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Craftsmen's Corner / Google Map data to Lowrance Fish Finders
« on: July 25, 2023, 12:54:45 PM »
I've been trying to find a way to create maps for a Lowrance unit that I bought that has no Map ability, like the Lowrance Reveal 5X that I purchase last year. This past week I had planned on going to Albion on vacation, but hurt my back and ended up staying home. With copious amounts of time on my hands I started looking into backing up my FF data, and transferring it between units, and did some serious geeking out to automate backing up my waypoints, compile the data into a database and re-generate new files to import back into the fish finder.
Having solved how to backup and consolidate GPS data I started looking at how to generate new data using Google Maps and be able to import that data into the fish finder. I did a lot of research on what types of files are compatible with what websites or fish finder units and have found that it's really quite easy to create a bunch of GPS points on Google and then load them into your fish finder.
Since I also have this GPS only unit, I was looking for ways to import maps to it without any luck. But then came up with the idea that if I had a good list of known GPS coordinates, and a contour line of land that it would be pretty good compared to a GPS without any sort of map. It's only a prof of concept, but I think that it is at least better than a blank page. You have waypoints you can still use the GPS to route and at least some way to orientate to land. I can go into detail on the process later, but just wanted some feedback if people think it's useful and want to try it, I can send you a copy of the file to import.
Here is what it ends up looking like, see the red line I drew on Google Maps, and then added it and gps coordinates to my FF:
Having solved how to backup and consolidate GPS data I started looking at how to generate new data using Google Maps and be able to import that data into the fish finder. I did a lot of research on what types of files are compatible with what websites or fish finder units and have found that it's really quite easy to create a bunch of GPS points on Google and then load them into your fish finder.
Since I also have this GPS only unit, I was looking for ways to import maps to it without any luck. But then came up with the idea that if I had a good list of known GPS coordinates, and a contour line of land that it would be pretty good compared to a GPS without any sort of map. It's only a prof of concept, but I think that it is at least better than a blank page. You have waypoints you can still use the GPS to route and at least some way to orientate to land. I can go into detail on the process later, but just wanted some feedback if people think it's useful and want to try it, I can send you a copy of the file to import.
Here is what it ends up looking like, see the red line I drew on Google Maps, and then added it and gps coordinates to my FF: