Thread: Could use some Help on adding GPS coordinates on Helix

I found it easier, but still a bit complicated, to use the EasyGPS program to enter co-ordinates and create waypoints, view them on google earth, then save them, finally using GPSbabel program to convert to 'bird format. Then copy the file to the data SD card and import them on the device. Been a while since I've done it, not sure I recall the exact steps, but it wasn't too hard to figure out. Then again, I am an engineer with a lot of computer experience.

How do you have the spots now, on paper and you want to manually punch in the numbers or ???
May be able to do it from Humminbird PC if you have that program, I think it allows manual input. You could then upload those to your card and download on to the unit while in simulator mode. Not sure if Hum. PC is still a free download from the company website or not; worth a look at anyway.

The FREE way to do it is : find out which GPS the unit recognizes and punch them in manually. If the Helix will take the coords as is, then you just push the same buttons you would to mark a waypoint on the water & just use the "up/down arrow keys to change the numbers to match those coords you're adding. If the unit won't accept those numbers, or your waypoint doesn't show up on the map when you put them in ... then you'll need to convert them to whatever GPS Coord System it will accept.

I used this website to change the coordinates to what my Lowrance Elite 5 DSI was capable of using : GPS Coordinate Converter, Maps and Info

The nice thing about it is that when you put in the coord numbers, it shows you where that waypoint is on the map on that page. I did about 200-300 waypoints in a couple of hours (after a couple of hours or so of writing down the coords on paper & converting them from Decimal Degrees to "GPS Lat/Long" on the converter page).

Originally Posted by jawjatek

I found it easier, but still a bit complicated, to use the EasyGPS program to enter co-ordinates and create waypoints, view them on google earth, then save them, finally using GPSbabel program to convert to 'bird format. Then copy the file to the data SD card and import them on the device. Been a while since I've done it, not sure I recall the exact steps, but it wasn't too hard to figure out. Then again, I am an engineer with a lot of computer experience.

I’ll look at the easygps program and see if I can figure it out. Thank you for the help.

Originally Posted by 6poundtest

How do you have the spots now, on paper and you want to manually punch in the numbers or ???
May be able to do it from Humminbird PC if you have that program, I think it allows manual input. You could then upload those to your card and download on to the unit while in simulator mode. Not sure if Hum. PC is still a free download from the company website or not; worth a look at anyway.

I have them written down and will see if HB pc is still available. I have the Autochart program but not sure if I could do it there. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

The FREE way to do it is : find out which GPS the unit recognizes and punch them in manually. If the Helix will take the coords as is, then you just push the same buttons you would to mark a waypoint on the water & just use the "up/down arrow keys to change the numbers to match those coords you're adding. If the unit won't accept those numbers, or your waypoint doesn't show up on the map when you put them in ... then you'll need to convert them to whatever GPS Coord System it will accept.
I used this website to change the coordinates to what my Lowrance Elite 5 DSI was capable of using : GPS Coordinate Converter, Maps and Info

The nice thing about it is that when you put in the coord numbers, it shows you where that waypoint is on the map on that page. I did about 200-300 waypoints in a couple of hours (after a couple of hours or so of writing down the coords on paper & converting them from Decimal Degrees to "GPS Lat/Long" on the converter page).

The helix model has options in the gps format that allows the user to change and enter either way. I was just trying to be comfortable inside adding coordinates rather than sitting outside in the boat so it could get a gps location fix on the unit. It won’t allow me to enter coordinates without a fixed location. Just hoping to bypass it somehow. Thank you for the advice and input.

Looks like you can from the waypoint manager in Autochart. I just looked at mine and it appears to have a dialog box allowing you to do it via latitude and longitude. But I'm not sure you'd be able to import them in to your Helix without them being on the ZL card.

I think i downloaded to an sd card from humminbird pc then just put sd card in helix


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