Managing waypoints for solix units

[Phoenix Jim]

Wondering how some of you manage waypoints such as by lakes if possible. Can I do this with humminbird pc and solix units? Any other way? Thanks

[Wayne P.]

Yes you can do it with HumminbirdPC.
Just can't use the SD card symbol with arrows on the left panel to manage downloading and uploading.
Have to use File>Open and File>SAVE AS GPX

[Phoenix Jim]

Damn, that was my problem! As usual thanks Wayne

[bobcoy]

Keep in mind HBPC does not transfer the icons the Solix uses. You will end up correcting each icon that is output by HBPC for the Solix icon. I have found that to be way too time consuming. JMO Bob

[Wayne P.]

Keep in mind HBPC does not transfer the icons the Solix uses. You will end up correcting each icon that is output by HBPC for the Solix icon. I have found that to be way too time consuming. JMO Bob

Some icons are the same, just displayed differently. This has Helix and SOLIX waypoints. I think I had four units networked at this time.

[Wayne P.]

Another example of the two different waypoint symbol types---

[bobcoy]

I must be using the ones that come up with a bunch of blue balls. I only have Solix/Onix/Apex symbols and if I use HBPC they are all changed to the same generic symbol. I have not used HBPC for several years. I am sure I must be doing something wrong but I gave up a while back. I do have a way to do some icon changes if I need to with a table Mike on this forum gave me if I should want to. I don’t have any Helix to see how they convert on the same netwwork.

[Mike2718]

Jim,
P.M. sent

If you are networking Helix and Solix units, that is a different situation than if you edit a Solix file in HumminbirdPC and load the edited file back to a Solix unit. If Helix and Solix models are networked, they are just displaying waypoints between the units and not actually converting them. The files are not being changed.

There are a few symbols that are common between the different models but most are different. HumminbirdPC will change any Solix symbols to the default Helix “blue dot” if it is a symbol that is not common to Helix units. HumminbirdPC will open a Solix file but it automatically adds unnecessary Helix code to each Solix waypoint and you will not be able to edit other elements of your Solix file such as symbol colors, dates, groups, etc.

Unfortunately, there is no true Waypoint Management Software for Solix units.
I have tried a few times to get the creator of the gpx format to create a Waypoint Management Software for Solix units like he did for Lowrance units. I even offered to help for free but I just don’t think he is interested at this point. Maybe, I’ll try working on him again.

I use an xml programming software that I have adapted for use with Solix gpx files. It allows me make any edit I need to make. It also lets edit one, many or all my waypoints at one time. I can also edit multiple elements at one time. For example, I can sort waypoints by whatever criteria I choose then select multiple waypoints and change the symbol, color, group, date, etc, for all the selected waypoints at one time. I have also adapted it so I can edit my tracks too. It’s not a perfect solution but it allows me to make any edit I need very easily.

I have also adapted the software to work with Helix, Lowrance and Garmin units although there is already Lowrance and Garmin software for those particular brands. It does, however, let me convert files between brands so all the symbols, other elements and the file structure will be correct for that brand.

[bobcoy]

Mike, sorry I could not remember your numbers and I am not home to check my files. Thanks again for your knowledge and assistance. Bob

[Hollada]

I would not use HBPC to MANAGE solix data. If you’re using groups, HBPC doesn’t recognize them. It doesn’t support many of the icons, colors, dates, note fields, etc etc etc etc. if you don’t use any of solix’s advanced WP management tools, then I guess you won’t be missing anything.

[Hollada]

I primarily fish one lake (st Clair) and I primarily fish for smallies which tend to move with the bait in seasonal patterns. I have over 2500 waypoints on st Clair. Since 2017, I have been renaming waypoints so they made sense to me. Seeing a screen full of WPXXXX makes absolutely no sense to me. I rename every waypoint that is a fish catch to the date that fish was caught. If it’s over 5 lbs, I add a BB to the name. Each year gets its own color and group. Structure (rocks, weeds, trees, beds) go into their own group and are always black. I can look at my screen and see where points from various years/months tend to cluster versus random catches. I also have different groups for walleye and for bass. For lakes I occasionally fish, they get one group for the entire lake. In total I’ve got around 25-30 groups on my solix. It’s also easy to turn off the display of any group to reduce screen clutter.

None of this data goes anywhere near HBPC except when prepping a card to take on my buddy’s boat (he has helix).

[bobcoy]

Nice job! More organized than I will ever be. Our forage here is Threadfin shad. They do a bunch or open water wandering. Somewhat seasonal and I mostly try to catch Walleye (trolling). I mark fish strikes. I delete almost all of a days marks but will note a couple by season and depth. I have about 400 of the Game and fish brush piles marked mostly for other fish. The lake( Bull Shoals) is about 55K acres depending on water level but I only fish the lower 20 miles. I have about 1500 WPs. Deep and steep, NO weeds so it is mostly open water fishin Or 45 degree slopes unless you get way back in the creeks. So not much for hotspots. That is not many for fishing it exclusively for the last 18 years. Everyone is different But 2700 is way over what I find useful. I might just be too lazy for a massive amount to deal with. 10,000 will last me forever. Bob