Is it possible to create a bridge between ReefMaster/ AutoChart to use the data already processed from devices other than the Humminbird as professional bathymetric data or Garmin, Lowrance as in case of change of brand and not lose everything?
For now I do it with DD but it's like handling a heavy !.
It would be enough to add a format x, y, z to see the hardness!
Thanks
Sorry for my English i'm french!
I think the best thing would be to organize and save the source data.
I get the message "Wrong Beam Buddy" when trying .son files from my auto chart card. What am I doing wrong?
rexico, choose the data that contains "B001.SON" from your recording folder. That will be the correct beam.
-RW
HI Guys
I have two Onix 8 (si and combo) with 360 and have just recieved my Auto chart live Africa Chart card. I have been recording and am happy with the results. One major issue it only intermittently shows the recorded map. Sometimes it shows but more than often not, it even though the "show AC live "is ticked and transparency is 100%. It often comes on when I start recording AC live but then sometimes not. Very frustrating!!! Any one have similar issues???
Al
I just picked up a Helix 9 SI GPS model and I've previously been using AutoChart Pro with the core series. If I put the zero lines card into the Helix and record new data onto it, does the head unit process all of that like the PC software and create the map so I could then plug it into another non-Live unit?
Also, is there any need or functionality to take a recording on the zero lines card from AutoChart Live and plug it into the AutoChart Pro software (bottom hardness, etc)?
I don't know if the unit processes like the computer program but I read that the AC live data will automatically transfer to a ZeroLine card if it's inserted into a Helix 9,10,12 unit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tundah
A customer asked me if the AC data also stayed on the unit it was mapped with.
I contaced Deborah at HB and she verified that .....
1. Data is automatically transferred to a Zcard when inserted in the Helix.
2. The Data is then removed from the unit
If you want it on two units, which my customer did, you will have to re-map that area or map it on both units to start with.
I know this doesn't answer all of your questions but maybe it will give you some insight as to how AC is handled on the Helix models.
Thank you sir, that helps. Going to give it a test drive tomorrow. Sounds like I can map on the helix and then use those maps from the zero line card to plug into a core unit on the kayak.
If you want two copies of the same data and have 2 HELIX or 2 ONIX you could subscribe to the same transducer creating the data and turn on AutoChart LIVE on both units and it would make the same exact maps on 2 units at the same time. Not need to redo it just run AC LIVE at the same timeQuote:
Originally Posted by fishfood
That's a good idea Doug but I still don't understand why the unit erases the data when it transfers. That would be a lot easier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Vahrenberg
I'll pass it on though, beats doing it twice.
Well, as James knows the whole nickel and dime routine of having to get ZLC(s) to begin with chaps my a__ to no end. BUT, with that said; if one were satisfied with having the Live data on only one unit while it was being mapped using AC Live, can you simply copy the data to another ZLC after the fact; even offline using PC or perhaps an offline copy from slot 1 to slot 2 on the unit?? And then have it on two separate ZLCs, one in each unit?
I don't think you can copy the Auto Chart Live data, only load it to a Zero Line card.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robertl69
To get multiple copies, you would need to record sonar logs, load that to the computer software Auto Charts or Auto Charts Pro, then copy it to Zero Line cards.
Map data is encrypted and can only be manipulated with mapping software.
Wow, guess I should have done a little more research; basically makes the AC Live virtually useless to me (not everyone, but certainly many others like myself) until I spend yet another $150+.....it just keeps going. It's a good thing they have the 360!
Sorry, not meaning to rant, I'm sure I will love it; just would have much rather paid a little/fair bit more for features that were obviously excluded for marketing/revenue purposes, even on the Onix it seems. At least then I would not feel so nickel and dimed. Probably others that will never use those features that are happy they are not included in the base price so maybe its just me. :ohwell:
Another thought, as opposed to my knee-jerk frustration; on my bow Helix 10 unit could I tell it to use the ducer on the stern Helix 10 for AC Live, BUT still use the local TM mounted ducer for 2D, simultaneously? Thus allowing me to have continuous mapping on both units (still require two ZLC's but not the separate PC software) whether the TM was down or not, and still be able to use my TM 2D for vertical jigging when it was down.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Vahrenberg
If so, does this impact accuracy of waypoint markings using say the 360 at the bow? I'm guessing not since the way point would be a gps coordinate independent of the mapping?
So I gave the AutoChart Live on the Helix 9 a test drive a couple days ago on a little 400 acre lake near the house and mapped about a quarter of it. On the plus side, using it was very easy and the returns were impressive. I had the ZeroLines card in the unit during recording and it did record directly to the card.
I then plug the ZeroLines card into my 859ci HD DI unit and it loads the lakemaster lake outlines one would see from AutoChart, but no contours from my recording on the Helix. The Base Layer option wasn't even present on the Chart Menu.
For laughs, I then plug the ZeroLines card into my laptop and fire up AutoChart Pro and as expected its a no go. I'm hoping I missed something in the process, but I'm fairly confident I did not. The data on the ZeroLines card from the AutoLive appears to be in a different proprietary file format. It appears, again if I have not made a mistake, that AutoChart (standard & Pro) and AutoChart Live are two distinctly separate products with limited to no cross-compatibility.
I love the concept of Live but at this time from what I saw and have read on this forum, it appears very singular in functionality and deployment.
So in conclusion if I want to use the AutoChart Pro tool for bottom hardness and side imaging mosaic, I need an additional ZeroLines card and process sonar recordings as I did with the core series...essentially duplicating efforts for the two products.
I agree .... These 2 products that share the name Autochart should "play" together ..... and it pretty much sucks if the mapping created with Autochart Live is exclusive to the unit it is created on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tundah
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob B
Wait a second, so the AC Live data is also specific to a given unit even using a zlc, even if u put it in a virtually identical unit?!? Someone please tell me that's not the case. I think that is correct about the AC and AC Live being completely different products with no cross compatibility at all from what I have been reading and learning just today, which is ridiculous enough alone! Pls tell me the specific to a given unit thing for AC Live is at least not correct.... Or even better that both are incorrect....
After re-reading Tundah's post, It is probably just the 859 that can't use the Autochart Live map ...... Just guessing, but probably any Helix model that has Autochart Live built in could utilize the data.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robertl69
I believe a map created on any AutoChart Live device (Helix or Onix) can be displayed on any other ACL unit with that ZeroLines card An ACL map creation will not work on any non-ACL device (core and helix 5/7). Sorry if I caused confusion. Just trying to figure this all out, considering the Helix 9 user manual does not even have a documented section on ACL.
That at least makes slightly more sense but still ridiculous.
You need to set the unit to read the Auto Chart LIVE Data for it to display on the 859. Just inserting it will not read until you turn on that layer.
Thanks, that's good to know Doug ...... It sure would be nice if they would allow the Autochart PC program to read the Autochart live data though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Vahrenberg
On a unit such as the helix 10, can you at least run AC live, to have immediate results, simulataneously making a sonar recording? I assume if you could and were using a map card from navionics also that you would have the nav card in a slot, a blank card for sonar logs in the other and have the AC live data going to memory while in the water, then swap in a zlc in one of the slots afterward for it to move the AC live data to from internal memory? And likewise pull the card with the sonar logs on it when ready to compile on a pc with autochart and write to yet another zlc. Then when back out on water if still using the nav card you choose which of the two zlc's (AC built or AC live built) to use for the overlay data?
Sounds like a good thing to try.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robertl69
I will if no one else knows for sure. But I JUST got my Helix 10 SI from James today and have not broken the seal after finding out just what a farce AC Live is (that's no reflection on James at ALL, he has been fantastic!) But if it won't at least do this I may have to rethink HB as my choice/sole choice all together. To be honest were it not for 360 I *probably* already would have.
Well......They all have their good and bad points.......but so far, i like Humminbird's faults the best ..... It's just a matter of knowing what they are and how to deal with them
Just a quick follow up for now. After a great deal of education from Wayne, more from James, posts from both of them plus Doug and Bob, et.al.....
This was not as bad as it appeared, to me, and I want to apologize to you all for my rant. In very short for now terms; yes, some of it is still a little nickel and dime but that's kinda to be expected considering the base cost of the units beat the competition by a pretty wide margin in most cases (I did my own verification here, not just what I was told). The rest of the feature set is also pretty hard to beat IMHO. Most all of the things I was wanting to do and expected to be able to do can indeed be accomplished without much additional headache and at smaller additional costs that appeared at first. Lastly, some of the few restrictions that are in place do in fact make a lot of sense in regards to protecting licensing rights and such that I had not thought about.
Once I have both my units in place and give all of my ideas of what to do a full test run I will create a new thread with some detailed information, explained in a format for us newbie's, all in one place, on all these functions, results, etc. for the next person with my specific concerns......if there are any more that nuts! :) May be a while before I get it all together but I will make sure I do this at some point.
Thanks again to everyone! - and SPECIAL Thanks to Wayne!!!
As I noted, I was searching the Chart menu for that function as I have done in the past with setting the Base Layer to AC...however in this situation, that menu option did not exist. Again I hope I'm doing something wrong because it would be great for ACL maps to work on core units.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Vahrenberg
:thumb up2: We all have to do a little ranting once in a while ..... at least I do.....Also, the learning process can be very frustrating sometimes. It is pretty complex to try to master all the facets of this stuff ........ AND you are exactly right about Wayne, I don't think there is anyone on the net who is more knowledgeable or helps as many people as Wayne.....Which is pretty amazing since he has no affiliation with Humminbird other than being someone who uses and has mastered their products......and has decided to make it a hobby to help as many people as he can.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robertl69
Not me!!!!!!!
:laugh::wink::nanner::roll::laugh::roll:
First thing you know you will be trying to sell us a bridge...:doh::laugh:Quote:
Originally Posted by sfw1960
That's a great idea. And I will share to see if it is possible. One of the things that I recommended when the ONIX first was given the AutoChart LIVE Feature.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob B
HELIX and AutoChart LIVE is not different than the ONIX with AUtoChart LIVE that has been out for over a year. You have always had 8 hours of storage in the Unit to try and use the feature. But if you want to keep it permanently you have always been told you need a Zero Line Card. My actually recommendations is to look at AutoChart PC because you get a ZeroLine Card with that and you get the Bonus for not much more to use sonar recordings to create AutoChart PC Maps too on the same ZeroLine Card that you can use for AutoChart LIVE or AutoChart PC. Get more opportunities for a little bit more investment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robertl69
You want the one "Up North" or the one "Down South"???Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob B
:devil: :stirthepot: :devil:
Doug can the maps made with AC software be loaded to multiple ZL cards. Robert is wanting to map lakes and use them both bow and stern.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Vahrenberg
Me either...... :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by sfw1960
Quote:
Originally Posted by fishfood
Yes they can be exported to as many Zero line Cards as you want. I know a group of 6 guys that went to Canada and lake had no mapping each had ZeroLine Card with one version of AutoChart PC and they would import their data nightly and export to each ZeroLine Card and over a weeks fishing pretty much got the lake mapped from the multiple users.
Here is an email response from HB as it relates to AutoChart Live versus AutoChart (Standard/Pro):
"AutoChart Live maps created using your Helix 9 cannot be viewed on any other unit unless it is stored on a ZLC and the ZLC is being using in another AutoChart Live compatible unit (core units and Helix 5/7 are not AutoChart Live compatible).
AutoChart Live data on a ZLC cannot be utilized in the AutoChart Pro software. This data is different from the data you would load into the AutoChart Pro program. When doing AutoChart Live you are recording live mapping data. AutoChart Pro is recording depth data that is recorded as a .dat file that is loaded onto the AutoChart Pro program on your computer. The Live data is not the same type of file so AutoChart Pro software won't it."
As mentioned by I think Robertl69, the next test is to see if the Helix units allow AutoChart Live mapping and sonar recording simultaneously. That would be the best solution to the product compatibility issues and solve the need to map twice.
Great info Tundah, thanks! As mentioned I intend to test all these exact scenarios on dual Helix 10 units in the future and post a detailed review but that may be a while. As to the being able to run AC Live and Sonar recordings simultaneously, AND with a map card such as Navionics at the same time actually; Wayne has told me in a PM that does work. That said, I am pretty sure he has Onix units so that is only 99% confirmation. And I agree, that would appear to be the best way to eliminate the need to do it twice, barring better cooperation between AC Live and AC Software.
I have my first Helix 10 in hand now and will be starting on the install this weekend. As soon as it is installed and functioning I will definitely do the test with simultaneous Nav Card, AC Live and Sonar recording. If that appears to work I will very shortly after purchase AC Pro and see what all it will read, do, etc. and then take the results back out on the water, see what I have for overlay options, still doing more AC Live and sonar recordings, etc. etc.
Great thread, great info!
Since AutoChart Live is using the resources of the head unit, my guess is it is using a modified, less resource-intensive algorithm to create the mapping on the fly compared to the PC version that has more time and resource advantages. This would explain the difference in file types.