Basic Electronics - SONAR & GPS

[eye-tracker]

Over the past few years while attending fishing shows and receiving e-mail messages, I have noticed an increase of basic electronics questions. Most of these questions seem to be about installation, reading sonar graphs and simple navigation.

I am thinking of holding a couple of basic seminars in the late March time frame before my Tournament season starts in April. The question I have for all the members of this board is what topics would you like to see covered, are you interested and do you have any recommendations on locations?

-Sheldon

[SteveO]

Hi Sheldon -

This may be a little off topic, but something that has been on my mind is generating your own depth charts. I would be interested to know if the units have the functionality built in to record a table of GPS coords and the depth that you could than download to your PC and generate a map.

Via my brother I have a contact locally who is working on a "do-it-yourself" depth charting system. He is designing a system using separate sonar and gps units to gather the info. I am curious as to whether some of the latest units have this built in.

Thanks for the initiative on setting up this information workshop.

[eye-tracker]

SteveO,

This is a little advanced but I have captured bathymetric data on many uncharted bodies of water. On the Lowrance units you can record sonar data to a SD card and then play it back to analyze the data on your computer with Sonar Viewer software. This software shows you the GPS co-ordinates and depth data, so if you record your data while moving in a grid pattern you can re-create depth charts by saving the x,y and depth data to software like FUGAWI. The next issue you will be faced with is getting the data into one of the many proprietary ENC formats GPS units can read.

-sheldon

[Wallyboss]

I would be interested in a sonar reading course. But a course on reading the GPS maps(Navionics) would definetly be a course that I would also attend.

[Badger Shark]

X AND Y? Batymawhat? Oh boy its 10 grade math failure all over again!

I am techinically challenged, I can barely tie my shoes. I am going to have to get one of you guys to sit with me when I go out just to operate my new Lowrance!

[eye-tracker]

X AND Y? Batymawhat? Oh boy its 10 grade math failure all over again!

I am techinically challenged, I can barely tie my shoes. I am going to have to get one of you guys to sit with me when I go out just to operate my new Lowrance!

Badger,

This is why I want to do simple basic information seminars. Turn it on, what do I see and how do I use the basic functions while fishing.

-sheldon

[bts]

Sheldon, Can ya teach me how to use my GPS other than for speed. I have heard that they can be a pretty handy outfit.I have used it to get from the deck to my beer fridge with relative ease.

[Mr.J.]

Sheldon

I'm definitly very inerested, never really did much more with mine than turn it on and look at it.

Sure would be nice to get some insight on how to use mine.

Count me in.

[plowjock]

Sheldon, this is a very great gesture. I know myself I can always use a little extra info about the use of these pieces of equipment. Any idea where and when. I'll certainly try and make it out. How about a Legion hall somewhere to host this. just a suggestion.
Brian

[Tomcat]

Hi Sheldon:

I've expressed my interest to you privately before about a course/seminar on sonar display interpretation. Consequently, I'm in for such a seminar if you develop it. As to location, something generally central to everyone would be ideal. As to content, I'd appreciate pointers/examples that would help me to better recognize transition areas, thermoclines and the location of both bait fish and target fish. I don't yet have a colour sonar unit. Consequently, both colour and non-colour examples would be beneficial if possible. Jay

[RatherBFishin]

Sheldon:

Definitely interested! Just got my first boat with a Sonar and would love to get some tips.

[Seaweed]

Great idea Sheldon.

Here are a couple of things that threaten me the most about my electronics on my boat.

1) I am always worried that if I try to adjust my sonar to elimenate clutter I am going to mess it up and that it will stay that way. That might sound outragous but it is a fact for me.

2) I mark a lot of items in the Ottawa river like logs so that I don't run in to them in windy wavey weather, and these logs have a tendency to move every year and I end up with a bunch of icons that are no longer relevent... and I would love to be able to remove them.

3) Can a unit that is non-waas enabled become waas enabled and how much is the upgrade?

I too would attend a GPS-Sonar seminar if you held one... Jim W did a seminar last year in Ottawa Valley South Bassmaster group and I learned a lot.

[Erie-Eyes]

Hi Sheldon.
I'm definitely interested and will go wherever you can arrange it, even if a fee is required to cover cost. I've learned something at all of your past seminars and would not expect anything less this time around. We at Fish-hawk are extremely lucky that you are so generous with your knowledge and time.

[Waterguy]

Sheldon, I attended the seminar at Bennett's last year and this sounds like a great followup.

[eye-tracker]

Great to see an interest, I have noted all the questions and recommendations. I am presently working on some Ottawa locations and will update the information as I get firm details.

-sheldon