1.1  Obtain a Chart

Not all projects will require a chart. For example, a chart may not be needed for a search in open water remote from a shoreline unless the purpose is for mapping an area. In other situations, you may not have access to charts and may need to create a region in the field. In this case, a procedure for working without a chart will be provided in the Place a Region section. If a chart is not needed or available, the steps for obtaining and loading a chart can be skipped.

There are several programs and online services for obtaining charts for various locations around the world. Some are available for free and other sources charge fees. Alternatively, Google Earth and Sat2Chart can be used to create charts as needed at no cost. For more information about these options, see: Creating and Using Charts

Sat2Chart is a Microsoft Windows based program and a Windows computer is required in order to use Sat2Chart.

Once a chart is obtained, it will need to be copied to the operator control console. There is a charts folder in the home folder of the operator control console. When archiving the project, it is a good idea to copy any charts used for the project into the archive for that project.

The resolution and quality of charts will vary depending on the source and amount of area covered. If the planned search covers a large area and you want to maximize the resolution of the chart, you can create several charts to cover the area at higher resolution instead of one chart covering the entire area.