All Programs

Can the programs run on the new Microsoft Vista version of Windows?

We have carried out testing on our products under what is expected to be the most popular version of Vista - Home Premium.

Both versions of the Radar Simulator have behaved well. No faults found.

VHF DSC Simulator Mk3 works well in most respects and is quite usable. There appears to be a slight problem with distortion of the alarm tones, but we are investigating this.

The Radar Plotting Tutor works well.

There is a minor problem affecting about 2% of the GPS Tutor material. We are investigating this issue and hope to resolve it shortly.

The VHF Tutor works well.

The earlier products - Lights, Sounds and Tides are not usable under Vista. These will require completely new versions, which may be produced by the end of summer 2007.

Can I view the LightMaster CDs on my DVD player and TV?

All current CDs from LightMaster carry PC software, which allows fully interactive learning, rather than passive viewing of video DVD sequences. All software requires a computer to carry out the program instructions. You may be able to use your TV as a screen for your PC, but you cannot run the programs on a basic DVD player.

I have an Apple Mac computer. Can I run LightMaster programs on it?

All current software from LightMaster is designed for PCs running Microsoft Windows operating system. Some programs can be run under an emulator, such as Virtual PC, which makes the Apple computer act as if it were a PC. Performance is usually limited on an emulator, so this is unlikely to be satisfactory for the Radar Simulator, which requires a lot of calculation to generate the ever-changing display. Emulation may be OK for the VHF and GPS software, but we cannot test all combinations of Apple models, operating systems and emulation software.

If you have a recent model of Mac, using an Intel processor, it should be able to run Windows via Apple's Boot Camp or similar 'dual boot' facility. You would still require a genuine copy of Microsoft Windows, but could then run most PC software.

VHF DSC Simulator

How do I tell which VHF Simulator version I have?

VHF Simulator Mk1 looks like a sandwich box, VHF Simulator Mk2 has separate DSC and Radio boxes, VHF Simulator Mk3 has single box radios RS86 or RD68.

I get an error message 'File Not Found' when I press 'Agree to the Terms' on the Mk2 Simulator?

The most likely cause is incorrect screen resolution. This program can only run at either 800x600 or 1024x768 pixels.

To adjust the resolution, close the Simulator then right-click on any clear area of desktop, select Properties, then Settings.

On this dialogue, there is a slider to set the resolution. Note the current setting so that you can restore it later if required, then drag the slider to 1024x768 and click OK.

Restart the Simulator and the program should run successfully.

Where are the Help instructions for the VHF DSC Simulator Mk3 ?

The new Simulators each have an extensive collection of help files and instructions. These take the form of PDF (text and picture) documents, or video clips. They are supplied on the CD. To view the help and instructions, insert the CD and click the Help and Information button on the CD menu which appears. If the menu does not pop-up automatically, use MyComputer or Windows Explorer to select the CD drive (usually D:) then select the CD menu.

In either case, when you click the button, the Tutorial Manager panel will appear, listing the available help files. Simply click the mini-button beside the document of choice, and it will be displayed.

Why do I get Channel 26 (or some other channel) when I press the Ch16 button on the RD68 ?

You probably pressed the Channel 16 button twice in succession.

Simrad have provided a user-selectable priority channel on this model. To access the User channel, press the 16 button twice. Channel 28 is the default, but you can set any normal channel by selecting that channel in the usual way, then pressing and holding T/W softkey until the word User appears on the screen.

VHF DSC TutorPlus

I get an error message 'Invalid Product' when starting the Simulator Mk2.

The problem is almost certainly caused by entering the wrong Key Number for this product. The TutorPlus has three programs on the one CD.

If the Key Number for the Tutor or Mk3 Simulator is used in error, then the Simulator Mk2 initially accepts this as a valid LightMaster code, but then rejects it as being intended for a different product. The problem is not cured by uninstalling the program, because registration occurs after the installation is finished and therefore the uninstaller knows nothing about the registration file.

The cure is explained in the leaflet in the CD case. There is a file on the CD called UnReg.exe which can remove the incorrect registration. To access UnReg, you should insert the CD in the drive, allow it to autostart, then quit from the CD menu. Now use Windows Explorer, or My Computer to view the list of files on the CD and select UnReg.

If you do not know how to run Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer which you use for web browsing), hold down the Windows Key on the keyboard and hit the 'E' key once. Windows Explorer will start up. In the left hand column, select the D: drive - probably labelled as LightMaster, since it contains the LightMaster CD, and the right-hand column should list the files on the CD. In this right-hand list, Click on UnReg to start the unregister program, and then click its Simulator button.

Close Explorer, re-start the Simulator and be sure to enter the correct code, which has DS as the last two letters. e.g. LMSDS - 1234567

Radar Simulator

I cannot switch on the LCD radar set in Mk3 Simulator

This model of radar uses the same button for power on as for standby/transmit.

To switch on or off, you must hold the button down for 5 seconds. A short press is used for switching between standby and transmit.

Where are the Help instructions for the Radar Simulator ?

The new Simulators each have an extensive collection of help files and instructions. These take the form of PDF (text and picture) documents, or video clips. They are supplied on the CD. To view the help and instructions, insert the CD and click the Help and Information button on the CD menu which appears. If the menu does not pop-up automatically, use MyComputer or Windows Explorer to select the CD drive (usually D:) then select the CD menu.

In either case, when you click the button, the Tutorial Manager panel will appear, listing the available help files. Simply click the mini-button beside the document of choice, and it will be displayed.

LightMaster, FogMaster and Tidal Navigation Tutor

Which versions of Windows can run these programs?

These are our older programs and are not recommended for Windows 2000 or XP. These earlier products will not run at all on Vista.

There are various compatibility problems with these versions of Windows, on some PCs. We only recommend these programs for Windows 95, 98 or ME.

LightMaster Marine Lights Simulator program is now completely replaced with the new Vessel Lights and Buoys. This does everything that the old program would do, plus much more.

If you really want the Tidal Tutor or FogMaster, you can run Windows 98 as a second Operating System alongside XP. See the topic of 'Dual Boot' in the help pages of Windows XP .

Vessel Lights & Buoys Tutor and Simulator

Which versions of Windows can run these programs?

This latest suite of programs requires Windows 2000, XP, or Vista. It also requires Microsoft's Dot Net Framework. This should be present on recently purchased PCs, but can be downloaded from the Microsoft website, or installed from our CD if required.

Video modules run, but the Tutors and Simulators give error messages.

You probably need to install the Dot Net Framework. See the instruction leaflet enclosed with your CD, or refer to www.microsoft.com for further details. A button is provided on the installation program to allow installation of DotNet from the CD.

If you download from Microsoft, do NOT use Framework 3 beta. See next item.

DotNet Framework was downloaded, but error messages continue.

Microsoft currently have Beta versions of Framework 3 for download. This is not compatible. You need Framework 2.

If you have downloaded Version 3, you must uninstall it before installing Version 2.

Error message when launching from desktop icon - List Index Out of Bounds.

Some PCs may show this error on early version of the software. E-mail to LightMaster to request a replacement CD.