An alphanumeric keypad makes entering and editing user points quick and easy. There are five NMEA outputs and four inputs, and, when connected to a Standard Horizon DSC VHF radio, such as the VM-3500E, GX1500E or GX3000E, DSC polling may be performed.

This is Standard’s first plotter to offer radar compatibility. It is 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 the navigation information simultaneously. There is also a VGA video output allowing the plotter’s display to be repeated onto a subsequent monitor or TV at a second station.

The CP500 features an external 16 channel EGNOS/WAAS GPS antenna, delivering accuracy to within 3m, and comes complete with cabling. A worldwide background map with detail to 2NM comes as standard on the plotter, although detail may be enhanced considerably by adding C-Map NT+ or MAX charts, for which there are two slots.