Auto Chart, Auto Chart Pro & Auto Chart Live Information Resource

[Sabre Fan]

I just installed my new Helix 10 SI G3N. I haven't been on the water with it yet, but it appears to have the Autochart live feature. I am using the LakeMaster Northeast V2 map card. I'm completely new to Autochart and I have a few questions and concerns.

My Helix 10 did not come with a ZeroLines SD card. From the research I've done, I need to purchase AC PC or AC Pro, because they include the ZeroLines card and the PC program that I need to transfer files from my Helix to my PC, and to convert/save the recordings in a folder on my PC.

Once I have the AC live recordings on my PC, how do I merge them to make a single map from multiple trips on the same lake? Let's say I have 10 separate fishing trips to Lake Ontario, chasing walleye, trout, salmon and bass. I want to merge those 10 fishing trips into one map of Lake Ontario. Can I do that with AutoChart Live/PC?

Do I need to save that merged data on my ZeroLines card and insert that card back into my Helix to display my "custom" map for my 11th fishing trip on Lake Ontario?

I'll be recording new data with my AC live each trip out there. How do I select the new data from AC live and transfer that new data to my PC? Do I need to erase the "old" data on my ZeroLines card before I transfer the new data from AC live to my PC?

How long should each recording be? I've read every 15 to 30 minutes start a new recording.

I also read about glitches with depth displays on the fish finder. Should I expect this with my new Helix 10? My last unit was an 1198, but I never used it for AutoChart.

I run my Helix 10 and a Lowrance HDS9 Gen3 unit. I record sonar logs on my HDS9 using the C-Map Genesis, so I have some knowledge of recording/saving/transferring sonar logs. I'm just not clear on using the ZeroLines card and the AC PC or Pro program. With C-Map Genesis I can record on any blank SD card up to 32Gb in size. Each recorded sonar log is about 1 hour in length.

I've always used Humminbird, but I bought the Lowrance because I'll be buying the Lowrance auto pilot in the near future, which is controlled by the HDS unit. I troll with a 15hp kicker motor because trolling motor won't work on my 22ft aluminum cuddy cabin boat.

Thanks for your time and assistance!

[Wayne P.]

I just installed my new Helix 10 SI G3N. I haven't been on the water with it yet, but it appears to have the Autochart live feature. I am using the LakeMaster Northeast V2 map card. I'm completely new to Autochart and I have a few questions and concerns.

My Helix 10 did not come with a ZeroLines SD card. From the research I've done, I need to purchase AC PC or AC Pro, because they include the ZeroLines card and the PC program that I need to transfer files from my Helix to my PC, and to convert/save the recordings in a folder on my PC.

Once I have the AC live recordings on my PC, how do I merge them to make a single map from multiple trips on the same lake? Let's say I have 10 separate fishing trips to Lake Ontario, chasing walleye, trout, salmon and bass. I want to merge those 10 fishing trips into one map of Lake Ontario. Can I do that with AutoChart Live/PC?

Do I need to save that merged data on my ZeroLines card and insert that card back into my Helix to display my "custom" map for my 11th fishing trip on Lake Ontario?

I'll be recording new data with my AC live each trip out there. How do I select the new data from AC live and transfer that new data to my PC? Do I need to erase the "old" data on my ZeroLines card before I transfer the new data from AC live to my PC?

How long should each recording be? I've read every 15 to 30 minutes start a new recording.

I also read about glitches with depth displays on the fish finder. Should I expect this with my new Helix 10? My last unit was an 1198, but I never used it for AutoChart.

I run my Helix 10 and a Lowrance HDS9 Gen3 unit. I record sonar logs on my HDS9 using the C-Map Genesis, so I have some knowledge of recording/saving/transferring sonar logs. I'm just not clear on using the ZeroLines card and the AC PC or Pro program. With C-Map Genesis I can record on any blank SD card up to 32Gb in size. Each recorded sonarblog is about 1 hour in length.

I've always used Humminbird, but I bought the Lowrance because I'll be buying the Lowrance auto pilot in the near future, which is controlled by the HDS unit. I troll with a 15hp kicker motor because trolling motor won't work on my 22ft aluminum cuddy cabin boat.

Thanks for your time and assistance!

You don't need the computer software at all to do Auto Chart Live. The unit has up to an 8 hour memory for doing LIVE mapping. You can transfer that data to a Zero Line Card or record Auto Chart Live directly to the Zero Line Card.
Auto Chart Live is overlayed on whatever mapping background you have (Navionics, Lakemaster, Humminbird Basemap, Contour XD, or Auto Chart).

Auto Chart Live can stay that file type and does not have to be translated to Auto Chart by the computer software. I use Auto Chart Live on a Zero Line card and have done ACL on the same card with several units (Helix, ONIX, and SOLIX). I don't have Auto Chart or Auto Chart Pro.
A Zero Line Card has millions of zero lines (shorelines) so using that function, you probably won't fill up the card in your lifetime.

The computer software can translate Auto Chart Live data or unit sonar logs (RECORD) to Auto Chart mapping. Several bodies of water I fish have no Auto Chart shorelines so I use Navionics mapping as the background to have the shorelines to contain the created contours.

I record in 15-30 minute segments in case something happens and the recording get corrupted ( like loosing the depth ).

[Sabre Fan]

You don't need the computer software at all to do Auto Chart Live. The unit has up to an 8 hour memory for doing LIVE mapping. You can transfer that data to a Zero Line Card or record Auto Chart Live directly to the Zero Line Card.
Auto Chart Live is overlayed on whatever mapping background you have (Navionics, Lakemaster, Humminbird Basemap, Contour XD, or Auto Chart).

Auto Chart Live can stay that file type and does not have to be translated to Auto Chart by the computer software. I use Auto Chart Live on a Zero Line card and have done ACL on the same card with several units (Helix, ONIX, and SOLIX). I don't have Auto Chart or Auto Chart Pro.
A Zero Line Card has millions of zero lines (shorelines) so using that function, you probably won't fill up the card in your lifetime.

The computer software can translate Auto Chart Live data or unit sonar logs (RECORD) to Auto Chart mapping. Several bodies of water I fish have no Auto Chart shorelines so I use Navionics mapping as the background to have the shorelines to contain the created contours.

I record in 15-30 minute segments in case something happens and the recording get corrupted ( like loosing the depth ).

Thanks for the explanation Wayne! I try to keep it simple. I do a lot of trolling with downriggers and deep diving baits, and I just want to have an accurate map of depth contours for the lakes I fish.

[Wayne P.]

Thanks for the explanation Wayne! I try to keep it simple. I do a lot of trolling with downriggers and deep diving baits, and I just want to have an accurate map of depth contours for the lakes I fish.

Well you will have to build that map by covering all of the bottom parallel to shore and perpendicular to shore so you will have accurate contours.

The contour map form can be Auto Chart Live or Auto Chart, they are different file types.
Auto Chart Live is only overlayed on the background mapping you use and Auto Chart is a stand-alone map like Lakemaster.

Not only that your installation and operation has to be accurate to get accurate data:
1. GPS where the sonar data is---GPS antenna above the transducer.
2. Accurate depth---the depth that transducer is below the surface offset so the readout is the water depth, not the distance between the transducer and bottom.
3. The lake level is the same every time you collect data or adjust the depth offset to make up for the varying levels.

[Sabre Fan]

Well you will have to build that map by covering all of the bottom parallel to shore and perpendicular to shore so you will have accurate contours.

The contour map form can be Auto Chart Live or Auto Chart, they are different file types.
Auto Chart Live is only overlayed on the background mapping you use and Auto Chart is a stand-alone map like Lakemaster.

Not only that your installation and operation has to be accurate to get accurate data:
1. GPS where the sonar data is---GPS antenna above the transducer.
2. Accurate depth---the depth that transducer is below the surface offset so the readout is the water depth, not the distance between the transducer and bottom.
3. The lake level is the same every time you collect data or adjust the depth offset to make up for the varying levels.

That makes sense Wayne. My maps could never be that accurate because the unit is about 16ft in front of my transducer. Besides that, I usually fish in 2-4ft swells, sometimes 5-6ft if it's not too choppy. I'm happy with my own custom maps as long as they aren't off as much as the store bought map cards. I usually fish deep water for salmon, sometimes deeper than 200ft of water. I also fish for walleye and bass in shallower water, but not so shallow that a foot or two makes a difference.

[Wayne P.]

That makes sense Wayne. My maps could never be that accurate because the unit is about 16ft in front of my transducer. Besides that, I usually fish in 2-4ft swells, sometimes 5-6ft if it's not too choppy. I'm happy with my own custom maps as long as they aren't off as much as the store bought map cards. I usually fish deep water for salmon, sometimes deeper than 200ft of water. I also fish for walleye and bass in shallower water, but not so shallow that a foot or two makes a difference.

That is why you add an external GPS antenna above the transducer to eliminate that 16’ error.