Error in converted waypoint files. Possible?

[Halfhitch]

Recently I sent a Compat Flash card with Raymarine FSH files on it so they could convert them to GPX files on a SD card so my Lighthouse II system on my e127 can read them. I got them back with no charges, which was nice, but I find that the names of the waypoints are missing. They are just numbered 1 to 140. Thats kinda problematic. The big thing is it appears that the accuracy of the wayponts is off. In looking at all the Xs on the chart page, it appears that they are not correct on the few where there is a chart indicator built into the map card. Is this possible? I haven't run out to these sites yet to check yet but I'm a little concerned. I hope I don't have to start all over.

 

[seasick]

You should be able to look at the Lat and Lon for the new GPX waypoints and compare it to the old data (assuming you read the old card or still have the old MFD.

How did you create the CF card and the FSH files? If you exported it, were there options for the file format?

 

[Doc Stressor]

Be sure that your MFD is set up for the correct GPS waypoint format. There are 3 different ones. It's possible that the company used a conversion program that changed the format.

DDD° MM' SS.S" Degrees, Minutes and Seconds
DDD° MM.MMM' Degrees and Decimal Minutes
DDD.DDDDD° Decimal Degrees

 

[Halfhitch]

You should be able to look at the Lat and Lon for the new GPX waypoints and compare it to the old data (assuming you read the old card or still have the old MFD.

How did you create the CF card and the FSH files? If you exported it, were there options for the file format?

I created the card using an older C series plotter that was on the boat that I was fishing. Actually, setting the waypoints while on the location with the boat. I kept the card but I can't read the lat and long on the CF card because my computer won't open it.

 

[Halfhitch]

Be sure that your MFD is set up for the correct GPS waypoint format. There are 3 different ones. It's possible that the company used a conversion program that changed the format.

DDD° MM' SS.S" Degrees, Minutes and Seconds
DDD° MM.MMM' Degrees and Decimal Minutes
DDD.DDDDD° Decimal Degrees.

I talked to the tech at Raymarine and he had me send the info about the plotter that I have and which operating system it uses insluding the update number and the serial number of the unit. When I enter a lat/long here in the driveway it accepts and displays decimal degrees. I was just wondering if anybody has experienced a variance when converting. I know when we would convert from LORAN numbers to GPS numbers, we got some strange stuff sometimes, but that's ancient history. I have the same waypoints that were downloaded from a Garmin. Garmin uses GPX also but I don't know if they put a bug in it so other brands won't accept it. Hopefully it will show the names of the waypoints so I can find what I'm looking for. It is on an SD card so I can try that. I don't think it would hurt the Raymarine, it should just refuse to read it. What do you think.

 

[wspitler]

Older Garmin’s did not use GPX format, they used a proprietary format I think ”adm” now they accept both.

 

[Doc Stressor]

.gpx is a universal format. Any MDFs that can save or import using the .gpx format should be able to share waypoints. But if .gpx is not the native format of an MFD (such as Simrad and Lowrance), exporting data in .gpx can strip out things like tracks and waypoint symbols. But the waypoint numbers themselves should transfer correctly as long as the GPS formatting is the same.

 

[Hookup1]

Back in April last year I converted a bunch of waypoints for you. Are these the same waypoint set or a different one?

I'm not familiar with the Raymirine FSH format. Usually they can be opened with Notepad or some other editor. Typically they are in a XML format that is unique to the vendor. You need to be sure that the FSH file exported contains the names of the waypoints. You can also look at the GPX file they reurned to you to see if the names are there.

GPX is a vendor neutral format that Garmin and others support.

I converted your earlier waypoint set using GPS Babel. This is free software.

GPSBabel: convert, upload, download data from GPS and Map programs

If you want me to look at this for you email the files to me. If all you need is the original waypoint set (I have a copy somewhere) needs to be converted to another format I can do that too.

Frank

 

[Halfhitch]

Yeah, Frank I remember you doing that for me. I can't remember the details but I couldn't get things to work. Doesn't really matter now cause I got rid of that boat. I now Have a e127 Raymarine running Lighthouse II . I thought it was nice of Raymarine to do that for me for free but I lost the names for some reason. When I open that card this is what I see....

When I tried to open the files on the Garmin SD card this is what I see...

 

[SkunkBoat]

Thats a adm file from garmin. You can't open that outside of a garmin device or the old Homeport software.
From the Garmin you have to Choose to export/import GPX otherwise it is adm within Garmin devices.




You can open a .gpx file in Google Maps

 

[Hookup1]

So slow down. This random information is useless. Are you trying to use the original waypoints you sent me last year over to this Raytheon Lighthouse II E127?

 

[Hookup1]

This isn't really that difficult unless you make it so and YES you are making this difficult.

If everything is good on your original unit and it exports a .FSH file start by opening that file with TextEdit or Notepad. You have to start by verifying that the correct data (Lat/Long and Names) are exported. If its not right no conversion tool can fix your problem. Start there.

 

[Halfhitch]

Ok, thanks

 

[Hookup1]

Raymarine stores data in .FSH file in binary format. If this is true you may not be able to "see" anything intelligible with an editor but try anyway.

FSH is a binary format used by Raymarine's chart plotters to save tracks and routes. This page describes the file structures as far as known. Of course, the format is implemented in Raymarine's tools which can be purchased on their web site.

Apparently Raymarine has a free downloadable tool.

Producing GPX file from data within a FSH file. - Raymarine ...​

https://forum.raymarine.com › showthread

Jul 17, 2018 · 1 post · 1 author
Producing GPX file from data within a FSH file · 1. Download the FSH to GPX Converter installation executable (click here to download) · 2. Run ...

 

[Halfhitch]

Thanks Hookup1. I'll see what I can do with that.

 

[Hookup1]

Are these the waypoints you are looking for? These are from the files I converted. There at least as many that don't have names on them.

 

[Halfhitch]

Yes! And even the names are there. How did you find them after all this time? The ones you saw that have no names are just waypoints I made while traveling and saw interesting showings on the sounder to come back to. Just likely spots to try when I am in the area and have the time. Sometimes when we are running and happen onto one that looks too good to pass up, we spin around and drop on it. The ones without names are of less value than the named ones.

If I mail you an SD card could you put that info on it in GPX form in such a way that my Raymarine Lighthouse II system can use it?

 

[Hookup1]

The original .USR file you sent me last year is in my email archive. I sent the original .USR file back to you and converted files in .ADM and .GPX format to your email just now

I’m not sure the Garmin unit you have has the ability to load .GPX files. You need to use the .ADM file. This file has to placed in a particular place on a Garmin setup card.

NO NAME (F > Garmin > userdata > Venice FL 2021.adm

To do this you need to find the User Data management screens on your device.

GPSMAP 84xx/86xx/87xx - Sharing and Managing User Data​

https://www8.garmin.com › gpsmap8400-8600 › EN-US


Put a blank or unused card in the Garmin unit, transfer data to the card (it will create directory), take the card out and go to your PC, take the file I sent you and place it in the userdata directory, go back to the Garmin unit and merge or replace data from card.

 

[Hookup1]

I forgot you said you had a Lighthouse II system e127 that unit supports .GPX format. Looks like you can just put the .GPX file on a SD card and load it.


With the Homescreen displayed:


1. Ensure you have the memory card containing the gpx file(s) inserted into a card reader slot.


2. From the Homescreen select My Data > Import/Export > Retrieve Data. The file browser is opened.


3. Browse to and select the file you want to import. A confirmation dialog is displayed.


4. Select OK.


Let me know how you make out.

 

[Hookup1]

One last thing – attached is a .CSV file with your data in it. It can be opened with Excel. This will let you “see” your old waypoints. You can change them but the changes can not be uploaded to your unit.


This file has Lat/Lon numbers saved in decimal degrees. GPS units typically use decimal minutes.


Use this tool to convert for verification. https://www.eddmaps.org/tools/latlongconv.cfm


You were asking about error introduced by conversion. GPS coordinates are absolute and conversion between different GPS coordinate formats is loss-less. This was not true with Loran which is an approximation of Lat/Lon. GPS is high repeatability and high accuracy for any unit while Loran is high repeatability (for a given Loran unit) and medium accuracy.