Introduction to Software-On-Board and Computer Navigation

This manual is an addendum to the PDF SOB User Manual.

Recent changes to SOB that have not yet been included in the PDF manual will be available for review on these webpages.

Additionally, extra topics which are commonly asked about have their own dedicated help page here.

The web pages for this on-line manual can be printed individually, however you may need to use [Print]>>[Print Preview] and choose to print "Only the Selected Frame" from your Browser's menu (eg: Internet Explorer).

NOTE: you must have installed Adobe Acrobat Reader to print the PDF file.

Please send any comments or corrections for these help pages or the PDF SOB User Manual to support@digiboat.com.au 

WARNING   It is important to know and use traditional navigation methods

 NOTE:    SoftwareOnBoard is not suitable for real-time navigation until:

1. the program has been registered; 

2. appropriate charts have been purchased from C-MAP. 

Registering SOB

It is important to register your copy of the SOB program. 
Apart from allowing us to notify you when updates and new versions become available, registered users can unlock certain additional features within the program, and extend the FREE trial-period to 6 months.

We at DigiBOAT, believe that easy and accurate navigation should be readily available to everyone. 
Modern electronic navigation relies on four components: 

1. Navigation Program "SoftwareOnBoard" is our contribution to easy navigation for everyone 

2. Electronic Charts C-MAP widely & freely distribute CD's containing full detail worldwide charts. (Before specific charts can be used with SOB, a "Chart Licence" must be purchased from C-MAP) 

3. GPS Positioning Device Supplied by Garmin, Magellan et al, have become accurate, small, low power and affordable (in-line with all modern electronics) 

4. Windows Computer  PC's and Laptops are also better, smaller and cheaper than ever before 

SOB is distributed on a free 6 month trial basis. Thereafter, continued use of SOB with all advanced features enabled requires the purchase of a User License (presently USD50.00). However if a user license is not purchased, SOB will revert to a LITE version with certain features disabled or restricted, yet still suitable for basic real time navigation.

You are free to use, copy and re-distribute the SOB program in either its "installed" or "installable" incarnations. You must include all installed files in the SOB folder if you re-distribute the program in any way. 

We strongly encourage you and all you distribute to, to register the use of the program.

Advantages of Registering

• Registration is FREE, and updates or upgrades notifications will be emailed to you

• You can download the latest release of SOB

• Registered users can Unlock SOB for running on up to three different computers, to enable additional parts (extra tools, more routes and waypoints etc) of the software. 

• Registered users will receive free on-line technical support, and free or reduced price future access to upgrades and updates. 

• Registered users can request the C-MAP NT/PC Chart disks to be posted to them for easy chart selection and instant on-line purchasing

• You receive a 5% discount when ordering C-MAP charts on-line
  Use Reseller Code R30-468 (when, and if, prompted)
• You can become a contributor of our Dream Features competitions to add to a future version

We don't recommend Win9x or WinME  for mission critical computer use (such as real-time navigating) due to their relative instability compared with Win2000 or WinXP, and we freely admit that SOB can be unreliable running on these pre 2000 operating systems. 

SOB has received no reported problems running on Win2000 or WinXP computers - these are also inherently stable operating platforms. SOB has had no testing, and no feedback from our users, about its performance on the WinNT platform.

SOB will not run on Win95 or the first release of Win98.