GPS tips and questions

[dixieoutlaw]

I want this thread to be an educational one where we can offer our info on how we use our GPS and little tips that help us in our planning and usage. Would also be a good place for anyone to ask a question on how to do something with the GPS. I do not want it to be brand specific, as I am sure most of the info will bridge the brand gaps.
Maybe the modetrator could make this a sticky?

First tip.

When planning my routes in Mapsource, I place the via points (waypoints) just beyond the intersection. By doing this my directional arrow will point to the way I need to turn or straignt ahead if no turn. and the prompt tells me to which way to turn. Before using this method, I would place my via point right in the intersection and several times I found myself pulling over to determine where I needed to go after arriving at that via point.

Let's hear from the others out there - we all all in a learning stage.

Gary

[Bikebum]

Another tip:

In Mapsource I have saved a file as "Base Map" that I have put a lot of information on (actually waypoints), such as rest stops, "Home", campgrounds, favorite restaurants, etc. Then I always use the "Base Map" as a starting point for route planning and resave the new map as something else.

The reason I do this is because I have not figured out how to install POI's in any other fashion. (But I'm still learning).

[Bikebum]

Another tip:

One of the greatest aggravations I had in the beginning was for Jill to decide that I was "off route" and recalculate so that it put me up some dang sideroad. To avoid this I opted for "Prompt before recalculation". Now if I get on a section of road that has been moved, Jill states "off route, recalculate?" I simply wait until I get past the confusion and punch no. This keeps me on the planned route.

[rockosmith]

I have turned the re-calculate function off so I don't need to answer the re-calculate question. This is on a Quest 2 but most others are probably similar.

Dave

[Norwood]

Maybe the modetrator could make this a sticky?
Gary

Sticky now. Good thread

[Norwood]

I usually hard wire the unit on the bike via motorcycle adapter kits sold.

The unit being "hot" all the time, bike key doesn't have to be on, therefore lights off and I can sit or stand by bike and do route planning as well. Very little draw on the battery as well.

I try and mount my unit, directly in front of me, just below eye level, I use a shade cover to help with Sun glare and helps when raining.

On the GS, I used the touratech locking mounting unit.

I use a lightweight retractable key chain thing of a gig, I attach the stylus pen to it. Attach the key chain to tank bag or the unit.

Always have the pen handy, if I drop it, it will retrack and not fall to ground and have to dismount the bike and hunt it.

[Norwood]

Routes: I find that instead of say putting a 300 mile route together, I break the route into smaller sections, maybe 50 to 100 miles. Then if I should take another interesting road on that section, the recalulate time is faster, should I change my mind and want to get back on my planned route, I have a waypoint already for the next section and then continue on the planned route.

Now having said all that... I seldom follow my planned route, therefore a few waypoints along the way are always helpful.


Paper Map: On a long trip and into a non-familiar area, I mark my waypoints on the paper map as well and use as larger scale reference.

[Wrong Way]

I would appreciate the coordinates to the Montivallo Training Center for our January meeting.

Thanks in advance

[Bikebum]

Tim, N33 06.071 W086 51.978 should put you in the front door of the training building. If you look at the location on GoogleEarth you will get a slightly different set of coordinates because they express them differently than Garmin. GoogleEarth uses DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Decimal Seconds) and Garmin uses DM (Degrees, Decimal Minutes).

An example of DMS is W086 51 59.80 while DM is W 086 51.978

Sometimes this causes me a lot of confusion trying to convert a DMS location to a DM location. I usually wind up with an error of several hundred feet.

[dixieoutlaw]

converting coords

in Virginia with daughter, so don't have Mapsource in front of me, but I am sure Garmin allows you several choices on which unit system you want to use. I do a lot of route planning in MS Streets & Trips which uses a different system of determining coordinates than I use in Garmin. I change the Map Source options to the same as Streets & Trips then enter my waypoints then go back up to the menu and change back to Degree minutes or whatever and you have it. Sorry I could be more clear on this. When I get home tomorrow, I will plot a couple and convert them then post the procedure.

Gary

[dixieoutlaw]

Another tip

When plotting waypoints for use in routes, I find it useful to zoom in on the map to a very high level before plotting the waypoint. This is to get the actual point where I want it. Especially important when plotting a point on divided highways (such as Interstates). Click on the wrong lane and autorouting will send you in circles to get to the actual waypoint when what you actually wanted to do was get on down the road in then other lane. auto routing will also take you from your route if you have created a via point just slightly off of the intended route.

Gary

[Bikebum]

in Virginia with daughter, so don't have Mapsource in front of me, but I am sure Garmin allows you several choices on which unit system you want to use. I do a lot of route planning in MS Streets & Trips which uses a different system of determining coordinates than I use in Garmin. I change the Map Source options to the same as Streets & Trips then enter my waypoints then go back up to the menu and change back to Degree minutes or whatever and you have it. Sorry I could be more clear on this. When I get home tomorrow, I will plot a couple and convert them then post the procedure.

Gary

Gary, you are absolutely correct. I had forgotten that the unit has the different settings for coordinates. Also I just discovered that MapSource also allows different settings for coordinates. The settings are found under "Edit" "Preferences" "Position". Thanks for the heads up.

[Norwood]

I prefer MS Streets and Trips to Mapsource, but have never been able to convert..tried couple Utility programs to a no avail...
So looking forward to a crash course on this...

[dixieoutlaw]

S&T to Garmin

Norwood,
below is part of the thread I found on the advrider site that explains converting S&T .est files to Garmin usable files. I had the best luck with converting to .GPX files then loading those into MapSource. The limit is 10 waypoints in the free copy. so I just make multiple routes with 10 or less waypoints. tonight I found another utility that offers easier hope but have been unable to make it work so far. That site is

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/gpsbabel/gpsbabel_convert

Hope this helps.
Gary

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Go to www.gpsu.co.uk and get their GPSU utility - it will allow you to download your waypoints to the Garmin. If you have only a few waypoints, their demo version is enuf. If not, get the full version for about $40.
1. Use S&T to place your waypoints.
2. Open the S&T .est file in GPSU (start GPSU, click on Open, and select your .est file)
3. Connect your GPS to the USB port, and use the GPSU download button to download the waypoints to the Garmin. This is literally a two or three click operation, I can't remember exactly since I don't have GPSU here at work. I downloaded my waypoints for the CapeFear 1000 rally to my 2610 and also to my SPIII using the pertinent cables.
As an alternative, you can use GPSU to save the S&T .est file to a GPX file using the 'Print setup' screens in GPSU, and then open the gpx file in MapSource if you want to play with the routing in MapSource.
Blame John™

[dixieoutlaw]

Route planning using the rubber banding method

Route planning in Mapsource can be tedious at best. Let's say I want to go from my home north of Athens to Bogarts to visit Gary Neismith. I click on my address and Bogarts address. Autorouting sends me down I65 to I20 to the Old Leeds exit. Not exactly an exciting ride. I prefer to ride I65 to the first exit south of the TN River then get off on Hwy 67 over to 231, down to the 231 fork with Hwy 79, then 231 through Oneonta to Cty Rd 29 to Cty Rd 27 down the mountain to Springville, then I59 to I459 to Grants Mill exit. About 30 minutes longer but one heck of a lot better ride.
Before discovering Mapsource's ruberbanding capabilities, I would start by putting in way points at the I65/Hwy 67 exit, the Hwy67/Hwy 231 exit, Oneonta, Cty Rd 29, Springville, and the Grant Mills exit on I459. Then I would select the routing and connect all the waypoints.

With rubber banding, I select the routing tool, click on my address and Bogarts location. Autorouting plots the purple line down I65. Now click on the route (purple line) and it turns yellow. Click the route one more time and release the mouse, now slide the mouse over to the Hwy 67/Hwy231 intersection and click again. Now click and release on the route south of the just selected intersection and move mouse down near Oneonta and click and release.
Now go move the click the last segment of the route and drag the rubber band to Springville. Now go back and click the route between Oneonta and Springville and drag the rubber band to Cty Rd 27. Now download to the Gps and go ride.

Hope this helps in route planning.

Have noticed this thread is receiving a lot of hits, but only posts by about 5 or so bored riders. Hey lurkers, log in and give us what works for you or least ask a question and give us a comment.

Gary