Need Help with POIs and Google Maps

 

Hi! I'm planning a trip to maine and desparately need help as I'm not techno saavy and have never done this before.
I downloaded POI rest stops along Rt 84 and it entered my nuvi under "extras". Question: Can I down load only specific destinations instead of the entire POI? How is this done?
Second, I've been reading here that you can now download routes from google maps. Sounds very cool. However, after I plotted a route on google maps to get me from Morristown, NJ to Portland, Maine, I hit the "send" button at the upper right corner of GMaps and the only option that came up was "email". Why am I not getting "send to GPS"?
I called Garmin and they told me I cannot transfer routes from Gmaps to GPS. Only specific places of business with addresses. Unless I totally misunderstood these blogs (which is very likely) I was under the impression that it could be done.
Would you be so kind as to enlighten me about how this stuff works?
Thanks for your help.

Google will not do the

Google will not do the routes yet.You can only select one location to send to gps.Mapquest will do what you want http://www.mapquest.com/ .

You can to a sort on the rest stop csv file and pull up the interstates in order and then copy and paste that data to another excel sheet and save as a csv file.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

MapSource

Garmin has a free program which allows you to build routes and add customized waypoints. Search the forum for Mapsource, there are threads with detailed instructions on how to install the program.

FYI - your profile says you have a Nuvi 350 and a Nuvi 680. Neither of those units supports routes. So even with MapSource you cannot load routes to your units.

garmin plugin

in order to download pois directly from Google Map or Mapquest, you'll need to install the Garmin Communicator Plugin
As previously mentioned, your unit doesn't support routes.

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nuvi 2460LMT

Thanks. I did install the

Thanks. I did install the communicator plugin. Bummer I can't download routes. I tried setting up directions with Mapquest and they did down load but each stop was treated as a separate section in the gps.
Oh, well. It was worth the try.

Routes

You could take the key loactions on the route and make a csv file out of it.Going from one point to another.Could also do the same thing with favorites by setting up points and going from one location to next.It sounds what you want to do is force a route other then what the Gps sends you.If so this would work.Just use a special key word if you save to favorites so you can see it right away.You can go back and edit favorites to get like you want it.

You also may want to review http://home.comcast.net/~ghayman3/garmin.gps/index.html .It covers a lot of ideas that you may use including what is in this discussion.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Thanks so much. I'm really

Thanks so much. I'm really new to this and I appreciate your input.
So, if I understand you correctly, I should enter into my gps each route I want to travel...save it and add to it using the routes I want to take all the way to Maine... then rearrange it in my favorites?
I'm also struggling with downloading POI, icons and sounds. I've read and read the blogs about it but still can't grasp it.
I created a new folder in my docs...let's say rest stops...then I want to add an icon and a sound alert, so I put all of these downloads into the new folder. Is this how it's done?
I'm hoping a light bulb will go off in my brain...but no luck!
Thanks again for your help.

Thats pretty muh it.For

Thats pretty muh it.For example you file would look something like this.

>My pois=main folder

>>rest stops=subfolder
>>>rest stops.csv
>>>rest stops.bmp
>>>rest stops.mp3

>>food=subfolder
>>>cracker barrel.csv
>>>cracker barrel.bmp
>>>cracker barrel.mp3
>>>arbys.csv
>>>arbys.bmp
>>>arbys.mp3

You unit must have the mp3 feature to work.If not don't use the mp3 file.You will get the bong when you set distance using manual mode for poiloader.

The csv,bmp and mp3 are all named the same except for the extensions.Just type in the names the extensions will take care of themselves.

Run poiloader in the manual mode and set distance for how much of a alert you want.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

Ahhhh! The light bulb came

Ahhhh! The light bulb came on! Thank you very much for taking the time to explain.
I ran the GPS in simulator mode and it's working!
Now if I can only figure out how to enter specific points ie: highway 287N to I-87 into my garmin I will be in pig heaven!
Even when I go to "intersections" it asks me for addresses. If I try to find something like "Lincoln Tunnel" It comes up blank.
Must be a way This can be done.

Go to this node and scroll

Go to this node and scroll down until you see the 13 steps I outlined on how I make poi files http://www.poi-factory.com/node/14307#comment-68619 .You can use this method to lay out the locations you want and will see them plotted on the map when you put in all the data.You could also go to Google maps or Mapquest and type in one location at a time and send to your favorites.I typed in Lincoln Tunnel and it showed up using Google maps.What ever method you use it will show the closest 50 locations to you under favorites or custom pois.That is why it will be important to use key words to go from one location to another.One last note if using favorites you can use a simple program called EasyGPS http://www.easygps.com/download.asp to transfer your favorites to your computer.From there you could make a file.

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Charlie. Nuvi 265 WT and Nuvi 2597 LMT. MapFactor Navigator - Offline Maps & GPS.

TakItWithMe and Google Maps

One way to go about it is to use Google Maps. Plot your route by creating a custom map and picking points along the way you want to force a certain route. Now after you save your custom Map, you can use TakItWithMe.com to put those on your GPS. You copy the link from google maps, paste it into TakItWithMe and it will show you the map. You can then either send it directly to the GPS and they will show up in favorites.

However this clutters up your favorites. Instead I suggest you pick the option to output to a GPX file instead. Save this to your computer. You can now use the Garmin POI loader to put it into your custom POIs of your unit. I suggest this method because after your trip you can simply remove that POI file. It is MUCH harder to remove a bunch of points in your favorites.

You might also want to name your locations on your map with sequential names, e.g. Point 1, Point 2, etc. Call your GPX file something like "Maine Trip". When you go to your GPS, you go to extras, Custom POI files, pick your Maine Trip file and then you will see all the points. Pick the first one and drive. Alternatively, pick the second point, and then once it maps that route, go back in and pick the previous point and tell the GPS to use it as a waypoint. So you will be travelling to Point 2 via Point 1. Once you get to point 2, pick point 4 via point 3, etc.

Enjoy the trip.
PT

--
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.

just happened to travel most of your route

myjo wrote:

Now if I can only figure out how to enter specific points ie: highway 287N to I-87 into my garmin

If I try to find something like "Lincoln Tunnel" It comes up blank. Must be a way This can be done.

Myjo,
I just happened to travel most of your route last weekend from Cherry Hill, NJ. Be aware, AAA suggests bypassing the tunnels. It saved me mucho time and money taking the Tappan Zee Bridge, north of NYC. From your area it seems very easy. Take 287 to 87, cross Tappan Zee Bridge, take 95 north to Mass Turnpike, take 495 to bypass Boston. My Garmin 350 stopped trying to re-calculate once I was back on 95 north. There was no construction except along route until above Portland on southbound side.

The light bulb is

The light bulb is dimming.....all that info is way over my head. I really need to study this some more. Thanks for the links.

phillyguy...thanks for the heads-up.

On a different note, I use Open Office.Org. When I find lat/long on google maps, I copy it into a document but when I save it I name the file with .csv ending. However, under file type there is nothing compatible to csv or is there?
By the way, I can't send google coords directly to GPS, need Google maps plus for $20/yr now. When I hit the 'send' button, only email shows up.

Again, thanks for all your help.

The light bulb is

myjo wrote:

...snip...

On a different note, I use Open Office.Org. When I find lat/long on google maps, I copy it into a document but when I save it I name the file with .csv ending. However, under file type there is nothing compatible to csv or is there? ...snip...

I would suggest that you use Notepad from the start.

If you must use Open Office then:

--Make sure that the proper convention is followed: lon, lat, name, description (or just lon, lat, name) Remember: Longitude first
--Save the file as a .txt file
--Open in Notepad
--Save As (select All files) and make sure the new file name has the '.txt' suffix replaced by '.csv'

Gary Hayman
GARMIN NUVI TRICK, TIPS, ETC.
arrow http://snipurl.com/garmin_gps_tricks

--
Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Prev.GPSs: Drive61 LM, nuvi 3790LMT, 755T & 650, GPSIII+, SP 2610, 250W; Magellan 2200T; Originator of GARMIN NUVI TRICKS, TIPS, WORKAROUNDS, HINTS, SECRETS & IDEAS http://bit.ly/GARMIN-TNT

I've read your posts which

I've read your posts which are very informative, couldn't have gotten started without it. I tried your 'Home' exercise with .csv, .mp3,.bmp but when I ran a simulation, nothing happened.
I'm working on a dinosaur of a computer which doesn't have notepad (long story) so, being cheap I went for OpenOffice which is a good program if I only knew how to use it. I don't know the first thing about formats, documents, spreadsheets.
I did manage to set up My Maps in google and I did download Lon/Lat info into gps...somehow.
This is forcing me to learn how to use my computer, which is good.

Did you?

When you loaded your poi's did you do a manual or express mode.
Manual is where you set your alerts.

Do you have your alerts turnd on.

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Jerry...Jacksonville,Fl Nüvi1450,Nuvi650,Nuvi 2495 and Mapsource.

RE: I've Read Your Posts

myjo wrote:

I've read your posts which are very informative, couldn't have gotten started without it. ...snip ...
I'm working on a dinosaur of a computer which doesn't have notepad (long story) so, being cheap I went for OpenOffice which is a good program if I only knew how to use it. I don't know the first thing about formats, documents, spreadsheets....snip...

There are many available text editors on the Internet that are available for downloading. I use and like the award winning freeware NoteTab Lite.
See arrow http://www.notetab.com/index.php

Please make sure that when you save your file that it has a .csv suffix. Also check the directory, after you saved to make sure that there are no double suffixes.

Gary Hayman, Greenbelt,Maryland
Garmin nuvi Tricks, Tips, etc...
arrow http://snipurl.com/garmin_gps_tricks

--
Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Prev.GPSs: Drive61 LM, nuvi 3790LMT, 755T & 650, GPSIII+, SP 2610, 250W; Magellan 2200T; Originator of GARMIN NUVI TRICKS, TIPS, WORKAROUNDS, HINTS, SECRETS & IDEAS http://bit.ly/GARMIN-TNT

Strange, but Notepad just

Strange, but Notepad just showed up on my desk top!!! No clue where it came from or could have gone to.
Anyway, ghayman, I tried your 'Home' download and it works, song and all. Then I tried creating my own POI...I'm still trying to understand the "redlight" and other trigger phrases and how they should be added to a file name.
I tried to use Takeitwithyou. I spent half the night plotting a route from NJ to ME on google maps, copied it to takeitwithyou only to have a 'fatal error' screen pop up.
I'm leaving tomorrow and I'll find out if my downloaded 'Rest Stops' works.
So much to learn, so little time. Thanks again for your help