Thread: Humminbird Autochart VS Autochart Live

A question came up on another forum about sharing Autochart Live mapping between an 899 and a Helix ....I posted some info to help clarify some of the differences between the Autochart products.
I figured I would post the information here as well.


There has been a lot of confusion about Autochart Live, and it is just beginning to get sorted out.......So, I am posting this to get some of the information out.

Autochart Live is a program that runs on the Onix and Helix 9, 10, and 12...so far. It can generate a map live on the unit and is very useful to enhance the information from a mapping card, or even create a map of a body of water from scratch.......but it does not have the full functionality of Autochart or Autochart Pro.

Autochart Live can save up to 8 hrs of data on the unit and after that, the data begins to be overwritten by the new data. If a Zero Lines Card is inserted into a unit with Autochart Live data, that data is automatically MOVED to the ZLC........The unit will also record Autochart Live data directly to a ZLC if it is in the unit. As it turns out, a map/data created by Autochart Live can only be used in another unit that has Autochart Live as part of the onboard software..... Onix or Helix 9,10, 12.......Not just any any that supports Lakemaster.

Additionally, Autochart Live data/mapping saved to a Zero Lines Card cannot be utilized by Autochart or Autochart Pro software that runs on a PC.

Autochart and Autochart Pro require sonar data recorded by a Humminbird unit to create a map......Those maps can then be saved onto a Zero Lines Card and will have all the functions of a standard Lakemaster chip, including I-pilot follow the contour.

As a get around for the Autochart software not playing together with each other...........It has been determined that a unit can create a map with Autochart Live and simultaneously record sonar data .... and that recorded data could then be used in Autochart or Autochart Pro PC software to generate a fully functional Lakemaster map.

Camohunter probably has the best skills of anyone I know with the Autochart and Autochart Pro software and may have more information he can add to this thread.

Anyone else who has more info or questions feel free to join in.

That information is largely accurate except there have been some updates since that was written that allow you to use autochart live data in the autochart pc program. You have to go to my humminbird, register the pc program, and download an update. Once that is complete you can use the autochart live data to create maps as usual. You cannot make bottom hardness or side imaging mosaic overlays with autochart live data, you must record the raw sonar data onto an sd card to generate those.

I have successfully created maps on one zero lines card, uploaded them to my pc, and made a second zero lines card for use in my 859 DI. That unit also requires an update to make use of the AC (autochart) data folder.

Shiloh, if you have a zero lines card it will map map map and never overwrite the data. You can pull the card out and take all the map data to whatever autochart live unit you want to view it on. If you want to view it on a non-live capable unit you will have to buy the pc program to create a autochart map.