As of October 1, 2023 we no longer support the Contour Elite product.
The contents featured in the article below may still be of use to you however, and so will continue to be available.
IMPORTANT: Please make sure your Humminbird unit has the most recent version of software. To check for an update, go to http://www.humminbird.com/Support/ and log-in or register your unit.
Also, be sure that the unit is turned on and booted up before placing the SD card in to upload targets or fishing log waypoints.
Before exporting to a Humminbird, there are a few important things to know. Humminbird units require that imported GPS files be named "data" and saved in a folder on a blank SD card called "matrix". This is critical or the unit will not be able to read the files you exported from Contour Elite.
So, before exporting any GPS files to your blank SD card, create a folder on the card called “matrix”. You can do this by going to My Computer (Windows XP) or Computer (Vista/7/8), opening your SD card, right-clicking within the SD card window, selecting "New Folder", and naming it "matrix".
To export to a Humminbird unit do the following:
1. Open Contour Elite's Export to GPS interface by clicking on the "Export Targets to GPS" button on the Target Tool panel or the "Export Entries to GPS" on the Fishing Log panel.
2. Select the Humminbird waypoints and routes format (.hwr).
3. Select the location to export to and the name of the exported file. The location will be the folder called "matrix" that you created earlier on the SD card that you have in the computer's card reader. You must give the file the name "data".
4. Select the targets or fishing log waypoints you would like to export.
5. Click the "Export" button. Your SD card should now have a "matrix" folder with a "data.hwr" inside.
6. Turn on the Humminbird unit and let the unit boot up.
7. Place the SD card in the Humminbird unit with the unit running. It will ask you if you want to import the data, say "Yes".
Another option is to go through HumminbirdPC to export fishing log waypoints or targets to your Humminbird unit. The advantage of this is that you will generate a backup of the waypoints in HumminbirdPC
If you only want to export fishing log waypoints or target spots (not lines or areas), follow these instructions:
1. Open Contour Elite's Export to GPS interface by clicking on the "Export Targets to GPS" button on the Target Tool panel or the "Export Entries to GPS" on the Fishing Log panel.
2. Select the Humminbird waypoints and routes format (.hwr).
3. Select the location to export to and the name of the exported file. You can export to any location, such as your desktop. You can give it whatever name you like.
4. Select the targets spots or fishing log waypoints you would like to export.
5. Click the "Export" button and the waypoint file will be exported.
6. Open HumminbirdPC and go to File at the top and select "Open".
7. Select the waypoint file you exported in step 5. The waypoints will be imported into HumminbirdPC.
8. Then use HumminbirdPC to export the waypoints to your Humminbird unit via an SD card.
If you want to export any combination of fishing log waypoints, target spots, lines or areas, follow these instructions:
1. Open Contour Elite's Export to GPS interface by clicking on the "Export Targets to GPS" button on the Target Tool panel or the "Export Entries to GPS" on the Fishing Log panel.
2. Select the Lowrance format (.usr).
3. Select the location to export to and the name of the exported file. You can export to any location, such as your desktop. You can give it whatever name you like.
4. Select the targets spots, lines, or areas you would like to export.
5. If you want to export the target lines or areas as routes, check the checkbox next to "Use routes instead of tracks". If you want the lines or areas to be tracks, keep this box unchecked (default).
5. Click the "Export" button and the export file will be exported.
6. Open HumminbirdPC and go to File at the top and select "Open".
7. Select the Lowrance file you exported in step 5. The waypoints will be imported into HumminbirdPC.
8. Then use HumminbirdPC to export the waypoints/routes/tracks to your Humminbird unit via an SD card.
