POI Directional & Radius Alerts

I can't speak to the directional alerts but it's very easy to set up a radius alert using the TourGuide naming feature.

Simply rename the POI name as follows:

If your original file names were:
example:
PilotGas.csv
PilotGas.bmp
PilotGas.wav

Simply rename as:
PilotGas_TourGuide.csv
PilotGas_TourGuide.bmp
PilotGas_TourGuide.wav

Make sure of the correct spelling of TourGuide

and don't forget to load the files to your GPS using POI Loader in the manual mode and to set the desired distance you want the alert.

In the case of the Pilot Gas file I use 7500 feet as my alert distance as I want ample warning to get in the proper lane to get off the highway.

I use the same distance for my Cracker Barrel file !

There are several options available for setting up alerts. Setting up a directional alert though, the best answer is "Sorry, Charlie." To be done effectively it requires a special package from Garmin that carries a hefty licensing fee. That's not to say it can't be done with other software, but it isn't for the faint of heart.

The two types of alerts available for us normal folk though are the linear, along the route type and the radial TourGuide alert. As Mr. Ken stated, adding the keyword TourGuide to the name of the file will give you an alert radius of 400 meters or about a quarter mile. There are also additional keywords that can be added that will give you a default alert of the same distance, but only if the point is within about 75 feet of the road you are on and you are heading toward it. These are the camera alerts and they are detailed in the help file for POI Loader.

The other method is to run POI Loader in the Manual rather than the default Auto or Express mode. This will allow you to set one of two types of triggers - speed or distance. The third method is to build in the type of trigger by using GPX files. These can be edited with a text editor to add the correct XML statements but be warned, the numeric values for speed and distance are metric. The easier method for working with GPX is, for those with a PC, is to use the Extra_POI_Editor program from TurboCCC. Look in the FAQs and you will find all the information there on where to find the program, how to set it up and various tips,tricks, and insights.

And welcome to the Factory!

lol , I liked that one.

I think it has something to do with circle lists and other esoteric items which is why I've never tried it.

As far as I know, there is not a way to set a true "directional" alert. And, to make sure we are thinking the same, let's set up a scenario. We want out unit to "alert" is we are traveling from point A to point B on road X. However, if we are on road X traveling from point B to point A, we do not want an alert. This is what most people want if there is a camera that only acts in one direction.

One might approximate a directional alert by locating the POI so that it is located slightly more than 30 meters from the centerline of the road. This would generate an alert in one direction - but not the other because you would be more than 30 meters from the POI (assuming you are on the roadway in your lane(s).

Why might this be? It is because a POI has to be within 30 meters of the centerline of the road on which you are traveling to create an alert. (and I bet centerline is not a real exact thing given satellite accuracy).

This is often a problem for people who are creating their own files because they do not pay attention to where the POI is relative to the roadway. Lots are businesses are set back from the road - or are in a strip mall - or, worse, inside a mall. MrKenFL - who maintains the rest areas file at http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6643 - is much beloved because he has made sure that the coordinates are on the road at the entrance ramps. So - the alerts work miles away.

Generally - for people who want to create their own files - we recommend that the "location" of the POI be at the entrance where one would turn into the POI off the roadway.

Maybe if we knew specifically what you were trying to accomplish, we could make more comments to help.

You are wrong there. It can be done and has been done using some of the features in EPE. But again, it isn't for the faint at heart as it involves creating circle lists, positioning the circles and then outputting the file as a GPI. Not some thing for the faint of heart as it takes a lot of work and is definitely trial and effort until you get the procedure down and tested. BUT IT CAN BE DONE.

Box Car is absolutely right.
I have made directional speed poi for Norway as long as EPE had the opportunity of circle list.
It is not difficult, but laborious with many poi.
An example in EPE: https://sites.google.com/site/odingpsm/directional-poi-epe

Be interested in a quick lesson, please.

How do I start?

What is the key to the directional part?

TURBOccc writes

This was a couple of years ago.

He was talking about "bearing list", that is not the same.

Make a Poi with proximity. Make a circle(s) inside the proximity om the side of the poi you want the alert.
Driving over circle(s) before poi= alert, driving over (staight over) poi before circle(s) = no alert.

I have set up Red Light Camera Alerts for the Waterloo Region, where I live and use EPE and go to satellite view.

I drag the point 30-40 meters ahead of the camera and well over to the side. I then set a 10 meter prox alert.

This works in most cases, as long as it's two lanes or more in both directions. I've fine tuned some by moving even farther to the right, but Waterloo Region only had about 15 RLC's, so it wasn't too much trouble.

I also drive parts, for a car dealership, a couple of days a week and end up going past most of them over a period of month or two.

Ok, using EPE I have a single entry POI file on my street about 1/4 mile away. I set a proximity of 700 feet. I created a "circle" of 200 feet and placed the circle within the proximity circle such that it is over the road to my house on my home side. Saved the file as a .gpx (for changing later) plus saved to my unit as a .gpi.

When I simulate going past the POI, I get an double alert (once a triple) with the oval containing the POI name. Then, when I simulate coming from the other direction. I every now and then get a single alert immediately after I pass the POI, but mostly not

In actual driving I get the double alert and oval going away but no alert coming home - so seems to work.

Do note that inside circle must overlap the road.

The extra code generated is as follows

<!--
<gpxx:CircleList>
<gpxx:Circle lat="35.026271" lon="-85.165629">
<gpxx:Radius>61</gpxx:Radius>
</gpxx:Circle>
</gpxx:CircleList>
-->

But how do you know from which direction to put the circles?

What if you miss a turn, make a u-turn and drive back through the POI from the other direction?

Will the alert not work until you pass over the POI from the opposite direction?

-jgracey

Read here as I have written previously:

https://sites.google.com/site/odingpsm/circles

https://sites.google.com/site/odingpsm/directional-poi-epe

*Remember the Space of ca 50 meter between poi and first circle.
*Poi in the middel of opposite lane(if not divided road).
*Circles in the middel of lane in aler direction.
*circles that overlap merge in to one alert zone.

*In divided roads you can make narrow alert corridor.
*On no divided roads make sure the poi is in the opposite lane and circles center in lane for alert direction.

and take less "tweeking" than the EPE method...

My opinion: Not even if you only want directional alert in divided roads.

Save it as a GPI not a GPX.

excellent graphics. But - do not understand the comments on "opposite" lane. None of the graphics show that, if I understand them correctly.

No I have not made any graphics on that.
It mean somthing like: if the circles can be reach by the opposite lane make sure they drive over or close to the poi. The farther from the poi they passes, the bigger must the distance be between poi and circle.
(More time to switch of)
The best is just to play with it, trying to learn and understand.
This is only my experience, maby you find something I missed.

You linked to several pages. In looking at the graphics on the two pages I see circles - but not in the opposite lane as you stated above.

I was trying to reconcile the graphic and your comments.

I am not the King of English writing and reading , so somtimes I misunderstand others and sometime write things a difficult way.

I used Magellan for years and at two miles out it let me know a turn was coming up or a freeway exit. I decided to try a couple of Garmins now and like them alot but they wait a little too long for me. can i change that setting anyplace anyone knows of?
Thank guys! i just joined this site and love it! The custom POIs are going to be great on Vacation as well as around home.
Jeff B

I finally made it work for the sign at edge of town. ..Ding coming home... No ding when leaving.
Thanks

Having proved the technique works, I am now trying to better understand it.

Just one circle inside the "Proximity" circle seems to work. However the links to examples that vestenfjell provided above

have multiple circles with a radius of 50 meters.

What advantage does multiple circles add?

One big circle vs multiply circles works often just fine. If divided roads are close it can give fals alert . Remember the alert is only inside the circles, so multiply smal circles give a narrower alert zoone .

Delited dobble post

I just finished making "Radial Proximity Alerts" for my Garmin Nuvi 1450. As I drive on a route to a destination, Garmin will alert me to any "Point of Interest" with an audio and a colorful .bmp on the screen. I get an alert for any Point of Interest that is on my route and also off the route. As I come within 1 mile of McDonald's, for example, I get an alert, even though McDonald's might be 1 mile off my route! You can set any distance you like.

I used the standard CVS POI files,
I used POI Loader - Use Manual, NOT Express
In POI Loader, BE SURE to set your distance, I use 5280 feet, for 1 mile.

Before you run POI Loader you must have three files ready. & Rename the CVS file like this:
TourGuide Mcdonalds_USA_CAN.cvs
TourGuide Mcdonalds_USA_CAN.bmp
TourGuide Mcdonalds_USA_CAN.wav
Three files like this work together to make your alert with audio, and colorful alert on the screen.
You must have all three files.

These three files must be identical in name before the period.

All three files must contain: TourGuide
TourGuide must contain only two capital letters
TourGuide must have the T capitalized
TourGuide must have the G capitalized

For fun, we make up our own audio wav files using Microsoft Sound Recorder. We also make our own bmp files using Microsoft Office. We edit, clip, and resize the bmp to this size: 24 by 24

-Steve from Kansas

As you advance in the drive through, does the alert sound each time you stop and start?

Spokybob, Now that you mention it, I do remember the audio alert(s) sounding off after started up after a stop light. I am pretty new at this.

Also I discovered that if I press on a color alert-bmp on the screen the map appears. Then if I press the bmp on the screen again, the GO Icon will appear and I presume it will navigate me to that place. I need to experiment more.

I forgot to mention that I use an Audio program to modify the mp3 file to: wav Microsoft signed 16 bit pcm --- The audio converter is called Audacity. It is a free download.

I used tourguide on a couple of items and it proves to be a pain since it is a radius. If it is something u r looking for on ur route it is better to set it up the same way rest areas r set up - u actually do not need keywords, just set it in the poi loading process.

Ruggb,
We are driving from Kansas City to Florida next month and we would like to know if our favorite fast food places might be close by in some small town. We might be willing to drive a short distance off route.

You have a good idea. Save this thread and let us know how it worked for you.

Tourguiding something like Mickey's can be overkill. As you reach urban areas the number of different locations within your radius will cause at least one problem - saturation. You will get so sick of hearing the announcement you will want to throw the unit out the window while traveling at 70+/ The other problem is the POI announcements will interrupt directional announcements and too many going on at the same time causes unit lockups and freezes.

Traveling the super slabs there are usually enough mentions of them on the blue info signs you will be able to get your notice to exit in plenty of time. It also solves the problem of those within the alert area with no exit.

Box Car, Yes, you are right, plus, I have many POI files too. Here in Kansas City, several Alerts may sound off, one right after the other. And the driving directions interrupt the POI Alerts, then, when the driving directions are finished, the POI Audio starts up again, in min-sentence.

The Audio Wav Alerts are not nearly as intrusive sounding as the driving directions so they are easy to ignore.

I have thought that if we want, we could always turn off the POI Alerts until we are looking for something.

And many times on a long road trip like we are planning, I get tired of hearing it, so I put it on mute until I need it for directions.

All these things are factors, but for us, right now, it seems most important that we get an Audio Alert about one mile from all the Points of Interest we are interested in.

I use McDonaldsTourGuide.gpx, with wav & bmp files. I set the radial alert for 600 feet. I only get one alert, no matter how many times I start & stop inside the circle.
When the alert sounds , I expect to see Golden Arches. If not,I mark, then save to Favorites as NoMac...If I see a McD & no alert sounds, I save as New Mac. I sort it out when we get back home.
So far I have submitted 26 corrections to Mahoney. It's kind of a fun thing to do.

Spokybob, I enjoyed configuring Garmin to get Radial Proximity Alerts working too. "It's kind of a fun thing to do," as you say.

But I only use Garmin to direct me when I am driving along an unfamiliar route and to help me find an address or place I have never been to. I will also enjoy Garmin when it tells me where McDonalds or Quick Trip Store is located when we can't see it from our route.

Using Garmin in the city and along familiar routes is an annoyance and distraction, but that is just my tastes.

Using EPE allows me to edit the proximity alert distance to zero for all the local locations. (I know where they are.) I can still navigate to them.