TCP/IP Networking SOB

Software-On-Board Online Manual

Throughout this document, when referring to a network, we regard this as meaning equally a local network, Intranet, Internet, VPN, LAN, WAN, Mesh etc etc. Basically any computers linked to each other and using the Internet standard TCP/IP method for communication.

SOB can operate in two fundamentally different networking modes - CLIENT and/or SERVER (aka Host & Remote).

SERVER mode will send all NMEA data received in SOB over the network to any computer that creates a network "channel" to SOB running in SERVER mode.

CLIENT mode is when SOB is connected to a remote NMEA data source (either another computer running SOB Server, or any other commercial or private networked NMEA source).

The remainder of this document discusses use of SOB in CLIENT mode. Refer to these release notes for use of SOB Server: Release Notes for SOBvMAXv6 Update

SOB CLIENT can use NMEA data from a remote source over a network link, either a boat-wide intranet, or the World-wide Internet.

Multiple simultaneous remote connections are possible.  The number of simultaneous connections is limited only by available RAM memory and CPU processing speed, and the capabilities of the connecting hardware.

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There are two key ways to utilise the networking capabilities of SOB:

Scenario 1: connect multiple onboard computers  to a single set of navigation instruments	Scenario 2: connect one or more internet enabled ships to SOB in a remote location
Click an image for larger display

Any one of the remotely connected ships can be nominated as Primary and all incoming commands from its URL will drive SOB in the same manner as would directly connected devices (GPS, depth sounder, Wind etc). All other remote connections will be represented in SOB as Targets (using the AIS and ARPA target features of SOB).

Note: AccessLevel 4 is required for WAN features to be enabled. This a paid SOB upgrade, refer to the Shop webpage for ordering details.

Example SOB / WAN Uses

• Connecting onboard NMEA instruments that are a long way from the nav computer (Cat-5 or wireless connections are possible)
• Connecting onboard instruments to multiple onboard computers
• Use a wireless tablet computer onboard to navigate your boat
• Monitor your boat, or fleet of boats, from your desk or home in real-time
• Track a yacht race in real-time from anywhere in the World

Glossary

The WAN Connect Form

The WAN Connect button is located on the Raw NMEA Data form. Press the button to open the WAN Target List form to maintain your connection list and to connect to the remote targets. Note: AccessLevel 4 is required for WAN features to be enabled. This a paid SOB upgrade, refer to the Shop webpage for ordering details.

NOTE: The port numbers are blanked-out in this example to prevent everyone from using these real connections!

Steps for connecting to WAN/LAN ship(s)

Note: this applies to a connection over the Internet  OR  to the devices on your own ship.

1. Start SOB 
   >> Open Raw NMEA Data form (double-click chart surface, or press [N])
   >> Press the [WAN Connect]* button.
   
   * if this button is disabled, then you will need to purchase an AccessLevel 4 UnlockCode, refer to the Shop webpage.
    

2. (optional) Make a new connection:
   >> enter a Display Name to help identify the ship (the [Add] button will then be enabled)
   >> enter a URL or IP Address (if an IP Address is entered, then it will be used instead of the URL) for the remote node. This URL will be assigned by your network hardware administrator/installer, or your Internet Service Provider (ISP) of your GPRS connection
   >> the correct Port number that the node's URL uses to provide a data "path" to the Internet. This will be assigned with the URL. 
   >> the TimeOut value in seconds. A default of 10 seconds will be used if set to 0 or if bigger than 600. The ideal value will be dependent on the transmission rate configured for your Serial IP Server to forward its NMEA data to the Internet, and to the transmission rate of the connected NMEA instruments.
   
   Press [Add] to add the new connection to the list.
    

3. Select an entry in the list that you wish to connect to. (Multiple entries can be selected by using standard Windows™ highlighting commands - eg: hold down Shift and/or Ctrl keys while selecting to extend the items highlighted)
   >> Press the [Toggle Connect] button. The ON column will display a "Y" for the selected ship(s).
    

4. Select [Set as Primary Ship] if necessary... (refer to scenarios at the top of this section)
   Scenario 1: required 
   Scenario 2: optional
   
   Press this button if you want this ship to display in SOB as the OwnShip. If not set to OwnShip, the connected boat will be represented in SOB as a simulated AIS Target.
   
   Notes:
   * The OS column will display a "Y" for the connection that will be used as OwnShip. 
   * Only one remote ship can be set as OwnShip.
   * The OwnShip status can be changed using this form at any time, even when multiple remote ships are already connected.
   * If a connection is changed from not being the OwnShip, to OwnShip, then its AIS Target symbol will still be on the screen. This can be deleted or hidden using the Targets form (press [T]) if desired.  
   * When a remote ship is set to OwnShip, SOB will close any serial (COM) port currently in use by direct connected GPS (or other instruments), and the OwnShip remote ship data will be used as the primary NMEA data source for SOB.
    

5. Press [Open/Refresh Connection] button. This button will only be enabled when there are connections that need to be changed (either opened or closed). After pressing the button, a message box showing a summary of connections will be displayed. Press [Yes] to continue.
   
   When a connection is made, a unique number will be entered into the ID column of the list. This number is used to represent the remote ship simulated AIS Target. Messages about the connection and disconnection process are posted to the Messages ViewPanel.
   
   Simulated remote Target MMSI: The MMSI number (which is the unique AIS number for every ship in the World) is created from the SOB ID number and is equal to: ID x 10,000. 
   ARPA Target Note: If the remote ship is also sending ARPA target NMEA sentences, then these will also appear in the Target list as their own target, and the MMSI number created for them will be: ID x 10,000 + (ARPA number). The ARPA number is designated by the remote ship's  RADAR unit and is a number from 01 to 99.
   AIS Target Note: If the remote ship is also sending AIS target NMEA sentences, then these targets will be included in the Target list as if they were acquired locally (ie: as regular AIS targets). Note: that potential problems exist if a single SOB session is connected to multiple remote ships, and its own local AIS receiver, in that the data received for the SAME target could be received out of synch from all the sources. The resultant SOB display would show this as the AIS target jumping back and forward along its track. 

Steps for Disconnecting from a WAN/LAN ship(s)

1. Open the WAN Target List form, and highlight the entry you wish to disconnect. Any connected ship will show BOTH a "Y" in the ON column, and a number in the ID column.

2. Press the [Toggle Connect] button. The "Y" will be replaced with a "-" in the ON column, and the [Open/Refresh Connection] button will be enabled.
   Several ships can be Disconnected at the same time by repeating these steps for any other connected ship. ALL currently connected ships can be flagged for disconnection by pressing the [Disconnect All] button.

3. Press the [Open/Refresh Connection] button to display a summary of connections to open/close and continue when ready ...

Using both IP and Serial devices on OwnShip

When a WAN connection is made, SOB automatically closes any open serial ports for any direct connected devices (eg: GPS). This is a safety feature to prevent any misunderstanding about what data source is being displayed by SOB. When WAN/LAN data is being displayed as OwnShip data, the Ship's Data ViewPanel will be displayed with a silver/grey background (see sample Ship's Data displays below). 

It is possible, and reasonable, to use data from both IP and serial connections simultaneously. For instance, a set of NMEA devices could be located in a remote area of the ship (eg: rudder angle sensor, GPS antenna, SONAR transducer, fluxgate compass), combined (using a multiplexer for example) into a single data stream, then run through a Serial IP Server. The output from the Serial IP Server can then be transferred to the navigation computer running SOB via Cat-5 LAN cable, or via a WiFi wireless connection, and connected to SOB as a WAN Connect using the IP Address of the Serial IP Server. 
At the same time, other NMEA devices closely situated to the navigation computer (eg: RADAR, wind instruments, backup-GPS, AIS Receiver) can be directly connected to the computer via the normal serial (COM) port(s).

SOB will thus merge data from the two built-in serial ports, and any ONE connected remote node that is set as the Primary ship on the WAN Target List form.

Ship's Data ViewPanel display options
Source: WAN Connected and set as Primary Ship	Source: direct Serial (COM) connected GPS and Depth	Source: Primary connection doesn't have valid GPS data
Source: SOB DeadReckoning mode is set, overriding all other data sources	Source: SOB logfile replay, overriding other connected data sources