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We provide free technical support to registered SOB users |
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However, many questions we receive are common issues relating to different Window's versions, or COM port connection, or typical installation problems etc. Please first check:
If your answer is not to be found in the FAQ or Forum:
SOB Crashes!!! We are committed to having SOB work correctly in as many environments and set-ups as is possible, however we understand that errors and a variety of other problems can occur. Please use this special webform to report the problem to us: Crash Report. |
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C-Map Charts |
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Questions directly related to the purchase or use of charts, or suspected errors or omissions etc in the charts: US C-Map forum | UK C-Map forum | info@c-map.com or check our C-Map Manual page for general information, or here for C-Map Card Reader installation and trouble-shooting. |
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Connecting NMEA devices to your computer |
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This topic is covered in depth in our PDF User Manual, Online User Manual including many sample wiring diagrams for many styles of installation (simple and complex). If you email us with questions about your device connections and interfacing, please provide complete details of your instruments and current wiring environment. |
SOB - FAQ
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General QuestionsWhat's your phone number as I don't have Internet available on board?We are purely a modern "online" company with no centralised base of operations. Our high-quality, low cost product is a result of this business model, which excludes one-on-one telephone support. For all but a rare case, emailed technical support is a far superior method than the existing alternatives (except hands-on, in which case an email from us to your preferred marine electrician or family or friendly whiz kid is always successful). For long range cruising or extended live aboard,
we strongly advise all SOB users to get onboard email connection. The options
(PACTOR, Wireless, GPRS/CDMA, 3G/EDGE, INMARSAT, Iridium, Globalphone etc) available
now are such that it is simple and reliable, with costs varying from
strict-budget to no-limit. In fact many users are unaware that their standard
mobile phone using its built-in Bluetooth connection to their laptop, is capable
of providing you with email and highspeed Internet capabilities up to 30 miles off
the coast. How can I contact you for support?We offer very efficient and helpful support on all SOB issues (and most related items) via a dedicated forum, these FAQ items and return email (usually within minutes or hours). We endeavour to respond to all email enquiries within 24 hours. At this stage, we don’t offer phone support, due to:
By offering email rather than phone support, we can maintain our costs and
pass the savings onto you by providing SOB for a free lengthy trial period, then
a nominal charge for an unrestricted licensed version, as compared to our
competitors’ price range of $500 - $4000. What information should I include if emailing "Support"?Depending on your particular issue, include as much information about your setup and connected instrumnets as you can, ie:
Most important is to include the text in the window of the About SOB form (press SOB's green-question-mark button). If your PC is Internet connected, then use the convenient "Email DigiBOAT Support" link on the About SOB form to paste this text into an email for you. Why should I use SOB instead of other nav programs?The nautical electronic navigation market has been been desperate for cheap/affordable, simple - yet powerful, nav software. Existing software is definitely priced and targeted to the top-end of the marine industry, it is generally expensive, difficult to use by all but PC power users, generally non-intuitive for novice (and even old-hand) navigators and many "obvious" tools and interfaces are lacking or non-existent. SOB, in comparison, has made this technology accessible to everyone with a PC and anyone with a boat... Drawing on 35 years of inland, coastal and ocean sailing with strong computer and advanced 3-dimensional geometry mathematics, we’ve produced a useful tool for everyone to use. Read what many satisfied SOB users have to say about our program: User Testimonials What hardware do you recommend for a laptop running SOB?Any laptop that runs Win2000, WinXP or Vista well is ideal for SOB. SOB only requires about 30Mb RAM and <100Mb Harddisk space, so an installation with a large hard disk and 128(min) of RAM is suitable. (Obviously more RAM is required to run multiple simultaneous programs). As for CPU - the minimum recommended would be a P2 @ 500Mhz, note that this is also about the minimum that will successfully run Win2000. For controlling the interface, any input device can be used (ie: mouse). We highly recommend using amouse with a middle-wheel, and/or a built-in or remotely connected touchscreen monitor. Does SOB support LINUX or MACS?SOB users have reported successful use on both Linux using a Windows layer software called WINE and a Mac using Windows emulators (Virtual PCs). We can not verify this, however we are interested to hear of similar stories. Does SOB work with Vista?Although with only minimal testing so far, SOB reportedly performs fine with Vista. However there are potential problems using other devices which may be require for your complete PC nav setup - ie: drivers for any Serial/USB Converters you may be using, drivers for the C-Map chart dongle and USB Chart Card Reader etc etc. No doubt all these teething issues will be resolved before too long now that Vista is "out there". Vista News as @ Jun 07: Re Vista: Which Windows? 95, 98, 2000, XP?SOB is not recommended for real-time navigation on Win9x. SOB will not work with Win95 at all if communication with a GPS is required. Win2000 and WinXP are fully tested with SOB and are inherently more stable operating systems than earlier versions of Windows(TM). If you are receiving an error message, then please let us know which version of Windows you are using. SOB has been designed to work with Windows2000 or newer (ie: XP) and our testing has shown no compatibility issues with these operating systems. However, there are some Windows98&ME installations that have provided problems in the past. Note that SOB is unlikely to work correctly on Win95 at all, and is often unpredictable with the first release of Win98, but has proven quite stable with most Win98SE installations tested. We do not recommend navigating in real-time with Windows 98 or older. Win 2000 and XP Users will need to be logged in with Administrator rights to install SOB. Of course, certain other installed programs can cause problems, particularly if they use the Serial ports incorrectly (Modem drivers for instance, PDA synch managers etc). ChartsHow much are C-Map charts?C-Map has a significant new pricing and coverage area with their new MAX format charts: refer to www.c-map.com for information about the new MAX charts coverage and costings, or call your local C-Map office. Once correctly registered, "C-MAP Electronic Charts" will issue you with the world's charts, secured on CD-ROM disks. Also included is a basic program for selecting the chart portfolios and purchasing their licenses, or just price-checking. ... but for your interest, (understanding that: we at DigiBOAT are in no-way connected with C-MAP's pricing policies), my copy of SOB is reporting (as @ Mar 2007):
What charts does SOB support?SOB uses only C-MAP Electronic Charts - NT, NT+ or MAX versions (not CM93 or MAX Pro). C-MAP charts cover at the least all areas covered by the British Admiralty’s charts (ARCS & Seafarer), but due to the “vector” nature of the C-MAP charts, they also contain a wealth of additional information – tides, navigation aids, port and marina information – even the distance to the nearest toilet and laundry! C-MAP Charts have continuously been voted “Best Electronic Charts” by many highly regarded international associations and organizations. The International standard for electronic charts, set by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and ratified by all other relevant national and international marine and standards institutions (ISO, NMEA, SOLAS, IEC, etc) is known as the "S57 & S52 standard" as specified by the International Hydrographic Office. C-MAP charts are fully compliant with the S57/S52 standards and have been verified as suitable for ECDIS solutions (which can legally replace paper charts, in fact the new Queen Mary is fitted with C-MAPs). C-MAPs are also used in 80% of chart plotters sold world-wide, so there is already a fairly high level of awareness, and respect, for the C-MAP format. For these reasons, and others, SOB is designed for use with C-MAP charts. It is unlikely that we will ever support raster charts (eg: BSB, ARCS, Seafarer) as the vector charts are so far superior that there truly is no comparison. We definitely will never support user-scanned charts as this diminishes SOB as a serious navigation tool. Navigation has always depended upon legitimate, accurate charts issued by competent authorities - user-scanned charts is therefore contradictory to safe navigation practices. If another chart format becomes prolific, has full world-wide coverage, and earns the respect of the marine industry, then it would be bad business practice for us to not look into supporting it! Can I get charts to fit both SOB and my chart plotter?I am about to leave to go from Port Sorell in Tasmania to the Whitsundays and have just purchased a chart plotter to help navigate and I plan to purchase C-Maps to put into that. The C-MAP NT/NT+ cartridges that fit in most plotters can also be used with SOB. You will however need to purchase a "USB C-MAP Cartridge Reader" to plug into the PC. Most C-MAP offices have very generous upgrade pricing for cartridge to CD charts, but you'll have to check about their pricing policy and options for multiple media formats. Please contact http://www.c-map.com/ for further details and pricing. One extra hint, if you do end up using licensed C-MAP charts for your journey (and I believe that one of C-MAP's super-wide coverage's is Tasmania-to-Southport), I suggest you rename or delete the Sydney C-MAP demo chart, otherwise all the data returned by the "Binocular" button will be doubled-up (email support for further directions) Can I use SOB with C-Map megawide on an SD Card? My laptop has an SD card reader.Yes, you can use the MAX megawide SD card with SOB. However you can not use the built-in SD card reader in the laptop. The chart cards contain encryption to protect the chart use and can only be used with the proprietary "C-Map USBMM Card Reader". Please contact www.c-map.com for further information about their Card Reader, or to purchase it directly from them (about USD$150). Do I need any codes to fully access this program with my C-Map Card Reader?Do I need an unlock code to run a demo chart?No unlock codes are required to use any demo or licensed C-Map chart. (IE: even SOB LITE will "see" any charts you have installed). Every SOB version will "see" the c-cards via a C-Map Card Reader. The driver must also be correctly installed for the Card Reader, refer to our Online User Manual for driver installation help and troubleshooting. You should register and request an Unlock Code for each PC you run SOB on. What reader do I need to use the C-Map cartridge charts?The C-Map SD chart cartridges are a proprietary format and are not compatible with industry standard SD card readers - the C-Map USBMM Card Reader is required to use the NT/NT+ or MAX SD chart cartridges. Can I download my chart on c-card (or SD card) to the hard disk?The C-Map Card Reader must be connected at all times to use the chart cartridge. Can I use C-MAP charts on more than one computer?Yes, but for use with multiple computers, you need to purchase the C-MAP USB Key (see C-MAP Electronic Charts), this allows you to use your purchased charts on any computer running SOB, with the USB key plugged in. Contact www.c-map.com for the cost of the USB Key and charts. Also, if you already own the NT/NT+ C-MAP cartridges (as used in chart-plotters etc), you can purchase a USB card reader that will connect to any PC and read the charts from the cartridges. Of course this card reader and the cartridges can be used with any computer running SOB. What are Raster/Vector charts?Are C-Map vector or raster charts?C-Map are vector charts. Vector/Raster are the different ways a chart can be digitised (for computer use). A good analogy is if raster is a photograph of a house, then vector would be the architect's plans for the house. A photograph is simply a collection of coloured dots - our brain pieces these together and recognises walls, roof etc. With the architect's plans, a wall knows it is a wall and also knows all the individual pieces that are used to construct it. What are C-Map MAX Charts?MAX is a relatively new C-Map chart format, released early 2005. Many new and exciting features are a part of the MAX charts, including "perspective view", photographs of harbours and ports, and other multimedia features, names of buoys and nav-aids on the chart ... The MAX charts also cover a larger area than previous formats, and have experienced a price reduction. (The NT/NT+ charts have been reduced in price to keep them in line with MAX prices). SOB implemented support for these charts in our December 2005 release. SOB is also compatible with all existing NT and NT+ C-Map chart formats. More information and sample screen shots about the MAX format charts is available here: www.maxnavigator.com Note: The previous C-Map chart formats are not redundant, and will continue to be supported, sold and updated by C-Map until further notice. How do I purchase C-Map charts?
see also: SOB Online User Manual NT/PC Selector What limitations do the demo charts have?We do not recommend navigating with the demo charts. They are not the latest version with the latest "Notices to Mariners" and other corrections, and their coverage may be incomplete in some areas. To purchase the latest updated charts, see the step-by-step guide above. Where does C-MAP (Oz) fit in?C-MAP Australia is an agent for C-MAP Italy which is the international Head Office for sales. C-MAP Norway is the company’s Head Office for cartography and product development. Where is C-Map’s Chart Selector located?http://ntpc.c-map.com/ntselector.html When I install C-Map Selector, it asks me to install IE.You can cancel out of the IE install if you want, when installing C-MAP, it's just not made very obvious that this is an option. I have CM93 charts, how do I get them to work with SOB?Does SOB work with S57 (ENC) NOAA charts?Can I use scanned charts with SOB?Is SOB compatible with BSB or Navionics or MapSend BlueNav charts?SOB uses only C-MAP Electronic Charts - NT/NT+ or MAX formats. SOB is NOT COMPATIBLE with CM93 charts. C-MAP charts cover all areas covered by the British Admiralty’s charts (ARCS & Seafarer), but due to the “vector” nature of the C-MAP charts, they also contain a wealth of additional information – tides, navigation aids, port and marina information – even the distance to the nearest toilet and laundry! C-MAP Charts have continuously been voted “Best Electronic Charts” by many highly regarded international associations and organizations, and C-MAP charts power almost 80% of the world’s chart-plotter devices. The International standard for electronic charts, set by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and ratified by all other relevant national and international marine and standards institutions (ISO, NMEA, SOLAS, IEC, etc) is known as the "S57 & S52 standard" as specified by the International Hydrographic Office. C-MAP charts are fully compliant with the S57 standard and have been verified as suitable for ECDIS solutions (which can legally replace paper charts, in fact the new Queen Mary is fitted with C-MAPs). There is a fairly high level of awareness and respect for the C-MAP format. For these reasons, and others, SOB is designed for use solely with C-MAP charts. It is unlikely that we will ever support raster charts (eg: BSB, ARCS, Seafarer) as the vector charts are so far superior that there truly is no comparison. We definitely will never support user-scanned charts as this diminishes SOB as a serious navigation tool. Navigation has always depended upon legitimate, accurate charts issued by competent authorities - user-scanned charts is therefore contradictory to safe navigation practices! FYI: we do plan to add NOAA S57 vector chart support to SOB sometime this year (2007). We did explore the possibility of also adding Navionics support, however for now, we have decided against this. We will post notices on our website as NOAA ENC chart support approaches! If another chart format does become prolific, has full world-wide coverage, and earns the respect of the marine industry, then it would be bad business practice for us to not look into supporting it! What're the costs for C-MAP Brisbane to Melbourne?Once correctly registered, "C-MAP Electronic Charts" (http://www.c-map.com) will issue you with the world's charts, secured on CD-ROM disks. Also included on the C-Map CD is a basic program for selecting the chart portfolios and purchasing their licenses - or just use the Selector program as a chart catalogue to check the prices of your particular chart area of interest. The chart is coming up as a (Kodak) image file in Windows Explorer.Can I view the charts with an “imaging” program (eg: Photoshop)?The C-MAP demo charts can only be viewed within the SOB program. They are not image files as such (not like Photoshop or jpeg etc). They are special data files which, when opened by SOB will be correctly drawn to represent geographical shapes and navigational information. It sounds like, on your computer, that Explorer just "coincidently" thinks they are Kodak image files. They are not similar to ANY image file formats, nor compatible with ANY image display software. The only way to "view" these files is by placing them in SOB's DemoCharts folder and running SOB. Any C-MAP charts found (demo or licensed) when SOB starts will be shown on the world background as grey squares which can be "zoomed" into with SOB's toolbar buttons or the mouse wheel. I have a current "C-MAP NT+ Wide" cartridge, how do I use it with this programme?C-MAP offer hardware devices for reading C-MAP NT/NT+ Cartridges with a PC. The 3 choices are:
View information about the C-Map USB Card Readers on our C-MAP Electronic Charts webpage. There's no way I can afford to buy the C-MAP charts...I have now received the C-MAP selector discs. There's no way I can afford to buy the C-MAP charts I would actually need for our round the world journey, so I will be using the world map that comes with SOB and the Garmin when we get close to the bumpy bits. Our DigiBOAT philosophy is that safe navigational tools, if not free, should be readily affordable by all who need them. Our contribution to this is "SOB Navigation Software" with a 3-MONTH FREE TRIAL PERIOD followed by nominal cost (USD50 as @ Dec 05) for continued use (comparative navigation software sells for $1000-$4000) and we will continue with this business model for as long as is economically viable - we do also receive a (small) commission on C-MAP chart sales - so we do encourage you to buy at least some charts! Remember that the whole electronic charting industry is still very young, and to-date (pre-SOB if you like) has been targeted to the super-yacht high-roller end of the market, with correspondingly small world-wide sales! We aim to change this ... as we say in our press releases: "Geographical knowledge of Planet Earth is the right of all humans, we predict that in the future chart costs will be measured in cents, not dollars!" There are still many-many-many software programmers world-wide with the belief that all software should be Public Domain, and thus free (or with nominal administrative-style costing). This group is actually the origin of the decades-old anti-Microsoft movement, and in fact the dot-com fiasco was due to the corporate sector butting-in to the previously "free society" that was the Internet. Interestingly, C-MAP has recently (2005) had a large price reduction, and we predict that this trend will continue (and actually accelerate - inline with all technology down-pricing trends). Previously C-MAP charts where priced equivalently to their paper (Admiralty) alternatives, now they are actually somewhat cheaper but not available in small or single-chart portfolios. Yet ~$USD200 for "Southport to Melbourne" or "North Island, NZ" including wide-scale down to harbour level, with incredible database detail on ports, navaids etc, does represent excellent value. For your particular use, I would suggest travelling as you say, perhaps (in support of DigiBOAT's efforts, if nothing else) purchasing the C-MAP for areas you don't currently have covered on paper, or for regions where you expect to do some extensive cruising whilst En Route (keeping in mind the invaluable port information contained in the charts). If using your GPS when in uncharted areas, you may find the "Show NMEA waypoint on Chart" function very useful - this is a relatively "undocumented" feature in SOB, which is available from the RAW NMEA DATA form (double-click the chart surface). It's usefulness is dependant on the GPS's interpretation and use of NMEA route data - which doesn't appear to be consistently implemented across all GPS makes and models (once again, feedback from your setup will be of value to us). I would express caution if navigating oceans using just the C-MAP world
background chart, for example, on an Admiralty chart you'll find a sea mount
that rises to within a few metres of the surface about halfway and slightly
west, of a straight line course between Fiji and NZ - such detail is of course
not present on the world overview... I have SOB on my laptop and wish to use the laptop as a chart plotter...Will the GPS USB Receiver for PC/Laptop/Notebook allow me to do this? I was hoping to use the computer in conjunction with the GPS USB Receiver for PC/Laptop/Notebook rather that operating through my existing GPS so that it would provide me with a back up GPS. Will this work? Yes, the USB GPS will do exactly what you're thinking. However please be careful as this GPS does not yet have a driver for Windows Vista (although it is expected very soon now)., Can I interface the PC with a chartplotter without having to use C-Map c-cards in the plotter.Having one CD of all C-Map Max or NT charts, I can interface the PC with an above deck chartplotter without having to use C-Map chart cards in the chartplotter. Using a multifunction waterproof chartplotter at the helm where I can view chartplotter info from the PC, incl depth sounder, sailing instruments (wind speed and direction) and radar. It is not possible to do precisely what you wish. First, the charts can only be used in one place at one time, whether that's the CD or c-card type charts. Second, SOB can not re-display the RADAR raster image (as returned by the magnetron's echoes) although SOB can re-display the RADAR cursor and VRM/EBL marks. However you can still achieve your desired setup (PC showing charts and nav instrument info at the helm station) by connecting a second monitor to the computer. This would ideally be a touchscreen, weatherproof, sunlight viewable screen to the largest size that the mounting position, and budget, allows for. See www.winmate.com.tw for screens that fit these requirements. Also, in a typical yacht layout, the remote cockpit screen is a long cable run distance from the nav computer - in which case a VGA signal amplifier must be used for the cable extension. (An un-amplified VGA cable can only be a max length of about 2 metres). Now, with this described setup the only disadvantage is no radar image on the cockpit screen. Radar has its place in navigating, but be aware that electronic charts combined with AIS is a useful tool to ploting other boats but radar is still great for avoiding thunderstorms! If radar in the cockpit is a priority, perhaps you could explore one of the new "blackbox" radar solutions which connect to the magnetron at one end and a PC at the other. The PC is used for the radar's image display with software supplied with the "blackbox". This radar software should be able to also run on the remote monitor, allowing you to switch between SOB and RADAR views (or setup your window tiling to show both side-by-side) however you will not be able to overlay the radar image on the SOB charts with this solution. For a fully integrated solution with radar overlays you would need to have all NMEA-2000 instruments (or one of the integrated instrument manufacturer's proprietary networks - such as Raymarine). What's the difference between the C-Map NT+ and the NTMax?DigiBOAT believes that C-Map should make this clearer for all potential users - the MAX charts are the ones you MUST purchase. These are the newest chart formats with much wider coverage and greater detail than the NT/NT+ format. The NT/NT+ charts are still being included for those who are using older nav software and plotters which are not compatible with MAX charts. Connecting NMEA InstrumentsHow do I connect my GPS to SOB?The basic step-by-step process follows:
Extra steps may be required to install drivers for the GPS or Serial-to-USB Converters etc. If no entry is marked with "GPS NMEA Data" after doing the data test (points 6 and 7) then do not continue. You should start the steps over (perhaps reboot first) or revert to advanced techniques starting with Device Manager to check for correct driver installation for your devices (eg; GPS, Converter cable). Note for USB GPS users: to avoid potential problems from COM port reassignments, it is best if you get into the habit of always using the same USB socket on your laptop to connect the GPS to. The cursor is jumping around the screen like crazy, and windows open up at random.This is known as Crazy Mouse Syndrome and is a Microsoft acknowledged bug in Windows 2000 and XP where Windows misinterprets the GPS data as a mouse, and auto-installs a mouse driver for it. Microsoft has a "Symptoms, Cause and Resolution", check out this Microsoft Document: "Serial Device May Be Detected as a Serial Mouse in Windows 2000" (XP is also
discussed in the document) A method which should stop it happening is below. This is from a newsgroup and have had reports that it does work.
The next time you boot the computer, it will tell itself to disable the "Serial Ball Point". If you boot the machine without the GPS attached, it will not even show the disabled device. Another solution known to work in most circumstances is: turn on the GPS (or plug it in) after Windows has booted, but before starting SOB. Does the free trial version work with a GPS?I have connected my Magelan Meridian Platinum GPS to my XP based laptop now running the demo verion of SOB (for evaluation). The GPS works with Magellan Discover AUs Streets and Maps and I can happily track my path in Sydney Harbour with it. When I use SOB instead, it does not track or show the correct location. Yes, any version SOB will be "live" with a GPS connected. Please ensure the following:
Can I use my GPS with two programs at the same time?The simple answer is No. Once a program has "opened" a COM port, this port is "owned" by that program and other programs are blocked from also using this COM port (SOB reports this as "Port not available or In use"). But... there is a very neat software based solution to this: GpsGate, a very affordable program supplied by Franson Software which includes a 14 day free trial period. SOB can't recognise my Garmin GPS?This is almost certainly to do with the Garmin
set to "talk" in its proprietary language, rather than the International
standard language - "NMEA". So on the Garmin menu, find the interface settings
menu and change from "Garmin" to "NMEA Out", also while there, set the baud to
4800 if you have this option. We intend to use a Garmin 72 as the GPS. Is that OK?The Garmin 72 works fine with SOB. The typical problem experienced with Garmins is that they are not set by default to output NMEA data (rather they use their own proprietary language for communicating with computers and other Garmin devices). However this is simply a setting in the Garmin menu which needs to be changed. Apart from this, the Garmin will operate in the same way with SOB as does any other GPS. For full redundancy, it is an ideal setup to have a separate GPS for the laptop. A good cheap example is this one available through our 'Shop' webpage: http://www.digiboat.com.au/sales_products_sob.htm#gps How do I connect my AutoPilot?This depends on exactly which model autopilot you have. The smaller models (cheaper) generally only have NMEA input connections, which allows SOB to control the pilot. If the pilot has NMEA output connections then these are generally for outputting the fluxgate compass data that is built into the pilot. SOB can utilise this electronic compass data for correctly aligning the OwnShip target when drawn as a scale shipshape, and if you also have a speed LOG device connected to SOB, then the combination of GPS data, and the electronic compass and speed data is used to calculate the current set & drift (or more typically on a sailing boat - the leeway). To connect your PC (thus SOB) to your pilot, please examine the sample
wiring diagrams available here:
http://www.digiboat.com.au/manual/man_technical.htm#connecting
What is a Multiplexer (MUX)?SOB can use two serial (COM) ports for connecting to your navigation instruments. If you have more than two devices you wish to connect (eg: GPS, AIS, Wind, Depth, RADAR etc etc) then you will need a multiplexer which "merges" all the data from these devices into a single "data stream" which will connect to a single COM port on the PC. We recommend MUXes from http://www.brookhouseonline.com/ (New Zealand) or www.shipmodul.com (Netherlands/UK). Can I use Bluetooth GPS or BT MUX with SOB?Yes. Bluetooth is simply a radio connection which replaces the USB cable for such devices. If your PC doesn't have Bluetooth built in, then you will need a Bluetooth Radio Dongle available from any computer store for around ($50). What is SeaTalk, NavBus, etc?Can I interface Raymarine Seatalk instruments with SOB?Can I interface B&G instruments with SOB?SOB uses the international NMEA language for communicating between navigation instruments. Seatalk is Raymarine's proprietary communication "language" for interconnecting Raymarine instruments. Raymarine supply an accessory (Part #E85001) for converting Seatalk to NMEA. Also, ShipModul's and Brookhouse's MUXes also convert Seatalk to NMEA. If you have the ST60 repeater, you will find a NMEA output on the device which can connect directly to a SOB COM port. B&G supply an accessory (Part #H1000-UNI) which converts their language to NMEA. NAVMAN users require the "Navman Repeater" to convert the NavBus data to NMEA. In other words, if a navigation instrument does not offer a NMEA output for computer interfacing, then check the manufacturer's website for an accessory to convert their language to NMEA. How to show the satellite data on the NMEA form?
Your GPS must send these two NMEA sentences which contain the satellite data:
$__GSA, $__GSV (any two characters may appear in the __ blanks) Also, if passing the GPS data thru any other instruments, these satellite messages will be stripped. DownloadingWhere can I download your software?
I can't download the setup file!It is probably unwise to download this large file (82.2 MB) over a modem, it would take overnight. It should typically take only 15-30 minutes via broadband. The most common problem reported by users is "The compressed (zipped) folder is invalid or corrupted", from either the Pacific or US mirror. The output from a WinZip® log shows:
The problem is reported to be within MS Explorer®. Other browsers do not report the problem. The most common way around this is to try to open the file rather than save it on your computer. If that fails, try the other way around, to save it rather than open it. Finally, try another mirror or install another browser such as FireFox® or Mozilla®. I am unable to open the downloaded zip files.If you don't have an "unzipping" program installed on your computer, we have "WinZip" available on our download page. Installing and Set UpWhen I try to load, the program locks up after the first screen is visible.This is a symptom of an incomplete or incorrect installation. You should re-run the self-installing file to place everything correctly on your hard disk. Sometimes a problem or conflict with your COM ports can cause SOB to "lock-up" when starting. This usually requires examination of your serial devices in Control Panel's Device Manager to determine the possible conflict. A completed installation of SOB should resemble the following screen shot:
The contents of each folder are detailed in SOB Manual - Technical Page and the QuickStart document. Extra steps we recommend:
If I download the software on to my online computer can I transfer the program to my laptop via a USB thumb drive?Installation of SOB was designed to make transferring it from PC to PC very easy. Every SOB file is in the main \SOB\ folder, and the total size is about 70 Mb with all 15 demo charts and world-wide background charts loaded, however - the minimum install size is 30 Mb with no demo charts or data files (routes, logs etc). To copy SOB to another computer, just copy the whole \SOB\... folder and everything in it to a CD; zip disk; camera card; or USB drive - anything that can hold more than 80 Megabytes (a 128Mb or bigger disk/drive). No other files are installed or used by SOB. Any copy of the \SOB\ folder will also include all your routes and waypoints and logfiles. SOB can be easily and completely uninstalled by simply deleting this entire folder. I had SOBv66 and had downloaded v90 some time ago but just tried (yes, it's been years) to install it. It failed to install.Yes, v90 has come and gone! In 2005, C-Map released a new chart format, called C-Map MAX. Shortly after we released a new version after v90 called SOBvMAX to support the new chart format. You will need to download and install the full SOBvMAX setup file (about 100Mb). This will install into a new folder on your hard disk: "C:\SOBvMAX\" You may need to copy over your SOBv66 folders (Waypoints, Routes, Logfiles, Charts) to the corresponding folders in SOBvMAX so you can retain access to your waypoints, logs etc (SOB will automatically convert these to the new file formats as necessary). There have been many changes to SOB since v66, I suggest you scan the User Manual to see what SOB can do now - SOB User Manual Licensing, Registering & UnlockingIs SOB software free?"SoftwareOnBoard" navigation and charting software is FREE for a 3 month (90 days) trial period. Thereafter, you have two options: (1) continue to use SOB for free, however certain features will be restricted or disabled. This LITE version is still suitable for real time navigation with all essential navigation features available; or (2) purchase a User License which removes the trial period time-out and enables all advanced features. C-MAP Electronic Charts are supplied independently by www.c-map.com and must be purchased before use. What if I never pay to use SOB?You can use SOB for free for the rest of your life if you don't require all features enabled. The trial period will have all features enabled, afterwards SOB will revert to a LITE version, which still plots your GPS position on the chart, and interfaces with RADAR, AIS, wind instruments, depth, speed etc etc. However, the autopilot cannot be controlled, and there is a limit to the number of Waypoints and Targets you can show, and the PastTrack will not be logged to a file, and a few other relatively minor restrictions - but nothing that reduces SOB's ability to perform fundamental navigation tasks for you. After I registered, I received a message saying that my details were passed on to C-MAP. What happens now?If you supplied your postal address when Registering with us, your local C-MAP headquarters will use this to post you the C-MAP Electronic Charts on CD-ROM. These are C-MAP's NT+ and MAX Charts which can be licensed for use via a chart cataloguing and ordering program supplied by C-Map and included on the Chart CD-ROMs. What is the difference between a Standard and Pro User License?Unlicensed Users have an AccessLevel=1, this level of access will allow unlimited Waypoints and Route Turnmarks, and will enable additional features in the program. The free trial period will be extended to 3 months with this access level. Standard user licenses have an AccessLevel=2, in addition to enabling all level 1 bonuses, it also enables additional features and functionality, such as autopilot output, and completely removes the trial period. Pro User licensed users have an AccessLevel=4, provides all SOB features enabled including networking and unlimited AS targets. SOB version comparison table: www.digiboat.com.au/downloads/downloads.htm#compare I receive the message "Your PC_CODE/UnlockCode combination appears to be invalid"The PC_CODE/UnlockCode on the upgrade webform
is only vaguely checked and actually doesn't currently influence anything that
you receive or otherwise. We use this mechanism to ensure that
those applying for an upgrade really are eligible for such. I received this message when registering "Apache/1.3.29 Server at ..."This error was likely caused by overload at our website (Apache is the software that our web host uses to connect with the internet).If your request/submission didn't go through, and still wont, please email support and we'll look into it further... Can you tell me how long it takes before the SOB program is emailed to me?Typically within a few minutes, depending on mail server loads at both ends. If nothing is received within 20-30 minutes, then please check your SPAM folder.I have forgotten my License password and I need some unlock codes.Email our support department with details about your license purchase: approx date of purchase, email and name used when purchase etc. We will reply with your SOB User License PASSWORD. I registered SOB today but I'm unsure where I request my unlock codes. Do you just send them to my email address or what happens?Your UnlockCode will be automatically emailed to you after you fill in the “Unlock Request” form, here: www.digiboat.com.au/sendunlock.htm Please carefully follow the directions contained on the form to correctly receive your UnlockCode. Maximum waypoints reached - Unregistered Program window keeps popping up - can you advise !Once your 1 or 3 month trial period is reached, SOB will revert to an unlicensed LITE version with some restrictions imposed and some advanced features disabled. To continue to use SOB beyond the trial period you must purchase a SOB User License from our Shop page to re-enable the advanced features (which also removes the waypoints and targets limit), and remove the trial period limitation.When do you supply the 3 unlock codes that you refer to at registration?How do I get an unlock code for this program?Now that you are registered, you can Request SOB Unlock Codes at your discretion, by using the Send Unlock Request webform.Note that each SOB Unlock Code is particular to a single computer (which is why we allow up to 3, to provide for a single user with a laptop, home PC, work PC, Ship PC etc).
I have received the CD from C-MAP, do I need a code from you to show my copy of SOB is registered?Yes, you should request and apply SOB UnlockCode ... Registered or Licensed users may request up to 3 SOB UnlockCodes. Each UnlockCode is unique to a particular PC (the 3 codes available are for your eg: laptop, work, home and ship PC etc). You must use the unique PC_CODE from any machine you wish to unlock (+ a User Licence PASSORD if you have purchased SOB) on the Request UnlockCode link on the Register page at the website.When running SOB, the PC_CODE can be found in the About SOB box, this is also where the SOB Unlock Code is entered. (The About SOB box can be displayed by pressing the green-Question-Mark button on the SOB toolbar). Unlocking SOB is required for the smooth interfacing of the C-MAP NT/PC Selector program (which was delivered to you with the C-MAP Chart CD's and should have auto-installed when C-MAP Chart Disk was inserted in the CD drive). I have had to reboot my computer and now it gives me an invalid registration.
It was ok before I loaded a new Windows program. You will need to request a new UnlockCode: www.digiboat.com.au/sendunlock.htm How do I transfer the licence from the boat computer to also run SOB on my Notebook or is this another licence?To use your charts on multiple computers you must also purchase the C-Map chart dongle (about AUD$60) which you can include in your first chart purchase, or order it direct from C-Map (Sydney 02 9808-6200). Refer to Page 10-12 of our PDF User Manual for instructions on how to transfer charts to other computers when you own the dongle. To license SOB on the otehr computer, request an UnlockCode for it: www.digiboat.com.au/sendunlock.htm I have put in the unlock code and it has moved me to access level 0 (unregistered). What have I done wrong?Check that you have entered everything correctly. Each computer has a unique PC_CODE, and each PC_CODE has a unique matching UnlockCode. SOB NavigationCan SOB be used around the French, Dutch and UK coasts?Yes, SOB can be used world-wide. C-Map charts have the most extensive world coverage of any electronic chart producer and certainly the Nth Atlantic and all European coastlines are thoroughly covered. For your interest, SOB is also available in French, Dutch, Italian and Norwegian language versions. Everything is working except the boat is on the Equator (lng is correct)?Sorry for this inconvenience... there was a bug in SOBv7.5x with certain GPS units which set a ZERO latitude. Please upgrade to the latest SOB version, download here (10Mb): Why is the Anti-Grounding feature disabled?We had anti-grounding enabled and fully functioning in SOB prior to the release of the C-Map MAX charts. After these charts started being put to use we received a few emails about errors with object detection in some areas. Although these errors seem to be isolated to specific locations, or specific charts, it is prudent for us to disable it entirely as this type of feature must be as trustworthy as possible. We expect to have completed our testing with this and re-enable it in a SOB update later this year. How do I customise the auto-centre feature?Customising the Auto-Centre feature:*** Note, this technique involves editing the System Registry, which is a potentially dangerous activity, please only attempt this if you are a confident Windows operator *** The two variables are in the Registry, and called AC_Ready and AC_Return ... registry keys are here: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SoftwareOnBoard\sob\Settings What is AIS?Also refer to our SOB AIS targets Online User Manual page. AIS stands for Automatic Identification System (sometimes UAIS for Universal AIS), and is basically a VHF device which sends (and/or receives) details about your vessel and your journey. If you look at the "AIS Static Data" page on SOB's new Ship's Form [F9] you will get an idea of the type of data that is sent between ships. Also dynamic data is sent - speed, course, lat, lng, rate of turn. ALL commercial ships over 300t - tankers, liners, ferries, etc - must have AIS transmitters fitted - as of last year (I think). And as of 2007 many more classes of ships will be required to send AIS data (all new ships, ALL ships over 60', all passenger ships ...). The internet contains a vast amount of information about AIS, a good starting point is www.uais.org, also worth a look is www.aislive.com. For individual small boat users, it's unnecessary to be sending this information (well not yet, anyway), but it is very handy to be able to receive it, and display it on the chart! Fortunately, AIS receive only devices are appearing on the market and are extremely cheap (when compared to transceivers). We've sourced (and tested) a receive-only device and can supply it locally in Australia, see our new shop webpage for details. Of course there is no real need for them for harbour or local sailing (except if near/in a major commercial port area), but for long coastal cruising, or ocean crossings they are a great boost to safety. I have no doubt that they will quickly become a "must have" item for any boat with a computer onboard. For a demo of this technology, and the way SOB uses it, run one of the AIS sample log files in SOB, move the display so that you can see the UK, then zoom into where all the replay action is happening. To see more detail about the acquired targets, show the target form, or select the Info button and hover the pointer over a target. (In Australia) there has been somewhat of an uproar that has been ongoing for the last few years in relation to the removal of the VHF-16 emergency monitoring, and the need for ships to maintain a listening watch on 16. Although monitoring of voice-over-VHF is being decreased/eliminated, it is/has been replaced with a digital alternative - DSC/GMDSS and a few other related acronyms. AIS has been born out of this ... and really is quite amazing technology, it's like having the equivalent of a 2D air-traffic controller's console on your laptop! How can I practice/dream with SOB without being onboard?To create "life" in SOB without a moving GPS attached: (1) enable dead-reckoning mode - click on the Ship's Target to set your start position and speed and heading (you may need to zoom in to see the motion) or (2) replay a log file - double-click the chart surface, then just follow the button captions to play and control a pre-captured logfile. See also this section of our Online User Manual. I've heard that SOB can "talk" to me? How do I do this?Yes, SOB includes a very innovative feature we call the Talking Pilot (in honour of a quite remarkable blind user who first suggested this idea to us - Tony Purkiss). Use [Ctrl-Space] keys to open the TP form. Its operation is quite straightforward, but certain Window's Control Panel settings must be configured, or Microsoft Speech components may need to be installed. Please refer to this chapter of the PDF SOB User Manual for full details to set up and using the TP: http://www.digiboat.com.au/manual/SUM_Ch14_TalkingPilot.pdf If using the TP, we recommend enabling your PC for Bluetooth and purchasing a BT wireless earpiece (as used with mobile phones) to achieve maximum benefit from the Talking Pilot feature. We have sourced an excellent waterproof BT earpiece which we will be adding to our webshop. What is the thin red line that appears in the display area?This red line is the Quick Navigation Line which defaults to position zero-zero or the Gulf of Guinea. The line will be hidden whenever SOB is set to declutter mode, or disabled on the Ship Tools page of the Ship's Form. The box can't be turned off, it’s a frequently used tool once used to it, and most of the time it will be in your display area. When you don't want it cluttering the chart, zoom out and move it out of the way.How do I access Route features?The Route feature represents the most complex feature in regards to user interface, the QuickStart file does give you brief but clear directions on how to access route features. Detailed information can be found throughout the Online User Manual. But basically, (with the Route tool selected) click an existing route Turn Mark (TM). This will select the route; click the same TM again will pop-up a quick menu from which the route data can be accessed (including the hypotheticals), and TM's can be added or removed from this quick menu.Quick tip when route drawing/editing: if you need to move a TM a small distance, you will probably find the quick menu popping up erroneously - this is because of the double-TM-click-for-the-menu command - to overcome this, move the TM "out of the way" first, then move it back to the finer position that you want. Refer to the PDF User Manual for detailed information on using SOB Routes. Why do some Route legs suddenly disappear when zoomed out?This is erroneous route-leg reversing, this has to do with the Earth being round (well..spherical), so two directions are possible between any two points. A convenient feature with the C-MAP charts is that it can be “wrapped” from the left or right edges, however route legs crossing the 180° longitude may be drawn to go around the Earth the other way, ie: without crossing the dateline. SOB takes its best guess at which way the route leg should logically go, anyway, the route should "repair" itself whenever the chart "pan" or "zoom" is such that ambiguity is removed!How can I dry-run my route in real time?With the dead-reckoning tool, it is possible to dry-run your route in real time. Turn on DR mode for the ship and mark the planned route as "active". Note SOB wont actually turn the DR ship at the TurnMarks, you'll have to perform this manually (using either the [L] and [R] keys to "steer" the ship, or setting the new heading on the Ship's Form).How do I deactivate an active "Route"?The only way I can find is to close the connection from the GPS to Laptop or shut down the program completely. Yes, closing the program will automatically de-activate an Active Route . When you restart SOB, the Route will need to be reloaded and re-activated if necessary. Otherwise use the [Activate] toggle button on the Route Form. See the QuickStart card, or the Manual.How do you reset the Ship Defaults?The ship's "course & speed" on shutdown are pre-set on next startup. These values can be changed - use the RAW NMEA form to enter your defaults, these settings will be overwritten as soon as any new NMEA data comes in. Alternately, and perhaps more logically, reset C & S using the ship's Dead-Reckoning mode (click the Ship's Target at any time to access the DR settings). |
