HELIX AUTOCHART STORAGE QUESTION??

[justdriftin]

Zero Line card will allow you to store a bunch of "contouring" ... which raises my questions

1) I will have 3 units hooked together through a 5 port box .. will they share mapping??

2) If they don't share then can I pull the card and save it to both machines? or just look at it on the other machine??

3) Does Humminbird PC have a way to store the contouring .... got to have a way to back it up in case I lose it accidentally!!!!

4) If Humminbird PC doesn't have a way to backup then what would be the best way to "save" the "contouring"??


Any random thoughts youll have on managing the collected contouring will be appreciated!!!

[Tundah]

No doubt, AutoChart is in my opinion the least documented and evolved area of Humminbird products. I have a Helix 9 and I also have the AutoChart Pro software with ZeroLines Card that I previously used on the core units. AutoChart and Autochart live at this time are separate and incompatible products. If you have a Helix 9 or up, the unit can store up to 8 hours on the internal memory. When you insert the ZeroLines card into that unit, the mapping is moved not copied to that card. That map created can be used by inserting that ZeroLines card into any other AutoChart Live-compatible unit (>Helix 9 & Onix). The map will not share across the network.

Is it possible to copy that map to another card, yes if it is a ZeroLines card, and even then you will be manually manipulating the folders on the card which could result in an error and about $20 fee to send the card to HB, but it is possible. I have manipulated the data on my ZeroLines card plenty of times as long as you don't mess with the \LkMaster folder.

In questions 3 & 4 when you say "contours", if you are referring to the maps created with AutoChart Live, you are backing them up by moving them to the ZeroLines card from the unit itself. Additionally, you could save the \AC folder from the card onto your computer as an additional backup.

AutoChart Standard/Pro is an entirely different deal, so if you were referring to that let me know, and I can give you a quick rundown.

[crappielimits]

Which is easier to use Live or Pro? I deciding if I want purchase a Helix 10 or get Auto Chart Pro and a smaller unit.

[Tundah]

Easier definitely goes to AutoChart Live as the AutoChart Pro software is anything but intuitive. However Live cannot do anything other than depth contours, no bottom hardness or side imaging overlay.

[justdriftin]

Easier definitely goes to AutoChart Live as the AutoChart Pro software is anything but intuitive. However Live cannot do anything other than depth contours, no bottom hardness or side imaging overlay.

Can you describe how the sideimaging overlay works?? Does the Depth contours work off of the DI or SI ???

[Tundah]

For AutoChart Live, the depth contours come from the 2D sonar depth reading.

For AutoChart Standard/Pro, the bottom hardness comes from sonar data, specifically the 200kHz. The side imaging comes from SI recordings from the unit. These sonar recordings can and should be done on separate and blank SD cards so not to take up space or mess with the ZeroLines card any more than necessary. All the data recorded on the SD card is then imported to the software on the computer, including the SI data. The SI and bottom hardness can be set as an overlay on the software and you drag a transparency to see both your map (with contours) and either bottom hardness shading or the SI overlay. Once the data is imported and processed in AutoChart, there is an icon to update the map, which in turn, updates all the processed data to the ZeroLines card.

Now when you plug that card into the HB unit, you will go to the chart tab and select the Base Layer for the mapping (usually AC for the contours or a regular LakeMaster card) and then set the Overlay Layer to SI. This will let you see both on the screen.

I personally have not done a lot of SI recording and mapping only because I'm not impressed with the results.

Here's a sample picture I got off of Google Images: