Who's running a computer program for their sounder/GPS backing up?
Submitted by Lucky Tim on Thu, 2010-11-18 09:26
Hey all,
Is anyone running a program on their computer for viewing/saving waypoints, sounder shots, etc, particularly for thier Lowrance? I downloaded the free Lowrance Sonar Viewer but I think it should have been left in the '80's where it belongs.
What are you running, where did you get it from, how much $$$ and is it worth it?
Cheers
Tim
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Thanks for reminding
Thanks for reminding me!
I copy points into bluenav by hand, and the iphone as well.
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
I back up to excel
manually every year.
I also use sonar viewer but only to see if there were any lumps I missed whilst travelling. I don't use it to store any spots.
The third failsafe is I run two GPS units on deck at all times (a plotter/sounder and a straight GPS. ) Most spots are duplicated (well the good ones anyway). so if one fails I can still find the spots on the other GPS.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
easygps just for waypoints
easygps just for waypoints
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15644
Date Joined: 29/11/05
second that
I use easy gps just for my points as well.
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
Seaquest
Posts: 1131
Date Joined: 22/10/09
I use Nav Planner. It allows
I use Nav Planner. It allows you to load Navionics charts onto your computer. Great for trip planning, editing and backing up. Really easy to use and is pretty cheap if you buy it online.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
I run Magellian GPS system,
I run Magellian GPS system, with a beta version of the software package, Mapsend Light Pro. see my thread:
http://fishwrecked.com/forum/doing-new-berty-25
very easy to use and export / import data to,
I have tried the lowrance software when I had one and it sucks in the format it backs up in my view. ( that was back in 2005)
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
Cheers guys but I like the
Cheers guys but I like the sound of the Nav Planner program Seaquest is running. Where did you get yours from Brenden? I'll have to have a squizz sometime.
Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
Navplaner
Also run navionics navplanner purchased just recently. easy as to use, you'll need a navionics card of the local area to plug and play as it only has charts for USA waters. I assume you have a navionics card using a lowrance unit. I picked up mine from a place called WMJ marine in the US for 125USD. Honestly it was an impulse buy, never researched the local price and still haven't but something hidden away in my memory was telling me it was cheap as.
Dave J.
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
I think at just under $300
I think at just under $300 local you got a great buy. Do you have to keep putting your Navionics card in your computer when you use it or can you load the charts on so the card can stay in your GPS?
Seaquest
Posts: 1131
Date Joined: 22/10/09
Yes mate, every time you
Yes mate, every time you want the charts in the background you have to load it on through a card reader. I think this is because the charts are write protected to stop people copy them. All waypoints, trails, etc are always there. Having the chart loaded makes it heaps easier to see where your waypoints are. I wouldn't be with out it. It great for adding waypoints to your GPS. Simple just enter them on Nav Planner, save them to a MMC card and them load them on to your GPS. I have been sounding new ground and saving the trail to see where I have been. I then load it on to Nav Planner and save it. The trails can be hidden when you don,t want to see them. This allows me to know exactly where I have been and stops me going over the same old ground. I try and plan a new route every time I go out.
AllBoatsChandlery
Posts: 118
Date Joined: 17/07/10
Nav Planner
yes Nav Planner, for only $289 its great, but keep an eye out for the new nav planner plus !!
"There's no business like boat business"