Thread: Mapping Lake Blackshear With Autochart Live

Originally Posted by ultraslab

OK maybe showing my ignorance But, if I'm able to figure out how to create a 3-D map on my computer using the app can I then save it to the card and view that 3-D map on my helix's in the boat. Scott

No, you can only view the 3D modeling on a PC but you can take a laptop on the boat. I don't see how it would help. If you're set to 1' contours on the Helix the depth levels are spot on. Ledges and ponds are found easier on the Helix chart data.

I did it the hard way. I downloaded the card first and then had to purchase it again to obtain the software. That lead to having to figure out how to get around the encryption in order to duplicate the cards.

Tweaking the settings in Autochart PC is key for good 3D modeling because the default depth levels is Min 0ft to Max 40ft. so anything under 15' (which is most of Lake Blackshear)is just gonna show up as red on a 3D model. I change the defaults to -10' min - 50' max. Gives a lot more color variation from 3-15ft.


I like having the software because without it you just have chart data on the HB and not the actual Base Map & Overlays that the card was designed to generate. That being said if you can live without it you can live without it.

I like being able to sit inside and be comfortable and map out a fishing plan for the next day or weekend. I also have a basic Helix 7 GPS/Sonar only mounted inside to a battery because I got tied of running back and forth, inside & outside to the boat to see if the end product was working.


I haven't found any advantage to live mapping (mapping with the Humminbird connected to a laptop to create the maps in real-time) but it may prove useful in the future for side imaging and Mapping the floor of the lake (which is a whole different project in itself, but it would reveal all man made fish attractors and anything else laying down there). They say it can be done simultaneously on the Onix units but I've seen the results and they are less than what I'd want. The side image recordings overlap each other and they don't feather real well.

On your other question about sharing what I have now, it's not that easy. The cards are all encrypted to prevent you from copying data from one to another. It can be done, I've got 3 identical ones now, but it's a process that involves a PC & some time & some serious researching. If you do it wrong the unit just reboots when you try to set a map overlay.

*Be careful with that original file structure.

Hope all this helps somebody

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

BlackshearAddic,
Would you start a post describing how you transferred the Autochart Live data from one ZL card to another ZL card? I not smart enough to figure it out and could use some expert help. TIA
Rollcaster