Forum Discussion

woodworker414's avatar
woodworker414
Explorer
Nov 04, 2021

Garmin Basecamp Problems

Good morning fellow truck campers.
I recently purchased the Garmin RV 890, I really like it. I have always purchased a Garmin gps. I have been learning Basecamp, I like it.
I can pick my own route and then export it to the RV890. When I open Basecamp and connect the gps to my laptop, Basecamp opens a small window, "Problem connecting to the device, error code, garmin/gpx/ current.gpx. I googled the error code and Garmin gives steps to delete the issue. I follow the step and deleted the corrupt current gpx file.
Then I start to mark my route, by placing waypoints, but somewhere on the route Basecamp does not follow the route that I have marked and willy nilly goes where it wants but will come back to the last waypoint that I had put on the map. Well I don't want to wander all over the countryside., I want to go down the roads I picked. I have called Gamin numerous times. The last time the guy said I see you have called before, Yes, because the issue has not been solved. And he kinda talked to me as if I was a waste of his time. UUUMMMM I was really looking forward to using Basecamp to explore.
Hope I explained this clearly. Has anyone who uses Basecamp had this issue?
Does anyone know of a alternative program that I can use instead Basecamp, Or a different gps device to replace the RV890.
Any input will be appreciated.
Truck Campers
  • dsteinman's avatar
    dsteinman
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2021
    I don't know if you are using the Trip Planner or not, since I don't. But, I select waypoint and add them to a trip that I have created. These are on the left side on the screen. When you select them to create a trip, you have to select them in the order that you want for the trip.

    I also have the RV890 and like it, so I wouldn't change it.

    Lately, I have been using RV Trip Wizard for planning trips, since I had always used RV Park Reviews to find RV parks. I have not tried uploading or saving the file for the GPS.

    David
  • woodworker414's avatar
    woodworker414
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2021
    dsteinman
    Thank you for the reply. When you are creating a route, using waypoints, are you creating the route on the RV 890 or on Basecamp?
    I have very serious vision issue. I can not help in navigation when on the road. I can set up a route on the laptop and export it to the gps, because I use a reading aide device . I have looked at RV Trip Wizard, but have not really explored it. I really want to be able to export the created route to the gps.
    I will have to explore RV Trip Wizard more to see if a created route can be exported to the gps.
  • bighatnohorse's avatar
    bighatnohorse
    Explorer II
    Nov 04, 2021
    I download maps to my Garmin Nuvi from Basecamp all the time.
    But I don't use Trip Planner.

    See if this works:
    Create a list, pick your locations (keep it simple with just 3 or 4 points, add each one to the list.
    Your waypoints will be listed in the bottom left window pane.

    Select all of your waypoints so that they are highligted.
    Right click on them. Then select "Create Route using selected waypoints."

    You'll see your route created at the bottom of the list of selected waypoints.
    Right click on you're route. Select "open".

    A new window opens showing your waypoints. Drag the last stop to the bottom of the list and then select "Optimize"
    Exit that window and your route is now ready to download to the Garmin.

    Also, you need to check the "options" under the "Edit" menu and make sure that you have appropriate "Activity Profile" selected.

    This is a rather brief explanation but I hope it helps.
  • fpoole's avatar
    fpoole
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2021
    Ms. Garmin, heheh, my arch nemesis.. will drop me out in the middle of nowhere without batting an eye, LOL..

    So, I tried Base Camp at various times for hiking and camper nav, never had any luck with it. It would mark the waypoints and then scatter... user error I'm sure, but it wasn't as simple as everyone said it was, well for me anyway.

    So, learned about RV Trip Wizard as noted above, works great and I believe will create the .gpx files to load. My Ms Garmin is an older unit and I tried several times but didn't work out.

    Trip Wiz works like a charm and I just put in the days final and then add stops if Ms Garmin doesn't route the way I want...

    Over all it works well, hope that helps a little...
  • woodworker414's avatar
    woodworker414
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2021
    fpoole
    Thank you for the reply. Again RV Trip Wizard is mentioned. So I guess I better take a real good look at it.
  • dsteinman's avatar
    dsteinman
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2021
    woodworker414 wrote:
    Thank you for the reply. When you are creating a route, using waypoints, are you creating the route on the RV 890 or on Basecamp?
    I have very serious vision issue. I can not help in navigation when on the road. I can set up a route on the laptop and export it to the gps, because I use a reading aide device . I have looked at RV Trip Wizard, but have not really explored it. I really want to be able to export the created route to the gps.
    I will have to explore RV Trip Wizard more to see if a created route can be exported to the gps.


    I will download waypoints, that I have created in Basecamp, to the RV890. Then I let the RV890 create the route.

    David
  • woodworker414's avatar
    woodworker414
    Explorer
    Nov 04, 2021
    dsteinman
    Thank you for the reply.
    I used to do that, but now Basecamp does not follow the route that I made with waypoints. At times it will just go wandering around the countryside and finally get back to the last waypoint that had placed.
    Can't have that going on. I am using the latest map, and have uninstalled and installed Basecamp and it still does the wandering around.
    Now viewing videos of RV Trip Wizard to learn more about it.
  • bighatnohorse's avatar
    bighatnohorse
    Explorer II
    Nov 05, 2021
    woodworker414 wrote:
    dsteinman

    Basecamp does not follow the route that I made with waypoints. At times it will just go wandering around the countryside and finally get back to the last waypoint that had placed.

    There are two possible causes for that; 1) you have not optimized the route with a specific end point and start point.
    2) you have specified a vehicle such as truck, bicycle, RV when you should have it set to car.

    "Tracks" are not the same as "Routes" and will produce different results for downloading.
  • towpro's avatar
    towpro
    Explorer
    Nov 05, 2021
    I loved Delorme street atlas, greatest software out there, but the delorme GPS was made for walking, or you could use your laptop.

    Than Garmin bought them out. I have spend a lot of time switching to Base Camp.
    the trick is to first make sure your GPS and base camp are both set to the same routing method, (shortest, fastest, etc). add some way points in your route, then load them to GPS and view the route, is it what you expected? Remember all you are doing is sending way points to GPS from base camp and the GPS is creating its own route from way point to way point. All you can do is keep adding way points until the GPS routes you were you want to go.

    another problem I have had it my Drive series receives traffic data and can route you around an accident, but if you have a way point near the accident the GPS will still be routing you around the accident to that next way point, not your true destination.

    With every GPS, you have to visually run a sanity check on every route before you leave. If this is a a route somewhere I have never been, I might have one line paper notes about major turns that I expect. If GPS starts to route you somewhere else, make that turn you have on paper and GPS will re-calibrate.
  • kohldad's avatar
    kohldad
    Explorer III
    Nov 05, 2021
    I'm getting pretty good with Basecamp since Microsoft S&T won't work on Win 10.

    I've had the problems in the past. Here is an example of going from west side of RMNP (Stillwater) to Estes Park on the east side. Note it is 144 miles in 3:35.



    By adding a couple of waypoints, finally had Basecamp heading the way I want which is through RMNP. Note this way is 52.6 miles in 2:51. So this is the route it should have selected to begin with.



    What I do is pick my two points. Add a waypoint in between then keep moving the waypoint until the routes swaps to the other side. Then go back and add a second waypoint in the area just before the route swapped. Some times it takes several of these to get it to finally go the route I want.

    I've looked at other programs, but Basescamp is the only one that works off line. Since I have a Garmin, I can also download and use the City Navigator which is the map on the Garmin so the routes in theory should be identical once transferred from Basecamp to Garmin. I haven't tried downloading yet because while I make plans we are retired and aren't in a hurry. Side trips are our norm and plans change often.

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