Using a GPS on trips
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 16 years
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One thing I have learned, which may be common knowledge to others, is how to use my gps when planning a trip.
This is in reference to using a Gamin 350 which does not have detour capability in it.
Here are some things to think about when doing this:
1. I use googgle or yahoo to plan my trip.
2. I then create a directory in my Garmin->Currently Loaded called "Trips".
3. I then create a file called "Trip to" name of place I am going. This is for putting pois in.
4. I then pick out points along the trip where I am changing highways, or roads to make my trip shorter or to incorporate things we want to see along the trip.
5. Then I make note of those places and pick a city or an interstate exit or some reference point "just past the place in no. 2".
6. I then get the lat long of the place picked in no. 3 and add this to a file which I call "Trip to.." and name of where I am going.
7. I try to have as few individual pois in the trip file and use this file if I decide to detour while in route. All I have to do to get back on track and have my gps to take me back on track is chose the next poi in the file and tell the gps to go there.
For example...
I am planning a trip from Wisconsin to Evansville, IN. We are leaving early and wife "has to" stop at Crackerbarrel for eating... so we plan to stop for breakfast at a Crackerbarrel in Rockford, IL.
So my first poi in the "Trip to Evansville IN" file is Rockford Crackerbarrel. I get the lat and long and place that poi in the trip file.
Next I see I must change highways in Bloomington. So I get a city on I-74 past Bloomington, IL and get the lat and long for that and place it as poi number 2 in the trip file.
Next I want to take the shortest route, so I have to change from I-57 South to State 45 South at Effingham. So I pick a city, such as Louisville, IN which is South of Effingham,IL and get the lat long for it and place that poi in the trip file.
Next, I get the lat long for my destination in Evansville and place that poi in the trip file.
Thus my trip file has 4 pois. When I am ready to travel, I turn on Nuvi, go to custom pois, trips, choose the first poi (Crackerbarrel) and press go.
If I do detour on the way... then I just choose the poi that is next on the route and bingo... Nuvi takes me back on track.
I've used this and it works for me. Maybe someone else will find it handy also OR have an even better suggestion to improve this.
AAA website
I prefer using the AAA online TripTik utility for planning my route. You can drag and drop the shortest/fastest route to use a different or preferred road.
Driving to New England, the initial route always takes me over the George Washington Bridge. This is not an option. I drag the line from the GW and drop it on the Tappan Zee Bridge. The route is remapped. Quite often, the difference in calculated travel time is only one or two minutes. However the savings in aggrivation is enormous.
Nuvi 750, Mapsource, Trimble 5700/5800 (at work) "Too many people I know have been educated beyond their intelligence" - Arthur C. Clarke
AAA /= Garmin
I prefer using the AAA online TripTik utility for planning my route.
Yes, that is a pretty good tool. BUT... after that, no easy way to put the map, waypoints, POIs, etc. onto your Garmin is there?
I suppose you could then transpose the route manually to the GPS or onto Google Maps then to the GPS, but if the plan is to get the route or points into the Garmin, the AAA maps are not a very easy option.
By the way, I always detour to the Tappan Zee as well and avoid the GWB at all costs.
PT
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.
Why not just use mapsource.
Why not just use mapsource.
Jerry...Jacksonville,Fl Nüvi1450,Nuvi650,Nuvi 2495 and Mapsource.
Not included usually with new units...
One of the main reasons is that Mapsource is not included with new Garmin units. So you either have to buy it from Garmin or you have to call up customer service and beg, plead, & hope you get a nice rep who will send you one free. And if not, call back again and keep trying.
I for one, don't have Mapsource as I don't want to pay for it and don't want to beg for it when I have found other work arounds that do the job just fine.
PT
Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.
MapSource is free download
Mapsource is a free download on Garmin site.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209
Garmin Nuvi 750
Re: Mapasource download
Mapsource is a free download on Garmin site.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209
From the above-linked Garmin page...
'WARNING: This software will not work unless you already own a MapSource product'
Nuvi 750, Mapsource, Trimble 5700/5800 (at work) "Too many people I know have been educated beyond their intelligence" - Arthur C. Clarke
Exactly!
Mapsource is a free download on Garmin site.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209
From the above-linked Garmin page...
'WARNING: This software will not work unless you already own a MapSource product'
Which is why I gave up on trying to get Mapsource.
Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold
TripTik...
Thanks for the tip on this, super cool!
Garmin 350
I am wondering why your 350 has no detour since my 350 has a detour built into the system.
.
Mapsource is a free download on Garmin site.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209
From the above-linked Garmin page...
'WARNING: This software will not work unless you already own a MapSource product'
Which is why I gave up on trying to get Mapsource.
I downloaded it anyway...
and it worked!
Q
Galaxy NoteII, nüvi® 680
Thanks for your details
One thing I have learned, which may be common knowledge to others, is how to use my gps when planning a trip.
This is in reference to using a Gamin 350 which does not have detour capability in it.
Here are some things to think about when doing this:
1. I use googgle or yahoo to plan my trip.
...................
I've used this and it works for me. Maybe someone else will find it handy also OR have an even better suggestion to improve this.
Thanks for telling how you do it. Step by step is very helpful.
"Making tracks..." {:)-<=| Nuvi 880
??
Mapsource is a free download on Garmin site.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209
From the above-linked Garmin page...
'WARNING: This software will not work unless you already own a MapSource product'
Which is why I gave up on trying to get Mapsource.
--
Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660, 2008 NT maps
???
2008 NT maps = MapSource product
Drivesmart 66, Nuvi 2595LMT (Died), Nuvi 1490T (Died), Nuvi 260 (Died), GPSMAP 195
.
2008 NT maps = MapSource product
Not if you only have them installed on your GPS unit and not on your computer.
.
2008 NT maps = MapSource product
Not if you only have them installed on your GPS unit and not on your computer.
I guess that's how I got it to work, I downloaded my 2009 NT to my PC at the same time.
Q
Galaxy NoteII, nüvi® 680
???Call Garmin Tech Support
RockNiceHunter, I know how you feel. I was all questions about this same issue. Eventually, I did get in touch with Garmin Tech Support, and very nicely said I could not figure out how to get a copy of my maps onto my computer so I could learn what I was doing, build routes, etc.
And the nicest thing happened, the techie said he would mail a copy of the maps CD to me, with the updates.
If you do this, be sure to ask about the unlock codes. Those codes strike fear into my heart every time I have to deal with them.
"Making tracks..." {:)-<=| Nuvi 880
Mapsource
I got Mapsource with the 2008 update.
John_nuvi_