Operation Manual
FarSounder, Inc.
F31552 (Rev. 2.6.1)
Page 22 of 56
4. First Time Configuration
4.1. Overview
The first time the software is installed, there are a number of items which must be configured. These can
always be changed later. However, not setting these items will effect the performance of the system.
4.2. Connecting NMEA Devices
Overview
The SonaSoft™ user interface software has been designed to interface with external navigation sensors
via standard NMEA 0183 interface sentences. It is highly recommended that a GPS, echo sounder, and
heading sensor (if available) be connected to the SonaSoft™ computer.
Important
In order to provide In-Water Target stabilization and Chart Overlay capabilities, NMEA inputs
from a gyro-compass and gps must be provided.
However, in order to take full advantage of SonaSoft's™ navigation display capabilities, external sensors
are needed for features such as:
•
plotting the ship's location on top of a digital chart
•
showing the Depth Profile angle in absolute heading
•
displaying vessel speed
•
displaying vessel heading
•
displaying vessel position
•
displaying echo sounder information
The SonaSoft™ software has been designed to accept information from external sensors via standard
NMEA-0183 sentences. SonaSoft™ connects to these NMEA sensors via the host computer's COM ports.
SonaSoft™ can listen to and process the following sentences: RMC, VHW, VTG, HDG, HDT, DBT, DPT.
In most cases, the host computer's COM ports will be basic serial ports (RS-232). However, some marine
computers come equipped with true NMEA-0183 hardware ports (opto-isolated RS-422). In all cases, these
COM port settings can be configured under the Configuration Manager's COM Port NMEA tab. If the host
computer has multiple COM ports, the software can be configured to listen on multiple ports to multiple
sensors. Additionally, a standard NMEA multiplexer can be used to connect multiple sensors to a single
COM port.
COM Port Configuration
All NMEA configuration options are accessed by selecting “NMEA Settings” from the Configuration Manager
menu (see figure 16). This display includes a list of each available COM port. Each row in the list contains a
check box, a COM port number, a baud rate selection drop down box, and a Show Trace button. SonaSoft™
can read all standard NMEA-0183 messages on any COM port in the list.
