• Autopilot: with just a mouse click or two on the computer chart, SOB will control the ship's course by sending information to the autopilot, steering your vessel precisely to the route or destination waypoint as planned on the computer screen. With appropriate devices connected, the autopilot can also be used to steer your boat to a preset wind angle.

• AIS Transponder/Receiver: now mandatory on all large commercial and passenger ships, the Universal Automatic Identification System uses VHF radio signals to transmit ship's information to all AIS enabled radio receivers in range (typically 20-40 miles). SOB "reads" this data and graphically displays the acquired targets directly on the chart screen. The received information includes: latitude/longitude, course, speed, ship size and type, destination and eta. Navigation aids are also increasingly being fitted with AIS devices to transmit their precise location.

• RADAR: interfaces directly with the computer charts, allowing you to plot an unknown RADAR "blip" transmitted as an ARPA target directly onto the SOB computer chart screen. SOB calculates the other vessel's course and speed; and by extrapolation, can estimate its future position and all CPA data (Closest Point of Approach) and whether it poses a collision potential to your course. SOB will also redisplay the RADAR's cursor and VRM/EBL positions for compatible devices.

• Wind Indicators: Predominantly for sailors, quickly become an indispensable source of information when linked to the SOB program. The wind indicator and anemometer provides the computer with Apparent Wind strength direction. SOB combines this information with your boat's course and speed to determine the True Wind speed and direction.
  
  

  MANUAL NAVIGATION All electronic navigation solutions should be backed up with manual alternatives, NO boat should go to sea with a computer and GPS alone: official charts, sextant, compass, chronometer, almanacs, protractor, ruler, pencil and pencil sharpener should lie in EVERY navigator's drawer.

  Download the Navigator Light program for computer almanacs and calculation assistance for those who can still do manual sight reductions, or for those who want to learn ...

• Electronic Compass & Speed LOG: Electronic compasses (gyros, fluxgate etc) if installed (often as part of an Autopilot installation) can be combined with manual speed pickup instruments (analogue LOG device) which, if NMEA enabled, will be used by SOB to calculate boat leeway, wind slippage and current "Set & Drift".

• Echo (depth) Sounder: The onboard depth sounder can be integrated with the computer and SOB charting software to override the depths as indicated on the digital charts. 

If your computer is short of COM (or Serial) ports for connecting NMEA instruments, the easiest solution is to buy a "multiplexer" (available from marine electronics shops, for a couple of hundred dollars, or check the specialist links on this page) which combines the wiring from all the NMEA instruments and sends their data on a single cable to a computer COM Port.

Extra COM Ports can also be formed from the USB connectors using a "Serial to USB Converter" (available from computer or electronics stores eg: Dick Smith Electronics for $60, or view our Shop Page for dual/quad converters)

Refer to our Online Manual for further information: http://www.digiboat.com.au/manual/man_technical.htm#connecting