I just went and read this about the Helix 5.....
"AutoChart Live gives you the possibility to map any body of water yourself, using GPS and 2D sonar data, and reveal the lake�s or reservoir contours. With a given LakeMaster or Navionics card chip, you can record up to 8 hours of mapping data on your control unit. However, you can also purchase a Zero Lines chip for basically unlimited mapping."

So now I'm wondering if a "LakeMaster or Navionics card chip" is required to run Autochart?

It's not required.

Wayne P is the Humminbird guru, and I asked him a similar question.

My understanding:
All units come with a base map (uni map) with coastal/lake outlines.
LakeMaster, Navionics, Humminbird PC, and Autochart create overlays on top of the base map independent of each other.

The first 8 hours of Autochart recording can be saved to the unit's hard drive. Subsequent hours will either over write or if you put in a zero lines card, they will record to the zero lines card.

My question was, since the Helix 5 (and 7) only comes with one card slot, can you have both the Autochart overlay and the Navionics or LakeMaster overlay at the same time.

That's a very good question?

Oh, to add to the confusion I just called BPS in Grapevine. He said the 5 and 7 do have the ability BUT you had to by a card that they require to run it on.. this is getting silly. Does anyone know someone that for sure knows .

Ok....... I just spoke to a friend that actually has the Helix 5 CHIRP SI Sonar/GPS Combo G2 unit.
It does come with Autochart live. He said when he got it he took it out played with the function making maps of a unmapped area.
Now as the stock unit sits it will only record 8 hrs. So that where the ZeroLines map card comes in. The ZeroLines map card is just a storage card that will hold maps.

Yes, I sent you a PM that clarifies some things.

The answer to my question is yes, but only for 8 hours of recorded data.

If you are running with the Lake Master chip inserted, you will see the Lake Master overlay on top of the Unimap.

If you then turn on autochart live with the Lake Master chip inserted, you will see the autochart live recordings for up to 8 hours in addition to the Lake Master chip data. Those 8 hours will be recorded to the unit's hard drive.

Now, lets say you want to record 100 hours of sonar data and save all 100 hours--you need the zero lines card.

So basically, if you are mapping lots of small (uncharted waters), you would use your zero lines card when you go to those waters.

If you are going to a large, charted lake, you would take your LakeMaster chip and record up to 8 hours of autochart live. Suppose you could take both chips with you if you wanted to record more than 8 hours on a charted lake and save the data for later---but changing out microSD cards in 30 feet of water is something I'd rather not be doing


This is the big advantage of the larger units (Helix 9 and up I believe have two card slots)


One work around with only one card slot would be to download the recorded sonar data on the hard drive every 8 hours to a zero lines card. Then on your home PC, you upload the data to the Autochart Live Pro program. The autochart live pro program then becomes the main storage registry, which you copy to the zero lines card. The problem with one card slot will always be to whether to bring your LakeMaster chip or the zero lines card or both.

Great explanation!