Downloading the Global Overlay Mapper
With the latest version, v1.8, the Global Overlay Mapper is now available for download completely free of charge, and has been fully updated for 2011. Follow the instructions below, and you will have a FULLY WORKING copy of GOM on your computer for as long as you wish to keep it. No nag-screens, no adverts, nothing to go out of date, no need to do anything else but use and enjoy the best Ham Radio Mapping system currently available.
System Requirements
The Global Overlay Mapper will run on any modern computer with the Windows 98/ME/2000/XP operating systems. As the program was built using Microsoft Visual Studio.NET, you will need the .NET Framework v1.1 to be already installed. Many computers already have this - you can check by clicking 'Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs', and looking for an entry 'Microsoft.NET Framework 1.1'. If it is missing, the GOM installer-program will tell you where to download it, though it usually sends you to the wrong page, and Version 2.0, which you don't want.
You can get the correct version from the Microsoft website HERE, or you can click HERE to go straight to the file, which is about 23MB in size.
Despite what you might think, Version 2.0 is NOT a 'new and improved' version of 1.1: it is a totally different program. There is also a Version 3 as well, now. You can have all three versions on your computer at the same time, if you wish. They do not interfere with each other. When you have the .NET Framework installed, you can run any software package written in Visual Basic.NET, so its worth taking the time to acquire and install it.
Download
The Global Overlay Mapper is packaged in 5 zipped files, with a total size of about 24MB. To start, create a blank folder on your 'desktop', then click on the links below and download each zip-file to that blank folder:
Use WinRAR, Winzip, or Windows XP's built-in unzip utility to unpack the 5 zip files to the same folder - you will then have the following 9 files in it:
GOM1.CAB
GOM2.CAB
GOM3.CAB
GOM4.CAB
GOM5.CAB
GOM.msi
Readme.txt
Setup.Exe
Setup.Ini
Don't try and unzip the CAB files. Click on "Setup.Exe" and follow the install-instructions.
After the installation, you can safely delete the blank folder that you originally created, and all its contents. You can then install the latest Updates - please see below for the latest files
Why should I Register ?
If your copy of the Global Overlay Mapper is not registered, the program will not store your own user-details. This means that every time you start it again, you will need to re-enter your own position and callsign. For further details of registering, see the Register page.
Updates: 12 Jan 2011
After you have the basic GOM installation, described above, working correctly, you should then install the LATEST updates to ensure that you have the most recent maps and gazetteer entries. I apologise that I am currently unable to add the updates to the main installer, as I travelling through Africa and don't have a full software design suite on my laptop! It is therefore necessary to add the updates separately, but this is very easy if you follow the instructions below.
The latest update file is here:
The files in this archive are self-routing, which ensures that each file goes into the correct storage location automatically. To install the update-files, you need to extract them from the archive.
If you are using the Winzip program, you should start it running, then click on 'Open', and browse to the downloaded update file: 'UPDATE_v1.8.zip'. Click 'OK' to select it, then click 'Extract'. Browse to the folder where you have the Global Overlay Mapping System installed, (normally C:\Program Files\MapAbility\Global Overlay Mapper V1.5.0) and enter this address in the 'Extract to' box. Select the 'All Files', 'Overwrite Existing Files', and 'Use folder names' options. All three options are absolutely required in WinZip for the program to work. Click 'Extract', and WinZip does the rest for you. Close the Winzip program.
If you are using the WinRAR program, you should start it running, then click 'File>Open Archive', and browse to the downloaded update file: 'UPDATE_v1.8.zip'. Click 'Extract To' and browse to the folder where you have the Global Overlay Mapping System installed, (normally C:\Program Files\MapAbility\Global Overlay Mapper V1.5.0). This address will then be stored in the 'Destination Path' window. Set the 'Update Mode' to 'Extract and Replace Files', and the 'Overwrite Mode' to 'Overwrite without prompt'. Click 'OK' and WinRAR does the rest for you. Close the WinRAR program.
Start the Global Overlay Mapping System as normal. The new data will be integrated, and the opening screen will inform you that the Overlay Version is now 2.3. If the Overlay Version still says 2.1 then the above updates have not been installed correctly. This is probably because you un-zipped the files to the wrong base-location. Please read the instructions for updating carefully, and try the procedure again.
NOTE: I have received notice that some versions of Windows are blocking some of the updates, specifically the HTML files. I use WinRAR and don't get this problem, but Window's own unzip utility or WinZIP may cause errors. To fix this, find the Zip file in 'My Computer' or 'Windows Explorer', and right click > Properties. In the 'General' tab it will read 'Security: This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer'. To fix this, click the 'Unblock' button then open the Zip file as before.
If you have any questions about downloading or installing the main program or its updates, please see the file 'Readme_v1.8.txt' which is included here and in the Update zipfile. You are also welcome to contact by clicking here.
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