Hi.

It's a great software. I'd like to buy it but I've a problem with files from my Lowrance Elite 5 (GPS).
The software read files but doesn't show lake's depth. Because of that it's impossible to generate lake's underwater map. Could you tell me whether it's my device fault or software's error. Or perhaps I'm doing something wrong?

I attach the two mentiond files to this message with a request of testing both of them.

thx for help.

ps.
delete pls extended.jpg

Hi Alex,
You can't attach your log files directly to messages here, but feel free to send them to me directly: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

As far as I am aware, the Elite 5 cannot log sonar, and Lowrance do not store depths in standard track logs (as Humminbird do). I'm guessing that this is the problem, and that you have imported some Lowrance trails, which do not contain depth information.

The only way you could get usable data out of your current unit would be to connect it to a laptop via NMEA 0183 and log your tracks live on the water.

Matt

Hi Matt.

Thank you for your response. Could you advise me a program for android to read and write data from my Lowrance (preferably free) to your program to correctly read the data from the GPS and depth of the water? Maybe there is a progam on mobile phones?


Thx.

Hi Alex,
I don't know of an Android solution off the top of my head, but I am looking into it now. It might be possible to log NMEA data to an Android phone via a serial to usb connection - but to some extent this is also going to depend on your exact Android device (and whether it can act as a USB host). Another option would be a dedicated hardware serial logger, but they are actually quite expensive.

ReefMaster would also have to be updated so that it could import NMEA log files, but this would be fairly simple; we could release an update to do that quickly.

I'm looking into it now and will get back to you when I know more.

thanks,
Matt

I have a question regarding the Elite 5-m. Would it be possible to export maps to this unit with one of these 2 options.
1. Recording the sonar/gps logg with a different combi unit and then export a map for the Elite 5-m ore 2. log the sonar from a Elite 7-x and the gps from the Elite 5-m via nmea 183 live to a pc and then export a map for the elite 5-m?
Best regards from Sweden

Hi Erik,
You should be able to do either option 1 or 2. Option 1 - just record the data with another combi unit - would be the easiest. Once data has been imported, all data within ReefMaster is treated the same, regardless of source. So you can easily combine data from different units to produce single maps, and export the maps in any format you choose.

Option 2 should work, but it would be a bit of effort, with 2x NMEA leads and serial to USB converters. Another option is to log the sonar from the Elite 7 via NMEA, and use your smart-phone as a bluetooth GPS puck. I've tried this with my Nexus 4 (there's a free Android app to send GPS position data over bluetooth) and it works surprisingly well.

cheers,
Matt

Thanks for your quick answer Matt!
I just downloaded the trial and i am realy exited about the program.
This is going to be interesting!