Transferring Nav Data from APEX or SOLIX to HELIX

Waypoint, route, and track data for APEX, SOLIX, and ONIX units is saved in .GPX format. HELIX models, however, are designed to read and save Navigation (Nav) Data in .HWR format. This means when transferring data from an APEX, SOLIX, or ONIX to a HELIX, the data will need to be formatted from .GPX to .HWR first. This can be done easily with HumminbirdPC. 

Warning! Waypoint capacity in SOLIX and APEX models is much greater than HELIX. HELIX models can store up to 2750 waypoints, 45 Routes, and up to 50 Tracks (not exceeding 20,000 Track points).

Keep these storage limits in mind when transferring data. 

Steps to Follow

1. Using a FAT32 formatted 32GB or less SD/MicroSD card, export your Nav Data from your APEX, SOLIX, or ONIX unit.
   • Instructions can be found here. 
2. Once the data is saved to the card, insert that same card in your PC card reader. 
3. Open HumminbirdPC. If you do not have it installed, you can install HumminbirdPC on a Windows computer with this link.
   • Don't have a Windows device? Click here
4. Import your .GPX file
   1. Select File > Open
      
      
   2. Change the Look in: field to reflect your storage device
      
      
   3. Make sure Files of type: is set to GPX File(*.gpx)
      
      
   4. Click on the GPX file you are importing and select Open.
      
      
5. Select the waypoints, routes, or tracks you wish to transfer, and then click the green arrow underneath the SD card symbol on the left hand side of the screen.
   
   
   • Waypoints can be selected individually or in ranges as depicted above, or, if you are wanting all nav data transferred, you can do this easily by simply selecting the title of the GPX file, and then click the green arrow.
     
     
6. Choose Add
   
   
7. Check contents of the storage device and note there is now a folder titled "matrix" with a "DATA.HWR" file saved inside.
   
   
8. Remove storage device from PC and power your Humminbird HELIX (or Legacy model) on.
9. Insert the card in the unit and you will be prompted by the following message:
   
   
10. Press the RIGHT cursor key to confirm importing the Nav Data.

Alternate Steps for non-Windows Users

1. Using a FAT32 formatted 32GB or less SD/MicroSD card, export your Nav Data from your APEX, SOLIX, or ONIX unit.
   • Instructions can be found here. 
2. Once the data is saved to the card, insert that same card in your PC card reader. 
3. Open your web browser and visit: https://www.gpsvisualizer.com/gpsbabel/
4. Complete the File conversion interface.
   
   
   • Type of GPS data you want to convert:  Select waypoints, Routes, or tracks depending on  what was exported
   • Input file format: Choose GPS XML [W][T][R]
   • Output file format: 
     • If Waypoints [W] or Routes [R] was selected at the top, choose "Humminbird waypoints and routes (.hwr) [W][R]"
     • If Tracks [T] was selected at the top, choose "Humminbird tracks (.ht) [T]"
   • Click Choose File and select the GPS file you are converting, then click Open
     
     
   • Put the converted file into a .zip archive: Recommend leaving this at "no"
   • Try to output ALL types of data (W,T,R): Choose "yes"
5. Click Convert the file
6. Click on the newly created .hwr file to download it to your computer.
   
   
7. Create a new folder on your storage device, and name it: matrix
8. Locate the recently downloaded .hwr file on your computer and copy/move it to the "matrix" folder on your storage device.
   
   
9. Remove storage device from PC and power your Humminbird HELIX (or Legacy model) on.
10. Insert the card in the unit and you will be prompted by the following message:
    
    
11. Press the RIGHT cursor key to confirm importing the Nav Data.