version, it will not work. We only place here the changed files that are needed to bring your copy up to current capabilities. Also note that if you have the NorthStar uploader, you will need version 2.1 to work with the higher resolution files created by this LoranGPS version. Contact us for instructions if you need the NorthStar upgrade to version 2.1.

If the program says it that the file: MSCOMM32.OCX is out of date, click here to download the newer copy in zipped form. Unzip and replace the one in the Windows/system or windows/system32 folder.

The downloaded program will load a SETUP program into a downloads folder. Run the SETUP program from there to install the new program and related files. Do not uninstall the original program as this installation needs files from that installation.

If you have a problem with the download above not working, you might consider upgrading to version 7.1 which can be ordered for $25.

Note: Some users on upgrading have noticed that afterwards, the range seems to be off. If this happens to you, check Number Formatting to make sure that you do not have kilometers selected for the range. 

Modifications and Bugs found and fixed to date in version 5.X:
 

4/2/03
I made a change to the program on 3/26 and found that it messed up the File/File Properties routine. First, it prevents you from changing the file properties and second it reduces the spreadsheet to one reading. It does not erase readings, but a user might get very concerned when only one shows in the file. Do not panic if this happens, as the readings are still there even if you saved the file after using this routine.

3/26/03
Fixed a minor issue with deleting readings while doing duplicates search.

2/28/03
Added new Maptech import/export routines to handle the format now used by Maptech for exporting waypoint files.

2/9/03
Added an extra decimal place to all Lat/Lon formats to allow more accurate positions [0.6'] such as in surveying. Changed version number to 5.7.

12/8/02
Found that the grid component was showing a license needed nag screen on the trip planner. Got rid of it.

11/24/02
Added a new revision of the Garmin downloader.

10/22/02
Changed the Garmin downoader to have more meaningful dialogs. Also fixed a problem where requests for the time from the GPS were making it miss some downloaded points. Fixed a problem where the grid change on 10/15 was not carried out to all grids in the program.

10/16/02
Fixed a fatal flaw that caused crashes in the version released yesterday. It was introduced by one of those last minute changes that can't possibly cause harm.

10/15/02
Changed the spreadsheet grid to fix problems with scrolling in windows XP. Now the program is fully compatible with XP. Changed the Garmin downloader to better handle duplicated names.

8/8/02
Restored information for chain 4990 that had been deleted in 1992 when the chain was shut down. Need this for converting old readings in Hawaii.

6/27/02
Made some error messages more meaningful and informative.

5/3/02
Fixed an issue where the chart menu was active in spreadsheet mode in some cases.

4/2/02
Changed way it behaves when user clicks on a LoranGPS data file to open program. Would sometimes erase users personality file when operated this way.

3/4/02
Fixed a problem where the government ASF tables do not cover some areas and cause a discontinuity in the charts.

1/7/02
Moved all support files to the applications folder to make them easier to manage.

9/29/01
Upgraded the Garmin uploader to handle the new Garmin models. Fixed a problem with the ASF table examine function where, if the last chain in the chain list was not supported, it would not show any chains. Tied the optional Northstar uploader into the program so it can be called directly and does not require extra steps to upload and download.

9/9/01
Fixed a position error in the 9940 West coast chain. Added the capability to show a selection of map outlines on the chart.

8/13/01
Fixed issue with not being able to easily change duplicates search distance.

8/1/01
Fixed a position error in the 8970 Great Lakes chain introduced 5/21/00 as a result of updating the loran.sta file.

7/6/01
Fixed a problem importing readings as degrees and fractional degrees. Made show-all-maps do print-all-maps too.

5/26/01
Fixed an issue with changing a reading entered as L/L only to one using L/L with Loran.

5/8/01
Made the range calculation consistent between R/B on listing, range lines on chart and range used on Other Boat routine. Put range definition in title bar. Fixed a problem in Loran A coordinates of stations. Fixed the Export DMX routine to use upper case only.

3/5/01
Made minor modifications to Lowrance downloader to improve visibility to what is going on. Removed dashes from names in Furuno exporter.

2/5/01
Fixed some problems in Furuno DMX importer.

1/27/01
Fixed bugs in Garmin and Magellan uploaders based on customer feedback.

12/31/00
Added a feature where if you double click on a reading's range or bearing, it will become the range and bearing reference for the file. Fixed a bug in the sort by range routine. It aborted the sort before it was finished if it encountered a large range during the sort.

12/17/00
Added upload/download capability for Garmin and Magellan. Added show- all- maps on graphics screen.

12/11/00
Added MapSource import for Garmin GPSs.

11/3/00
Fixed OziExplorer and Furuno DMX Export file structure

10/8/00
Added kilometers to the range choices and added TAGs to the list of ways to sort a file. Made deleting readings easier while in duplicates search and added a duplicates criterion selection window. Added a converter for old version 2.0 to 2.9 files.

8/7/00
Fixed a bug where poor accuracy of loran to lat/lon conversions occurred if certain operations were performed in a particular sequence. If you display a large area chart with loran lines, then enter new numbers or do a recalculation of Lat/Lon, the accuracy would be reduced. I reduced the accuracy of loran line computations for large area charts that didn't need the accuracy and didn't set it back when done. The accuracy was reset if you displayed a small area chart or opened the User Preferences window. If you suspect that this may have effected you, select TOOLS/Recalculate LL and see if any of the converted numbers change. I also fixed a problem where the user's ASF factors for the file could get corrupted if the last reading worked on before saving the file had numbers in the first part of the Comments field. This does not necessarily result in bad conversions and is no importance if using the user calibrated or government tables methods. Also increased the accuracy of the ASF calculations for cases where the initial Lat/Lon guess was way off.

Changed the version number to 5.3 to reflect all the above fixes.

5/31/00
The companion program MagVar ran out of data in year 2000. A new version is posted and included with the latest version.

5/16/00
Updated the loran chain information and fixed a problem where the graphics reading identifier was sometimes not completely visible.

4/9/00
Data entry screen did not fix input errors as intended.

3/28/00
Fixed some error messages about overflow on zooming in too far.

2/6/00
Now makes a report of the calibration accuracy and shows which calibration readings have what accuracy. This is a great way to see how your calibration is going and to make sure that you have chosen the best calibration method.

1/28/00
Garmin's MapSource didn't like importing LoranGPS' exported PCX-5 file due to a missing character.

1/23/00
Fixed the printed font to be transparent as it was in versions 4.x.

12/15/99
Changed program to not revert to demo mode if INI file missing. That was too much hassle. Also made it possible to use the track plotting capability to make boxes and shapes on the screen.

11/30/99
Added a second sort key to the sorting algorithm for more flexibility.

11/18/99
Found that the tracking would not work with some GPSs. Added the $GPRMC sentence to tracking algorithm.

11/13/99
Fixed two problems in import routines. First, Garmin PCX5 and Gardown did not show track files in the file open window. Second, import track on Lowrance GPSs could bomb and hang the program. Also made the Lowrance track download work as expected.

10/26/99
Fixed a problem where old maps will cause an error message because the old coastlines are still specified and can't be handled.

10/25/99
Found a problem in versions 5.0 and 5.1 where the restore of DOS files to the hard disk could corrupt the files on the hard disk. In this case, the DOS file contents overwrote one of the files on the disk under a different name.

10/15/99
Added new coastlines with much better resolution derived from National Ocean Service data. The coastlines comes in four separate files with various resolutions and started shipping 10/08/99.