Dr. Depth bottom charting software

http://www.drdepth.se/ex_map.php?l=gb
http://www.drdepth.se/ex_wreck.php?l=gb

It is not cheap, but it is very interesting.  Just paddle along with your depth finder on and save the data.  Use Dr.Depth to convert your track and depth data to create charts of the bottom contours. 

Pretty cool. 

Now, THAT is a cool toy!  This would be great for identifying bass, sturgeon and lingcod haunts.

I'd be happy just knowing how to pull the simple GPS data from my Cuda to share with others.  Is there such a software, PC connectionoid cable that I am not seeing available?   

Maybe it's a new feature, but I noticed that the GPS versions of the Eagle Cuda had two plugs in the back.  One of them looked like it was supposed to be for an adapted version of USB or other interface.  The other plug was the spot for transducer and battery hookup.

Ok those that have the Eagle Cuda what is that second plug for?  

Ok those that have the Eagle Cud what is that second plug for? 

Ditto. 

sumbuddy gimme a linkages to dis fishyfindr thingy... i gots sum reddin ta do 

Ok those that have the Eagle Cud what is that second plug for? 

From the 350s/map manual

NMEA is a standard communications format for marine electronic
equipment. The Cuda 350 can send information to any device that receives
NMEA 0183 data. This allows the unit to work with VHF marine
radios equipped with the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress call
feature.
To send NMEA 0183 data, the Cuda 350 has one NMEA 0183 version
2.0 communication port. The com port can be used to send NMEA formatted
data such as your current position.
The provided Cuda 350 data cable plugs into the accessory socket on the
right side of the back of your unit's case. The data cable ends in two wires
that connect to your VHF radio or other NMEA device. The Cuda 350 uses
the yellow wire to transmit and the black shield wire for signal ground.


From what I can tell, the Cuda is only capable of saving waypoints.  gotta have the bigger $ units to save sonar data

Thats something I've been kicking around for a bit.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,1863.0.html

I spoke with Bsteves offline briefly about logging, then plotting the data from a fishfinder with gps to build a picture of the bottom. He suggested a palm with a card reader coupled to the NMEA output of the Cuda 350/250 LowranceM56/M68 . Then I stumbled onto this thing and it looks like exactly the ticket.

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=98&zenid=334135a35aaebe8cfb30481d9040ce1a

This shield is designed to make GPS projects straight-forward and easy. Plug in a supported GPS module and run any of the example Arduino sketches for parsing GPS data (NMEA sentences), logging to a FAT16-formatted SD flash memory card and storing analog sensor data along with precise location, date and time in CSV format.

That's pretty close to what we were talking about and using the csv values to build a 3-d graph would be doable for a software mage like him.

That something I've been kicking around for a bit.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,1863.0.html

We spoke briefly back about logging, then plotting the data from a fishfinder with gps to build a picture of the bottom. Bsteves suggested a palm with a card reader. Then I stumbled onto this thing and it looks like exactly the ticket.

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=98&zenid=334135a35aaebe8cfb30481d9040ce1a


Quote
This shield is designed to make GPS projects straight-forward and easy. Plug in a supported GPS module and run any of the example Arduino sketches for parsing GPS data (NMEA sentences), logging to a FAT16-formatted SD flash memory card and storing analog sensor data along with precise location, date and time in CSV format.

That's pretty close to what I was talking about using the csv values to build a 3-d graph would be doable for a software mage liek him.

Ok, this is where I am very weak, software is not my friend.  If I can't physically handle something and see how it operates, I have a hard time wrapping my brain around it.  
It says it's "straight forward and easy", yeah to only those that talk that language.  

Someone please ungeek it for me.  

So you'll have a string of GPS data
but you're still not going to be able to pull the sensor info.  At least not from the 350.  Most FF units that log sensor data also have an SD card slot...

So you'll have a string of GPS data
but you're still not going to be able to pull the sensor info.  At least not from the 350.  Most FF units that log sensor data also have an SD card slot...

If I'm not mistaken (which has never happened)   the NMEA output of the Lowrance and the Cuda ff/gps's has a sentence for the depth as well as position. The point of the
aforementioned gizmo is to read that info and store it on an SD card.

If I'm not mistaken (which has never happened)   the NMEA output of the Lowrance and the Cuda ff/gps's has a sentence for the depth as well as position.

Yup,
page 163-164 of the Cuda 350 manual has the output sentences to check in the NMEA configuration menu to kick out the depth, time and position.

(WOW! I actually was not mistaken! that's different)

If I'm not mistaken (which has never happened)   the NMEA output of the Lowrance and the Cuda ff/gps's has a sentence for the depth as well as position.

Yup,
page 163-164 of the Cuda 350 manual has the output sentences to check in the NMEA configuration menu to kick out the depth, time and position.

(WOW! I actually was not mistaken! that's different)

You're not mistaken, but you did miss the warning below that which reads:

"Use of the cord could result in overheating and fire and/or battery explosion  - if you're name is Wali"

Apparently the Cuda 250's have full NMEA output capabilities as well.  I found this in an addendum to the owner's manual.  It's on configuring the output thru the NMEA cable.