How to active track log in nuvi750

It is already there. Go to tools and then to routes and you will see how easy it is to create a route.

On a 7xx series GPS the track log is always active. The only thing you have control of is the viability of this log.

You can have the tract shown or hidden. To do these two functions go to:

TOOLS >> SETTINGS >> MAP >> TRIP LOG

There you can SHOW or HIDE the log.

The trip log is a FIFO type log "First In First Out".
So after reaching it's 10,000 point limit the very first points recorded start to be eliminated.

I am very interested in the track log. I have a 660 which doesn't have it. Might upgrade to one that does. Can the track log be downloaded to your PC?

Yes using MapSource. ('Recieve From' function in Mapsource)

And once it is downloaded to MapSource it can be viewed in both, MapSource and Google Earth.

I personally find the track log useless..all it is is a bunch of lines going where ever you have gone. I may be using it wrong and if so could someone explain the usefulness of it. Garmin doesn't seem to be able to.

Thanks

It is exactly what you say it is......

There is no reason for Garmin to have to explain it use. You yourself decide how you want to use it or if you don't want to use it.

I use it for my own personal wants/needs as I wish.

I use it to track my train trips around the states (no roads).

Also for "Sunday" drives where I just start driving with no where in mind and take back road just to see what is there.

You determine your own use of this tool/toy to your desires.

If you only look at the track log on the Garmin then indeed you are only seeing a line representing your track log.

But if you open that track log in Mapsource, it shows you the following information: date, starting time, elapsed time, length, average speed. And if you click on the track log, it shows information about each point in the track log: date, time, leg length, leg time, leg speed, leg course, and position.

So what are some practical uses for the track logs? A business person could use track logs to fill out mileage expense reports. No more forgetting to write down the mileage.

Or a parent could use them to keep an eye on their kid's driving habits. Opening a track log and seeing a speed of 92 mph would not be a good thing!

Or a wife could use them to see if her husband was really at work on Saturday or if he was at the golf course. Well, maybe track logs are bad after all....

GadgetGuy 2008...

Excellent Response.

I too have found using MapSource an excellent reference on long trips, mileage, my 18 y/o son's driving habits etc...

I also read an earlier post where a gentlemen beat a speeding ticket with his Mapsource info as well as a letter from Garmin explaining how these details are captured as well as the fact that they cannot be edited by the customer...

The information is useful, but only if you desire to use it......

Actually you can view tracks (along with your waypoints and routes) in Google Earth (even free version without Plus) by opening Current.gpx on your Garmin from Google Earth. There are several different loading options depending upon whether you want to just view the line, show elevations (instead of flat on ground) in 3D views, or clickable segments with direction arrows.

But you may need to use one of the methods other than "clickable with arrows" if that is too busy with low speed overlapping tracks and labels that disappear at high zoom. Mapsource does a better job with barely moving, short intervals between points tracks.

Un, I use a MacBook. Can you tell me how to open the track log on my 780 in Mapsource? Thnks.

I have found that track logs can actually be very helpful if you need to re-trace your steps. I was in the Arizona desert not too long back driving around in a 4x4. We stopped in the middle of no where for about 15 minutes, and I inadvertantly set a handheld radio on the back bumper and then forgot it was there. I didn't realize I had lost it until about 1/2 hour later. There were numerous roads in this area, and I would have had no idea which road I was on as they all looked alike. I pulled up the track log and re-drove my route until I found the spot we stopped at. There it was about 30 yards from our stopping point. Other than a little dirty, I saved myself from losing a $2100 radio.
Also, when you are in an area of rough terrain and there are no roads in sight, you have to drive around areas that can not be easily crossed. If you wind your way back into the desert, sometimes it is MUCH easier to take the same "proven" way back out. Especially when the sun is going down and you can't navigate very well. By following your track log, you can drive out the exact same way you came in, knowning that the route is passable and you won't have to turn around and look for another route.
And as someone else mentioned, it is really cool to later upload that track into Mapsource and view it in Google Earth to get a sky view of everywhere you drove that day, week, etc. I have hundreds of track logs saved on my PC, and whenever we plan a trip to that same area and we want to go to some of the places we previously visted, we view the track and get the GPS coordinates of where we want to go next.

Just my 3 and 1/2 cents.
Greg

Get RoadTrip.

http://www8.garmin.com/macosx/index.jsp

Glad it helps some of you. I guess I just do not have the need to use such a tool. I think it is just another gimmick instead of putting something really useful on the unit.

Obviously a personal opinion...

I use the Trip Log after every motorcycle ride I take. I use it to keep a record of where I went and to show it to others.

Thanks. I’d downloaded this before but never quite knew how to use it. I do now. Thank you for directing me back and for all the other comments on this subject.

Is there a way to manually clear the trip log to start all over again. I tried everything I know to try and nothing seems to work. We are going 4 wheeling in the desert and want to make sure we make it back to the starting point.

Read my Freeport post.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/5411
On Page 17.

Look at Tools>My Data>. There should be an option to Clear the Trip Log.

Thanks got it cleared. I going to do a test run before heading to the desert. I'm going to log trip my route to work. Anything I need to know to find the trip log to follow the route back home. Were it's stored. I have it turned on to view.

Going to work the other morning and while sitting at a redlight I noticed that my 750 showed I was moving in the MPH screen in the bottom left screen. When the light turned green I proceeded with a left turn. When I got home and uploaded the track into mapsoure it says I was doing 70 mph at the intersection where I made the left turn from a redlight. Has anyone else ever have it show your moving when sitting still.

It's not that uncommon, we just never seem to notice it. It's related to satelite reception/switching and signal changes that confuse the GPS receiver for a brief period. Not a problem.

You can probably stop anywhere and if you wait long enough you will notice it to some degree. When you're stopped, you'll often see the vehicle rotate due to the same phenomonen.

I can understand that everything is in motion one way or another but the thing that suprised me was the track log haveing me going 70 MPH from the redlight. Hope police never have the ability to read our tracks. We would be guilty of false information. LOL Thanks

Went off roading today and had the trip log on. Is there a way to save logs and call up certain logs for return trip back to the start point or a way to save each log to reuse later to get back to were you want to go.

PS. to post..
I saved the track as a GPX file. I would like to edit and take out the wrong turns and back tracking because of wrong turn. Is this possible and how would it be done.

Just open up the file in MapSource and use the Track Editing tools do delete the sections you don't want.

The points and turns are gone now. I gave it a name and saved as a gpx file. Now what do I do with it to get it on the gps as a route to follow. Thanks for you help.

There's no automatic way to convert a track to a route in MapSource. You will need to use the Routing Tool and manually trace over the track.

Then you will use the "Send to Device" button in MapSource to send it to the GPS unit.