DrDepth
When you are on water that has no quality maps you can create your own easily. You can collect the data using the Lowrance log chart feature, Humminbird trails, a Pocket PC, or a laptop. DrDepth will open that data to create maps. You record the chart data to the SD card and DrDepth will import that file to create maps. You can go back to the lake and record more data and add it easily. After you create your maps you can print them or create digital maps for your GPS.
If you have a laptop you can see the depth maps being created as you collect data by connecting the laptop to the GPS. Recently DrDepth has been able to connect to the laptop and receive the bottom hardness and side scan data “live” through the Ethernet. You can now see your maps immediately on the water.
DrDepth has 4 editions depending on your needs. Editions can be easily upgraded as your needs change.
Any depth, hardness or side scan map created in DrDepth can be easily imported into Google Earth. This example is from Chamberlain, SD with the side scan. The Google Earth image is from a low water period.
DrDepth Standard Version
This edition creates depth maps (bathymetric) in 2D and 3D.
DrDepth BT Version
This has all the features of the standard edition with a new feature added that takes the bottom hardness information from a Lowrance and Humminbird files and creates a bottom hardness map. This a great tool for showing bottom transitions of points, humps and flats. You have many choices of colors to use for hardness. I prefer the Lowrance default color settings. Yellow-hardest bottom, red-softer, and blue–softest. The Lowrance and Humminbird files are the only files DrDepth can retrieve bottom hardness from at this time.
Examples are from DrDepth and how they will display on your Lowrance GPS. Humminbird cannot display the depth lines as a map but can bring the depth lines in as trails (I predict this will change someday).
DrDepth Side Scan Version
This has the features of the standard edition and imports the side scan files from Humminbird and Lowrance as mosaic. You can zoom in and create waypoints on interesting structure, import the waypoints into your GPS and drive back to your new fishing spot!
You can also create depth contour lines and overlay them on the side scan mosaic plus you have 7 palette choices for the side scan.
One of the best features is that you can record your side scan data, display it in DrDepth, pan and zoom in to create waypoints or add your waypoints from your fishing spots and see how they lie on the side scan mosaic.
If you would like to see a sample of the DrDepth maps you can record your data with your Lowrance or your Humminbird and copy the files to a CD and send them to:
DOCTOR SONAR
40 County Road 20
Minnetrista, MN 55359
Make sure to add your email address so I can send you the sample maps and how to display them for your review. This is a good way for you to see a map of some structure you understand. |
