Thread: AutoChart Pro- merge waypoints and created map.

I'm not sure how many here have the AutoChart program yet ...

You might post your questions here ...
Auto Chart, Auto Chart Pro & Auto Chart Live Information Resource

And here ...
Free forum : Auto Chart User Group

Rickie

I can tell you all the AutoChart products are for building custom mapping for the HB units ...

I can also tell you Humminbird PC is for waypoint management only ...
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Viewing the HB recordings have to be done on the unit itself or one of the 3rd party viewers listed here ...
Other 3rd Party Software

Rickie

Your waypoints should overlay on any map that's on the head unit. Can you be more specific on what you want to do with the waypoints?

Matzilla is right; the waypoints will overlay the map you make using the AutoChart Pro, but only on your unit just like any other waypoint does (they all overlay whatever map is being shown on your unit).

AutoChart/AutoChart Pro does not have a sonar viewer. If you want to mark waypoints from some sonar you recorded I would do so while watching it on your Humminbird unit.

Rickie,
I appreciate the links, however I am not interested in joining another site. Already have too many. I will if I must, reluctantly.

AutoChart Pro has a feature called Replay SI Data. It's a shortened version of the two hours I spent recording data. I can pause the player, rewind, restart etc. No need to sit in the boat in my garage to watch my recorded SI. The 6 icons on the right side of the tool bar are specific to Side Imaging.
Show Mosaic- Show SI Mosaic layer
Settings- Open SI settings
SI File Index- Open the SI File Index Manager
Replay SI- Replay a SI data file
Load SI- Load SI data file
Stop Draw- Stop drawing live data

Let me state my expectations.
I want to sit in camp/at home and manage my waypoints, routes, maps, etc (analyze my data). On the water I fish. At camp/home I expect to update data I recorded during the day. I have more time off the water than on the water, and when I am on the water I fish.

Did I understand correctly. You cannot watch sonar recordings on HumminBird PC? You have to sit in the boat and watch the recording to mark way points. WHY? What a waste of time on the water. If I understand correctly, I must record data for x amount of time (Say 4 hours), then spend 4-8 hours reviewing it and marking waypoints. I wasted half+ my day doing something that I should be able to do at home, off the water. Not very respectful of my time. To be honest that is not good business. HB expects me to waste my valued time on the water doing data analysis? I hope I misunderstood. Is that why Rickie is pointing my to other sites with tools to do this SI data analysis? Does HB have a gap in their product and is somebody else filling the void. First step to losing market share. Next thing you know is HB competition will have the capability.

How do I merge my custom map with my waypoints and save it to the ACP card? There must be a way!
My expectation is that one card slot on my unit is for the map with waypoints (ACP Card), the other slot is for a blank card so I can record the days route and analyze that data while off the water. Update my map card, repeat.

Help me to understand. I know this is a new product and there is more than likely a gap in training about all the features. I've been in production for a very long time, over 30 years now. Training and communication are always after thoughts. I have some ideas on how this may work.

Could you please check to see if my suspicion is correct.
I suspect SI player and Stop Draw work together. Stop the drawing and where the boat cursor is on the map is the same location of the SI player. I know how to mark spots on the map, just not sure how to relate what I am seeing on the SI player to the boat icon? If I could get the two images to overlay each other that would be perfect and solve the problem. The other night while I was creating my map, I watched the SI player and paused it to mark waypoints. Unfortunately it was split screen. Top half of the screen was the map and bottom half was the SI player. Every spot I marked on the player did not align to the map so I deleted them all. If the two were over-layed then I could put accurate points on my map.

Thanks for you help.
I can come across as rough. Just the way I speak. Its a military thing. Don't be offended by it. Through communication we can all learn.

I'm sure no one is offended ... You have valid issues and questions ...

Although I can't speak assuredly for HB ... I'm sure the decision to not provide a recording player outside of the unit is an economic decision ...

It would take valuable time and expenses away from programmer's and software writer's that are busy with new possible features for upcoming products and support for existing products ...

I provided links to pertinent discussions simply because I have not seen much discussion at crappie.com dealing with the AutoChart programs ... Leading me to believe that your questions can have a better chance of being answered by those that are actually using the AutoChart tools ...(I didn't even know myself about the viewer you mention in the AutoChart program because even I don't have the AutoChart products yet) ...

Greg may be able to help you when he checks in ...

Camohunter at bbc and at the AutoChart forum seems to have the most experience (and success) with the AutoChart program ... I think he is a member here ... But doesn't check in very often ...

I will contact him myself and see if he will pop in here and help you with your questions ...

Rickie

I am able to play my recordings back on my PC and mark waypoints and upload those to my card no problems using HumViewer. HumViewer - Viewer of Humminbird sonar recording files

I would think that once you get your maps done they will show on the unit map card as well as your waypoints you uploaded to the other card.

On another note, have you tried ReefMaster? I have been experimenting with it to get detailed bottom images to view. Waypoint management and underwater mapping software for Windows PC.

You basically do your recordings and it compiles them into a detailed bottom scan and map.

Here is a map I did of a lake close by.

Humviewer works extremely well to bridge the gap between HumminbirdPC and your unit when it comes to recordings, viewing snapshot GPS data and dumping waypoints into GoogleEarth. Lately I have been managing all of my waypoints with GPX/KML files in GoogleEarth then converting them again with Humminbird PC to dump on cards. It is very nice that ChartSelect cards can also store waypoints, snapshots, recordings, etc.

It really sucks that Humminbird doesn't have a program to view your maps from cards, manage waypoints, playback recordings, convert files, etc all in one spot. Having to pull data from the card, save to computer (as a working backup), view in one program, import the waypoint into Google Earth, group it into a KML file, convert it online to GPX, open the GPX with Humviewer, change waypoint icons and/or configure groups, dump the data back on the card, import the card data to the head unit. There is a way to accomplish what you're after but its not a streamlined an easy solution.


It breaksdown like this:
Humviewer - recordings, snapshot gps data (.dat files)
HumminbirdPC - waypoint management
AutoChartPC - convert recordings to maps
Reefmaster - All in one pay to play application (3rd party)