Building Routes Using MapSource.

 

This for for those with compatible NUVIs.
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There are multiple ways to build routes using MapSource.

1. One is to use only a start point and end point.

2. Another is to build waypoints and then let MapSource make a route from them.

3. Way 3 is to use the "Rubber Band" method.

And there are probably more.

All these methods (After uploading them to you compatible Nuvi)do not show waypoints and or flags on the route nor do they announce anything when approaching a point used to make these routes. (except when approaching destination.).

I like the "Roubber Band" method which allows you to shape the route to any way you would want. If it builds the route to a place you want to avoid, you can then move that section to another point allowing MapSouce to route around the avoidance.

I will detail the procedure in the following paragraphs:

Building custom routes with MapSource using the "Rubber Band" effect. Using this method does not make a route with WAYPOINTS.

I use the word via/waypoint as only a word to discribe the point you place the pointer and click. There are no waypoints built at all.

Playing with MapSource to get you skills honed to be able to use this procedure will help. Just play around making small routes and experiment, you can't hurt MapSource if you make a mistake. Just use the UNDO found under EDIT. Also you can always clear out what you were trying and start over new.

START PROCEDURE

1. Start MapSource.

2. Click on "Route Tool"

3. Place "Route Tool Pointer" where you want as Start Point and click.

4. Place "Route Tool Pointer" where you want as End Point and click. Builds route in purple)

5. Press ESC key on PC (Ends route building.)

6. Click on "Selection Tool" pointer.

7. Place pointer anywhere on Purple Route and click and release. (Selects route and changes to yellow)

8. Place pointer back on yellow route and click and release.

9. Now drag mouse pointer to point you want as a via/waypoint and click and release.( This causes the route to re-calculate and include the new via/waypoint.

You have now one route divided into 2 sections:
Section 1 start point to first via/waypoint.
Section 2 First via/waypoint to end point.

If you would like to add another via/waypoint to the new route. Placing the pointer between the start point and the via/waypoint and clicking and releasing on the route will draw you a line between the start point and the first via/waypoint. And glacing the pointer between the end point and the via/waypoint and clicking and releasing on the route will draw you a line between the end point and the first via/waypoint.

So depending where you want the next via/waypoint, either before or after the first via/waypoint you added will dictate where you plase the pointer and click to draw the line. As you add via/waypoints the route gets divided into smaller sections.

Placing the pointer between any 2 points(start, Via/waypoints and end) clicking will allow you to change that portion of the route between those 2 points.

Frequently Asked Questions

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"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600
Page 1>>

This post should go directly to the how to posts....

Do not pass go, do not.....

Great post

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It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

Nuvi

Can you transfer these routes to the nuvi when you are done? Never really played around with mapsource.

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****NUVI 660****

"All these methods (After

"All these methods (After uploading them to you compatible Nuvi) do not show waypoints and or flags on the route nor do they announce anything when approaching a point used to make these routes."

My 750 with Firmware 3.00 and 2009 maps shows flags for all points and announces all points no matter how I build the routes (using via points or waypoints). Just built a few test routes with MapSource to confirm that's still the case and in conformance with the 50+ routes I have already stored on my Nuvi. Wonder why the difference? Wish mine worked the way yours does with respect to vias. But I think I would prefer to still have waypoints shown and announced so I could exercise a choice.

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larelr2003

Units to upload to

bgattis wrote:

Can you transfer these routes to the nuvi when you are done? Never really played around with mapsource.

Only NUVIs that are able to upload routes. Such as the 7xx and 8xx and Zumo series. There maybe a couple of other ones out there but if you look at the specs of your unit it will tell you if it supports loadable routes.

PS the 660 is not one of them.

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Flags and Announcements?

larelr2003 wrote:

"All these methods (After uploading them to you compatible Nuvi) do not show waypoints and or flags on the route nor do they announce anything when approaching a point used to make these routes."

My 750 with Firmware 3.00 and 2009 maps shows flags for all points and announces all points no matter how I build the routes (using via points or waypoints). Just built a few test routes with MapSource to confirm that's still the case and in conformance with the 50+ routes I have already stored on my Nuvi. Wonder why the difference? Wish mine worked the way yours does with respect to vias. But I think I would prefer to still have waypoints shown and announced so I could exercise a choice.

I also have a Nuvi750 running 3.00 firmware and 2009 maps loaded in the Nuvi and MapSource. I am also running MapSource 6.13.7. I have just built the routes using all three methods I mentioned in the above post. In every case after I uploaded them VIA "Send To Device" and then imported them into Routes, none of them have waypoints, via"s or flags with the exception of the START and END flag. Also there were no announcements at the points I used in MapSource to create(SHAPE) the route. I am not sure where you are getting the flags and announcements you are talking about.

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Found Flag.

In playing around I found if I used EDIT >> New Route and then used "Find and Insert Place" and "Insert Reciently Found Place" You do get the flags you mentioned after you upload the route to the NUVI.

I guess all the ways I've been using don't create flags. As it turns out this is also the way I used to build routes for my IQUE3600. I just got use to building routes using the 3 methods I posted and they don't cause flags.

If you want to use waypoints to build a route, build all your waypoints in the waypoint tab. When through building waypoints "Select All". Then right click on them and select "Create Route using selected Waypoint(s)". This will build a route that does not have flags or announcements.

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Routes Don't Show on my Nuvi 750

I built a couple of routes using MapSource. I downloaded them onto the GPS, but the routes don't show when I go to "Routes". Softwares are up to date. Please help

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Nuvi 750 TomTom VIA 1605

Routes

H Hannah, I have just created more routes every way you mentioned and, as before, I get flags and announcements for every point (waypoint or via) when I transfer to the Nuvi. All my parameters (firmware etc are the same as yours). Weird. I looked for some option in MapSource to turn this on or off but see nothing. So my Nuvi/MapSource is working differently than yours in this respect. Perhaps someone else with a 7xx could post their experience. This is intriguing. In any event, my 750 routing seem to be working correctly in all other respects.

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larelr2003

Import Routes

rdrivas, go to Tools>My Data>Import Route from File.

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larelr2003

Go to tools

and select my data, and select import route from file......

--
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. -Sophocles snɥɔnıɥdoɐ aka ʎɹɐƃ

Import Routes

Yes - it worked. Thank you both.

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Nuvi 750 TomTom VIA 1605

To Flag or Not To Flag

I think I solved why my 750 doesn't show flags on the routes I build using MapSource, and yours do.

I just tried 2 different ways to assign a Via/WAYPOINT while using the Rubber Band Method in both..

1st way was to use the pointer to place my Via/Waypoint at an intersection. The resulting route did not contain flags. (I always use intersections)

2nd way was to use the pointer to place my Via/Waypoint on the road between 2 intersections. The resulting route did place a flag at the point on the road BETWEEN the 2 intersections.

So I guess if you don't want flags use INTERSECTIONS as Via/Waypoints.

So my educated guess is most GPSers use existing waypoints as a Via. Those Vias are normally between intersections and along side the road. Thus causing FLAGS. Or they select a point between intersections.

Maybe this will solve the MYSTERY

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Must be a 760 idiosyncracy

H Hannah wrote:

So I guess if you don't want flags use INTERSECTIONS as Via/Waypoints.

MM said the same and I tried it again but got flags even at the intersections. It must be a difference with the 760, then.

It's obvious that this is reasonably common on Garmin units because someone created a program to read a .gpx file and strip all the flag information out and convert them to route points instead.

760 and 750 are not different

As before, I get the same flags and announcements with my 750 as you do with your 760. There is something unique about H Hannah's setup. I wonder if it has anything to do with his use of MapSource with his other GPS.

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larelr2003

Route Test - Flags and NO Flags

I made a simple test route, .3 miles long. ROUTE-1. I then changed ROUTE-1 by adding a Via/Waypoint intersection (with street names)thus making ROUTE-2 (No Flags). Using the same simple ROUTE-1 I added a Via/Waypoint between 2 intersections (becoming an address)and saved it as ROUTE-3, this one has a flag at the address.

I also made screen shots of the MapSource (3) routes, showing the route property boxes.

The Routes and the screen shot Gif. files have been ZIPPED into 1 file. These files are available for your inspection and testing in your copy of MapSource and the GPX route files can be directly loaded into your NUVI bypassing your Mapsource.

All you have to do is to drag and drop these 3 route files to you NUVI drive at ?:\Garmin\GPX.

MapSource and the GPX route files can be directly loaded into your NUVI bypassing your Mapsource.

http://home.comcast.net/~hannah.burns/ScreenShots/Routes.zip

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Testing your MapSource

Loading the 3 routes into your MapSource and then using the "Send To Device" will see if your MapSource is changing the route.

Bypassing MapSource will load the file as my MapSource built them. Drag and drop the 3 route files onto your Nuvi at ?:\garmin\gpx

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Other GPS not causing any problem

larelr2003 wrote:

As before, I get the same flags and announcements with my 750 as you do with your 760. There is something unique about H Hannah's setup. I wonder if it has anything to do with his use of MapSource with his other GPS.

I don't use my IQUE3600 anymore as a GPS. But it still has nothing to do with building routes for my 750.

There is also nothing unique in my setup. I just start MapSource and using the Route Tool I Put in the Start and end Points. Then If I need to change the route to suite my preferences I use the Rubber Band method to make the changes then use MapSource "Send TO Device" to upload the route to my Nuvi750.

It's very simple and straight forward.

The only time I actually use a waypoint (Restaurant, stores, Address etc)in my route is if I need to stop there on my way to the destination. Then the Flags do show up for those Via/Waypoints with nnouncements as needed. Other wise I just use intersections as my Via/waypoint to SHAPE my route.

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Lost scrap of paper

I have finally gotten around to making this an FAQ. Sorry it took me so long, I just cleaned my desk and found my note telling me to do so.

Miss POI

Routes to NUVI 260W

I have looked at the specs on the 260w and I don't see whether I can use routes from MapSource or not. I live in the foot hills of the Great Smokies and there are miles of great back roads to ride. I know I can not use more than one waypoint, and that's great for just going in a straight line, but I want to be able to lay out my own roads to use. Will the rubber band method work for me? I think I may have made a bad choice by not going to a more expensive unit. Thanks, specbil98

MapSource Routes

I used MapSource to create a route to a destination using back roads ... worked well. MapSource makes it easier to create the routes because of the screen real estate and rubber banding method. Anybody who hasn't tried it yet should get a copy of Mapsource and give it a go ... it is a very handy utility.

260w and Routes

Specbil98

Sorry, No you can't use MapSource to build routes that are down loadable to the 260W.

The only Nuvi's that can accept routes from MapSource are the 7xx, 8xx,Zumo series.

Although you still could build a route in MapSource using waypoints. then download the waypoints to favorites in the GPS. Now when you start the trip route to the waypoints one at a time in order it get the route you want to take.

I think is your only solution, with the exception of buying a new NUVI. The 750 price is coming down fast and con be bought for less that 300 dollars in a few places.

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Routes to NUVI 260W

Thanks for the info. I was afraid that was going to be the answer. Now all I have to do is convince the wife that the Zumo is the only thing that will work on my bike due to the "loud pipes"?????

Recalculating Routes In Nuvi 750

I have found that if I deviate from a Mapsource-created route, my 750 will recalculate the route internally, using roads the original route was set to avoid.
It seems I have to clear the recalculated route and restart the original route.

Anyone else experience the same situation?

--
Nuvi 750, Mapsource, Trimble 5700/5800 (at work) "Too many people I know have been educated beyond their intelligence" - Arthur C. Clarke

.

Avoidances set in MapSource are not transferred to the nuvi. If you recalculate the route, it will use the nuvi's routing preferences that you have set.

Recalulating then Import the route again

Because the avoidances are not transfered with the route from MapSource. It will recalculate as you have noted.

But you can overcome this small problem buy just re-importing it from you "MyData" screen. Your imported routes will remain there even after you imported the route into the ROUTES screen.

They will remain there untill you overwrite them with new routes.

They are located on your Garmin at: Garmin/GPX

If you want to save the imported routes just rename the Temp.GPX file to something else such as Spl-route-to-Grandma's.GPX

then when you load more routes from MapSource they will be in the new Temp.GPX files

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

That's the limitation of Nuvi vs MapSource routing

geocamp wrote:

I have found that if I deviate from a Mapsource-created route, my 750 will recalculate the route internally, using roads the original route was set to avoid.
It seems I have to clear the recalculated route and restart the original route.

Anyone else experience the same situation?

This is just how it works. I found out the same thing the hard way, when inserting a waypoint for lunch caused it to recalculate the rest of a long manually created scenic route. What I did as a quick work-around was to stop the route and then just start a single-destination go-to for the restaurant. Afterwards, select the route and I could join the unaltered route again.

Learning to cope

Playing around with the unit, I've learned how to deal with the routing.

Thanks for all the replies.

--
Nuvi 750, Mapsource, Trimble 5700/5800 (at work) "Too many people I know have been educated beyond their intelligence" - Arthur C. Clarke

Mapsource ver 6.14.1

I just updated mapsource and I think the process has changed to make routes. The process seems to be easier. Made some test routes to test this morning. Just got my nuvi 750 just for routes for my motorcycle.

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Nuvi 750 And a 2006 Star Venture between my legs.

Transfering routes from older maps

I found in transferring routes created with waypoints in Mapsource using the 2008 City Navigator map (2008 map from a StreetPilot installation) to a Nuvi 750 with 2009 map preloaded that the routes waypoints were not recognized for navigation (i.e., the 750 took me from start to end without going through the waypoints). The waypoints did transfer to the device into Favorites and the route Preview in fact showed the waypoints with routing through them - but again, the actual navigation dismissed the intermediate waypoints.

I recently obtained the 2009 City Navigator maps to use with Mapsource, recreated the routes, and found now that the routes do transfer fully with the intermediate waypoints intact. I also took one of the routes created with the 2008 map and opened it into the 2009 map and it also then transferred fully. Have others had to take routes created with older maps and "wash them through" updated maps like this?

Washing?

bcbrogan2 wrote:

Have others had to take routes created with older maps and "wash them through" updated maps like this?

I've heard of laundrying money before, but laundrying routes is a first.

Just maybe your starting something new, and this is only the begining!!!!!

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

Routes created with older maps

Yes. That's what I've done with my routes created with Nav 2008. Just loaded them into Nav 2009, saved them (for the future) and transfered them to the Nuvi.

saving routes

do u save the new routes on a mem card or right onto the builtin memory...tks
burgie

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burgie

.

The routes must be imported into the internal memory before they can be used by the GPS unit, so you don't necessarily save any space on the unit by loading them onto the SD card. But either will work.

You may need to update routes when maps change

bcbrogan2 wrote:

...Have others had to take routes created with older maps and "wash them through" updated maps like this?

Yes, you may need to update your routes when the maps change. I had a similar situation with routes generated using MapSource with 2009 maps not working correctly with a Nuvi that had 2008 maps. What happened was one or more of the roads on the route changed with the upgrade. Since one or more of the route points was no longer on a road, my 760 would crash when it got to that point. With another route, it would recalculate and then ignore the original route. Once I got both my Nuvis updated to 2009 maps, the problem went away.

Etrex Vista HCx Routing

I've created a number of biking routes in the mac version of the software (Roadtrip), and I've transferred them to the VIsta HCx. For some reason, though, when I start it on a saved route, it makes up its own route instead of the one I carefully created using the "rubber band" method.

Any ideas how to fix that?

.

The unit will recalculate the route in accordance with it's set preferences. When you "rubber band" a route, it creates via points which are "soft points" and are not transferred to the unit.

In order to "force" the route where you want it to go, you will need to add a sufficient number of actual Waypoints into the route. The Waypoints will be transferred and incorporated into the route on the unit.

Interesting... Thanks for

Interesting... Thanks for your quick reply!

So when I "rubber band" the route, the points that are created by doing so (which I can name, and choose their icon) are NOT waypoints?

Do you know if there is any way to change these points into waypoints? I've already set them all up, so that would be nice if possible.

Otherwise, what's the consensus on the best way to put down waypoints in order to force a route a certain way? When I calculate a route on Mapsource (2009 NT), I only had to "rubber band" the route a handful of times to get it where I wanted it.

Lastly, I've noticed that the calculation options on Mapsource and on the Vista hcx are slightly different, in that Mapsource can be set for the "scenic" route while in "least distance" mode. That tends to be what I've chosen for my bike rides.

Thanks again for all your help!

EDIT: I thought it would be helpful to note that I've been creating these routes by importing a "track" from bikely/mapmyride. Then I "create route", and drag the track into the window that pops up, and THEN "recalculate route".

From there on I just rubber band the route as explained above.

.

1. Rubber banding the route creates via point. You will see them in the Route Properties window in MapSource but note that they do NOT show up in the Waypoints tab.

2. There's no automatic way to make them Waypoints. You will need to manually place an actual Waypoint at the points where you need to "force" the route and then manually add them to the route. If you go to the Route Properties window in MapSource, you will get a button for inserting a Waypoint. Note that you may not need them at each via point.

3. Unfortunately since MapSource is designed to work with many different device which don't all have the same options/functions, there often are differences in the routing choices. There's no way to make them transferable.

The Zumo series is currently the only series that was designed to NOT recalculate the route from MapSource. The long standing work around is to add enough actual Waypoints to preserve the route.

My 760 obeys rubber banding

Motorcycle Mama wrote:

The unit will recalculate the route in accordance with it's set preferences. When you "rubber band" a route, it creates via points which are "soft points" and are not transferred to the unit.

In order to "force" the route where you want it to go, you will need to add a sufficient number of actual Waypoints into the route. The Waypoints will be transferred and incorporated into the route on the unit.

That's not my experience with my 760. I have built some fairly complicated routes using nothing but a start Waypoint and a destination waypoint and nothing but rubber banding in between. I have been using the utility "UnFlag" on my routes, though. I'm pretty sure it routed the same way before I started using UnFlag, though. It always follows exactly the route I laid out. Of course, if I miss a turn and it recalculates, it's all over then. But I just stop the route and restart the route and it's back to the original created route again.

I wonder why we are seeing such different behavior?

Why Routes

I had a Streetpilot 530 before (with no route function) but I now have a nuvi750 with that option. I have read with great interest how to build routes but I still don't understand why one would want to do that!! If I want to go from point A to point B via city X and city Y, I can easily enter this in my GPSr with the GOTO function. Why should I want to save routes???

routes are nice

JGLabelle wrote:

If I want to go from point A to point B via city X and city Y, I can easily enter this in my GPSr with the GOTO function. Why should I want to save routes???

My current GPS does not support them, but routes can be handy in a number of ways.

More than just a couple of vias, they give you better control over the entire route (do I take the bypass around the city or go straight through, for example).

They can give you better feedback on estimated time of arrival, time on route and total mileage. Assuming that your GPS calculated route varies from what roads you actually choose to take.

Vias may present an operational problem, your GPS may have trouble recognizing that you actually reached or passed your indicated via and keep trying to route you back to it, while route capable GPSs will generally understand when you are past any point on the route and keep you traveling towards your final goal.

Using a large screen that you can see your entire route on is preferred by many over only seeing the map on a small gps screen and trying to zoom in on multiple areas to inspect the intended path. Once you have a route worked out on a computer screen, it is handy to be able to transfer it to the GPS.

If you are just using a goto function in a GPS, then your intended route will change as you get "off-route" and the device does it's "recalculating" thing. Although I have no first hand experience with current products and routes, in the past I've found it very helpful to have a pre-planned route in the GPS that stayed in place and I could see how far I was getting from the intended route if I did choose to go "off-route".

The routing that I have worked with generally supports things like avoidances better (such as avoid this rectangle that I've placed around Louisiana completely, or avoid this bad highway or heavily congested traffic area). I know of no way to do this with current Garmin GPSs without routing other than use a large number of vias, and even then it might try to go through an area that you wish to avoid if you get off-route and it tries to recalculate.

I'm not sure about Mapsource (I don't think that it is there), but other mapping software that supports routes often gives you access to on-line data telling you where construction area traffic problem are likely to occur. You can sometimes save yourself a lot of grief if you have a choice between two highways and select the one without construction, or at the least can better plan your travel time when you know what to expect and where on the route the delays are likely to be.

I'm sure there are other good reasons for using routes that I can't think of at the moment.

Streets & Trips

I see you points and it's probably why I still buy Microsoft Streets and Trips every year even if I have a Garmin. I find it much easier (and user-friendly) to use than MapSource. For example, for my annual trip from Ottawa to Florida, I enter the motels I will stop at, the bypasses I will (and will not) take, etc.

Too bad there is no way (that I know) to export a route from Streets & Trips to my Garmin GPSr.

.

You can use a software named GPSU (GPS Utility) to convert the S&T files to GPX and then send them to your Garmin unit.

POIConverter will also

POIConverter will also convert an S&T route to a Garmin compatible route. Just open a .est file, save as a .gpx file and then use MapSource to transfer to your GPS.

--
larelr2003

Following a route: Nuvi 7xx/8xx vs. Zumo vs. Edge?

I had a Nuvi 760 that I used on my bicycle (RAM mount) before it was stolen (from the car, not the bike ironically), and it seemed "funny" when trying to follow a route. I believe I understand from the above that it was trying to route from point to point, so if there were enough points it worked. Does the 8xx work any differently? Am I understanding correctly that the Zumo does it differently, i.e. doesn't recalc? Does the Edge (a bicycle-specific GPS) do it the same way as the Zumo?

Basically, I'm looking for the ultimate bicycle GPS. Ideally, I could download routes to it, and it would guide me turn by turn along the route. If I got off route, the perfect thing would be that I could choose one of three options:

- Navigate back to the point I left the route (necessary if riding an event that requires this)
- Navigate to the nearest point on the route
- Navigate the best way to rejoin the route optimizing route to the destination (i.e. join the route somewhere downstream).

I like the big touch screen of the Nuvi and Zumo over the Edge, and I like all the car-like features of routing, POIs etc. but so many of the bike route sites, like mapmyride seem to work only with the Edge. Perhaps they work just as well with the Zumo of Nuvi 7xx/8xx and this is just less commonly used--anyone know?

Thanks,

Barclay
a GPS fanatic since the days of the Datus PNC

nuvi 855

barclaybrown wrote:

Ideally, I could download routes to it, and it would guide me turn by turn along the route. If I got off route, the perfect thing would be that I could choose one of three options:

- Navigate back to the point I left the route (necessary if riding an event that requires this)
- Navigate to the nearest point on the route
- Navigate the best way to rejoin the route optimizing route to the destination (i.e. join the route somewhere downstream).

The 855 will do everything you describe. It will allow you to optimize the route, but will not do it automatically. In addition you have the advantage of voice control.

--
nuvi 855. Life is not fair. I don't care who told you it is.

NUVI 350

I have a NUVI 350, which does not support routes.

I would suggest the following:
1. Build the route as described by H Hannah.
2. Create Waypoints on this route, so the GPS would naturally route you onto the route that you just created.

For example, I drove from Port Huron, MI to St Louis, MO and I created a GPX file with the waypoints near the following: Blue Water Bridge; Hwy 69, Lansing, MI; I-465, Indianapolis; Fayette Ave., Effingham, IL; and then a point near the Gateway Arch, in St Louis.

3. Once these Waypoints I should be able to create a GPX file from Mapsource that I enter in sequence. To avoid confusion, I would create a file for Southbound and a file for Northbound.

4. When I arrived at the Canadian side of the Blue Water Bridge I loaded my final destination for my first day of driving (Effingham) and then I loaded the next waypoint (Hwy 69, Lansing) as an intermediate point. When I passed through one the first intermediate point, I loaded the next point (I-465, Indianapolis) as an intermediate point and continued the procedure as I passed each point.

5. This worked well, but I would suggest that you put a number ahead of the name for each waypoint. 1-Blue Water; 2-Lansing; 3-Indianapolis, 4-Effingham, etc.

The GPS sorts the waypoints based on your current position and the distance to each waypoint. As a result, the waypoints won't necessarily be in the sequence that you want. This would not be a problem on this leg of the trip, but I had an earlier portion of the route driving some country roads and the way points were often fairly close together. I ended up with a previous way point sequentially ahead of the next waypoint.

frovingslosh made an excellent point of the GPS missing the waypoint. As long as you know that you've reached (or almost reached) the waypoint, simply enter the next numerically sequential waypoint and the GPS will ask if you want to replace the intermediate waypoint. When it does, press Yes.

Needless to say, I kicked myself for not numbering the points. It would have made my life much easier.

Training my wife to enter waypionts into the GPS would also have made my life easier. I also plan to do that before the next big trip assuming our marriage can survive the training process.

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DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)

Missed Vias.

Frovingslosh wrote:
JGLabelle wrote:

If I want to go from point A to point B via city X and city Y, I can easily enter this in my GPSr with the GOTO function. Why should I want to save routes???

My current GPS does not support them, but routes can be handy in a number of ways.

More than just a couple of vias, they give you better control over the entire route (do I take the bypass around the city or go straight through, for example).

They can give you better feedback on estimated time of arrival, time on route and total mileage. Assuming that your GPS calculated route varies from what roads you actually choose to take.

Vias may present an operational problem, your GPS may have trouble recognizing that you actually reached or passed your indicated via and keep trying to route you back to it, while route capable GPSs will generally understand when you are past any point on the route and keep you traveling towards your final goal.

Using a large screen that you can see your entire route on is preferred by many over only seeing the map on a small gps screen and trying to zoom in on multiple areas to inspect the intended path. Once you have a route worked out on a computer screen, it is handy to be able to transfer it to the GPS.

If you are just using a goto function in a GPS, then your intended route will change as you get "off-route" and the device does it's "recalculating" thing. Although I have no first hand experience with current products and routes, in the past I've found it very helpful to have a pre-planned route in the GPS that stayed in place and I could see how far I was getting from the intended route if I did choose to go "off-route".

The routing that I have worked with generally supports things like avoidances better (such as avoid this rectangle that I've placed around Louisiana completely, or avoid this bad highway or heavily congested traffic area). I know of no way to do this with current Garmin GPSs without routing other than use a large number of vias, and even then it might try to go through an area that you wish to avoid if you get off-route and it tries to recalculate.

I'm not sure about Mapsource (I don't think that it is there), but other mapping software that supports routes often gives you access to on-line data telling you where construction area traffic problem are likely to occur. You can sometimes save yourself a lot of grief if you have a choice between two highways and select the one without construction, or at the least can better plan your travel time when you know what to expect and where on the route the delays are likely to be.

I'm sure there are other good reasons for using routes that I can't think of at the moment.

You made a good point, when you stated "Vias may present an operational problem, your GPS may have trouble recognizing that you actually reached or passed your indicated via and keep trying to route you back to it,"

Please see my comment above and I think it answers that.

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DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)

routes and routes

Thanks, Not2bright... good input. One more thing, though. My Nuvi 760 would keep track of my travels in a big waypoint (I think) file, but had no way to close this file and start another. Thus the only way to save off, say, today's bike ride, was to go in using a PC and delete the entire file, then ride, then download the file and then delete it again. Does the 8xx allow you to save off "this trip" as a separate file? I know the Edge units do, since they save a "workout" with the route, and many stats (average speed, elevation change, etc.). And then, does it save it as a route, that can then be reloaded and followed, or only as waypoints, which must be converted into a route? I did have a program that did this once, but it always seemed to have trouble with long routes and included too few points or something, so that the GPS had trouble following it later.

Lastly, in the spirit of learning to fish, is there a writeup somewhere on gpx files, and how they store either waypoints or routes or both, etc? it would seem easier if there were separate file types for separate kinds of data. That's probably why I'm confused--gpx files are not all the same it seems.

Thanks for the help!

Here's some bait to use

barclaybrown wrote:

Lastly, in the spirit of learning to fish, is there a writeup somewhere on gpx files, and how they store either waypoints or routes or both, etc? it would seem easier if there were separate file types for separate kinds of data. That's probably why I'm confused--gpx files are not all the same it seems.

Thanks for the help!

Yes, all GPX files are not the same, and the same observation can be made about CSV files as well.

GPX files have many more (up to 24) different items that can be specified and you can do other things with them such as changing the text size and color. Perhaps one of the most used features is the ability to embed alert information. This is particularly handy when setting proximity alerts. Once you build the file and add the distance, you can then load the file using the Express mode in POI Loader.

GPX files are significantly larger when stored on your computer, but there is very little difference when it is processed through POI Loader and stored on the device. GPX files can be difficult to read for a human because they have to conform to the XML programming language specifications where CSV files are easily read and understood using a spreadsheet program or a decent text editor.

One of the tools available for creating GPX files is Turbo's Extra POI Editor, or EPE. The learning curve can be a little steep, but once you get the basics, it's really easy to convert from one file type to another.

I use a mix of both GPX and CSV files, but prefer GPX because you can do so much more with them. One of the advantages of GPX is if your unit has Bluetooth, you can have it dial a phone number through your phone while you can't if it's a CSV file with a phone number.

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ɐ‾nsǝɹ Just one click away from the end of the Internet
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