V-Soft Communications Newsletter: 09/12/05
In this Newsletter:
Show
discounts as V-Soft exhibits at NAB Radio, in Philadelphia
Direct Access to Stafile in FMCont & FMCommander
New Hasp Driver for Newer XP Systems
SRTM Accesibility in Terrain 3D
Remember to Check for FMCont & FMCommander Program Updates
Available Datasets for Probe 3
Reminder: Insure Your V-Soft Programs With Your Hardware
New Database Set-up Procedure for Probe 3
Convention Time is Nearly Here
V-Soft will be in Philadelphia for the NAB Radio show from September 21-23rd. If you are attending the show be sure to stop by booth #403. During this show V-Soft will be offering a 7% show discount on all V-Soft software products. You don't have to attend the show to take advantage of the discounts, just call in your purchase before September 24th. If you need a free exhibits pass, click on the picture below and use our vendor number VIP code, CJ1754. On-line registration closes September 14th, so register now. After that you can register at the site using our VIP code..
Stafile in FMCont & FMCommander
Now with FMCont & FMCommander you can access the database screen (once called Stafile) directly, without having to open FMCont or FMCommander. To use this tool, create a shortcut for the executable of FMCont or FMCommander by right clicking either the shortcut on your desktop, or the program .exe file, and then click to "create shortcut" from the drop-down menu. Then, on your new shortcut, right click the icon and go to Properties. In the "target" area, add " /data" AFTER the quotes of the current target. Make sure there is a space between the end quote and the "/". Therefore, if your FMCommander folder is under your Program Files Folder, the target would most likely be: "C:\Program Files\V-Soft\FMCommander\FMCommander.exe" /data. Now all you have to do to quickly look up database stations is to click the "database" shortcut.
New Hasp Driver for Dual Core Systems
Intel has released a new Dual Core Technology computer system that simulates dual processors by creating two complete execution cores in one physical processor, both running at the same frequency. In order for the HASP security keys to be recognized with this technology and other newer XP operating systems, Aladdin has created a new device driver. If you have recently switched to one of these systems, and you find your Hasp key is not recognized, click here to download the latest Hasp device driver, and please view the readme.txt for directions to install the drivers. To read more on Intel's Dual Core processors, click on the following link: http://www.intel.com/technology/computing/dual-core/. Call V-Soft if you still experience problems.
Probe 3 version 3.31 is now available for download from our website. In this update, we've added the ability to use UNIX/Mac formatted ASCII files as well as PC based files to be imported as measured data. This version also adds options to measured signal plotting for draw layer and a selection for "black circles" to appear around measured points some times called the snail trail. Probe 3 now handles, measured data imports from the Audemat, Z-Technology and other GPS/signal synchronizers. The measured data import and mapping feature is a Probe 3 option.
Probe 3 Measured signal snail-trail map
Also In version 3.31, we introduce a new data organizer for multiple polygon sets found in the optional new Urban/MSA/County database sets. The new polygon organizer allows users to load, manage, and select multiple polygons as one group. We've also added population database information to the population reports for single polygons and polygon sets. If you are a Probe user and are a member of the support service Click here to download Probe 3 ver. 3.31.
Urban/MSA/County database Polygon Group data organizer tool.
SRTM Now Compatible with Terrain-3D
The SRTM World, 3-arc second, shuttle terrain can now be used with Terrain-3D. Now you can produce a rotatable 3 dimensional image of the terrain anywhere in the world. To find out more about the SRTM World Shuttle Terrain, click here. To find out more about Terrain-3D, click here. For pricing information, click here.
Terrain-3D has been updated with the following changes:
a.) Revamped terrain system to use general path specification system. Paths are now configured using Settings->"Terrain
Path Setup" and database configuration is now selected using Settings->"Terrain Database Selection".
b.) Updated database system so now FM and TV master files are used rather than state based files.
c.) Updated database search to "list style" search window.
d.) Added ability to use SRTM world data.
e.) Updated appearance to use Windows XP themes.
If you are a Terrain-3D user and a support program enrollee you should update your program today here:
FMCommander & FMCont Program Updates
Remember to check for program updates for FMCommander, FMCont and SearchFM. We frequently put up new program versions, so make sure you're always up-to-date on the latest releases. If you have the current versions of these programs, its easy to check for program updates. Open up the program, click on "Help", and then click on "Download Program Updates". The program will open a special browser linked to the program's update site on the web. The date of the executable installed to your computer will be displayed and you can also see the date of the updated executable on the web. If the web program is newer, download the zip file, then close the program and unzip the file, overwriting the executable on your computer. On most XP computers you can download the file simply by double clicking it. Once you have updated to the newest versions of FMCont and SearchFM, you should always get your updates through the "Help" ---> "Download Program Updates" menu in this manner. The older FMContexeonly.zip and SearchFMexeonly.zip files can no longer can be used for updating FMCont and SearchFM version 6 and above. However, these zip files will remain in the V-Soft web folder "client program/updates" for sometime into the future. If you are a member of the technical support program and are transitioning to the new FMCont or SearchFM versions, call Adam Puls of our office for a fresh installation.
Additional Probe 3 Datasets & Optional Modules
The 2005 V-Map Datasets are now available for Probe 3. These new datasets provide new U.S. State and County boundary data, the 2000 urban area data, and 1999 MSA data. Other optional databases include the tear 2003 U.S. Census estimates, FCC ASR listed towers, new satellite corrected NED, 30 meter and 3-arc second terrain elevation databases. Optional Probe 3 add-ins include: the general interference module (allows you to define your own D/U interference models), booster synchronization module, OET-69 DTV module, the measured signal and mapping module, the extended population housing dataset, and 2001 Canadian Census. To order the 2005 V-Map dataset update or any other optional dataset or module, Email Adam Puls, or call 1-800-743-3684.
Probe
3's New Station Database Menu
You may have already noticed that in the latest version of Probe, the menu for setting up the FM and TV databases is no longer under "Path Setup". Now there is a new menu item under the "View" menu called "Station database setup." Clicking this menu item brings up the following screen:
The new database configuration system is designed to be generic so that the user has complete control over which databases are accessed and which stations are considered from each database (based on country of origin). There are two main configurations:
Simple Configuration
To use a single station database, simply enter the path to the directory where the FM and TV databases are stored in the main "Station Database Setup" window (this is the configuration above). Also note the path to the DTV Allotment and "Frozen" FCC database is specified at the bottom of this window.
Advanced Configuration
Use the advanced configuration to make the program seamlessly access more than one database at once. At this time you would mainly use this configuration to make the program access the FCC's database for US stations and the Canadian database for CA stations (this is the "standard" multiple database configuration). To configure the program for this, select the "Use Advanced Multiple Configuration" radio button and click the "Configure Database" button to setup the paths to the database. The following window will appear:
Here you can add as many different databases as desired for the program to access (right now the only ones that are available are the FCC and CA databases). Use the "Edit" button to edit the properties for one of the selected database.
The "standard" advanced configuration uses the FCC database for all stations outside of Canada, and the Canadian database for all stations inside of Canada. The FCC database configuration in this case looks like this:
The "Database Name" is simply an identifier used to inform the user of which database is being configured (it is for display purposes only). The "Database Path" should be set to the path for the database. Currently the only "Database Format" available is the standard "V-Soft" format. Finally, the "Load Area" section of the window defines which stations will be considered from the database. In this configuration the program will load stations from all areas except for Canada from the FCC database.
Note that for the Canadian database the only "Load Area" selected for this database is "Canada". That means that if stations are found in the database that are not determined as being in Canada, they will be ignored by the program.
Insure your V-Soft Applications
We make it a policy to have all keys returned to V-Soft for repair or replacement sent by traceable means, such as Federal Express. Lost Hasp keys can be big trouble, that's why we also strongly recommend that you insure your computer for the value of the hardware and the V-Soft software together. If your V-Soft HASP key gets lost or stolen in transport and you have sent the key by traceable means to V-Soft, we will replace the key for a minimal replacement cost. However, if you have lost your key through theft or for some other reason, replacement of the key and the current versions of the licensed V-Soft software will cost 60% of the original software cost. This is the same cost as as purchasing a second seat for your applications, so insure your hardware to cover the unexpected. In case a loss ever happens; it's better to be safe, than sorry.
Lease Options Available
V-Soft Communications offers leasing or rental options on many of its software packages. If
lease-to-own sounds attractive to you, call Kate at 800 743-3684.