Hi Simon,
The time-limited beta application retrieves daytime data from NIST time servers through TCP/IP port 13. Right now this is the only public beta version that we have released.
I'll think on an alternate way to authenticate a beta application, not requiring an Internet connection, but it is not an easy task.
I hope you'll understand that because PixInsight is a completely open system, we have to limit the useability of the beta application in some strong way. Limiting its file writing capabilities is useless for this purpose since you can bypass the core application completely through PCL code.
I hope you still will be able to use PI/PCL at home or from another location with an operative Internet connection. Please let me know if this (at work) is your only possibility, and we'll try to find a specific solution.
By the way, I'm almost ready to upload a first batch of PCL reference documentation files. I'll post an announcement to the forum during this afternoon.
Thanks,
Juan