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So I've [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/garmin-users-advice-please#post-3176510 ]moaned[/url] a few times on here about problems using my Edge 600 to navigate.
However, while I was away in South Africa someone loaded a file to the Edge that I then navigated and it worked perfectly so looks like some of my problems may be user error. I'm assuming the file they loaded was generated using a garmin device, uploaded to Basecamp(?). It appeared in my Edge as a 'saved ride'. It was c60km long, crossed over itself, and included a section ridden in both directions so must have had a large number of points. The navigable route seemed to match the route exactly when I did 'show on map' - ie all the things I've had problems with worked this time. It completely changed my opinion of how useful the Edge could be.
So, how do I create a file I can navigate like that from Tracklogs or from a GPX file someone sends me?
Upload it into Basecamp first?
use bikeroutetoaster? it creates courses that my Edge 500 reads fine
Is anyone using Tracklogs with the Edge then? Having paid a lot of money for the software and having full OS mapping for the UK the idea of dumping it isn't attractive and while Google maps is ok for road riding but useless off road.
Don't know Tracklogs but you can do this with MemoryMap, but would assume similar functionality to be available.
In MemoryMap you can create a track or a route.
Tracks are pretty much what the GPS would record if you were to ride the same course and have a very large number of points, not tried it on the edge yet but don't think you get turn notifications just off course warnings.
Routes are sequences of waypoints that give turn by turn directions but generally have less points, with straight lines between each and warnings given as you approach.
Sounds like you had a track uploaded and were following a course
Tracks are pretty much what the GPS would record if you were to ride the same course and have a very large number of points, not tried it on the edge yet but don't think you get turn notifications just off course warnings.
Routes are sequences of waypoints that give turn by turn directions but generally have less points, with straight lines between each and warnings given as you approach.
Fully understand the difference between routes and tracks (I've had a Garmin ETrex for years). The Edge lacks the 'trackback' function of older devices. You have to 'navigate' a track which seems to turn it into a route. For me this created a problem as the Edge joined seemingly random points and cuts off the route.
HOWEVER - the 'saved ride' I followed via Navigate on holiday had lots of points and turns (it must have done to be as detailed as it appeared). It was not a course.
I have just bought an edge 800 and used it over xmas with tracklogs with no problem at all. I downloaded several tracklog route files into tracklogs and then simply saved to the edge as tracks. The garmin saves them in routes and seems to convert them into FIT files.
I think FIT files are new to the 800. The 605 needs/generates .tcx files although the file I was given is downloadable from the web as a .gdb file ("for use in Garmin Mapsource") which is another format that's new to me.
I was just gonna post something about my Garmin and Tracks/courses and routes.
So for navigating with the edge600 would I save the file as gpx or tcx as a Track a courses or route?
Then when I go to follow it what is best to use Tracks,courses or routes.
I have only had success on one ride where it told me I was off line almost immediately, but not sure weather i was following a Track a course or route
Would be great to know and use the Garmin to its full potential.
cheers to the Garmin wise folk of STW
The edge does have the trackback function.
It's under Where To? - Back to Start
Not had much time to play fully as I've just got it and the weather has been appaling. Have played about with tracks and routes and they behave as I'd expect (routes better than expected when combined with a routable map).
There are settings (such as turn guidance etc) that need to be enabled when you select the track/route could this be the problem?
I'd not changed any settings between it not working before and working very well while I was away.
So how does 'back to start' work - that's something i'd not tried. will it navigate the track in either direction?
bump
The other thing to check if you want to follow a track is that the navigation setting is set to off-road, otherwise with routable maps it will do what it things is best.
Maybe that when in SA you didnt have routable maps so just worked as there was nothing else it could do
Hmm. Pretty sure navigation *is* set to off-road but I have been using OpenStreetMap on there since I got it. I wonder if that's what screws it up as in theory that's a routable map.
I've always been able to follow long "Courses" on an Edge 705 so my first thought is that it was a .crs file.
If it's set to off-road it ignores the map routing.