file naming

That you do not have the Alerts set for Custom POIs under Tools/Settings/Proximity Points ?

Well first off we need to know what type of Nuvi you have. Is it the 265W in your profile?

Second, I think you'll need proximity alerts turned on in your Nuvi. Not sure the exact procedures for your model but go to Tools - Help and search for Proximity and it will tell you how to turn the alert on for your model.

Also check your volume settings and make sure you are not in "mute" or, perhaps, sending the output thru a FM Transmitter.

You can use gpx or csv files.If you want voice alerts see http://www.poi-factory.com/node/25730 . For default bong alert see http://www.poi-factory.com/node/1278 .You can rename the files like you want. Keep it simple. Remember you may have done every thing right but if you are not within 50 to 75 ft of the coordinates you will not get the alert.

The biggest problems with the alerts and icons not working are the files not being named the same except for extensions and having double extensions. Double-check each of them. The best way to prevent double extensions is to go to your folder options in the control panel and click view then find hide extensions for known file types and remove the check mark. Click ok.

Thanks for all the advice. Alerts are turned on in my Nuvi 265w. And, I'm not trying to create voice alerts, or other MP3 sounds, just the red flashing alert on the screen.

Copy the following 3 lines and paste them into a text file called
"My redlight test.csv".

-80.19777,41.04640,Start Here
-80.20063,41.05515,Middle
-80.20449,41.06737,Drive Here

Save this file into a folder by itself, I called my test folder for this file "Alert".

Compile with POI Loader in Express mode and save it to the GPS device.

Disconnect from the PC, bootup in normal GPS mode and then Go to Simulation mode.

Set your Location to the 1st POI in the list called "Start Here".

Then select the 3rd POI "Drive Here" and select GO and then answer yes to simulate this route.

After a few tenths of a mile the GPS should have a pop up saying "Alert Middle" and a 2nd alert when 1/4 mile from the "Drive Here" destination. You should also have the default bong-bong alert for each.

Please post your results.

except that it had me driving 54 MPH in the 45 MPH zone.

Great job, bear007

Hope this works for rodeophoto.

That is one bad misbehaving GPS you have there. But your safe. We don't have real or simulated redlight or speed cams in Western PA!

Bear007, First of all, thanks for the tip. I didn't know the 'set location' option was there. That makes things a lot simpler.

Also, thanks for the lengthy reply. Using your method, I navigated to the third point. I had the tone and pop-up for the middle waypoint, but only tone (no pop-up) for the destination.

I then simulated a destination on my file 'redlight scale_locations.csv' which I compiled using Extra POI editor and which was loaded using POI Loader in manual mode. This time I got the pop-up and tone alert. The difference from previous files is the loading in manual mode.

This makes me wonder if I've been doing something wrong with the editor, causing POI Loader not to properly load the proximity settings.

I guess I'll use manual mode from now on to load my files, unless you have some further advice about what I may be doing wrong in Editor. I'm setting proximity distance at 1,000 meters in the TourGuide box within POI Editor.

Thanks again for your help.

Glad to hear your alerts are working.

If you want a default 1/4 mile alert distance you can name the file with the keyword 'redlight' in the csv filename and then compile and load the file using POI Loader in Express mode. Note that the bmp and wav filenames must also be 'redlight scale_locations.xxx'.

If you want a 1000 meter alert distance I suggest using GPX file format.

- Load the file in EPE
- Open 'Options / Preferences' and set all your preferences to metric, make sure to UNCHECK 'Emulate POI Loader' under the GPI Output category.
- Use the 'Edit / Replace Field ...' to set the Field name to 'Proximity' and the New Field Value to '1000'
- Save the file as a GPX file to your existing folder naming it as 'Scale_locations.gpx' (no redlight)
- Rename the old 'redlight scale_locations.csv' with a different file extension like 'old' or 'bak' so you always have your original file
- Rename the existing bmp and wav files to 'Scale_locations.xxx' to match your new gpx file
- Now compile and load the file with POI Loader in Express mode

Once this upfront setup is done the first time it is easy to maintain the file and set/change alert distances. Then you can recompile and load in POI Loader Express mode anytime because the alert distance is saved in the gpx file.

With gpx files you can also add personal info about any of these POI locations. To see an excellent example of the use of the GPX file format download Strephon_Alkhalikoi's Historical Vessels file. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/28936

Csv files don't save any alert distance info, the redlight keyword or POI Loader in Manual mode is always needed for alerts with csv files.

Good luck,

thanks again for your help and advice. You've essentially validated the way I've been saving files up to now. That's the way I've been doing it and why I was confused the alerts weren't working.

I'll keep experimenting to see what I'm still doing wrong, although I think the manual load is the way to go.

cheers