Humminbird waypoints --> How to save for ice fishing?

[BLACKJACK]

Making the transition from icefishing with my Vexilar and older handheld Lowrance GPS to my Humminbird 1198 I'm thinking that it would be smart to follow a weed line later in the summer and make a bunch of waypoints to be used later on for ice fishing.

What would be the easiest way to electronically transfer those waypoints to a handheld GPS for icefishing?? Are there any handhelds or icefishing depth finders that would accept the SD card straight from the Humminbird?

[delcecchi]

I thnk there are programs for GPSs that will do that on your computer.

[reddog]

GPS Babel will convert between manufacturers.

You could always get a Humminbird Ice machine and just transfer them from the 1198 to whichever model you bought.

[BLACKJACK]

Thanks Reddog, was hoping you'd see this.

I didn't realize that some of the HB Ice machines came with GPS!!! That might be a very good option!!! Sell the Vexilar and go all HB!! My one concern is would the Ice machine read the SD card from the other unit?? Yes I know they're both HB but that doens't guarantee compatability, one could have been made in China and the other one in Korea!!

I did some searches on here but most of them were a couple years old.

Has anybody done this, swapped SD cards back and forth between an Ice unit and a regular HB unit?? Do both units read the same waypoints on the SD card??

[reddog]

They wont read the cards. You will be able so export all of your waypoints in your 11xx series (this will not delete them from the 11xx) to a SD card, and then import them into your new machine. Then, they will be always on the machine, whether the sd card is in or not. You can also reverse the process: If you find a rock pile or something ice fishing, you can then export your waypoints from the 788 (for instance) and import them back into the 11xx for open water exploration..

[fivebucks]

I just bought a 698 si and used the GPS for winter fishing on LOW while using the vex for sonar. The carrying case works for units up to 698 I believe. I will get probably get the ice ducer and do away with the vex for snowmobile trips and maybe use both for drive to spots. The 698 is now on the boat so life is good.

[BLACKJACK]

They wont read the cards. You will be able so export all of your waypoints in your 11xx series (this will not delete them from the 11xx) to a SD card, and then import them into your new machine. Then, they will be always on the machine, whether the sd card is in or not. You can also reverse the process: If you find a rock pile or something ice fishing, you can then export your waypoints from the 788 (for instance) and import them back into the 11xx for open water exploration..

reddog, that makes sense!! I was just skimming thru my 1198 manual yesterday and came across the part about exporting waypoints.

It just seems logical to do some exploring and marking waypoints in the boat, lots easier to find structure that way vs drilling holes all over to find a weedline or rock pile.

Thanks!!!

[BLACKJACK]

I just bought a 698 si and used the GPS for winter fishing on LOW while using the vex for sonar. The carrying case works for units up to 698 I believe. I will get probably get the ice ducer and do away with the vex for snowmobile trips and maybe use both for drive to spots. The 698 is now on the boat so life is good.

Thanks fivebucks!! Looks like I need to do some research before next winter and decide whether I get a Humminbird Ice or another smaller HB.

Right offhand, at what point do the HB's go from an internal GPS receiver to an external puck, like my 1198 has? A unit with an internal receiver would be easier to set and carry on the ice.

[fivebucks]

Not sure when they make the switch but the 600 series have internal GPS receiver and I believe the 5" screen is the largest that will work their ice fishing carrying case.

[Brad B]

the 500, 600, & 700 series all have internal GPS as do the new for this year 800, 900, 1100 series. last years and older 800, 900, & 1100 series had the external puck. the machine that you might want to look at would be the 597 ice. this started out as a open water unit but has now become a ice unit. the good thing about this is that I believe you can also use it during the open water season too. you would just need to get the high speed transom mount transducer for it.

[PurpleFloyd]

This is one of the main reasons I like to use a graph sonar for ice fishing. My plan is to hook my Elite 5 to a boat and use it to mark points on the open water that I can access in the winter to put me on locations of interest while drilling fewer holes to find them.