The NSO 4 is the first chart plotter from Simrad with the new NEON operating system. The device comes in three sizes: 16, 22 and 24 inches. This is the first time Simrad has offered a 24-inch display in this product line. The housing has a glass-to-edge design, with the display extending to the edge. It is mounted using a new rear panel system that is designed to simplify installation.
Processor and speed
A Qualcomm 8-core processor works inside. According to the manufacturer, the device starts up 35 per cent faster than its predecessor, the NSO evo3S. Autorouting, i.e. automatic route calculation, is said to run ten times faster. The working memory has been increased by a factor of eight. The display uses SolarMAX IPS technology with full HD resolution. The screen can be read from all viewing angles and also works with polarised sunglasses, according to the manufacturer.
NEON operating system and operation
The NEON operating system comes with a revised user interface. An activity bar can be shown by swiping and provides access to frequently used functions. The menu structure has also been simplified. Users can customise the layout and save different views. The new four-panel camera division allows four camera images to be displayed simultaneously on one screen.
Sonar and echo sounder
The NSO 4 supports Active Imaging and Active Imaging HD. The S3100H sonar module is required for the latter. However, the device can also be operated with several sonar modules at the same time. These include the S3100H and the S5100. The sonar images can be displayed in different views. Anglers can use the HALO radars with Bird+ mode, which was specially developed for bird detection. FishCast powered by ROFFS provides users with fish predictions based on water temperature and current data.
Navigation and maps
The Simrad device works with C-MAP X-Gen charts. This chart series offers high-resolution nautical charts with detailed depth information. Charts from selected third-party providers can also be used. The autorouting function automatically calculates safe routes, taking depth information and obstacles into account. Chart safety warnings draw attention to danger spots. The AutoTrack radar target tracking function automatically marks and tracks other vessels on the display.
Integration and compatibility
The NSO 4 can be connected to various systems. Trolling motors from Simrad RECON, Rhodan and Motorguide can be controlled directly via the chart plotter. The integration also includes Mercury engines, where engine data such as speed and fuel consumption can be displayed. The CZone system enables lighting, pumps and other electrical consumers to be controlled via the display. SiriusXM weather services provide up-to-date weather information directly on the screen.
Radar and safety
All HALO radars from Simrad work with the NSO 4, including both radome antennas and open array systems. The radar images can be overlaid with the map view. The AutoTrack function tracks up to 50 targets simultaneously and displays their course and speed. If there is a risk of collision, the system issues a warning. Bird+ mode increases the sensitivity of the radar to recognise flocks of birds, which often indicate schools of fish.
Price and availability
Simrad has not yet announced prices for the German market. The device was unveiled at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2025. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the coming months. Interested parties can find out about availability and prices from Simrad dealers.
Technical data
- Display sizes: 16, 22 and 24 inch
- Processor: Qualcomm 8-Core
- Display technology: SolarMAX IPS with Full HD resolution
- Operating system: NEON
- Start time: 35 per cent faster than NSO evo3S
- Autorouting: Ten times faster than the previous model
- Working memory: Eight times more than NSO evo3S
- Sonar support: Active Imaging, Active Imaging HD (with S3100H)
- Compatible sonar modules: S3100H, S5100
- Card material: C-MAP X-Gen, selected third-party providers
- Camera view: Four-field division
- Radar target tracking: AutoTrack for up to 50 destinations
- Integration: Mercury engines, CZone, SiriusXM, Simrad RECON, Rhodan, Motorguide
- Assembly: New rear mounting system
- Watertightness: Fully waterproof
- Design: Glass-to-edge display
- Further information: www.simrad-yachting.com
Jan-Ole Puls
Editor Test & Technology
Ole Puls was born in Schleswig in 1999. He quickly swapped the football pitch for the Schlei and grew up sailing a wide variety of dinghies and tall ships. From his grandfather's self-built wooden opti and a Europe to a 49er and an X362 Sport, there was a lot to choose from. After leaving school, Puls decided to train as a boat builder at the high-tech shipyard Knierim Yachtbau in Kiel in 2016. He successfully completed his training in 2020 and stayed at the shipyard as a bachelor. In 2022, he decided not only to build boats, but also to test them. Since then, he has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag in the Test & Technology section of BOOTE magazine. The training he received and the eye for detail and quality of workmanship he acquired help him immensely today. Even though he is a regatta sailor with heart and soul, he feels right at home on motorboats and enjoys separating his professional and private lives and yet combining them. Because we all know one thing: there is simply no better place to be than on the water.
