SonarTRX FAQ

QA1 - What is the main difference between SonarTRX, SonarTRX-SI, SonarTRX-LSS and SonarTRX-GVU? As of SonarTRX Release v19, SonarTRX-SI, SonarTRX-LSS and SonarTRX-GVU are no longer avilable for sale. They supported import of files from specific sonar manufacturers only. The SI version was for Humminbird Side Imaging sonars only, the LSS version was for Lowrance HDS sonars with StructureScan and the GVU version was for Garmin SideVu/DownVu. The full version (SonarTRX Pro) supports these files + XTF and additional file types from other sonars. Please see the Feature Matrix document for details about the features in each product.

QA2 - Which models of Humminbird sonars are supported by SonarTRX and SonarTRX-SI? SonarTRX and SonarTRX-SI supports recordings from the 700, 800, 900 and 1100 series sonars and more recent models that can save files to the traditional *.dat/*.son file format. (i.e. SonarTRX typically supports models that can make continuous *.son/*.dat recordings of SI or DI data to memory card.)

QA3 - What is included in the purchase price? The purchase price includes electronic download of the software, and one Sentinel SL license key activation. Prior to September 15, 2013, this was provided as a USB key (Sentinel HL), but is now provided as an electronic license key activation (Sentinel SL), via email. The price also includes upgrades to future releases of the major version purchased. Please see online store for more information.

QA4 - On what device is the SonarTRX software installed? SonarTRX is a Windows software, typically installed on a PC running the Windows operating system. Example: To process a Humminbird Side Imaging recording, you remove the SD card from your Humminbird unit, connect it to the PC and copy the files over. SonarTRX can then import those files/recordings, and generate geo-referenced images for viewing with Google Earth Pro or import to other programs (QGIS, ESRI, Global Mapper, Manifold GIS, or other 3'rd party mapping software)

QA5 - Can SonarTRX generate gpx files for import and display on sonar or chart plotter? Yes, SonarTRX includes tools to generate GPX files that contains sonar coverage areas (as enclosed lines for each image-tile), trackline and waypoints. In addition, any features you add to the "Annotation" folder (by drawing placemarks, lines or areas from within Google Earth Pro) can also be exported to a GPX file. You can typically upload/transfer these GPX files to a sonar or chart plotter, using device specific software, or by manually copying the files to the sonar or chart plotters SD memory card. Please check with the sonar or chart plotter manufacturer for information about support for generic GPX files. The KML to GPX exporter built into SonarTRX has the option to generate GPX tracks or GPX routes from the KML features, and also converts KML placemarks to GPX waypoints. If you just want a visual reference on the sonar/chart plotter display, you can select to export lines and areas as GPX tracks. If you need to navigate to these features, you may want to export as GPX routes.

QA6 - How can I import the GPX files created with the SonarTRX Publisher with Google Earth Pro? Open the GPX file from Google Earth, and remember to use the option to "Create KML LineStrings" rather than the "Create KML Tracks". The reason for this is that none of GPX features will have time-stamps associated with them. Hence, there is no way to ensure that the features will display properly as a KML Track.

QA7 - Are there any particular Google Earth Pro settings that affects the appearance of the SonarTRX images? Yes. The PNG compression applied by Google Earth Pro should be turned off to avoid artifacts in the SonarTRX images. From the Google Earth Pro Tools-Options menu, select the 3D View tab. In the settings for the Texture Colors, uncheck the checkbox that says "Compress".

QA8 - How can I minimize the appearance of the "seam" between each image tile? The SonarTRX images have a transparent region in all areas except where there is sonar coverage. When Google Earth Pro renders the transition between transparent pixels and fully opaque pixels, the result is often a thin, blurry line around areas with opaque pixels. This effect is not apparent in the actual image tiles generated by SonarTRX, but is due to the method used by Google Earth Pro to overlay and render the images. This edge-effect is not visible when importing the image-tiles into other programs such as Manifold GIS, Global Mapper and ESRI. The latest version of SonarTRX includes improvements in the location of the pixel-boundary between areas covered by the sonar and the transparent regions. These changes minimize the occurrence of any gaps between the tiles.

QA9 - How do I disable the "tilt while zooming" feature in Google Earth Pro? In Google Earth Pro, you can turn off this feature. From the Google Earth Pro Tools-Options menu, select the Navigation tab. In the settings for the Navigation, click the "Do not automatically tilt while zooming" option. You do not have the option to turn this feature off when using the old Google Earth plugin within a browser, but if you use the PgDown and PgUp keys instead of the mouse to zoom in/out, the program will not adjust the tilt angle.

QA10 - I have problems installing the Sentinel HASP/LDK Run-time environment, using the SonarTRX licensing system Start Menu shortcut (Start -> All Programs -> SonarTRX -> ...Install Run-time environment (Sentinel LDK)) What might the problem be, and is there another way to install the licensing system and the provisional license for SonarTRX? First of all, you need to be logged in as an Administrator, or have administrator rights when installing the Run-time environment, since it involves installation of a Windows Service. If applicable, also disconnect any Sentinel HL / Aladdin HASP (USB) license keys connected to the computer prior to installing. Finally, if the "Sentinel LDK License Manager" Windows service is already running, the Windows Services applet can be used to first manually stop the service. Having done that, you can try again to install, using the licensing system Start Menu shortcut. If there are still issues, please download and install the most recent generic version of the Sentinel HASP/LDK Run-time environment directly from the Thales Group website, as described in Q&A#12 below. After downloading and installing the generic Sentinel HASP/LDK Run-Time environment, please try again to use the SonarTRX "Install Run-time environment..." shortcut. The installer will then detect that the more recent Run-time environment is installed, and only install our Vendor library and the provisional license for SonarTRX.

QA11 - How do I update my USB license key with a perpetual license for the SonarTRX PlusPack? (PlusPack is available from version 10.13 and newer) You first need to use HASP RUS (Remote Update System) to collect your current licensing information from your USB license key. HASP RUS will save the information to a "client to vendor file" (with the extension "*.C2V"). When the USB key is plugged in, HASP RUS should give you option to select between the HASP HL and the HASP SL key. Make sure you select the "HASP HL (...)" key, since that is the USB key. Having done that, you send that file to sales@sonartrx.com and make reference to PlusPack. In return, you will receive a "vendor to client file" (with the extension "*.V2C"). The V2C file contains the license information for the PlusPack, and you would use HASP RUS again to apply that license to your USB license key. To start HASP RUS, use the Windows Start Menu: Start -> All Programs -> SonarTRX... -> HASP Licensing -> Remote Update System (RUS).

QA12 - How can I install the latest version of the Sentinel HASP/LDK Run-Time environment (SonarTRX licensing system)? You can download an installation program directly from the Thales Group website (...previously provided by Gemalto, prior to that: SafeNet, and originally: Aladdin Knowledge Systems):

https://supportportal.thalesgroup.com/

The program to download is (as of June 18, 2024) described as: "Sentinel LDK Windows GUI Runtime Installer 9.16". (On Thales Group website, search for "Drivers & Runtime Packages" category, for product named "Sentinel LDK & LDK-EMS".) The download is a zip file containing HASPUserSetup.exe and a Readme.html file. It is important to follow the installation instructions, including removal of any USB license keys prior to installation and also (now optionally) to stop the Windows service called "Sentinel LDK License Manager" or "Sentinel Local License Manager". The service can be stopped from the Windows Services applet.

QA15 - How can I get SonarTRX to update the color scheme file to the latest version? To generate a new color scheme file, rename or delete the previous file listed in the advanced settings dialog. To open the advanced settings dialog, start SonarTRX and press the "F2" function key. If you had custom color schemes in the old file, you can use a text editor to copy them over to the new xml file.