GPS Routing question

2oldman wrote:

pitch wrote:
I don't travel any route that a GPS unit would come up with,so I only need it as real time map anyway.

It's unlikely any GPS could route you as you want for a long trip, but it can if you enter your specific destination each day.

If you use Delorme's mapping program you can definitely route the way you want. We do it all the time because we enjoy the secondary roads. We never go by Point A to our destination. We meander. :) It doesn't matter that it may be longer or slower...we like to really see things.

pitch wrote:
I don't travel any route that a GPS unit would come up with,so I only need it as real time map anyway.

It's unlikely any GPS could route you as you want for a long trip, but it can if you enter your specific destination each day.

Forget maps and GPS , the times that were the most fun was when I was lost !

We do our routes in Mapsource, verify in Google Earth any questions.
Then import the route into Base Camp another Garmin maping program to load into the Nuvi. Before importing delete everything in Base Camp all old routes, via's and waypoints.

The safest way to use a GPS is to plan your route on a paper route, or digital media of your choice.

Enter into the "favorites" of your GPS, those locations you want to stop at. (fuel, parks, camping, etc.)

Now when you are ready to depart, select "Where to", then "favorites". Select the first stop.

TURN OFF THE AUDIO OF THE GPS. This will prevent you from turning on to a rail road track, or one way street. Only use the written turn by turn instructions. The GPS will display the next turn at the top of the screen.

Now you can verify the route the GPS wants to send you. If you do not see the highway you wanted, go to settings and change from "fastest" to "Shortest", or vice versa. Once you have verified your route, now you can safely utilize the GPS to navigate to your first stop of the day.

If you do this for each segment of the trip, you'll be sure that you are on the route you want to be on, and minimize the wrong turns.

HINT: Many times while taking the back roads to sight see, the GPS will will try to direct you away from that route. As it may not be the fastest or shorter road. Ignore the GPS and continue on the highway you want. At some point the GPS will reset and provide you with routing information for the road your on.

My Nuvi uses the routes I want just by adding one or more "Via" points along the way. At trip time, I just enter the final destination followed by each via point in order. I use the coordinates of a point in the middle of the highway for the via points from Google Maps.

Tom N wrote:
In MS S&T save your trip as a GPX file. For old Garmins use Garmin's MapSource software to load that .GPX file in to your Garmin GPS. For new Garmins us Garmin Ecpress.

Mapsource

Garmin Express

Right, but you may need to clean up the .gpx file. For example, when I do an export from S&T, the rtept entries often have "[time]Invalid DateTime-05:00[/time]" which makes MapSource choke. I just do a simple search and replace. FWIW, I also put each entry on a separate line just so it's easier to read.

Other than that kind of cleanup, the transfer process is seamless and easy.

Skip

On edit: I had to use brackets in lieu of the real symbols to get this message to post. Hopefully the code text is clear.

The wife and I have been pondering on it for more than a few hours now, and have concluded that without reworking the route into base camp, it isn't going to happen.

I don't travel any route that a GPS unit would come up with,so I only need it as real time map anyway.

I guess we will just run it off the laptop as usual. Was looking to get that thing off the center console.

Like the previous poster said, save the route to a gpx file.
How you download the gpx file depends on what model Garmin you have.
With some models you can use the old MapSource, others you may
be able to load it using Garmin's replacement to MapSource, BaseCamp which is a PITA to learn. Other models like most Nuvi's you will have to copy the gpx file to a folder on the gps.
Also, the gps may reroute you to a different route from what you entered.
Good luck!

In MS S&T save your trip as a GPX file. For old Garmins use Garmin's MapSource software to load that .GPX file in to your Garmin GPS. For new Garmins us Garmin Ecpress.

Mapsource

Garmin Express