Following hot on the heels of the recently launched 7” widescreen CP300, Standard Horizon has announced details of the new CP500, also to be unveiled at the Southampton Boat show, which completes the company's 2007 chart plotter line-up.
With a big, bold, 12” sunlight-viewable screen, the CP500 becomes the flagship of the range. The high-definition 800 x 600 pixel TFT display means there is no need to lean in to view a small screen, says the company: “Simply sit back and view the large display from afar.”
There's plenty of memory with a capacity for up to 3000 waypoints and 50 routes, dedicated 'mark', 'route' and 'go to' keys, as well as six customisable quick keys for swift navigation around the different user-defined screen options.
An alphanumeric keypad makes entering and editing user points quick and easy. There are five NMEA outputs and four inputs, and the plotter can be connected to a DSC VHF radio.
In response to consumer demand, this is Standard's first plotter to offer radar compatibility. It's also AIS compatible (with the addition of a separate black box AIS receiver), fish finder compatible (by adding the Standard Horizon FF520), and has two video inputs so that DVDs may be viewed on-screen, or a camera connected for security or mooring/manoeuvring assistance.
The information may then be displayed either on the whole screen, or 'picture in picture', enabling the user to view navigation information simultaneously. There's also a VGA video output allowing the plotter's display to be repeated on to a monitor or TV. “This is so much more than simply a chart plotter,” says the company.
The CP500 features an external 16-channel EGNOS/WAAS GPS antenna, delivering accuracy to within three metres, and comes complete with 30 feet of cabling. A worldwide background map with detail to 2NM comes as standard on the plotter. For more detail it is necessary to add C-Map NT+ or MAX charts, for which there are two slots.
The Standard Horizon CP500 retails at £1399 including VAT. The unit is covered by a three-year waterproof warranty and comes with external GPS antenna, operating manual, quick reference guide, mounting bracket, dust cover and power cable.
For more information visit www.standardhorizon.co.uk
