Autochart Vs Navionics Plus

[curtis9]

I live on a private ~125 acre lake that has no contour plot available. I'd like to start mapping it out aND am trying to decide between autochart or navionics plus. I'll likely be the only person mapping the lake so there is no advantage to the public aspect of navionics. Has anyone used both that can compare the 2 and give a recommendation?

[jcoholich]

You could also use the navionics app with a vexilar t box and map the lake that way spending about 9 dollars for the app and 100 for the vexilar t box.

[Wayne P.]

You could also use the navionics app with a vexilar t box and map the lake that way spending about 9 dollars for the app and 100 for the vexilar t box.

Yes, it is called Sonar Charts Live. You can see the depth contour lines being formed as you record.

The connection between the transducer and device app is WiFi.

 

BUT that data is automatically uploaded to Navionics when in a WiFi area to add to the shared Sonar Charts mapping layer. I use the Sonarphone/Navionics Sonar Charts Live process.

 

I also use the Navionics Sonar Charts program with Navionics Hotmaps Platinum and Navionics+ cards with my Humminbird units. Been doing the Sonar Charts program since it was started in the US.

Sonar Charts is FREE with those map products. FREE processing of the data and FREE use of the data transfer.  

 

With Lakemaster Auto Chart, you purchase the computer software and Zero Line map card to process your recorded sonar longs and convert them to contour maps. It is yours only.

 

Bottom line is, do you want to share your data or keep it private? You have two good choices for your mapping creation needs.

[curtis9]

I ended up ordering the autochart pro based on the ability to bring in SI images into the map. I bought this to use with a helix 5 which has a micro SD slot, but when I opened the autochart package it has a standard SD card. Humminbird's website says the software is compatible with the unit. Do you know if there is a micro zero level line card o can trade for, or will auto chart not work with the helix?

[Wayne P.]

I ended up ordering the autochart pro based on the ability to bring in SI images into the map. I bought this to use with a helix 5 which has a micro SD slot, but when I opened the autochart package it has a standard SD card. Humminbird's website says the software is compatible with the unit. Do you know if there is a micro zero level line card o can trade for, or will auto chart not work with the helix?

 

The 2015 issue should be the microSD in a SD adaptor.

Did you check to see if your card is a SD adaptor with a microSD card inside?

 

You use the microSD in the adaptor for your computer and then remove the microSD to use in the Helix.

[livemusic]

Wayne, can you provide some detail on how one can chart a lake to produce a contour map for private use? How do you grid the lake, how far apart is each pass and how do you know what line to take, does it guide you? Do you use this with primary motor or troll motor? How long would it take to chart, say, a 100 acre lake?

[curtis9]

There is no micro card, it's just a standard SD card. I'm hoping humminbird will exchange it for me.

[Wayne P.]

Wayne, can you provide some detail on how one can chart a lake to produce a contour map for private use? How do you grid the lake, how far apart is each pass and how do you know what line to take, does it guide you? Do you use this with primary motor or troll motor? How long would it take to chart, say, a 100 acre lake?

It is not complicated. Any place you do not pass directly over will not have accurate data. You choose how detailed you want your map and your travel pattern.

You can do it over time and just keep improving the accuracy.

You can do sonar logs with any mode of propulsion, paddle, electric motor, gas motor, etc.

The slower you go, the more accurate the contours will be. Typically record at a track point per second with recreational equipment. The mapping companies have equipment that records many times per second so they can cover water faster. A track point has the depth and location used to create the contour lines.

[Wayne P.]

One thing you will find out when doing the map creation is how inaccurate the commercial maps really are.

No one gathers data for every square inch of terrain.

Data is collected in intervals and fake (interpolated) lines are drawn between data points.

The farther apart the data points are, the less accurate the contours will be.

 

When using Navionics Sonar Charts Live and Lakemaster Auto Charts or Auto Charts Live, contour lines are created left and right of the actual data point. A sonar unit can only read range and the only accurate depth range it can record is directly under the transducer.

 

This shows a single Sonar Charts Live track over a Sonar Charts contour map that I supplied data to create.

I did the single track at the top and some overlapping tracks in the lower part that looks dark.

It demonstrates the fake (interpolated) lines created by the mapping program.

My travel path for the top one started where the + is and ended at the blue highlighed point.

Those fake lines are probably 50-100 feet wide.

The Lakemaster Auto Charts does the same thing.

 

 

[Wayne P.]

This is Navionics Sonar Charts and an example of fixing an inaccurate contour area.

This is the same lake as above- it is electric-only.

The whole lake, 420 acres, was given contour lines (interpolated) when it was first created using a few of my sonar logs.

The extended point was not recorded so there was no data to create it.

 

Note the waypoint co-ordinates are the same

 

This is the way it was:

 

 

This is the Google Earth track I did to collect the data:

 

 

This is the way it is now:

 

 

 

If you do this program, after your data has been processed, you are sent an email informing that it is ready to be downloaded and included with that email is the Google Earth track. I print that file so I have a record of where I have collected data and I can see where data needs to be collected.

 

This is a composite of a lot of tracks at that lake a couple of years ago when I first started collecting data, and everywhere that is not red is inaccurate. The whole lake will not be accurate until it is solid red.

 

 

Not long after providing that composite track map, Navionics started including the Google Earth track in the notification email.

 

In the words of Paul Harvey, "now you know the rest of the story"

[RoLo]

As Wayne indicated, it's not physically plausible for commercial cartographers to match the accuracy

of an onsite mapper who uses close-knit passes. Commercial bathymetry and personal bathymetry

both use algorithms for connecting the dots and smoothing the unknown.

Consequently, the more tight passes you make with AutoChart, the greater the accuracy of your custom-made chart.

 

Roger

[bassguytom]

When mapping a lake would you say 20 feet apart for each pass or closer? I am going to map some lakes with Auto Chart.

[RoLo]

When feasible, I'll make 25 ft passes on the X axis (horizontal) and 25 ft passes on the Y axis (vertical).

In obscure areas and black holes I'll make diagonal passes as well.

Using 20 ft passes would offer greater detail, but would also be more time-consuming, particularly on large sites.

 

Roger