Topic: Side scan calculator, Ocean ecology

[bobn]

 Has anyone tried the side scan calculator software developed by ocean ecology?  It uses the humminbird side scan .son file to calculate fish abundance along with bottom hardness and roughness.  Free download from their site  so someone probably gave it a test run. Sounds like it converts the .son to .slg and runs alongside the lowrance .slg viewer.   

[jseasor]

haven't tried it, i would be interested to see how it works.

[sonar2000]

what web site are you refering to? 
http://www.oceanecology.ca/software.htm
Is this the one?
Chuck

[bobn]

Yes that is the site, click on software and then choose sidescan calculator. There is a short manual to view and the download available.  I'm in the process of digesting hummviewer, yellowfin and hummfinder and will eventually test drive the sidescan calculator.  Thought  someone may have tried it and could give feedback. 

[sonar2000]

Thanks, I was just interested in the convert to .slg.  I will look for that.   
Depending on your needs I think you will find humviewer a great program and then yellowfin will get a little clearer picture for you. 
Chuck

[sonar2000]

Downloaded the converter and ran it against a .son file.  Opened it in sonarviewer and took a look. 
The conversion file works, but I think I will have to answer more of the selections before converting the file.  I seem to pick up the si beams but this could be the .son file data.  The slg playback seems to be both si and di.  could be the selection on the convert.  I do like the sonarviewer for the 2d playback.  We will have to work with this some more. 

Chuck

[sonar2000]

This is a first cut at the eco slg.
Good bottom definition. With selectable settings it can be better.
We will have to play with this some more. 




This is something we will have to drop a diver down to see what is there.

This program has some promise for 2d. 

Chuck

[bobn]

 Chuck
   Glad you took the inititive to check out the conversion feature in the sidescan calculator.  I'm not familiar with the lowrance sonarviewer and .slg format . Is there advantages to converting .son to .slg for viewing in the sonarviewer ?  I was interested in the fish abundance and bottom hardness features of the calculator but it seems the sonarviewer may supply viewing features in 2d not available otherwise.  Since you were interested in the ability to use humminbird .son files in the sonarviewer could you cover the advantages of the sonarviewer that I wouldn't get in viewing with hummviewer?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   bob

[sonar2000]

I knew I should have kept quiet.   

Yep, I will be looking at the converter and the slg data. I like the color in the lowrance viewer and the ability to change color and sensitivity. the bottom definition of objects seems clearer and more defined.
For bottom objects I think the display is better than the HB 2d and will be spending time checking out the displays. 
I will share what I find that works for us.

Chuck

[keizerh]

We should have had this in december.
Now it is time to go out and find new objects
hendrik

[Tui Chub]

Downloaded the converter and ran it against a .son file.  Opened it in sonarviewer and took a look. 
The conversion file works, but I think I will have to answer more of the selections before converting the file.  I seem to pick up the si beams but this could be the .son file data.  The slg playback seems to be both si and di.  could be the selection on the convert.  I do like the sonarviewer for the 2d playback.  We will have to work with this some more. 

Chuck

What settings did you use?  When I open a Humminbird dat file I keep getting a "Cannot find correct SON file. Check your transducer frequency setting."  When I try to directly open a son file I get a "This is not a Humminbird DAT file".  I'm using the default settings and using the "Convert to SLG file for viewing echogram in SonarViewer" option.  I have a HB 997csi.

Thanks
Pete

[sonar2000]

Pete, I used the son2slg program to convert the .dat and record files..... and then opend the resulting file with the lowrance sonarviewer program. 

The file name when converted is ecogram-R00xxx  where xxx is the .dat name of the HB file. 

You can play with the settings on the son2slg program but I used the defaults.   

Chuck

[Tui Chub]

Where can I find the son2slg program?

[sonar2000]

Pete.  check earlier post in this thread. 

http://www.oceanecology.ca/software.htm

Once you are on this site then select the software tab and then the sidescan calculator tab to download.

Chuck

[Tui Chub]

Pete.  check earlier post in this thread. 

http://www.oceanecology.ca/software.htm

Once you are on this site then select the software tab and then the sidescan calculator tab to download.

Chuck

Thanks, I tried the Side Scan Calculator and was getting the errors that I mentioned.  I thought maybe there was another program.  Since you got it to work the problem must be on my end.

[sonar2000]

Pete, not sure.   

I started the slg convert program
selected the convert to slg option
selected start calculation
went to the folder where the .dat and record file was and selected the .dat file
and the converter program converted and filed the eco file in the original folder.


call me 252.430.7731 if you want...


Chuck

[Tui Chub]

I finally got it to work.  I'm using Windows 7 and I had to go into SlideSideCalculator Properties, then Compatibility, then Disable visual themes.

Pete

[sonar2000]

OK.  Win 7 is a different program..... .. ...

I was running on vista.  Glad you got it to work...

Chuck