diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a85404b..0a443f0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,56 +1,110 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## [6.0.1] 2026-01-16
+## [6.0.2-beta.1] 2026-01-18
+## Fixed
+- Do not spawn dialogs from inside of thread when fetching prereqs
+## Changed
+- Optimize time complexity of startup checks
+- Optimize coordinate calculation by using local records first
+- Rename some internal functions
+- Wrap entire startup process in dialog
+
+## [6.0.1-beta.1] 2026-01-16
 ## Fixed
 - Explicitly use Python 3.13 when calling subprocesses
 
-## [6.0.0] 2026-01-14
+## [6.0.0-beta.20] 2026-01-14
+## Fixed
+- Write cache file after wiping
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.19] 2026-01-14
+## Fixed
+- Steam Deck compatible script path expansion
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.18] 2026-01-14
+## Fixed
+- Update UI checksums
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.17] 2026-01-14
 ## Added
-- Support DayZ Experimental
-- Ping display on server tables
-- Save descriptive text notes on a per-server basis
-- Speed up load time and navigation of server tables
-- More robust threading and cache system when filtering servers
-- Show additional DayZ client information in Options menu
-- Warn user of DayZ client version mismatches
-- Support clickable hyperlinks in dialogs
-- Rich server metadata details dialog (right-click on server table)
-- Filter by modded servers
-- Breadcrumbs showing current menu context
-- Dedicated changelog page
-- Dedicated keybindings page
-- Dedicated settings page ("Options")
-- Support sandboxed version of Flatpak
-- Vim-style navigation keybindings
-- Added "Return to main menu" button to dialog windows when failing to load server table
-- Dynamic context menus for modded servers
-- Additional keybindings for new filter toggles
-- If a server is locked, prompt user when connecting
-- Internal flag to allow distro-packaged releases to disable in-app updates
-- Pre-boot checks to test whether script was invoked directly
-- Commandline usage help text (GaryBlackbourne)
 - More descriptive help dialogs when initial dependencies are missing
 
+## [6.0.0-beta.16] 2026-01-04
 ## Fixed
+- Regression introduced in previous hotfix
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.15] 2025-12-27
+## Fixed
+- Path discovery during first-time setup when parsing filepaths with whitespaces
+- First-time setup dialog continuously triggering when DayZ install path had whitespaces in it
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.14] 2025-12-09
+## Fixed
+- Dialogs with newlines breaking output in log table
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.13] 2025-11-29
+## Fixed
+- Server filter panel not being hidden when entering other page contexts
+- Path to remote changelog being constructed incorrectly
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.12] 2025-11-14
+## Changed
+- Require Python 3.13
+## Fixed
+- Normalize beta version
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.11] 2025-11-13
+## Added
+- Support sandboxed flatpak
+
+## Changed
+- Preferred client from radio toggle to combobox
+
+## Fixed
+- Config file erroneously getting updated when populating settings menu
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.10] 2025-11-10
+## Fixed
+- Python 3.14 error in finally block
+- Require Python version between 3.11 and 3.12
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.9] 2025-11-05
+## Fixed
+- UI not being constructed correctly if CHANGELOG.md was missing
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.8] 2025-11-04
+## Added
+- Internal flag to allow distribution packaged releases to disable in-app updates
+- Pre-boot check to test whether script was invoked directly
+- Commandline usage help text
+
+## Fixed
+- ESC key destroying wait dialogs while a thread is pending
+- Tooltip signals being erroneously drawn on main menu
+- Leaky variable name in dialog titles
+- Prevent extraneous signals from propagating when column width is adjusted
 - Script failing to start when remote endpoints are unavailable (GaryBlackbourne)
-- Key stickiness when quickly navigating through entries in tables
-- Servers returning malformed A2S_INFO blocking server browser from loading
-- Normalized buttons in dialogs and restored proper padding
-- GTK errors being emitted to stdout when inserting debug table
-- Entry dialog sensitivity when validating API keys
-- Additional validation on entry dialogs to prevent submitting empty text
-- Suppress errors during pre-boot checks when mods are not installed
-- Centered filter checkboxes within panel
-- Do not pop unhighlight/select stale buttons if no stale mods exist
-- Improved keybinding interaction with side panels
-- Suppress typeahead search in mod dialogs
-- Do not trigger global API cooldown if no LAN/favorite servers are found
-- Fix table column expansion in server mod dialogs
-- Missing parameters when closing application via window decorations
-- Statusbar contents not updating on certain pages
-- Prevent debug button from activating when in certain input fields
-- Window size not updating correctly when unmaximizing window after changing "fullscreen at boot" setting
-- Branch toggle signal being emitted when entering Options menu from other contexts
+
+## Changed
+- Optimize time complexity of pre-boot checks (GaryBlackbourne)
+- Moved location of notes file
+- Rewrote distance calculation module (GaryBlackbourne)
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.7] 2025-09-20
+## Added
+- Users can save text notes to describe servers
+
+## Changed
+- State file serialization methods
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.6] 2025-09-12
+## Added
+- Support DayZ Experimental
+- Show additional client information in Options menu
+- Warn user of client version mismatches
+- Support clickable hyperlinks
+
+## Fixed
 - Mods rarely not appearing in local mod list if download completed too quickly
 - Statusbar not updating when clicking a row after spamming keyboard input
 - Extraneous logs being generated when subscribing to mods
@@ -58,188 +112,342 @@
 - Newline terminators in history file
 - Floating point number calculation
 - Window resizing too small if no prior resolution was set
-- ESC key destroying wait dialogs while a thread is pending
-- Tooltip signals being erroneously emitted on main menu
-- UI not being constructed correctly if CHANGELOG.md was missing
-- Config file erroneously getting updated when populating settings menu
-- Leaky variable name in dialog titles
-- Prevent extraneous signals from propagating when column width is adjusted
-- Server filter panel not being hidden when entering other page contexts
-- Path to remote changelog being constructed incorrectly
-- Dialogs with newlines breaking output in log table
-- Path discovery during first-time setup when parsing filepaths with whitespaces
-- First-time setup dialog continuously triggering when DayZ install path had whitespaces in it
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.5] 2025-08-20
+## Fixed
+- Servers returning malformed A2S_INFO blocking server browser from loading
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.4] 2025-08-13
+## Fixed
+- Branch toggle signal being emitted when entering Options menu from other contexts
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.3] 2025-08-08
+## Added
+- Additional server metadata to details dialog
+- Prompt user when connecting if a server is locked
+- Dedicated settings page ("Options")
+
+## Fixed
+- Statusbar contents not updating on certain pages
+- Breadcrumbs not updating when returning from keybindings page
+- Wrap long descriptions in server details
+- Prevent debug button from activating when in certain input fields
+- Window size not updating correctly when unmaximizing window after changing "fullscreen at boot" setting
+
+## Dropped
+- Extraneous information from right statusbar
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.2] 2025-07-29
+## Fixed
+- Missing parameters when closing application via window decorations
+
+## [6.0.0-beta.1] 2025-07-29
+## Added
+- Ping column to server browsing contexts
+- Server details dialog to server browsing contexts
+- Filter by modded servers
+- Breadcrumbs showing current menu context to top of window
+- Speed up load time and navigation of server tables
+- More robust threading and cache system when filtering servers
+- Dedicated changelog page
+- Dedicated keybindings page
+- Vim-style navigation keybindings
+- Additional validation on entry dialogs to prevent submitting empty text
+- Added "Return to main menu" button to dialog windows when failing to load server table
+- Dynamic context menus for modded servers
+- Additional keybindings for filter toggles
+
+## Fixed
+- Entry dialog sensitivity when validating API keys
+- Normalized buttons in dialogs and restored proper padding
+- GTK errors being emitted to stdout when inserting debug table
+- Suppress errors during pre-boot checks when mods are not installed
+- Centered filter checkboxes within panel
+- Do not pop unhighlight/select stale buttons if no stale mods exist
+- Improved keybinding interaction with side panels
+- Key stickiness when quickly navigating through entries in tables
+- Suppress typeahead search in mod dialogs
+- Do not trigger global API cooldown if no LAN/favorite servers are found
+- Fix table column expansion in server mod dialogs
 
 ## Changed
-- Require Python 3.13
 - Reduced global API cooldown from 60s to 30s
 - Clarify dialog messages when DayZ path could not be found
 - Auto-focus first item when opening context menus
 - Opacity setting on side buttons when in a different context
 - Refactored BM API key validation to account for new key format
-- State file serialization methods
-- Optimize time complexity of pre-boot checks (GaryBlackbourne)
-- Rewrote distance calculation module (GaryBlackbourne)
-- Changed preferred client setting from radio toggle to combobox
 
 ## Dropped
 - Ping readout in statusbar
-- Extraneous information from right statusbar
 
-## [5.8.3] 2026-01-04
-## Fixed
-- Normalize checksum numbers and dates
-
-## [5.8.2] 2026-01-04
-## Fixed
-- Fix regression in symlink routine introduced by previous hotfix
-
-## [5.8.1] 2025-12-27
-## Fixed
-- Path discovery during first-time setup when parsing filepaths with whitespaces
-- First-time setup dialog continuously triggering when DayZ install path had whitespaces in it
-
-## [5.8.0] 2025-07-06
+## [5.8.0-beta.2] 2025-07-06
 ## Added
 - Filter servers by official/unofficial status
-- Automatically fetch geolocation records
 ## Changed
 - Updated internal versioning of helper files
+
+## [5.8.0-beta.1] 2025-06-05
+## Added
+- Automatically fetch geolocation records
 ## Fixed
 - Corrected erroneous 2024 date in prior changelog entries
 
-## [5.7.0] 2025-04-17
-## Added
-- Save application dimensions when quitting and restore on subsequent boot
-## Fixed
-- Issues with the window exceeding the bounds of the screen when displaying some table contexts
+## [5.7.1-beta.1] 2025-04-17
 ## Changed
-- More direct server ping query method that should return marginally more accurate times
+- Updated geolocation records
 
-## [5.6.7] 2025-04-04
+## [5.7.0-beta.13] 2025-04-17
+## Fixed
+- Updated checksum for UI helper file
+
+## [5.7.0-beta.12] 2025-04-04
 ## Dropped
 - Removed extraneous pre-boot API checks that could cause error messages to be printed if the user had not set up an API key yet
 
-## [5.6.6] 2025-03-16
-## Changed
-- Update IP database records for 2025-03
+## [5.7.0-beta.11] 2025-03-20
+## Fixed
+- Reduce startup time when testing remote APIs
 
-## [5.6.5] 2025-03-04
+## [5.7.0-beta.10] 2025-03-15
+## Added
+- Restore application size on subsequent startup
+## Fixed
+- Grid scaling causes table to exceeds bounds of display viewport
+- Window exceeds taskbar on Steam Deck
+- Reduce possibility of timeouts when pinging servers
+## Changed
+- Packed filter checkbox buttons into a 3x3 grid
+- Updated IP database to 2025-03 records
+
+## [5.7.0-beta.9] 2025-03-04
 ## Fixed
 - Livonia server results being dropped from batch queries
 
-## [5.6.4] 2025-02-10
-### Changed
+## [5.7.0-beta.8] 2025-02-10
+## Changed
 - Drop launch flag and check for invocation through Steam automatically
 
-## [5.6.3] 2025-02-09
-### Changed
+## [5.7.0-beta.7] 2025-02-09
+## Changed
 - Update IP database records for 2025-02
 
-## [5.6.2] 2025-01-22
-### Fixed
-- Resolve regression introduced with IP resolution feature in 5.6.0 (restores functionality of right-click action: Add to My Servers)
+## [5.7.0-beta.6] 2025-01-10
+## Fixed
+- Resolve regression introduced with IP resolution feature in 13c6813
 
-## [5.6.1] 2025-01-10
-### Fixed
-- Add fallback support for jq 1.6
+## [5.7.0-beta.5] 2025-01-10
+## Changed
+- Stricter redacting of usernames (again)
 
-## [5.6.0] 2025-01-06
-### Added
-- Application header bar and controls
-- Menu context subtitle in header bar
-- Bulk delete mods (via 'List installed mods' list). Not compatible with Manual Mod install mode
-- Highlight stale mods in mods list
-- Added --steam launch parameter
-- Open Steam workshop subscriptions dialog when switching from Manual to Auto mode
-- Hover tooltips to most buttons
-- Add in-app documentation link to Codeberg mirror
-- Additional logging
-### Fixed
-- Avoid sudo escalation if system map count is sufficient (jiriks74)
-- Duplicate dialog title on Steam Deck
-- Resolve remote IP when saving records for game servers with multiple hosts
-- More performant symlink traversal when checking for legacy links
-- Only iterate on missing symlinks at boot (400% performance uplift)
-- Fix for server list truncation causing some servers to not appear in results
-- Empty dialog popups if user manually deletes local mods while application is running
-- Update statusbar when removing servers from list/repopulating
-- Abort DayZ path discovery if Steam files are not synched
-- Race condition when checking for installed mods
-- Favorite server message not updating correctly
-- Improved handling for cases where there are no locally installed mods
-- Set up mod symlinks at boot, rather than only on server connect
-- Prevent context menus from opening when table is empty
-- When reloading table in-place, prevent duplicate panel elements from being added if already present
-- Clean up local mod signatures from versions file when deleting mods
-- Focus first row when opening mods list
+## [5.7.0-beta.4] 2025-01-10
+## Fixed
+- Clerical hotfix
+
+## [5.7.0-beta.3] 2025-01-10
+## Changed
+- Support legacy jq syntax for Ubuntu variants
+
+## [5.7.0-beta.2] 2025-01-07
+## Fixed
+- Stricter redacting of usernames
+- Omit nested directories when traversing symlinks
+
+## [5.7.0-beta.1] 2025-01-07
 ### Changed
-- Redact usernames in log files
+- Normalize version number
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.21] 2025-01-06
+### Added
+- Add in-app documentation link to Codeberg mirror
+- Hover tooltips to most buttons
+### Fixed
 - Prevent ArrowUp/ArrowDown input when inside keyword field
-- Admonish user to restart Steam in error dialog if DayZ path could not be found
-- Refactor control flow for more robust contextual parsing
-- Stop sending modal dialog hints to outer window
-- Clean up signal emission
-- Clarify some error messages and normalize text formatting
+### Changed
 - Update forum URL
+- Reword Help section links to include destination
 - Update README.md
 - Update IP database to 2025-01
 - Reduce IP database size by 50%
 - Update documentation to 5.6.x standard
 ### Dropped
-- Hall of Fame section from button links, to be moved inside documentation
-- Unused imports
+- Removed temporary mod ID output in debug logs
+- Removed Hall of Fame section from button links, moved inside documentation
+- Remove unused imports
 
-## [5.5.3] 2024-12-13
+## [5.6.0-beta.20] 2024-12-23
+### Added
+- Output real and resolved mod ids to logs (temporary)
+- Added -steam launch parameter
+### Fixed
+- Only iterate on missing symlinks
+- Move logging up
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.19] 2024-12-18
+### Added
+- Redact usernames in log files
+### Fixed
+- More performant symlink traversal when checking for legacy links
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.18] 2024-12-14
+### Added
+- Open Steam workshop subscriptions dialog
+- Additional logging
+### Fixed
+- Empty dialog popups if user manually deletes local mods while application is running
+- Abort DayZ path discovery if VDF if Steam files are not synched
+- Avoid sudo escalation if system map count is sufficient (jiriks74)
+### Changed
+- Admonish user to restart Steam in error dialog if DayZ path could not be found
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.17] 2024-12-14
+### Added
+- Additional logging
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.16] 2024-12-13
 ### Fixed
 - Add remote resource health checks before downloading updates
 ### Added
 - Add fallback repository
 
-## [5.5.1] 2024-12-03
+## [5.6.0-beta.11] 2024-12-07
 ### Fixed
-- Support localized decimal separators when parsing installed mod sizes
+- Add missing function definition
 
-## [5.5.0] 2024-11-10
+## [5.6.0-beta.10] 2024-12-04
+### Fixed
+- Untoggle highlight button when repopulating mod list
+- Resolve remote IP when saving records for game servers with multiple hosts
+- Update statusbar when removing servers from list/repopulating
+### Added:
+- "Select stale" button to bulk select mods marked as obsolete
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.9] 2024-12-03
+### Fixed
+- Normalize user locale when parsing floats
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.8] 2024-11-28
+### Fixed
+- Normalize user locale when parsing floats
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.7] 2024-11-28
+### Changed
+- Add additional logging when fetching installed mods
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.6] 2024-11-28
+### Fixed
+- Race condition when checking for installed mods
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.5] 2024-11-21
 ### Added
-- Support servers running DLC content (fixes Frostline servers)
-- Expose a toggle setting for whether to launch the application in fullscreen
-- Text autocompletion in maps search field (partial search)
-- Add disk space warning to popup dialog when downloading mods
+- Highlight stale mods in mods list
+### Fixed
+- Duplicate dialog title on Steam Deck
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.4] 2024-11-20
+### Added
+- Application header bar and controls
+- Menu context subtitle in header bar
+### Changed
+- Refactor control flow for more robust contextual parsing
+- Stop sending modal dialog hints to outer window
+### Fixed
+- Favorite server message not updating correctly
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.3] 2024-11-18
+### Fixed
+- Improved handling for cases where there are no locally installed mods
+- Set up mod symlinks at boot, rather than only on server connect
+- Prevent context menus from opening when table is empty
+- When reloading table in-place, prevent duplicate panel elements from being added if already present
+- Clean up signal emission
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.2] 2024-11-15
+### Fixed
+- Clean up local mod signatures from versions file when deleting mods
+
+## [5.6.0-beta.1] 2024-11-12
+### Added
+- Bulk delete mods (via 'List installed mods' list). Not compatible with Manual Mod install mode
+### Fixed
+- Fix for server list truncation causing some servers to not appear in results
+- Suppress signal emission when switching menu contexts
+- Focus first row when opening mods list
+### Changed
+- Clarify some error messages and normalize text formatting
+
+## [5.5.0-beta.5] 2024-11-03
+### Changed
+- Use updated A2S_RULES logic
 ### Fixed
 - Servers in saved servers list would populate context menu with same option when right-clicking in server browser
+
+## [5.5.0-beta.4] 2024-10-31
+### Added
+- Expose a toggle setting for whether to launch the application in fullscreen
+### Fixed
 - Enable adding/removing servers to/from My Saved Servers when in Recent Servers context
+
+## [5.5.0-beta.3] 2024-10-31
+### Fixed
 - Prevent maps combobox from duplicating contents
+
+## [5.5.0-beta.2] 2024-10-31
+### Fixed
 - Restore keyboard input to keyword entry field
-### Changed
+
+## [5.5.0-beta.1] 2024-10-30
+### Added
+- Support servers running DLC content (fixes Frostline servers)
+- Text autocompletion in maps search field
+- Add disk space warning to popup dialog
+### Fixed
 - Abort fallback query method if DLC is required
 
-## [5.4.2] 2024-10-05
+## [5.4.2-beta.1] 2024-10-05
 ### Fixed
 - Sanitize third-party API IDs to remove UGC collisions
 
-## [5.4.1] 2024-09-25
+## [5.4.1-beta.2] 2024-09-12
+### Fixed
+- Use fallback logic for modlist queries when user traverses networks
+
+## [5.4.1-beta.2] 2024-09-10
+### Fixed
+- Fix signal handling control flow for checkbox toggles
+
+## [5.4.1-beta.1] 2024-09-10
 ### Added
 - Pre-boot validation check for users with self-compiled version of jq
 ### Fixed
-- Use fallback logic for modlist queries when user traverses networks
-- Fix signal handling control flow for checkbox toggles
 - When reloading the server browser, the map combobox selection would revert to the last selected map instead of All Maps
 - Server filter toggle signals were accessible from the main menu when switching between menu contexts
 - Global cooldown dialog could sometimes block filter toggles after cooldown reset
 - Normalized minor version number due to a previous clerical error
 
-## [5.4.0] 2024-08-27
+## [5.4.0-beta.5] 2024-08-27
 ### Added
-- Scan local area network for DayZ servers
 - Freedesktop application icons for system taskbar, tray, and other dialogs
-- Emit CPU model name when exporting system debug log
 ### Fixed
 - Errors being printed to the console when Exit button was explicitly clicked
+
+## [5.4.0-beta.4] 2024-08-21
+### Added
+- Emit CPU model name when exporting system debug log
+### Fixed
 - Detect Steam Deck OLED APU variant during initial setup
-- Encapsulate player names correctly so that names with whitespace in them are supported
+
+## [5.4.0-beta.3] 2024-08-04
+### Added
+- Scan local area network for DayZ servers
+
+## [5.4.0-beta.2] 2024-08-03
+### Fixed
+- Clerical hotfix for previous player names fix
 - Test if DayZ directory is empty at startup, implying that the game was moved to a new library collection
-- Report WM_CLASS name to the window manager
+
+## [5.4.0-beta.1] 2024-07-16
+### Fixed
+- Encapsulate player names correctly so that names with whitespace in them are supported
 
 ## [5.3.2] 2024-07-02
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/dzgui.sh b/dzgui.sh
index daa4098..00b480f 100755
--- a/dzgui.sh
+++ b/dzgui.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 set -o pipefail
 
 src_path="$(readlink -e "$0")"
-version=6.0.1
+version=6.0.2-beta.1
 
 #CONSTANTS
 aid=221100
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ test_gobject(){
     python3.13 -c "import gi"
     if [[ ! $? -eq 0 ]]; then
         logger CRITICAL "Missing PyGObject"
-        quit_with_pdialog "Requires PyGObject (python-gobject)"
+        quit_with_help_dialog "Requires PyGObject (python-gobject)"
         exit 1
     fi
     logger INFO "Found PyGObject in Python env"
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ open_url(){
         xdg-open "$url"
     fi
 }
-quit_with_pdialog(){
+quit_with_help_dialog(){
     local sel
     msg="$1"
     help_button="Open help page"
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ quit_with_pdialog(){
 check_pyver(){
     if [[ ! $(python3.13 --version) ]]; then
         local msg="Requires Python 3.13"
-        quit_with_pdialog "$msg"
+        quit_with_help_dialog "$msg"
     fi
 }
 watcher_deps(){
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ check_unmerged(){
     fi
 }
 check_version(){
+    echo "# Checking version"
     [[ -n $reference_branch ]] && return
     local version_url=$(format_version_url)
     local upstream=$(curl -Ls "$version_url" | awk -F= '/^version=/ {print $2}')
@@ -414,6 +415,7 @@ test_display_mode(){
     fi
 }
 check_architecture(){
+    echo "# Checking system architecture"
     local cpu=$(< /proc/cpuinfo awk -F": " '/AMD Custom APU [0-9]{4}$/ {print $2; exit}')
     read -a APU_MODEL <<< "$cpu"
     if [[ ${APU_MODEL[3]} != "0932" ]] && [[ ${APU_MODEL[3]} != "0405" ]]; then
@@ -430,6 +432,7 @@ check_architecture(){
     logger INFO "Setting architecture to 'Steam Deck'"
 }
 check_map_count(){
+    echo "# Checking map count"
     [[ $is_steam_deck -gt 0 ]] && return 0
     local map_count_file="/proc/sys/vm/max_map_count"
     local min_count=1048576
@@ -479,6 +482,7 @@ tdialog(){
     $steamsafe_zenity --info --text="$1" "${zenity_flags[@]}"
 }
 steam_deps(){
+    echo "# Checking Steam"
     local flatpak
     local steam
     [[ $(command -v flatpak) ]] && flatpak=$(flatpak list | grep valvesoftware.Steam)
@@ -489,16 +493,8 @@ steam_deps(){
         exit 1
     fi
 }
-migrate_files(){
-    if [[ ! -f $config_path/dztuirc.oldapi ]]; then
-        cp $config_file $config_path/dztuirc.oldapi
-        logger INFO "Migrated old API file"
-    fi
-    [[ ! -f $hist_file ]] && return
-    rm $hist_file
-    logger INFO "Wiped old history file"
-}
 stale_symlinks(){
+    echo "# Cleaning stale symlinks"
     local game_dir="$steam_path/steamapps/common/DayZ"
     readarray -t links < <(find "$game_dir" -xtype l)
     for link in "${links[@]}"; do
@@ -512,7 +508,7 @@ check_availability() {
         return 1
     fi
     local url=$1
-    local timeout_sec="3"
+    local timeout_sec="1"
     if [[ $2 ]]; then
         timeout_sec=$2
     fi
@@ -523,6 +519,7 @@ check_availability() {
 }
 
 local_latlon(){
+    echo "# Checking coordinates"
     if [[ -z $(command -v dig) ]]; then
         local url_ipecho="https://ipecho.net/plain"
         if ! check_availability "ipecho.net"; then
@@ -534,6 +531,9 @@ local_latlon(){
         # TODO : implement checking remote
         local local_ip=$(dig -4 +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com)
     fi
+    if calc_local_coords "$local_ip"; then
+        return 0
+    fi
     local url_ip_api="http://ip-api.com/json/$local_ip"
     if ! check_availability "ip-api.com"; then
         logger WARN "Failed to get local coordinates, ip-api.com service may be down."
@@ -548,6 +548,7 @@ local_latlon(){
 }
 
 lock(){
+    echo "# Setting up lock file"
     [[ ! -f $lock_file ]] && touch $lock_file
     local pid=$(cat $lock_file)
     ps -p $pid -o pid= >/dev/null 2>&1
@@ -625,10 +626,10 @@ fetch_helpers_by_sum(){
     [[ -f "$config_file" ]] && source "$config_file"
     declare -A sums
     sums=(
-        ["funcs"]="5e35a9812c03fc64d75843a23d024f0d"
+        ["funcs"]="69e83db00cbc7674e241565c88aed83d"
         ["query_v2.py"]="55d339ba02512ac69de288eb3be41067"
         ["servers.py"]="ed442c3aecf33f777d59dcf53650d263"
-        ["ui.py"]="3d67e5e8e85a23dde1fd0e85a9be62a9"
+        ["ui.py"]="d09b9d8bed3854efd51377289786c5ac"
         ["vdf2json.py"]="2f49f6f5d3af919bebaab2e9c220f397"
         ["pefile.py"]="21531f2c0d9dfa5f110cf6779f9d22c0"
     )
@@ -690,12 +691,12 @@ fetch_km_helper(){
 }
 get_response_code(){
     local url="$1"
-    curl -Ls -I -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" "$url"
+    curl --connect-timeout 3 -Ls -I -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" "$url"
 }
 
 fetch_ip_db(){
     parse_dl_url(){
-        curl -Ls "$url" \
+        curl --connect-timeout 3 -Ls "$url" \
         | grep "csv.gz" \
         | awk -F"['']" '{print $2}'
     }
@@ -711,6 +712,9 @@ fetch_ip_db(){
     fetch(){
         logger INFO "Triggering fetch routine"
         local url="$1"
+        local ip_file="${state_path}/ips.csv"
+        local base_file="${state_path}/${this_month}.csv.gz"
+        local extracted_file="${state_path}/${this_month}.csv"
 
         curl -Ls "$url" > "$base_file"
         if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
@@ -730,7 +734,7 @@ fetch_ip_db(){
             logger WARN "Abnormal exit while parsing IPs"
             return
         fi
-        rm "${state_path}/${month}.csv"
+        rm "${state_path}/${this_month}.csv"
 
         readarray -t records < <(cat $ip_file | awk -F, 'NR==1 {print $1} END {print $1}')
         if [[ ${records[0]} != "0.0.0.0" ]] && [[ ${records[1]} != "224.0.0.0" ]]; then
@@ -745,55 +749,57 @@ fetch_ip_db(){
             rm "$ip_file"
         fi
 
-        echo "$month" > "$month_file"
-        logger INFO "Wrote '$month' to stub '$month_file'"
+        echo "$this_month" > "$month_file"
+        logger INFO "Wrote '$this_month' to stub '$month_file'"
         logger INFO "Updated '$ip_file'"
     }
 
+    check_remote(){
+        local url="$1"
+        local res=$(get_response_code "$url")
+        if [[ $res -ne 200 ]]; then
+            logger WARN "Failed to retrieve remote resource: '$url' ($res)"
+            return
+        fi
+        logger INFO "Resolved remote URL: '$url'"
+
+        # test dl url
+        local dl_url="$(parse_dl_url)"
+        local res=$(get_response_code "$dl_url")
+        if [[ $res -ne 200 ]]; then
+            logger WARN "Remote resource unavailable: '$dl_url' ($res)"
+            return
+        fi
+        logger INFO "Resolved download URL: '$dl_url'"
+        fetch "$dl_url"
+    }
+
     local url="https://db-ip.com/db/download/ip-to-city-lite"
-    local month_file="${state_path}/.month"
-    local ip_file="${state_path}/ips.csv"
-
-    # test main url
-    local res=$(get_response_code "$url")
-    if [[ $res -ne 200 ]]; then
-        logger WARN "Failed to retrieve remote resource: '$url' ($res)"
-        return
-    fi
-    logger INFO "Resolved remote URL: '$url'"
-
-    # test dl url
-    local dl_url="$(parse_dl_url)"
-    local res=$(get_response_code "$dl_url")
-    if [[ $res -ne 200 ]]; then
-        logger WARN "Remote resource unavailable: '$dl_url' ($res)"
-        return
-    fi
-    logger INFO "Resolved download URL: '$dl_url'"
-
-    local month=$(parse_dl_url_date "$dl_url")
-    local base_file="${state_path}/${month}.csv.gz"
-    local extracted_file="${state_path}/${month}.csv"
+    month_file="${state_path}/.month"
+    this_month=$(date +%Y-%m)
 
     # no stub file
     if [[ ! -f $month_file ]]; then
         logger WARN "No stub file '$month_file' present"
-        fetch "$dl_url"
-        return
-    fi
-
-    # local needs update
-    local last_month=$(< "$month_file")
-    if [[ $last_month != "$month" ]]; then
-        logger WARN "Local stub '$last_month' does not match remote stub '$month'"
-        fetch "$dl_url"
+        check_remote "$url"
         return
     fi
 
     # if stub is same date, abort
-    logger INFO "Local stub '$last_month' is identical to remote, skipping"
+    local last_month=$(< "$month_file")
+    if [[ $last_month == "$this_month" ]]; then
+        logger INFO "Local stub '$last_month' is identical to remote, skipping"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # local needs update
+    logger WARN "Local stub '$last_month' does not match '$this_month'"
+    check_remote "$url"
+    return
+
 }
 fetch_helpers(){
+    echo "# Checking helper files"
     fetch_a2s
     fetch_dzq
     fetch_km_helper
@@ -981,6 +987,7 @@ create_config(){
     done
 }
 varcheck(){
+    echo "# Checking config file"
     local msg="Config file '$config_file' missing. Start first-time setup now?"
     local msg2="The Steam paths set in your config file appear to be invalid (DayZ was moved or uninstalled). Restart first-time setup now?"
     if [[ ! -f $config_file ]]; then
@@ -1007,12 +1014,14 @@ varcheck(){
     fi
 }
 is_dzg_downloading(){
+    echo "# Checking DayZ"
     if [[ -d $steam_path ]] && [[ -d $steam_path/downloading/$aid ]]; then
         logger WARN "DayZ may be scheduling updates"
         return 0
     fi
 }
 is_steam_running(){
+    echo "# Checking Steam"
     local res=$(ps aux | grep "steamwebhelper" | grep -v grep)
     if [[ -z $res ]]; then
         logger WARN "Steam may not be running"
@@ -1025,6 +1034,7 @@ get_response_code(){
     curl -Ls -I -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" "$url"
 }
 test_connection(){
+    echo "# Testing connection"
     declare -A hr
     local res1
     local res2
@@ -1058,6 +1068,7 @@ legacy_cols(){
     mv $cols_file.new $cols_file
 }
 stale_mod_signatures(){
+    echo "# Checking stale mods"
     [[ ! -f "$versions_file" ]] && return
     local workshop_dir="$steam_path/steamapps/workshop/content/$aid"
     if [[ -d $workshop_dir ]]; then
@@ -1071,18 +1082,48 @@ stale_mod_signatures(){
 
 }
 create_new_links(){
+    echo "# Setting up symlinks"
     "$func_helper" "update_symlinks"
 }
+calc_local_coords(){
+    local ip="$1"
+    [[ ! -f "$geo_helper" ]] && return 1
+
+    IFS="." read -ra split <<< "$ip"
+    [[ ${#split[@]} -ne 4 ]] && return 1
+
+    prefix="^${split[0]}.${split[1]}."
+    readarray -t res < <(grep "$prefix" "$geo_helper")
+
+    for address in "${res[@]}"; do
+        IFS="," read -ra fields <<< "$address"
+        upper="${fields[1]}"
+        IFS="." read -ra upper_digits <<< "$upper"
+        if [[ ${split[2]} -gt ${upper_digits[2]} ]]; then
+            continue
+        fi
+        if [[ ${split[2]} -eq ${upper_digits[2]} ]]; then
+            if [[ ${split[3]} -gt ${upper_digits[3]} ]]; then
+                continue
+            fi
+            if [[ ${split[3]} -eq ${upper_digits[3]} ]]; then
+                echo "${fields[-2]}" >> "$coords_file"
+                echo "${fields[-1]}" >> "$coords_file"
+                return 0
+            fi
+        fi
+        if [[ ${split[2]} -lt ${upper_digits[2]} ]]; then
+            echo "${fields[-2]}" >> "$coords_file"
+            echo "${fields[-1]}" >> "$coords_file"
+            return 0
+        fi
+    done
+    return 1
+}
 initial_setup(){
-    setup_dirs
-    setup_state_files
-    depcheck
-    check_pyver
-    test_gobject
-    watcher_deps
     check_architecture
     test_connection
-    fetch_helpers > >(pdialog "Checking helper files")
+    #fetch_helpers
     varcheck
     source "$config_file"
     lock
@@ -1091,14 +1132,12 @@ initial_setup(){
     check_version
     check_map_count
     steam_deps
-    migrate_files
     stale_symlinks
     stale_mod_signatures
     create_new_links
     local_latlon
     is_steam_running
     is_dzg_downloading
-    print_config_vals
 }
 uninstall(){
     _full(){
@@ -1200,8 +1239,15 @@ main(){
 
     set_im_module
 
-    printf "Initializing setup...\n"
-    initial_setup
+    printf "Checking dependencies...\n"
+    setup_dirs
+    setup_state_files
+    depcheck
+    check_pyver
+    test_gobject
+    watcher_deps
+
+    initial_setup > >(pdialog "Initializing setup")
 
     printf "All OK. Kicking off UI...\n"
     python3.13 "$ui_helper" "--init-ui" "$version" "$is_steam_deck"
diff --git a/helpers/funcs b/helpers/funcs
index 9ec0edb..94f1697 100755
--- a/helpers/funcs
+++ b/helpers/funcs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -o pipefail
-version="6.0.1"
+version="6.0.2-beta.1"
 
 #CONSTANTS
 aid=221100
diff --git a/helpers/ui.py b/helpers/ui.py
index 81aaf3e..bff57a0 100644
--- a/helpers/ui.py
+++ b/helpers/ui.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from collections.abc import Callable
 from concurrent.futures import wait
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Literal, Self, Any
+from typing import Literal, Self, Any, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import servers as Servers  # noqa E402
 import pefile as PeFile  # noqa E402
@@ -32,10 +32,12 @@ from pefile import (
 )
 from pefile import VersionMatch
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from servers import Prereqs
+
 locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, "")
 
 import gi  # noqa E402
-
 gi.require_version("Gtk", "3.0")
 from gi.repository import Gtk, GLib, Gdk, GObject, Pango  # noqa E402
 
@@ -1027,13 +1029,7 @@ def process_tree_option(choice: RowType) -> None:
             return
 
         record = str_to_record(record)
-        thread_new_with_dialog(
-            App.treeview.prepare_connection,
-            parse_shell_output,
-            "Querying server",
-            command,
-            [record],
-        )
+        prepare_connection(command, record)
         return
 
     match command.dict["type"]:
@@ -1061,48 +1057,54 @@ def parse_shell_output(proc: subprocess.CompletedProcess, row: RowType):
     process_shell_return_code(msg, proc.returncode, row)
 
 
-def thread_new_with_dialog(
-    func: Callable,
-    callback: Callable | None,
-    msg: str,
-    row: RowType | None,
-    args: list,
+def prepare_connection(rowtype: RowType, record: Record) -> None:
+    def background(rowtype: RowType, record: Record) -> None:
+        def cleanup() -> None:
+            App.treeview.wait_dialog.destroy()
+            # NOTE: When using RowType.CONN_BY_IP, the gameport needs to be interpolated
+            record.gameport = prereqs.gameport
+            addr = record_to_str(record)
+
+            if proceed is False:
+                spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.NOTIFY)
+                return
+            if msg != "":
+                res = spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.CONFIRM)
+                if res is False:
+                    try_connect(addr, str(prereqs.appid), str(pefile_path), rowtype)
+            else:
+                try_connect(addr, str(prereqs.appid), str(pefile_path), rowtype)
+
+        proceed, msg, pefile_path, prereqs = App.treeview.get_prereqs(record)
+        GLib.idle_add(cleanup)
+
+    msg = "Checking prerequisites"
+    App.treeview.dialog_show(msg)
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=background, args=(rowtype, record))
+    thread.start()
+
+def try_connect(
+    addr: str,
+    appid: str,
+    path: str,
+    row: RowType
 ) -> None:
-    """
-    Pop a GenericDialog transient to App.treeview and
-    call a function on a thread, with optional callback.
-    Chiefly used for connection-related subprocesses.
-
-    After completion, the dialog is destroyed in the main event loop
-    and additional exception handling occurs.
-
-    This is intended as a bridge between legacy shell methods and the UI.
-    A more abstracted version of call_on_thread() for when extra threaded
-    processing occurs before calls to shell subprocesses.
-    """
-
-    def background(*args):
+    def background(addr, appid, path):
         def cleanup():
             App.treeview.dialog_hide()
-            if exception is not None:
-                spawn_dialog(str(exception), Popup.NOTIFY)
-                process_user_input(row)
-                return
-            if callback is not None and proc is not None:
-                callback(proc, row)
+            parse_shell_output(proc, row)
 
-        exception = None
-        proc = None
         try:
-            proc = func(*args)
+            proc = call_out("try_connect", addr, appid, path)
         except Exception as e:
-            exception = e
+            logger.critical(e)
             GLib.idle_add(cleanup)
             return
         GLib.idle_add(cleanup)
 
+    msg = "Querying server"
     App.treeview.dialog_show(msg)
-    thread = threading.Thread(target=background, args=(args))
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=background, args=(addr, appid, path))
     thread.start()
 
 
@@ -1142,27 +1144,31 @@ def record_to_str(record: Record) -> str:
 
 
 def connect_by_ip(enum: RowType, response: str) -> None:
-    def _prep(response: str) -> None:
+    try:
         record = Servers.validate_ip(response)
-        proc = App.treeview.prepare_connection(record)
-        return proc
-
-    thread_new_with_dialog(
-        _prep, parse_shell_output, "Querying IP", enum, [response]
-    )
-    return
-
+    except Exception as e:
+        spawn_dialog(str(e), Popup.NOTIFY)
+        return
+    prepare_connection(enum, record)
 
 def connect_by_id(enum: RowType, response: str, key: str) -> None:
     def _prep(key: str, response: str) -> None:
-        record = Servers.query_bm_api(key, response)
-        proc = App.treeview.prepare_connection(record)
-        return proc
+        def cleanup() -> None:
+            App.treeview.dialog_hide()
+            prepare_connection(enum, record)
 
-    thread_new_with_dialog(
-        _prep, parse_shell_output, "Querying API", enum, [key, response]
-    )
-    return
+        try:
+            record = Servers.query_bm_api(key, response)
+        except Exception as e:
+            spawn_dialog(str(e), Popup.NOTIFY)
+            App.treeview.dialog_hide()
+            return
+        GLib.idle_add(cleanup)
+
+    msg = "Validating ID"
+    App.treeview.dialog_show(msg)
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=_prep, args=(key, response))
+    thread.start()
 
 
 def process_user_input(enum: RowType) -> None:
@@ -2493,6 +2499,8 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
     def _dump_servers(self, ips: list) -> list | None:
         if len(ips) == 0:
             return []
+        # NOTE: block malformed records
+        ips = [ip for ip in ips if len(ip.split(":")) == 3 and ip.split(":")[2] != "" ]
         with ThreadPoolExecutor() as executor:
             futures = [
                 executor.submit(
@@ -2943,9 +2951,9 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
     def get_view(self):
         return self.view
 
-    def prepare_connection(
+    def get_prereqs(
         self, record: Record
-    ) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess | None:
+    ) -> tuple[bool, str, str|None, "Prereqs"]:
         """
         Always called on a thread with a dialog on the transient parent window
         """
@@ -2953,8 +2961,7 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
         if prereqs.appid is None:
             logger.warning(f"Query to '{record.ip}:{record.qport}' timed out")
             msg = "Timed out when querying server, check IP or try again later"
-            spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.NOTIFY)
-            return None
+            return (False, msg, None, prereqs)
 
         build = "DayZ" if prereqs.appid == APPID_DAYZ else "DayZ Experimental"
         steam_path = query_config("default_steam_path")[0]
@@ -2964,8 +2971,7 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
                 "Config file has no value set for 'default_steam_path'"
             )
             msg = "Local Steam installation is not set, possibly malformed config file."
-            spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.NOTIFY)
-            return None
+            return (False, msg, None, prereqs)
 
         try:
             pefile_path = PeFile.get_pefile_path(steam_path, prereqs.appid)
@@ -2979,8 +2985,7 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
                 f"If you recently installed {build} or moved it to a different drive, "
                 "restart Steam to allow these changes to synchronize, then try again."
             )
-            spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.NOTIFY)
-            return None
+            return (False, msg, None, prereqs)
         except AppMovedError:
             logger.critical(
                 f"Library folder synch error for '{prereqs.appid}'"
@@ -2990,13 +2995,11 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
                 f"If you recently installed {build} or moved it to a different drive, "
                 "restart Steam to allow these changes to synchronize, then try again."
             )
-            spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.NOTIFY)
-            return None
+            return (False, msg, None, prereqs)
         except (VDFLoadError, PeFileError, Exception) as e:
             logger.critical(e)
             msg = "Steam settings or DayZ installation may be corrupted. Try restarting Steam."
-            spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.NOTIFY)
-            return None
+            return (False, msg, None, prereqs)
 
         try:
             local_vers = PeFile.get_dayz_version(pefile_path)
@@ -3008,7 +3011,7 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
             local_vers = None
 
         try:
-            remote_vers = PeFile.dayz_version_from_str(prereqs.version)
+            remote_vers = PeFile.dayz_version_from_str(prereqs)
         except Exception:
             remote_vers = None
 
@@ -3021,18 +3024,15 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
                         f"This server is running a newer build ({prereqs.version}) of {build} than "
                         f"your local version. You may be unable to connect. Proceed anyway?"
                     )
-                    res = spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.CONFIRM)
-                    if res is True:
-                        return None
+                    return (True, msg, pefile_path, prereqs)
                 case VersionMatch.LOCAL_NEWER:
                     msg = (
                         f"This server is running an out-of-date build ({prereqs.version}) of {build}. "
                         "You may be unable to connect. Proceed anyway?"
                     )
-                    res = spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.CONFIRM)
-                    if res is True:
-                        return None
+                    return (True, msg, pefile_path, prereqs)
                 case VersionMatch.SAME_VERSION:
+                    return (True, "", pefile_path, prereqs)
                     pass
 
         if prereqs.password is True:
@@ -3040,19 +3040,10 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
                 "This server is password-protected and you will be "
                 "prompted when connecting. Do you want to proceed?"
             )
-            res = spawn_dialog(msg, Popup.CONFIRM)
-            if res is True:
-                return None
+            return (True, msg, pefile_path, prereqs)
+
+        return (True, "", pefile_path, prereqs)
 
-        """
-        When using RowType.CONN_BY_IP, the gameport needs to be interpolated
-        """
-        record.gameport = prereqs.gameport
-        addr = record_to_str(record)
-        proc = call_out(
-            "try_connect", addr, str(prereqs.appid), str(pefile_path)
-        )
-        return proc
 
     @signal_emission
     @update_window_labels
@@ -3122,13 +3113,7 @@ class TreeView(Gtk.TreeView):
                 record = self.get_record()
                 if record is None:
                     return
-                thread_new_with_dialog(
-                    self.prepare_connection,
-                    parse_shell_output,
-                    "Querying server",
-                    None,
-                    [record],
-                )
+                prepare_connection(None, record)
             case _:  # any other non-server option from the main menu
                 process_tree_option(output)