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

[sfw1960]

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[sfw1960]

G'Luck!

Let us know if you have any issues & we'll try to help...

[Fins]

New to this board. Have read all the way thru this thread. Humminbird needs to hire
the experts here to write the book on how to use this software.

Thanks so so much for your time and effort

I have a Gen1 12” Helix Si unit. I have the zero line card and autochart
pro.

Now my question. Since the software now reads the ACL files, is there
any reason to also make a sonar recording file?

Regards
Rodney

The other thing you can do with sonar logs is create SI mosaiqs that you can view on your Helix. Your Autochart Pro software has this functionality. Solix can do this on the fly while recording. Helix, gotta use AC Pro to do it. I believe that once the SI mosaiq is made you can delete the sonar logs.

[sfw1960]

What do you find beneficial with the SI mosaics?

I don't do anything with that feature myself ...

[Bob B]

I have a Gen1 12” Helix Si unit. I have the zero line card and autochart
pro.

Now my question. Since the software now reads the ACL files, is there
any reason to also make a sonar recording file?

Regards
Rodney

I'm not sure if you can do SI mosaic with ACL files from the Helix .... maybe check that out .... or forget it if you aren't interested in mosaic's.
I think you can create ACL mosaic on the unit with the Solix but not with the Helix. That may be an indication that the Helix doesn't record the data necessary to do that with ACL .... I don't know for sure. I do know that you can create a mosaic map for viewing with data from a sonar log with AC Pro.
One of the reasons I would consider the Solix instead of the Helix is the ability to do SI mosaic charts on the unit ... I think that would be pretty neat.

[Fins]

@Robert
SI mosaiq uses? Picture of a boulder field for smallies, picture of a weedline. Maybe a mosaiq is better than waypoints in some cases.

@Bob B
You were correct when you said "I do know that you can create a mosaic map for viewing with data from a sonar log with AC Pro." The post I was responding to was talking about reasons to make sonar recording files. SI mosaiq is one reason to make them. ACL data doesn't come into play for this functionality.

[Bob B]

@Robert
SI mosaiq uses? Picture of a boulder field for smallies, picture of a weedline. Maybe a mosaiq is better than waypoints in some cases.

@Bob B
You were correct when you said "I do know that you can create a mosaic map for viewing with data from a sonar log with AC Pro." The post I was responding to was talking about reasons to make sonar recording files. SI mosaiq is one reason to make them. ACL data doesn't come into play for this functionality.

For some reason didn't see your post before making mine ... If I had I would have probably skipped it.

[Ramrod25]

Appreciate all the responses and answers to questions.

I have my Helix 12 set up on my workbench, no transducer attached. Started it in Normal mode and started a recording. The unit created a file and did start a recording. Upon stopping the recording after about 20 seconds, the unit appears to have stored a .dat file to the zeroline card. I have not found any menu option which would allow the file to be stored to an SD card. Also did not see a .son file.

This may be because I don't have any actual data from a transducer being stored, but for those of you that have recorded data on a Helix unit, were you given any options to store the data on the SD card before turning the machine off, or does it automatically go the the zeroline card?

I need to get out on the water and do some actual testing. I was hoping the unit would store the ACL data to the zeroline card (which it does) but would give me the option to store the recording files to the SD card. Is there a procedure that I am missing?

Any thoughts from you guys that have actually done this would be appreciated.

Regards
Rodney

[Wayne P.]

Appreciate all the responses and answers to questions.

I have my Helix 12 set up on my workbench, no transducer attached. Started it in Normal mode and started a recording. The unit created a file and did start a recording. Upon stopping the recording after about 20 seconds, the unit appears to have stored a .dat file to the zeroline card. I have not found any menu option which would allow the file to be stored to an SD card. Also did not see a .son file.

This may be because I don't have any actual data from a transducer being stored, but for those of you that have recorded data on a Helix unit, were you given any options to store the data on the SD card before turning the machine off, or does it automatically go the the zeroline card?

I need to get out on the water and do some actual testing. I was hoping the unit would store the ACL data to the zeroline card (which it does) but would give me the option to store the recording files to the SD card. Is there a procedure that I am missing?

Any thoughts from you guys that have actually done this would be appreciated.

Regards
Rodney

A RECORDING done via the Recording and Snapshot menu is different than starting and stopping Auto Chart Live.

You get .dat and .son file with Recordings, not Auto Chart Live.

In both cases you need sonar data and GPS data to have anything to view.

When you have a Zero Line Card in the unit, it will do Auto Chart Live directly to the card, you have to use Auto Chart menu for that.

[sfw1960]

The ZLC was not made for storing sonar log recordings, and you should use a blank card for that - rather than waste valuable space on the ZLC...

Unless you are using simulator more DO NOT run the unit W/O XDCR attached - you can damage the unit transmitter.

This in not covered by any warranty.

[Ramrod25]

The ZLC was nat made for storing sonar log recordings, and you should use a blank card for that - rather than waste valuable space on the ZLC...

Again, thanks for the quick replies.

I understand that ACL and Sonar are two completely separate functions.

And I understand that I don't want to store Sonar data on the Zeroline card.

What I'm trying to figure out is how to tell the unit to store the Sonar data on the SD card.

My ACL data is automatically stored on the Zeroline Card. Got that. The Zeroline card is in the left card slot.

My SD card is in the right card slot.

At the end of a mapping session I will:

1. Stop ACL.

I know the data has been stored on the Zeroline Card.


2. Stop the Recording.

This is where I'm getting lost.

I see no menu option to tell the unit to save the .Son file to the SD card in the
right slot.

I guess I'm assuming that as the unit creates the .Son file, it is storing it internally.
That may not be a good assumption.

With an SD card in the right card slot; does the unit automatically store the .Son file
to the SD card as I am mapping?

If the unit DOES NOT store the data to the right card (SD card) automatically, HOW do
I make the data go to the SD card.

On another subject: I do like to save snapshots. With a Zeroline card in the #1 (left) slot and the SD card
in the right slot, do we know if the snapshot will be saved to the SD card? Is there some procedure, like removing the Zeroline card before saving the snapshot. If one saved 10-15 snapshots per mapping session that would mean removing the Zeroline card a lot. Probably not a good idea.

Thanks for the warning on not running the unit without the transducer attached. From now on, I'll only use Simulator mode while on the workbench.

Well, off to fix the lawnmower, then I get to take my 92 year old mother out for lunch today. Hope I get around as well as she does at her age - heck - not even sure I'll make it to 92

If I get my chores done today, I hope to get on the lake this afternoon and actually make some ACL data and also sonar recordings to bring back to the computer. There is one really good bluff where I know there are lots of good brush piles in 15-18 feet of water. It's about 3/4 of a mile long, so it would be fantastic to get a really good map of that section of the lake. This technology is awesome and exciting; but as many have noted, the learning curve is pretty steep. Thanks to the experts here that making climbing the hill so much more easy.

I also bought one of the Kevin Rogers light jigging rods (10 feet) and I need to try that out too.


To heck with the chores: I'm going to the lake this afternoon anyway

Regards
Rodney

[Wayne P.]

Lock the ZLC card when not doing Auto Chart Live.

[sfw1960]

There is none.

Even if you have a "blank" card the unit will default recording sonar logs to the ZLC - I swapped cards slots and verified that (H10 MDI).

You will need to regularly need to lock the ZLC ( and only 8 hours of data is kept internally) or remove it so the regular SDC gets the sonar logs ~ OR cut & paste the "RECORD" folder to the computer for processing.

[Ramrod25]

Thanks for the quick answers.

OK - so, it appears that to use both ACL and record Sonar functions at the same time, just let the data go to the Zeroline card, and then remove the .Son files after each session on the water. That's no problem.

Any thoughts on storing the snapshot pictures??? If they don't go to the SD card, then I can also remove them from
the Zeroline card too.

Regards
Rodney

[sfw1960]

Yep.

and

Yep.

Just be careful you don't fill the card up.

[Ramrod25]

Just be careful you don't fill the card up.


AH - always the caveat!

Tower: Your cleared for landing on runway 24 Right. Surly you can make it. Don't crash and burn.

Pilot: Don't call me Shirley. HUH???????????????

Anyway - Didn't get to go this afternoon - weather look really bad, and then wouldn't you know it, it cleared off.

Think that when I get to the area I want to map, I will just put the SD card in the #1 slot and record all the data.
Then, when I'm finished and want to go fishing, I'll put the zeroline card back in to have my map. Course, I'll be running
ACL when not recording sonar logs, and save the odd snapshot to the Zeroline Card as needed. Then download it to the computer and
remove it from the zeroline card when I get home.

Bring the SD card home, upload the files and snapshots to the computer and have a blast analyzing
the data. This should be fun.

Thanks for all the help
Regards
Rodney

[Bob B]

The sonar log data is a lot more than ACL for the same amount of mapping time. Not likely you will fill up a ZLC when using ACL, but sonar logs could.

You will have to experiment to see if it is possible to do both at the same time with ACL going to a ZLC and sonar logs going to a regular SD card...... Maybe if you start the sonar logs first and get them going to the SD card and then insert the ZLC and start ACL .... worth a shot if you want to give it a try.

In any case, I would think if you write protect the ZLC you should be able to view the previous mapping while recording sonar logs.

[kzoofisher]

Why wouldn't this work? Put in the blank SD and record sonar logs to it. Leave the ZLC out and let ACLive record to the head. At some point before 8 hours of data is recorded, turn off the sonar recording, put the ZLC in and the ACL data will automatically transfer. You will eventually have an issue if you want to record data, look at a vendors map chip and overlay your own maps. Int future these units are going to need three or four card slots.

My Helix9G1 would not record snapshots to the ZLC or my LM map chip. I had to put in an SD card and the unit recognized that. No problems with snapshots going to the wrong place. I hope that has not changed with the latest update.

[Ramrod25]

Bob. You’re right. We are just going to have to get on the water to try this. I like your idea of starting to record the sonar logs on the SD card then insert the Zeroline card into slot 2 and start ACL. Then see what happens

I have a question about the 8 hours of internal storage. At the end of
the 8 hours what happens? Does the unit then automatically start to
write over previous data? Also is there any way to clear the internal storage
so you know you have 8 hours of storage capacity before you go to the
lake??

Regards
Rodney

[sfw1960]

Why wouldn't this work? Put in the blank SD and record sonar logs to it. Leave the ZLC out and let ACLive record to the head. At some point before 8 hours of data is recorded, turn off the sonar recording, put the ZLC in and the ACL data will automatically transfer. You will eventually have an issue if you want to record data, look at a vendors map chip and overlay your own maps. Int future these units are going to need three or four card slots.

My Helix9G1 would not record snapshots to the ZLC or my LM map chip. I had to put in an SD card and the unit recognized that. No problems with snapshots going to the wrong place. I hope that has not changed with the latest update.

You can do that too.

IDK what S/W version you're running, but I was able to write snapshots, sonar logs and NAV data to my ZLC, but I make sure I clean it up and back up stuff regularly - this was on a G1 H12DI and it works on the others.