plugin alliance activation troubles with sonar x1

  dear sonar enthusiasts, i am not sure if i am right here, but the plugin alliance help desk is somewhat slow... so i am runnign sonar x1 studio, and wanted to try the spl drumxchanger on an nasty drum track that our drummer made in our rehearsal room. i downloaded the drumxchanger, set on the track, and the plugin mentioned "activation required". so far, so good. they are giving me two options: online and offline. so i clicked "i'm online" and am receiving the message "no internet connection", although i was online just like i am now. so i click "offline" (grrrr), got my self the pa license, uploaded it where they said i should, clicked "activate"...and NOTHING happens. i am just getting the plugin gui saying "activation needed", so i am right where i was before... fantastic. this is a drag, for the spl drumxchanger, as far as i can tell by the videos, seems to be the product for me. anyone had similar trouble? any magic trick i'm missing? thanks - tom