Humminbird Side Imaging Forums
Other Humminbird Products => Lakemaster AutoChart => Topic started by: Terrible45 on July 09, 2013, 05:03:34 AM
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Hi all,
Since the official announcement of the purchase of the software Dr Depth by Johnson Outdoor and the upcoming announcement of the application AutoChart Map LakeMaster is it something planned for those pollsters Humminbirds and which aren' t the U.S. versions, but of Humminbird Europe, Australia etc, and who uses map Navionics in a Humminbird sonar?
For the Humminbird sonar version "Cx", Can 't we be able to follow map contours with the pilot I Link ?
Xavier
(Sorry for my poor english school)
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Xavier,
Are you asking if the International unit users will be able to make their own maps using the AutoChart Map feature and use the i-Pilot Link to follow the contours of those maps?
I don’t know if anyone knows the answer to that yet. You may have to wait for additional announcements on this.
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Greg,
Yes is exaltly, with AutoChart or other software because with the international sonar Humminbird i don't have a map Lakemaster.
I have a I Pilot Link, ( for information in French a price is $ 1500,00 USD ) and i make very many essais, with many softwares, but map contour didnt' work or just with a file .hit create since a remote.
it is a shame for us to have hihg tech equipement and not being able to capitalize on the water.
Greg, you make a very good job on this forum , and me, i make a similaire on the official French Forum Humminbird but only by passion for the brand Humminbird and Minn Kota ...
Best regards
Xavier
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Humminbird's AutoChart should be available this coming Fall. Here is a link to more information about it.
http://www.lakemap.com/autochart/ (http://www.lakemap.com/autochart/)
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Surfin the net and found this video on AutoChart.
Took awhile for page to load.
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/ICAST13.html?ccode=HUMMIN13C (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/ICAST13.html?ccode=HUMMIN13C)
Mike
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:'( snif :'( snif :'(
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Anyone know if AutoChart will be able to use my data collected using Dr. Depth? I collected it on my 1197C. Mapping with Dr Depth has been the most important thing my HB sonar does. I've spent 3 years and hundreds of hours on the water mapping. Will be quite upset if I have to start over after giving up all my vacations for the last 3 years to map with Dr. Depth. I enjoyed the time on the lake in the snow, rain and on those beautiful days, but I don't think I can start all over again with HB!
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That's a bomb! Is it gonna be U.S. and Canada only?
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Mark 1000,
Sorry to hijack, but Mark needs to rest easy that he will not loose all his data.
I almost bought DrDepth and a week later is was sold (to Johnson Outdoors). Then I discovered ReefMaster which is so superior. It uses HD and Lowrance data, creates custom "user maps" of your favorite lakes to load into your HB, can add foreground and background overlays, and soon will view and add sonar (2D, DI, SI) image recordings and overlays.
I could go on for an hour, but you need to try their free full-featured two week trial. It will blow you away. I have only had ReefMaster since June and have mapped about 30 lakes for a fishing forum site and create user maps for local Search & Rescue agencies.
PS: I am in no way connected with ReefMaster, just an enthusiastic user who wants to share the possibilities.
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Reefmaster does appear to be superior in some regards. But for a humminbird owner, it doesn't appear that you can create a map card for your depthfinder. Maybe you can, and I just missed it, but I didn't seen it anywhere. If you can, please let me know and a screenshot would be nice.
You can export waypoints, and a couple contour lines as track files, but I'd prefer to create a lake map on a chip, just like a lakemaster chip, which is the big key Autochart offers. With autochart, I'll be able to create my own lakemaster chip.
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Commenter,
When you said "You can export waypoints, and a couple contour lines as track files,..." that is how you create your own "chip", by exporting track files. The chip is your lake map ("user map") which you load into your Hum minbird or Lowrance.
You should contact Matt at ReefMaster for more professional info. I have only recorded about 30 lakes and have all of them on SD cards as user maps. Matt can give you the best info.
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Okay, I have an email in to Reefmaster to see if they could send me some images.
My point was this though. It generates a map image (.png) which is positioned geographically for lowrance units.
To display a lake map on a Humminbird, you create contour maps as track files. This isn't really what I'm after. I'm not looking to import a bunch of track files to give me a "lake map". That would limit what you could save for boat tracks and other data, and I don't think it would display like I would want it to.
I'll see what kind of information they can send me back through email, and see what it'll look like though.
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Got a quick reply from Reefmaster, so here you go,
"Although ReefMaster works perfectly well with Humminbird sonar log and track files, there's no getting away from the fact that maps on Humminbird units do not look as good as they can on Lowrance. Unfortunately, Humminbird does not open up their internal map formats to external developers, so what we do is "fake" maps by creating contours out of tracks. These can look quite good, and can certainly convey enough information to location, areas, etc."
So, kind of like I presumed. I think I'd be happier with the maps that AutoChart will produce as far as viewing them on my Humminbird unit. Although Reefmaster would be able to do more on the PC computer.
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Says autochart can be used with 2 million lakes on the chip. Does anyone know if there is a list of lakes to see before you buy it? I bought the Navionics chip, but it only has 2 lakes in PA that are with in 2.5 hours of my house. I thought the autochart software sounded perfect but I don't want to buy it and find out none of the lakes I fish are on the chip. THANKS
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No list that I know of and with 2 million lakes I doubt there will be one.
The AutoChart chip only has zero outlines of the lakes. You can still make your own maps of lakes that do not have the zero lines. The zero line is where the water reaches the lakeshore.
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So I take it that it's a fill in the blank kind of thing. The outline may be there but to create a map you will need to add the data collected to map a usable map?
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Yes.
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Sounds good. Now I just need to find it in stock somewhere!!
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It's not shipping yet.....Last I heard was maybe in April.
You can still start saving recordings and run the mapping software when it is released.
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This might be a dumb question. When I make a recording, do I need to use a certain screen or that doesn't matter? I bought my 899 in January. I live in PA so all the lakes are still froze. Haven't been able to use it on water yet. I've been watching tons of videos learning how to use it. This web site has been a great help too!! Thanks
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It doesn't matter what screen you are viewing. The unit records the RAW data.
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Will the .DAT file be pulled into the program and add to the map?
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How much data can the zero line chip hold? Will you be able to purchase extra zero line chips if the first one gets full?
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Chill out people! Hard to answer questions on a product that isn't even available yet!
Sounds like it should be soon, and should be able to answer questions better when people have it in their hand.
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Camo that's the great thing about this forum, we have members on here that can answer some Q if not all. Every little bit helps understand it better.
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Patience young grasshopper ;)
I know some answers are available and have trickled out, and I have answered a lot of questions from other people on other forums about Humminbirds and Autochart. The thing is, there isn't a list of the "2 million lakes" yet. So all the questions like "will my backyard pond/lake/river/etc be one of the zero line lakes in Autochart, cannot be answered until there is a list published, or the Autochart program is released and we can look those up. But, with 2 million lakes, I would say 99% of all water bodies in the US and Canada will be on the program available for you to survey. I also read something, that if by chance a body of water is not on the program, there would be instructions of how to create your own zero line for a body of water... though do not quote me on that last part.
I haven't read yet what the storage capacity of the card will be, and maybe that answer is out there that someone can answer. But I did read, that you'd be able to store your maps and data in the program on your PC, and move those maps onto and off of the card if you have more areas than the card capacity would hold.
The point of my first post was that there are still a lot of questions about the program, that cannot be answered until we get closer to a release data of the program. And that the program isn't even available yet. Bass Pro and Cabela's have it on their websites, but list it as backordered. "Backordered" is misleading though, since the program hasn't even been made available yet. Essentially, they're trying to get you to 'pre-buy' the program.
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You can find the lakes covered in LakeMaster by going to the following link and enter your state and county. Unfortunately only two small lakes in this county are included and I never fish either of them.
[url]http://www.lakemap.com/Find-a-Lake/[/url] ([url]http://www.lakemap.com/Find-a-Lake/[/url])
Chuck, you are WAY off the mark here. The link you referred to lists the available lakes on their Lakemaster map chips. (The lakes they have already surveyed, put on map cards, and sell to the public).
Autochart is something totally different. Autochart is a PC software program, where YOU collect the depth data on ANY body of water, upload that data into the PC software, produce a map, and export that map onto the included SD card. You essentially create your very own lakemap chip. Autochart does not have a lake list out, but they've reported it includes shoreline data for over 2 million lakes in the US & Canada. I would think that should just about cover ever pond, puddle, river, and lake out there.
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Guess I misread that. Sounded like they had basic lake data included and you added to that with your own surveys. Apparently we will know soon. I have seen them advertised for pre-orders from a couple of sources.
I removed my previous post so as to not confuse others with it.
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For Autochart you will be able to do all just from your data, and get your map on your Humminbird GPS. Don't need extra data from other source.
I cannot tell more.
Go on making your onw data and wait the launch day!
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Guess I misread that. Sounded like they had basic lake data included and you added to that with your own surveys.
Chuck, you're not too far off now. The "Zero Depth Card" as they call it does have shoreline data preloaded as base data to start with. Then, yes, you collect sonar data by doing your own boat surveying to add enough data to generate your own maps.
The part that you were off on to begin with, was referring to the lake list. There is not a lake list out yet for Autochart. They have said it includes millions of water bodies, but could you imagine giving a list of over 2 million water bodies. I think that is pretty inconceivable.
The lake list on Lakemaster's website, refers to the list of lakes on the Lakemaster cards they sell, not the Autochart program.
Hope that helps with the confusion.
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Has Lakemaster come out with a release date for Autochart? Anybody heard of anything?
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Not Yet.......Maybe Greg can tell us if it will be SOON....
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Not Yet.......Maybe Greg can tell us if it will be SOON....
A quick internet search brought out these references to me. Product looks great, but date is quite obviously somewhat nebulous. Official statements from HBird last year promised it "in the fall of this year." (2013) Bass Pro, Cabelas, and Sportsman's Guide today show it in their online advertisements. Of the three, only Cabellas indicated on the primary screen it was a "backorderable" product with expected shipment in "2 - 3 weeks". The other two don't give you a clue it is not yet available unless it is on their screens after you commit to purchase it.
Eric Haataja with Bill Carson Announcement at ICAST last year- (Jul 12, 2013) "Everything you can do with LakeMaster charts you can do with the chart you produced with AutoChart"
Lakemaster Autochart: ICast 2013 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibpKJCB8me4#ws)
Bill Carson - Humminbird Marketing Products Mgr - Aug 11, 2013 New Product Announcement. - "Coming out in the fall of THIS YEAR" (Well, missed that one)
LakeMaster AutoChart 2013 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M6746fKB-8#ws)
Bass Pro Shops Add for Autochart
https://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-LakeMaster-AutoChart-or-AutoChart-Pro/product/1309161254/ (https://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-LakeMaster-AutoChart-or-AutoChart-Pro/product/1309161254/)
Cabellas, "Backorderable, Estimated Ship Date in 2 - 3 weeks"
http://www.cabelas.com/product/LAKEMASTER-AUTOCHART/1728308.uts (http://www.cabelas.com/product/LAKEMASTER-AUTOCHART/1728308.uts)
Sportsman's Guide Lists for $249.99 with no mention of current nonavailability.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/lakemaster-autochart-pro-pc-so.aspx?a=1579870 (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/lakemaster-autochart-pro-pc-so.aspx?a=1579870)
If the two YouTube videos leave you short of breath and drooling on your shirt, you can go ahead and preorder your copy today! As for me, I am going crappie fishing. Announcements for whoop-di-do products are often premature. This one is at least six months overdue according to their announcement as recently as only nine months ago. Hope it is available in 2 - 3 weeks as Cabellas expects cause I want to hear some reports from actual users on real lakes.
Meanwhile I will also be looking at Reefmaster that does the same thing and is not currently in the class of "vaporware".
Hope these links are helpful.
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Well, Reefmaster is a good product........but does far from the same thing.
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"Backorderable" at all three retailers. Pre-ordering...
I've looked into Reefmaster, and they are not able to produce the same type of quality lake map that autochart will be able to on Humminbird units. On Humminbird units, they have to sort of 'fake' a lake map, by creating the contours with a bunch of boat tracks. It's not what I'm looking for, quality-wise. Navionics SonarCharts is a little better, but I'm not about to send them a bunch of MY lake survey data, so that THEY can sell more maps and make more money with the improved data I send them. So I'm holding out for Autochart.
See the screenshots for the "pre-order" retailers:
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Is there any indication at those retailers if the Zero Line Card can be purchased separately...??
Rickie
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Highly doubt it. But we'll have to wait and see. I would bet JUST the card, would still cost you $100-$150, if it even was a purchase option down the road.
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Not Yet.......Maybe Greg can tell us if it will be SOON....
Bob B, I’m a good boy and won’t use that four-letter word!
Sorry guys, no official word on a release date as of today.
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Bob B, I’m a good boy and won’t use that four-letter word!
Sorry guys, no official word on a release date as of today.
You must be trying to clean up your vocabulary :)
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Just came home with Autochart Pro from the Minnesota Sports Show. I guess it's out!!!
-Cory
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Just came home with Autochart Pro from the Minnesota Sports Show. I guess it's out!!!
-Cory
Just came home with Autochart Pro from the Minnesota Sports Show. I guess it's out!!!
-Cory
You know what that means.......now you have to give us some reports on it. :)
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That's gonna be tough...still 2-3 feet of ice on the lakes! So nothing to report so far!
-Cory
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Do you have any recordings?
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cory
can u tell us what vendor you purchased it from?? or was it direct from HB lakemaster??
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Purchased it from Thorne. They had a bunch left as we were walking out. Not sure of the whole name, just that it was Thorne. Hope that helps.
Bob, I have no recordings from last year that I could find. I just got the Unit last year so either I deleted them or they never got recorded.
-Cory
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My guess is it was this business.
http://www.thornebros.com/shop/pc/home.asp (http://www.thornebros.com/shop/pc/home.asp)
Phone number is near top of home page.
Mike
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I am thinking you are right, but I could 't find it on that website. I would call them.
-Cory
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Look what I got from Little Falls, MN. today:
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk165/Humminbird_greg/AutoChartProBox.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Humminbird_greg/media/AutoChartProBox.jpg.html)
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk165/Humminbird_greg/StuffinAutoChartProbox.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Humminbird_greg/media/StuffinAutoChartProbox.jpg.html)
Now I just need the time to install it on my computer at home... maybe this weekend.
Anyone have any Sonar Recordings or Tracks that they would like converted to a partial lake map? I lost all of mine when my external harddrive crashed.
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greg can u post link to where u oredered from ? i need one !!!
ds
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Since he said Little Falls, MN, I'm guessing he got it direct from Lakemaster.
Thorne Bros reportedly sold them at the sport show in MN last weekend, but they don't have them on their website yet. Might be able to call them and get one.
Otherwise, Cabela's says they're estimated to ship in 0-1 weeks. So I'm thinking they'll be shipping them soon.
*Edit*
Both Cabela's & Bass Pro both show AutoChart basic as in-stock and available for purchase NOW!
AutoChart Pro still shows as shipping SOON!
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Yep, it shipped direct from LakeMaster.
I bought mine through work (Humminbird) but that does not mean that I received mine before anyone else. When we buy JOI products; it gets entered in just like anyone else’s order and will get shipped when they get to our order. I ordered mine about a week ago (my Wife ordered a new PC game for one of my Sons, so I thought I should get to order something too!) and really did not expect it so soon. So this shows that the AutoChart software is shipping. Mine is AutoChart Pro North America.
I did get it loaded last night, found the manual but have not went through the demo yet. I spoke with two locals here who will be saving sonar recordings and tracks for me to add to a map.
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greg
just looked at both lakemaster and HB sites cant find a link or popup to order Autocharts?? do you have a bookmark to site to order from?
would probably be easier if lakemaster/HB just did a press release to announce its rollin out and where for everyone??
DS
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I don’t think that you will see it for sale on the Humminbird web site until the backorders are cleared out. I don’t even know what retailers are selling it.
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Is it true that in order to get Autochart to work on my 1198 or 998 I need to wait for a software update to allow it? I saw a posting on Facebook about it from Jason Halfen. It was about the xxx9 series but it got me wondering. Can anyone confirm this?
-Cory
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I have a 788ci hd di, will it be updated to work with autochart?
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http://www.bbcboards.net/humminbird-sonar-gps/447633-lake-master-auto-chart-3.html (http://www.bbcboards.net/humminbird-sonar-gps/447633-lake-master-auto-chart-3.html)
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Wow, so the 700 series isn't even going to be supported. Ouch.
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It is my understanding that the unit will need a software update to be able to display the maps you make with AutoChart. Until your unit receives that update you can still be collecting and making the map(s) you will use.
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It is my understanding that the unit will need a software update to be able to display the maps you make with AutoChart. Until your unit receives that update you can still be collecting and making the map(s) you will use.
Will the 788ci HD DI be receiving an update to support AutoChart?
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I do not know. I have not seen a list of units that will or will not work with the AutoChart maps.
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Greg,
Have you gotten any raw data to play with yet? I had some on my 1198 but they are exported as .hit files and I think the program looks for .ht files. I will mess around more tonight. We need this ice to go away so we can get on the lakes !
-Cory
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No, no data yet Cory but then I’ve been busy all weekend so would not have been able to get to it if I did have any. A couple of local guys here said they would start saving me sonar recordings but I will have to show them how (and probably provide the SD cards) first. That may delay any data from them for a few weeks.
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I just recorded 5 data runs of 15 minutes apiece that I was going to send to Doc Samson and I forgot to pull my cards out of my unit when I came home (boat stays at cabin).. Im bummed..
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That's ok, we still have 2ft of ice!
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Looks like I'll get my program in the mail today. I think I've got a few sonar recordings I can play around with tonight.
Hopefully I can share some screenshots later this week.
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Camo.
All of the recordings I did on Friday were the basin area at Big Bend Dam. Had done it previously with Dr Depth, but wanted to redo it after the flooding/opening of the overflow.
Not sure when Lakemaster was there, but that chip looked pretty good for the basin area, when I ran it on Saturday..
R
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I called the other day about support for the 798 ci si. It's a non hd model and was told by the lady from humminbird that it was supported.
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I called the other day about support for the 798 ci si. It's a non hd model and was told by the lady from humminbird that it was supported.
"Is" or "Will be" I wonder. I believe you need a firmware update to support Autochart and the release dates for non x99 units are... less than ideal, with the 7xx series not even on the roadmap as of yet.
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All of the recordings I did on Friday were the basin area at Big Bend Dam. Had done it previously with Dr Depth, but wanted to redo it after the flooding/opening of the overflow.
Not sure when Lakemaster was there, but that chip looked pretty good for the basin area, when I ran it on Saturday..
I called lakemaster a while back, after the 2011 flood year. They did a lot of their surveying on the reservoirs in 2011 because the water was high, which helped them with surveying the entire lake. I'm guessing they did the Big Bend tailwater about that same time. From my experience with Navionics and Lakemaster for the South Dakota region, lakemaster is the better chip to have. Lakemaster is VERY accurate in the Dakotas, so you comment about the Big Bend area doesn't surprise me.
I've got some sonar recordings below Ft Randall Dam, which isn't on any of the map chips. That will be the benefit of autochart. So hopefully I can play around with those this week sometime and report back.
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Camo.
I also have Lakemasters and Navionics chips. I agree, the Lakemaster is considerably better on Case than the Navionics, but the Navionics is very good on Sharpe (as is the Lakemaster) . I typically run my Lakemaster in my 1198 on the bow to drive the Link, but with my slower 1197 on the dash, I run the Navionics.
Im still trying to figure out all the colors on the Lakemasters. With my Navionincs, I just highlight 15 feet and fish. :)
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You are right. I called again about the 798 non hd model and was told that the software upgrade for those units wouldn't be available until July. Glad I called again to confirm because I was about to order it. Really sucks for those of us with the smaller models.
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It's not just the smaller units....it is any of the pre-2014 units......You are right, it does suck.
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It does suck, and I'm with you. Newest unit I have is the 998c HD SI. Looks like that will come be compatible around July. But, in the meantime, I will be able to make sonar recordings and view maps on the PC program. Then as soon as they release the update in July, the unit should be able to read the map chip I've created at that point.
Hopefully...
I was extremely bummed out though, to find out it wasn't just plug & play like were were led to believe initially. They way they initially made it sound, it was just like a lakemaster chip and any unit that could read a lakemaster chip it would work in. Now we have to wait for a unit update...
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Maybe they will have any software update bugs worked out by then..
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So what's the best way to record data for future use with Autochart? This will be my first year with my 788 and I'm not familiar with the record feature yet.
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I have an 898 and I understand I have to wait for the update to be able to use the autochart pro. I was told yesterday by Humminbird tech support that the firmware update should be released in about 6 weeks. The real question I had was if I buy the program now can i use my existing sd card to record my lake and then run it on my pc with Autochart and create maps on my pc, then when my unit gets the update load the map i created on the zero line card and use the map on the unit. She told me I had to record on the zero line card in order to do that which i cannot do until my unit is updated. I keep seeing post where people are recording data now in hopes of using it after the firmware updates. Has anyone tried to create a map using their existing card with any success?
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I have an 898 and I understand I have to wait for the update to be able to use the autochart pro. I was told yesterday by Humminbird tech support that the firmware update should be released in about 6 weeks. The real question I had was if I buy the program now can i use my existing sd card to record my lake and then run it on my pc with Autochart and create maps on my pc, then when my unit gets the update load the map i created on the zero line card and use the map on the unit. She told me I had to record on the zero line card in order to do that which i cannot do until my unit is updated. I keep seeing post where people are recording data now in hopes of using it after the firmware updates. Has anyone tried to create a map using their existing card with any success?
Mike, I was told by Doc Samson (Dr Sonar, and technical assistant to Dr Depth programmer) that Auto Charts would be able to take any previously recorded date, and convert it to a map on the Zero Line card. He also told me that I could record new data on a SD card, and import it into Auto Chart and make a map also. I am meeting Doc out at Chamberlain next week to take my recorded data and he is going to build a map with Auto Charts Pro as a demonstration for the Scheels training he is doing.
I am only going by what he told me. All of my other recorded data that I used with Dr Depth, was recorded on a Lowrance 520. This is my first time recording with a Humminbird 1198. We'll see how it goes. Will know more next week..
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Thanks for the info, I am going to order it today and hope for the best. Worst case is i will have to wait 6 weeks. I have waited 9 months so 6 weeks will not be so bad.
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"I have the pro and the .drd files from DrDepth can be imported into AutoChart also."
This is from an email from Doc also so it looks like anything that was done for Dr Depth can be used also.
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I’ve traded e-mail with the programmer himself and yes, you can record data now – without the Zero Line card – and use it to build your own maps using AutoChart. Previously recorded sonar can also be used. Tracks may also be used.
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So what's the best way to record data for future use with Autochart? This will be my first year with my 788 and I'm not familiar with the record feature yet.
Are you asking how to make a Sonar Recording or how to survey an area for the best map data?
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So what's the best way to record data for future use with Autochart? This will be my first year with my 788 and I'm not familiar with the record feature yet.
Heres my sonar log trails when I did a recording on a Lowrance 520. I forgot to save a screencapture from Friday with my 1198. I did these about 4 mph.
(http://photos.imageevent.com/okoboji_images/hummingbirdsideimaging/websize/dd.jpg)
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I would like to see some maps made with the side scan mosaic option. Seems like you could get a lot more coverage with it versus the 2d sonar. I think my unit shoots up to 150ft both sides.
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You can get side image picture mosaic out that far, but no depth information for making maps. Depth information is only collected under the boat.
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Are you asking how to make a Sonar Recording or how to survey an area for the best map data?
Both, I suppose!
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Both, I suppose!
The survey I posted above..
As far as finding the recording tab, push menu twice. Scroll over to the far right and when in the screen that you turn the screencapture on and off with. When on that screen, push your menu button and there will be a tab that says Start Recording. Push that, and then from there, you can view any other screen you want. I record about 15 minutes per run, and then stop and restart recording again. That way if you have something corrupt your data, youre not out the whole area if you record the whole thing.
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Alright, so I was able to get Autochart installed last night and play around with it for a little bit.
From my quick use, it will take a little bit of a learning curve to become familiar with the program. But, this program can do a LOT of stuff!
For those of you wondering what you can import, I've attached a screenshot after I clicked import. You can import data from old Humminbird tracks (.ht), Humminbird sonar recordings (.dat or .son), old Dr. Depth files (.drd), Google Earth Files (.kml). I pulled in some Humminbird tracks I saved in July of 2010 even. So you certainly can start saving any sonar recordings or track files you want to use later on, before you own the program.
I was going to also include one of the help manuals, the "Getting Started" manual. But it is 3.4MB, and I'm limited to 3.0MB for attachments here. The "Getting Started" manual will answer quite a few of the simple questions, if I can figure out a way to post it.
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Alright, so I was able to get Autochart installed last night and play around with it for a little bit.
From my quick use, it will take a little bit of a learning curve to become familiar with the program. But, this program can do a LOT of stuff!
For those of you wondering what you can import, I've attached a screenshot after I clicked import. You can import data from old Humminbird tracks (.ht), Humminbird sonar recordings (.dat or .son), old Dr. Depth files (.drd), Google Earth Files (.kml). I pulled in some Humminbird tracks I saved in July of 2010 even. So you certainly can start saving any sonar recordings or track files you want to use later on, before you own the program.
I was going to also include one of the help manuals, the "Getting Started" manual. But it is 3.4MB, and I'm limited to 3.0MB for attachments here. The "Getting Started" manual will answer quite a few of the simple questions, if I can figure out a way to post it.
Feel free to email it to me, I might be able to save it in a more compressed format to post.
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CamoHunter,
I agree with you, there will be a learning curve but there are a lot of powerful tools in this program. I was going to post the "Getting Started" instructions as well but ran into the same problem with the 3.0MB limit. I then tried to find a link to the manual on-line but as of yet have not found one. With the limited time I have had with this and only 1 .ht file to play with of my own, it's going to take a bit to get familiar. Did you read about the Follow the contour section? I am hoping there is a select all contour lines for this option as I really don't want to select each line I might possibly want to follow.
Also, have you registered your copy yet? I have been having problems with this as the serial number is not recognized as a valid Humminbird Product number. I may just be in the wrong section, not sure yet.
-Cory
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Okay, I think I got it. Here is the Autochart "Getting Started" manual.
I also attached the "User Manual" which has more in-depth details.
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Did you read about the Follow the contour section? I am hoping there is a select all contour lines for this option as I really don't want to select each line I might possibly want to follow.
Goosedwnr, I'm not sure what you're referring to. I didn't see any "follow the contour" section. Are you by chance confusing it with the "Creating contour lines or marking features with tracks" section on page 18? If so, that is something different. That allows you to export contour lines and bottom features as track files (.ht).
That actually raises a good point. For those of you wanting to create custom maps before the unit updates come out to use the zerolines sd card on your unit, this would be a round about way of doing that. You would export your contour lines as track files to any SD card, and be able to see your lake contours as track files (essentially the same way Reefmaster does it).
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Which type of file is best to use for Autochart, track files or sonar log files?
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A couple other items I found that are interesting:
If for some reason there isn't a shoreline for a body of water you're interested in mapping, it looks like you could create your own shoreline.
Like the old Dr. Depth, there is an option for live mapping of data. For instance, you have a laptop on your boat, hooked up to the depthfinder by an ethernet cord or NMEA0183.
You can draw custom itracks for your trolling motor to follow.
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Which type of file is best to use for Autochart, track files or sonar log files?
Sonar log files are best. Because they include sonar data which is necessary for bottom hardness. It also records side imaging if you have a side imaging unit. Autochart Pro is needed for bottom hardness and side imaging mosaic.
If saving a Humminbird track file, it recommends changing the track point interval to 1 second. I can't remember what the default is, 5 seconds maybe?
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Sonar log files are best. Because they include sonar data which is necessary for bottom hardness. It also records side imaging if you have a side imaging unit. Autochart Pro is needed for bottom hardness and side imaging mosaic.
If saving a Humminbird track file, it recommends changing the track point interval to 1 second. I can't remember what the default is, 5 seconds maybe?
[/quote
Just to make sure I understand correctly, track files contain only gps and depth info, while sonar recordings contain gps, depth, bottom hardness, and side imaging info, correct?
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Exactly. Track files just contain a whole lot of points, sort of like a breadcrumb trail of Lat, Long, Depth points.
Sonar recordings contain all raw data from the transducer (all position data, all depth data, all sonar data, etc).
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Thanks for the tips! Now if we can just get rid of this blasted ice! Snow in the forecast tonight...
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has anyone tried sidescan mosaic yet?
i wonder if any improvement from drdepth days have been made?
with old software u had to be quite precise with scan lines so as not to have sharp turns in data and or too much overlap of data as it would detract from image quality....lots even used other software to edit tracks/data (ie ) sonar trx etc.
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I haven't. I just played with my program for about an hour last night.
It makes sense though, that if you want a quality sidescan mosaic, that you would want to be pretty precise with straight line boat runs parallel to each other.
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The AutoChart manuals are on-line but you have to look under the product listing itself. Not sure how long they have been there as I did not think to look for them there. I have asked that get added to the operations manual page. Here is a link to the manuals for the AutoChart North American Pro version:
http://www.humminbird.com/Products/AUTOCHART-PRO-N-AM/ (http://www.humminbird.com/Products/AUTOCHART-PRO-N-AM/)
Registering your AutoChart on the Humminbird web site is not up and running yet, so just sit tight on that.
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Thanks for the info Greg! I will refrain from looking and trying to figure out why it doesn't work for a while!
-Cory
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I have a question.
I Pilot Link use a file .hit and since 1 years i waiting to use my i pilot link of the contour line.
Now autochart is compatible with this extented ? Is possible to create a map in autochart and use my I pilot link contour on the water ?
sorry for my very bad english
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That is what they are advertising. However, You will need an update for your 998 before it will work with autochart. Notes in the update release say it will not be until July for the xx8 units. The track record on this kind of thing is not one you can count on. Bob
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Terrible45,
Yes, you will be able to use "follow the contour" feature with the ipilot Link like you would with a typical Lakemaster map.
Also, in the program you can draw a custom line and save them as iTrack (.hit) files. So you could essentially draw any sort of line you want, for your trolling motor to follow while on the water.
I believe there are ways to use some of these features before the update for the units to use the autochart sd card come out. For example, track files and iPilot iTracks would work whether they are on the zerolines SD card, or any generic SD card you picked up from a retail store.
You can export depth contour lines as track files. Put them on any SD card, and the depth contours would appear as track files on your Humminbird.
I believe you can export iPilot itracks the same way.
Don't quote me on that until I try it out, but I'm pretty sure that will work, while we wait for the software updates to roll out for the XX8 series depthfinders.
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Hello everybody,
Good news from the Netherlands, today I received my AutoChart Pro with the European Zero lines map card.
At this time I have installed it on my home PC and on the onboard notebook.
My data/records from DrDepth en the Humminbirdfile can be loaded easily. The same goes for the side Imaging records for using mozaiek.
With the package I received a schedule for the new software updates;
- 21 april 2014: 1199CI HD SI, 999CI HD SI, 899CI HD SI, 1159CI HD DI, 959CI HD DI, 859CI HD Di, 1159CI HD, 959CI HD, 859CI HD
- 1 may 2014: Onix
- 5 may 2014: 600 series
- 14 may 2014: 1198C HD SI, 998C HD SI, 898C HD SI
- 26 may 2014: 1158C HD DI, 958C HD DI, 858C HD DI
I thought I should share this information with you.
Kind regards,
Bert
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Still no official word on the 700 series?
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Not that I have heard.
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Great news, Bert
Can clarify coverage the European Zero lines. Desirable screenshot
Thanks
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I can clarify, that if your lake isn't covered, you can create your own shoreline data to use. It contains instructions how to do it in the manual.
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Hello Navionic,
2 snapshot's from AutoChart Pro.
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No dates on the pre-HD **8's. Hmmm. That sucks.
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I was told June or July when I called the other day for my 798.
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Guys,
Made my first Map yesterday with this software. For the most part it seems pretty easy. We went through a learning curve on how fast you can go. We recorded sonar data to get bottom hardness and the SI mosaic. That meant we went around 5-6MPH to record it. I gotta say, finding he bottom hardness of the lake is amazing. We were seeing fish in the spots that showed up as harder bottom areas. That is pretty convincing. The SI mosaic is less impressive in my opinion. Recording for the SI Mosaic is going to take some practice to not overlap. Being able to see the lake in 3D when finished brings a whole new look to lakes I have been fishing for years.
Couple questions for the guys that have been mapping for a while. What speeds have you found to be the the best for getting good accurate readings? What spacing from your last track are you doing for your coverage? Coverage of the 2D sonar is where I get hazy. I can't visualize the area of coverage in my head yet. I know I will have more questions, but that is all for now! Seems to be a great program!
-Cory
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That software release list from RedBad is quite interesting.
I wonder if the exclusion of any XX7 units means that they will not be supported, or that the releases of all the newer units is such a big job that they don't want to give any ETA for older units.
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That software release list from RedBad is quite interesting.
I wonder if the exclusion of any XX7 units means that they will not be supported, or that the releases of all the newer units is such a big job that they don't want to give any ETA for older units.
That's a good question. An official list of all of the units that will support Autochart would go a long way in clearing up the murky mess Humminbird is leaving users of their older units in.
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This kind of thing is probably why "the other guys" just call a unit obsolete. When you add a new feature, there are getting to be a LOT of models to make that update to.
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Here is the lake that was mapped on Sunday. Contours with the bottom hardness overlay.
-Cory
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So the deepest part of the lake is also has the hardest bottom?
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That's what it looks like to me. I can confirm that the areas on the outside that show that they are harder are indeed correct. I may take a push pole out next time and check some of the shallow areas next time. I may be reading the bottom hardness wrong, but I was under the impression that the warmer areas were the hardest returns.
-Cory
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That's what I understand too Cory.
The little gauge on the lower right hand corner shows the same thing.
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Seems like an odd phenomena as you would expect the lighter particulates to settle and not be disrupted as much in the deeper parts of the lake.
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You can change the color palatte for bottom hardness also. There are about 5 palettes to pick from, or you can use your own custom. I was playing around with 3D and bottom hardness on my program last night.
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Very thanks Bert for your retourn on this aplication.
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That's what I understand too Cory.
The little gauge on the lower right hand corner shows the same thing.
Greg, I know I read in the Manual that you can calibrate the hardness, but I haven't been able to figure that out yet. You can also calibrate placement of the Gps puck relative to the ducer by measureing how many cm the puck or unit is from the transducer to get the most accurate readings. Finer points to be tweaked!
-Cory
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Greg, I know I read in the Manual that you can calibrate the hardness, but I haven't been able to figure that out yet. You can also calibrate placement of the Gps puck relative to the ducer by measureing how many cm the puck or unit is from the transducer to get the most accurate readings. Finer points to be tweaked!
-Cory
Also, the angle at which your transducer is pointing makes a difference. Maybe not so much in 5-10ft of water, but the deeper you go, the more this would become an issue. For example, if you were going back and forth over a hump, and your transducer is pointing somewhat forward, the transducer would read that hump sooner and drop off sooner going one direction. Then when you go across it the other direction, it would read sooner from the other side.
Hope that makes sense...
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Greg, I know I read in the Manual that you can calibrate the hardness, but I haven't been able to figure that out yet. You can also calibrate placement of the Gps puck relative to the ducer by measureing how many cm the puck or unit is from the transducer to get the most accurate readings. Finer points to be tweaked!
-Cory
I was waiting for some on water data from our lake here before I started playing with the program Cory, so I haven’t tried that yet.
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Still no official word on the 700 series?
i emailed deb directly and had her answer on BBC
New One, We do intend to support the 798ci HD SI with AutoChart but we do not have a firm release date at this time. Our plan is to have it available by the end of August but again, this is a tentative date, not a firm date.
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Looking for more specific information on the differences between using recorded data vs. live data to create maps. The use manual elaborates on the use of live data to include SI and 360 mosaics, but makes no mention about that for recorded data. How does that work?
Has anyone used live data? I am going to get started this weekend and thinking of getting laptop to the boat, if the "AS CE CHART" cable arrives in time.
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Pyma6,
I have not used "live data" yet, but have messed around with the side imaging mosaic. You can load it into your map with the side imaging settings in the program. I used the replay si option on my maps and watched the images load up as the replay progressed. Recording for a good mosaic has eluded me so far as I have trouble keeping from overlapping and skewing the picture.
Where did you get your AE CHART cable from? Are they around $50-$60? I want to pick one up at some point.
-Cory
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there are 2 ways to get live data nema for 2d map and ethernet will show sidescan mosaic live...
if you do a search on this forum for DR Depth ... etc there is plenty of good info right here
there are even DIY and pics of the cables you will need ...not that hard i made my own
and yes with sidescan it is dissicult to get good overlay as you need to be precise with the path u use to collect data,
u must have no sharp turns and keep each path as straight as possible...
search the forum you will be suprised as to the amount of info on DRDepth whish is basically same program
DS
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Amazon sells the "EC CHART" cable through iP CAMERA STORE. True, you can make your own by taking a spare EC xxE ethernet cable, cut one end and install a RJ45 connector per CAT5/6 wire color code specification. You will need a RJ45 crimper tool. Also, provided that Humminbird has complied to this same specification in their EC xxE cables.
I'll look into the info on SI mosaics in this forum. But, as stated by others, I see the most useful information coming from accurate depth maps and bottom hardness detail. BTW, I fish for walleye and crappie at a relatively shallow lake - Pymatuning, PA/OH.
How do you guys anticipate correcting/calibrating for varying lake depth? I envision adding detail to my maps as the season progresses, while water level is changing. At the moment, my lake is high but by summer could drop 6-8 feet out of 30-35 feet. How about setting a waypoint and measuring depth there each time new data are recorded? For me, could be at the mooring spot.
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pyma6
I agree with you on the depth/hardness info on that lake. With so much of the lake being the same or gradual depth change, a mosaic might not
be the best use of your time. I just hope you don't stumble onto "secret spot".
Mike
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i agree neat pics on sidescan but laboir intensive the bottom harsdess module will be more useful....
ps additional zeroline cards are now available on lakemap.com $99
ds
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I read through the manual someone linked here and am not seeing any way to export any of the data. I'm looking at Reefmaster but am not entirely happy with how it interpolates so much. This program looks amazing with the hardness and 1ft contour mapping. I just need a way to get the data out and into my mapping programs so I can do analysis with it.
Anyone know if there will ever be export functions such as out to ESRI grids? Even exporting the contours would be nice.
Thanks.
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Xyian,
You can control how much Reefmaster interpolates, down to a 25m minimum distance and also adjust the map grid smoothing down if you are losing too much detail. From my experience with DrDepth (which is almost identical to Autochart), you won't get significantly different results than ReefMaster with the same data; if the data is not there, then you can interpolate between the data that is, or choose not to if you prefer to have a blank spot.
Matt
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I read through the manual someone linked here and am not seeing any way to export any of the data. I'm looking at Reefmaster but am not entirely happy with how it interpolates so much. This program looks amazing with the hardness and 1ft contour mapping. I just need a way to get the data out and into my mapping programs so I can do analysis with it.
Anyone know if there will ever be export functions such as out to ESRI grids? Even exporting the contours would be nice.
Thanks.
Autochart is done doing map for Humminbird, Reefmaster is more open to send your data to other soft or get data from other mark of sounder.
If your log your collect are good you normaly get the same result!
The best is to get the both soft!!
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Autochart is done doing map for Humminbird, Reefmaster is more open to send your data to other soft or get data from other mark of sounder.
If your log your collect are good you normaly get the same result!
The best is to get the both soft!!
HUH? What?
Here's what I think you were trying to say, but it was pretty confusing....
I think you were trying to say that AutoChart is now a Humminbird software program, and only compatible with Humminbirds.
Whereas Reefmaster is more open and can accept a variety of data recordings from different brand depthfinders.
As long as you collect your data well, you get he same result whether using Humminbird's AutoChart or using Reefmaster software. So in your opinion Reefmaster is better because you can use it with more brands of data.
Here's my side comments though. Since Humminbird made the decision to make their map display data propietary, and not share the code to others, that their software is the only software that can truly display custom maps as a true background map.
As I mentioned earlier, Reefmaster is only able to produce custom maps for Humminbirds by producing a bunch of humminbird gps tracks. That is what steers me to AutoChart. I want to create a map chip that I can put into my unit with TRUE maps displayed on it. NOT a bunch of tracks.
That is just my opinion and preference though.
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Yes Camohunter, sorry for my English I'm french! ;D
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could be nice if Humminbird can do a multibean sonar as the 3D MATRIX paramoud to get time to produce map in great area! They have the tranducers, just need a black box with ethernet
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Loaded my Zero lines card in my 1158 last weekend. Still ice here only to find that half my waypoints show on dry land. Lakes are in Saskatchewan Canada, anyone else notice this problem.
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They used data from OpenStreetMap data. So if the shoreline data was off from their source, it won't show correctly on the zerolines sd card. Not to fret, you have the ability to create your own shoreline data and use yours instead of the default OpenStreetMap data. Just a setting you'll have to change and some shoreline data you'll likely have to draw in Google Earth to pull into AutoChart.
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yup same problem for me in Saskatchewan too ..
open street map not very accurate i just made my own with google earth and import into autocharts
can be a bit time consuming depending on how detailed you make it,
remember to zoom in as much as possible when u make your own background
ps if u used to use DRDEpth u can import backfrounds from there...
DS
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Has anyone else run across this yet?
http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf (http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf)
It appears to provide a way to use maps that were created with Autochart on Humminbird Sonar devices that haven't been updated with Autochart support yet.
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Nope, I haven’t seen that yet… Anyone want to send me some sonar files so I can make a map and test this with?
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While I'm thinking about it (because I have repeatedly forgotten about it):
If any of you have not registered your AutoChart purchase yet on the Humminbird web site, you should be able to do so now but there is a bit of a twist: instead of the serial number you enter the activation code to register it with. The serial number from these would not work in our registration system.
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greg ,
i can send u a few after work today....what email adress works??
u can pm me with info for files :)
ds
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Thanks Dave, you can just send them to my Humminbird e-mail address:
gwalters@johnsonoutdoors.com
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Has anyone else run across this yet?
[url]http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf[/url] ([url]http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf[/url])
It appears to provide a way to use maps that were created with Autochart on Humminbird Sonar devices that haven't been updated with Autochart support yet.
I would like to know this also. Hopefully this means I could record maps and display them on my old 798
Has anyone else run across this yet?
[url]http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf[/url] ([url]http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf[/url])
It appears to provide a way to use maps that were created with Autochart on Humminbird Sonar devices that haven't been updated with Autochart support yet.
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I just posted this file to the Downloads section.
Haven't tried it yet but from the read it looks like it would allow any unit that can normally use a Humminbird-LakeMaster map card to display a map made using the AutoChart program. I received a message about it yesterday but there were not any more details than that.
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I tried it yesterday and it does work !
That's very good news !
Ben
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Which unit did you try it with Ben?
We need screen shots man!
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Which unit did you try it with Ben?
We need screen shots man!
I tried it on my 998 SI HD. I could also try it on 788 HD and 958 HD. I will try posting screenshots tomorrow morning.
Ben
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Cool, thanks Ben!
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Which unit did you try it with Ben?
We need screen shots man!
Here you go !
It does work on both my 958 HD and 998 HD but not on my 788 CXI HD (Keep loading the charts)
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/BenCour/1_zps0283ea5c.png)
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/BenCour/2_zpsfafdd365.png)
and on my 958 HD
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/BenCour/3_zps2ddd2c71.png)
Cheers,
Ben
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Does anyone know if this works on the older 798 ci si. The non hd model?
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Tried again this morning with my 788 CXI HD and it worked !
(http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/BenCour/4_zpsfd051a70.png)
Cheers,
Ben
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Thank you so much for posting this information. I was able to get the map I was making up and loaded on my 1198. Very happy!
It didn't come without frustration. I couldn't create my map without a constant error asking me to select the units, but no "ok" button to hit. I have to run the program as an administrator. I am using Windows 7, 64 bit for others who may encounter this.
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Cool stuff..... ;D
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Here is the lake that was mapped on Sunday. Contours with the bottom hardness overlay.
Cory, by chance did you boat faster across the deep portion of the lake? I have noticed my bottom hardness overlay, is affected by how fast I operate my boat. For example, when boating from the ramp to a fishing spot, it doesn't show bottom hardness accurately.
Just curious, thanks!
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CamoHunter,
Yes I have noticed this as well. I have Mapped another larger lake in my area and decided to test how it reads at different speeds. If I map at a higher speed I definitely get a weaker bottom hardness reading of the bottom, which makes sense. When I map at a higher speed, which is usually around 22-25 mph I get different readings then when I map at 6-7mph. In the Manual it talks about mapping for fishing or mapping for making a lake map (Not in those words). I decided that I would map the part of the lake I would normally not fish at a higher speed so I at least get the depth changes and could use the data to fill in the rest of the lake. As I was doing that I noticed that the Bottom Hardness data was different then if I was traveling at a lower rate of speed.
I have also been messing around with the Live Mapping Feature which can show you in Real Time what the Bottom Hardness is as well as the Depth Contours. I find it much easier to create a complete map if I know where the spots I am missing are in Real Time. For Bottom Hardness if the water is clear I can see what the bottom looks like and compare that to what shade of hardness is showing on AutoChart. Still a lot to learn about this program!!
-Cory
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To AutoChart Pro users
Is it possible to load the old data (txt or csv) to AutoCharts?
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Not sure what data you're talking about. I'm guessing you have a .txt(text file) or .csv(comma separated values) with Lat, Long, & Depth. You should be able to take that data, and convert it to a .ht(Humminbird Track) file. You may have to use separate software to accomplish that, such as GPS Babel.
But once it is in .ht format, then YES, you can import that data into AutoCharts. I've been able to import saved Humminbird tracks from fishing trips taken over three years ago just fine.
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Thank you. I have a lot of data collected with Lowrance for a few years, most of them are saved as txt or similar format. So, now I need to redo my charts for new Humminbird system. As, I understood you - the only format to import data into AutoChart is Humminbird tracks, correct?
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Correct. It can only import Humminbird tracks, Humminbird sonar recordings, and old Dr. Depth files.
If you can get your depth data into one of those formats, you should be able to import it with no problems. Good luck!
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Does Anybody know if autochart is compatible with a 997 unit? i believe its version 6.3
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Don't know if they will push out an update for that unit to work with Autocharts or not. However, there is a work around.
Here are the instructions, direct from Humminbird. Others have tried it, and it works.
http://www.humminbird.com/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChartUseW_O_SoftwareUpdate/ (http://www.humminbird.com/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChartUseW_O_SoftwareUpdate/)
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Are there any restrictions regarding the location we can use AutoChart Pro? Is it world-wide applicable?
I have just tried to order it from Cabelas to be shipped to Russia and was told that it "this product cannot ship to International addresses".
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I don't think there are restrictions, but they have different regions. For example, the one all of us use in the USA & Canada, just the North America copy of Autocharts. I believe they have a Europe region also, but not sure if they have any regions beyond that or not. I'd send a message to their customer service to see if they can help you in that regard.
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The AutoChart/AutoChart Pro programs will work anywhere but you will need the correct regional ZeroLine map card to get the maps in your unit. I know that this is being split up into regions as CamoHunter stated but do not know if there will be a Russian version (or it may be a part of another region) or not. It has not been announced yet if there is.
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Is anybody else having problems with the gps tracks showing up in the wrong place....maybe by 250 yards, mine starts in the lake and goes way up on shore. Thoughts?
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I had the same issue. I stopped doing recordings waiting on the new 7.080 update to come out which was released yesterday so I could see what it actually looks like on my 898. (i have not loaded the update yet). i live on a lake and when i created a map it was half way up in my yard. there is a map offset on my unit which i have never used but assume it will move the shore line in different directions. i am curious to see if it will fix it if the contour line are on the bank on the unit. I have not been able to play with auto chart much due to work getting in the way. i played with creating a shore line with google earth but it was time consuming. If all else fails i will outline the shore when i get time. I know there was a fix to play with it before the update but I figured I would wait. Have you tried it on the unit?
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I havent yet, i hope to this weekend. I happened to have some files laying around on the computer. I dont think my 997 will be updated so ill have to play around with the files to make it work. Hopefully the 858 will be updated. Keep me posted if you figure anything out.
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The AutoChart/AutoChart Pro programs will work anywhere but you will need the correct regional ZeroLine map card to get the maps in your unit. I know that this is being split up into regions as CamoHunter stated but do not know if there will be a Russian version (or it may be a part of another region) or not. It has not been announced yet if there is.
"Thank you for contacting Humminbird. We appreciate your support of our products.
Right now the Autochart program is only available to work in the United States."
That is what customer service replied :/
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http://www.rusfishing.ru/forum/showpost.php?p=4204467&postcount=47 (http://www.rusfishing.ru/forum/showpost.php?p=4204467&postcount=47)
One guy from Ukraine has bought AutoChart Pro but failed to transfer the map to the SD Card.
"The new area did not fit inside the current custom map."
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Has anyone else run across this yet?
[url]http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf[/url] ([url]http://www.humminbird.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Category/Support/FAQ/AutoChart_fix.pdf[/url])
It appears to provide a way to use maps that were created with Autochart on Humminbird Sonar devices that haven't been updated with Autochart support yet.
I have used this to show the maps on my 1198, as well as my 998. Works as it should but I expected the 7.090 updates to make this unnecessary as they state they they added support for Autochart. So I will use this work around until an update works.
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I have used this to show the maps on my 1198, as well as my 998. Works as it should but I expected the 7.090 updates to make this unnecessary as they state they they added support for Autochart. So I will use this work around until an update works.
You got it to work on the unit?...i cant seem to get mine to work...
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If you understand the file structure on the sd card. It is as simple as renaming the LKmaster folder to ZeroLkmaster I use this to make it obvious that this is the original folder. Then copy and paste the LKmaster folder from the AC folder on the sd card, into the root of the card next to the renamed ZeroLKmaster. As long as the unit is up todate it will read from the new folder.
Make sure you keep the Zeromaster folder intact. You will need to get rid of the new LKmaster folder and change the name back to add to your maps. Renaming and copy paste again to see the additions.
\Russ
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What were the original folders on the autochart sd card? Right now i have LkMaster, Record, and 01LkMaster (the original) my units havent been updated for ac support yet (997si and 858hd xd)
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Mine had 2
1: Lkmaster this is the zero lines folder
2: AC this is the Auto Charts folder in this is another LKmaster folder, within this is stored the maps you create
The records is the folder you saved the records off of the humminbird ( I have not been able to do anything with these other than View them in the software)
Now if you save tracks you will get another folder MATRIX you use these to make the 2D lake maps with.
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ok I made the recordings I put them into autochart pro and it made a sweet map now I need to know why when I put the chip into my humminbird that I don't see the map that I just made ???
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prosupermag,
What unit are you using and what software version is it running?
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check settings on your unit you have to slect proper card left or right,then set background as AC , show contours and shaded colors in charts menu
for it to dispaly like on PC
ds
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Hate to hear that your hard drive crashed. That's a real bummer. That has happened to me a few times in the past. Hope you didn't loose too much data.
I'm waiting patiently for the Auto Chart Pro version to be released. I think that will give me something fun to do. I fish a small Strip Pit that's run the the Indiana DNR Fish and Wildlife Agency. They did a survey of my fishing lake which is only about 190 acres in size. So I figure that I can do a much better job at surveying this water than the girl who did the State's Initial Survey. She miss a lot of the water and just used her computer to INTERPOLATE the results into a inaccurate Map of the topography of the lakes bottom. Humminbird or Johnson Controls must have purchased that map data for the State as they came out with a map of the lake with 1 ft contour intervals that obviously was interpolated from the basic data. Since most of the lake bottom was not really surveyed there is a lot of computer fudging of the real data to make it fit. However there are parts of the lake that need to be surveyed to make an more accurate map. Every square foot of some area need to be sampled to find the variations and rocks on the bottom of this former mined area that's now filled up with water.
So I plan on buying the Autochart Pro version and filling in the holes to make the map more accurate. I like to troll crank baits along the drop off and I need more accurate data for where the drop off actually are not where they are suppose to be. My crank baits are expensive and I don't like losing them in shallow water that only 5 ft deep where the Humminbird Map shows that I'm in 25 ft of water. But that 25 ft deep water is 50 ft over to the East of where I'm trolling my crank bait. When I'm fishing I like to try to huge the bottom part of the drop off or just a few feet off the drop in what the In-Fishermen People called "confined open water". That's where the larger crappie like to hang out in the summer moths. That area is in the 18 ft to 25 ft depth right above the thermocline. And if you can find an area where the drop off intersect the thermocline you will find the bass too. They will be in the area of the bottom that right above the thermocline which tends to runs at right about 26 to 27 ft down from the surface.
Look what I got from Little Falls, MN. today:
([url]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk165/Humminbird_greg/AutoChartProBox.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Humminbird_greg/media/AutoChartProBox.jpg.html[/url])
([url]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk165/Humminbird_greg/StuffinAutoChartProbox.jpg[/url]) ([url]http://s280.photobucket.com/user/Humminbird_greg/media/StuffinAutoChartProbox.jpg.html[/url])
Now I just need the time to install it on my computer at home... maybe this weekend.
Anyone have any Sonar Recordings or Tracks that they would like converted to a partial lake map? I lost all of mine when my external hard drive crashed.
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I have an 898 c si. That i just updated to 7.??? Something on sunday
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Moose,
The AutoChart and AutoChart Pro programs have been released for about a couple of months now. I bought mine right after they released it. You’ve been missing some valuable playtime!
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Yes I have indeed. Thanks for the response. I've been very busy with a new Windows 8.1 Notebook Gaming Computer and a new AR15 Rifle. So my attention to fishing has been unfocused recently.
I looked for a dealer and so far Gander Mountain and Dick's Sporting Goods Store in Evansville, IN are the two nearest Dealers. I go to Gander Mountain at least once or twice a week but have been just barely looking at the Fishing Department Stuff so I must have missed the Auto Chart Pro thing. Gander caters more to Lawrence that Humminbird. I'm thinking that Lawrence's marketing department is paying Gander more to display their wares than Johnson Controls does. For example they show the latest and biggest Lawrence Depth Finder units while only displaying some of the less Humminbird Units. I noticed the same thing at another store recently. The Buck and Jakes Store had a large display for the Lawrence Stuff and nothing for Humminbird.
But then again Humminbird sales are mostly though word of mouth. Customer enjoyment and loyalty sells more product that huge displays in the stores.
I'll have to check the bank account to see if I have any more money left to buy the Auto Chart Pro thing if and when Gander Mountain gets them in stock here at their store. If they are there now I must have missed them on the Humminbird Display area.
Looking forward to getting back into fishing again as the coyote hunting season is over.
My mom had a minor stroke the other day and spent a night and two days in the hospital for observation. She was really lucky as she got to get all the tests that I wanted her to get as she was having headaces recently and had been admitted to the Hosptial several times over the last two years. Now I know she still has a brain. LOL They did a CAT Scan on her head and an MRI too. She was issued a clean bill of health. She got up one day and made the bed and then suddenly her left arm stopped working. But by the time the ambulance got her to the hospital and she was in the ER her left arm started working again. Not sure what happened now. But she is back home and just a little scare to do any thing now. So the last two years I've sent a lot of my free time taking her to the Doctor's office and the Hospital. She broke her left hip back in Jan 2012 and it's been going down hill ever since. But the day before she had her stroke she was outside in the back yard ( she has a full acre of ground) and was cutting the grass with a self propelled push mower. She is hard to keep down. She will be 89 in August.
Moose,
The AutoChart and AutoChart Pro programs have been released for about a couple of months now. I bought mine right after they released it. You’ve been missing some valuable playtime!
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While I'm thinking about it (because I have repeatedly forgotten about it):
If any of you have not registered your AutoChart purchase yet on the Humminbird web site, you should be able to do so now but there is a bit of a twist: instead of the serial number you enter the activation code to register it with. The serial number from these would not work in our registration system.
Greg Where is the activation code. I just received my ACpro and i dont see that code , just a Serial number???
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look on the outside of the paper sleve that the cd came in
ds
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look on the outside of the paper sleve that the cd came in
ds
Its not there, plain white envelope. :(
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with the settings that is in the humminbird its self? if so where are these settings in the menu ?
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I found those settings and I am very happy to say that I now have my first map ready to go it looks sweet
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prosupmag
great........ have u tried to set background as Ac then set overlay to Si map??
to display si mosaic on hb unit?
ds
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Its not there, plain white envelope. :(
Its the sleeve that the CD came in TTF. If there was no white sleeve for the CD then you had best call the Humminbird Customer Resource folks then. You will need the code to both activate the software on your computer and to register it.
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Greg Thanks They are working on it.
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Dave I have not tried that yet but I will have to try to check that out tonight
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Just curious if this is limited to just lakes. Will I be able to map ledges and reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and inshore areas. We have some nice areas I plan on mapping in the 5-40ft depth range.
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Yes it will jbrady. The mapping capabilities are not limited to only inland lakes and ponds. Rivers, the Great lakes and saltwater bodies of water can be mapped as well.
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Those of you that have made maps, Can you make a contour map from a sonar recording only. or is it necessary to have both track and sonar data?
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yes u can get a map from just a recording :)
ds
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You should be able to make a map from either a sonar recording or a trackplot. From the operations manual (page 23):
2 | Record Survey Data
You can use the track log or sonar recording to create your customized AutoChart maps. You only have to use one method to record data, and it is important to select the best method and confirm it is set up correctly.
Track Logs record GPS data and depth data. Track Logs will result in smaller files than sonar recordings. Track logs do not include bottom hardness data or sonar data, which are required for Bottom Hardness and Mosaic features.
Sonar Recordings record GPS, sonar data, and bottomhardness data. Sonar recordings will result in larger files than track logs. Use Sonar Recording if you have AutoChart PRO and plan to use bottom hardness or SI Mosaic.
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Thanks Greg
I finally got everything installed and activated, And made my first map from sonar recordings. I need to make some more recordings for the lake. as I didnt have that much saved yet.
two things I noticed are:
1. that when you create your map and use a custom background map. the custom background dont show on the unit. it defaults back to the lakemaster default.
2. Also when you save a completed map in the .acd file it does not re-load as a completed map. you have to recreate it and re select backgrounds. at first all you see is a white checkerboard.
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With SI being wider coverage, would it make sense that mapping with sonar logs would cover more area than just using the tracklog/2D transducer?
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The only problem with trying to use the SI data is that it won't log the depth except for where you get 2D data right under the transducer to compare with the longitude and latitude and altitude or depth data on a map made by the Auto Chart Software.
SI can't tell you the depth away from the boat as it won't work at a slant other than straight down below the transducer.
I don't know exactly how the Auto Chart Pro software works but I think I understand that it can show your SI data along with the map data.
To make a hydrographic map you need many data points that have three data points. Depth Longitude and Latitude at that depth point. These are processed along with many other data points to draw areas of equal level on a 2d map plane surface. Think of a drawing of a lakes shoreline as the lake is lowered by 1 ft or 10ft incremenents. Lines of equal elevation are then drawn along the shorelines of the lake or any islands that pop up out of the water. IE a submerged hump for example. These will be lines of equal elevations. That's what a topo map is.