The Basics: you need four pieces of information

The URL for the Honeywell/Bendix/King download site is here:

  • Our login ID for the service is this: redacted
  • Our password for the service is this: redacted
  • The "Key" for our particular GPS unit is: A3F5C1B5

    Requirements

    You need a laptop with a on the back to do this.

  • Send out an email telling us all that you are going to download the database update, because the downloads are counted, and if two of us happen to download the same update I think we may get decremented twice!
  • Make sure you have a laptop with a DB9 serial port connector. Install the "Database Loader Program" from the GPS Database download area on the site onto your computer and make sure it runs.
  • Download the latest database. The file is an executable that expands when run - you don't have to actually expand it now, you just drop the .EXE file into the Databases directory underneath the program installation of the loader program. The loader program invokes the executable and expands it as you're loading. You will need to type in the "Key" above correctly or the database won't load into our particular KLN90B!
  • Go to the plane, find the update cable (in a plastic pouch behind the copilot seat, or perhaps the flight bag). Plug one end into the serial port on your computer, the other end into the panel
  • Turn on the master switch. If you like, to save the battery, pull various breakers, especially the landing light breaker which ties to the fuel pumps out in the tip tanks that run whenever the master is on.
  • Turn on the avionics master and the KLN90B. Go to setup, and within setup, the update DB page. Press cursor and follow the prompts. But just before confirming "Update DB", make sure the program is running on the computer and one step away from the "go" step to upload to the KLN90B. I have found it important to start the two at the same time.
  • If everything works, communications will be established and you will be asked to confirm to delete the current database on the KLN90B. This takes a couple of minutes. Then you'll start to see the progress indicator estimating time to upload. It shouldn't be more than about 10 minutes. If your serial port wasn't able to initialize at 115,600 baud and instead is running more slowly, you'll get huge update times that will try your patience and drain the battery - I suggest you try to fiddle with your COM drivers and start again until you get the two talking at 115,600 baud. With the latest software, this seems to work pretty well now, it used to be a huge problem.
  • The GPS unit automatically resets when the load is done, check it out to make sure it works (!!!)
  • Disconnect the computer, power down the plane, and PUSH IN THE BREAKERS!

    As you can see, it's a bit complicated overall the first time you do it. But we have a bunch of computer folks in the group :-) If you see a problem with this procedure, please edit and resend to everyone - I'm typing it for memory, and may have missed something.