Topic: converting sonar recordings to use in old version of drdepth

[Triton Anlger]

I have a 898c SI that I have used to record onto an SD card.  I have been wanting to try Drdepth and create 3D maps of the areas I have recordings for.  Unfortunately, Drdepth site has been down since it was bought out.  I was able to get an older version of Drdepth 2.12.
I can import/convert GPX and CSV files into drdepth.  So what files do I need to  import/convert?  It looks like I have the standard DAT files for my recordings and I tried to use humviewer to convert them into GPX format but it didn't/won't work. 
Not sure why humveiwer won't convert?
I can use some help here.

Thanks,
Phil

[Rüdiger]

Hi Phil

HumViewer is no converter and  for DrDepth you do not have to convert, that makes the program itself.

mvh
Rüdiger

[Phillip Nicodemus]

This 2.12 version of Drdepth only shows 5 file formats for import/convert in the drop down box:
Data/text files (*.txt), CSV (*.csv), lowrance sonar log files (*.slg), Oziexplorer track (*.plt), GPX exchange format (*.gpx)
I am really not sure what files, in my recordings folder of the SD cards I used for recordings, are the ones needed but they don't match any of the ones listed in Drdepth.  When I try to import/convert what I have I get an error or stops working all together.

[matt@reefmaster]

You ought to be able to convert your .DAT recordings to GPX files using Humviewer. Do you see your track in Humviewer when you load your recording? If you do then at least that part of the process is working - you should then be able to export from Humviewer as a GPX file. I would probably go for 1 second increments.
Failing that you could download the trial version of ReefMaster, import the tracks from your DAT files and then save the tracks as GPX files. Make sure to check the "use Humminbird depth extensions" option.
Matt

[Triton Anlger]

Yes, I will have to try that again.  I will have to download the latest version of Humviewer I tried it before and didn't work.  I am just getting back into this with the fishing season upon us and I have random recordings from last year I am trying to use.   I seem to have some *.dat files (are these from Humviewer?).  And then what I think are the normal recordings files from humminbird *.son and *.idx, one of each for a recording. 

Can you tell me what files are generated when I record using my humminbird 898c SI?  Is the default to record them into a "record" folder on your SD card?

[matt@reefmaster]

When you record sonar on your HB, it will generate a .SON log file for each channel - one for each downward (83 and 200) and one for each side of the sidescan (if you have it). The .DAT file is a top level file (also generated by the HB unit) that resides in the RECORD directory. There will be further subdirectories with the same names as the .DAT files. Eg. if you have R00010.DAT in the RECORD directory, you will (should) also have a directory named R00010. Inside that directory you will find the .SON files, and also .IDX index files.
I believe you open the top level .DAT file in Humviewer and let Humviewer find the .SON files that it needs. This is also how it works in ReefMaster.

Matt

[Triton Anlger]

Thanks Matt!!
That helps me understand what is going on better.  I just got my 898c si last season and didn't really organize and utilize it well.

Matt,
When is Reefmaster going to have 3D map capabilities?

[matt@reefmaster]

Matt,
When is Reefmaster going to have 3D map capabilities?

It already does!

[Triton Anlger]

Matt,
Yes, I misspoke.  Didn't mean to imply Reefmaster didn't have 3D mapping!
I was refering to the sidescan mosaics. 
I looked at a previous response you had given my in which you posted:

"ReefMaster does not do sidescan mosaics and nor do we plan to. What we do have coming in the next release (about 4 weeks) is the ability to import kml overlays and use them as the texture on the 3D models. This will allow you to view sidescan imagery in full 3D, and position waypoints etc in 3D. You could use, for example, SonarTRX to create the sidescan mosaic overlay file."

Basically, with the new release of Reefmaster, you have to do the one extra step do get the same thing with Drdepths sidescan mosaics?  Is that correct?
When will this new release with this capabilities be available?

[matt@reefmaster]

Yes that's correct - you could think of it as a "step that has to be performed in a separate application" rather than an "extra step" , the results will be very nice, and the cost of purchasing SonarTRX along with ReefMaster is still very competitive. This feature will be released within the next month.
thanks,
Matt