Mapping

[Hollywoodgt]

Haven't had time to research this enough. I'm looking for some options on mapping software. I road with a group that had a map guru, but doubt I'll be riding with them. So I have to learn this on my own. I know there's Google map, Harley's mapping program, Base Camp etc.

I remember him talking about the files have to be converted to a Gpx file or something like that in order for you to be able to down load it o a SD card or into my Garmin 550.

So most user friendly program and or vdeo's etc

Thank u in advance

 

[user 31223]

Try this thread couple of options discussed here, including a video

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/112374-google-maps-to-gpx/

Also as there are quite few threads on this that might give you other options

Try this in google

site:fjrforum.com gpx

Good luck.

 

[BkerChuck]

I bought and installed Microsoft Streets & Trips on my laptop. Several folks I'd spoken to recommended it and on sale I think I paid $25 at Staples. I've found it to be pretty easy to use, allows you to set road avoidances and preferences. Easy to convert files to and from .gpx.

 

[TomInPA]

.GPX files are able to be read by many GPS units and is used by many mapping programs. GPX files resemble a breadcrumb routing scheme with many points along the route, and as a result the files tend to be very large. On older GPS units with limited memory, these files can be a problem. On the other hand, GPX files are easy to share among riders with different brand GPS units.

If you use a Garmin, the proprietary route file is written as a .GDB file. The file format is 5X to 20X smaller depending on route complexity and relies on Garmin's routing algorithms to keep you on a route with relatively few waypoints and vias. Garmin BaaseCamp and MapSource can convert a GPX to GDB and vice versa. So you can always share routes created on BaseCamp.

The mapping software that works best for you is a common question. For me, I like the ease of creating a route in BaseCamp or Mapsource and being able to send that to the GPS with a single click. The Garmin mapping program interface is a bit challenging compared to Google, Streets and Trips and some of the other alternatives. IMO once once you learn to use it, it is pretty easy and precise. What will be best for you depends on how you will use it, and what GPS unit you own.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

I suggest you bite the bullet and learn to use BaseCamp.

 

[Just Krusen]

Just learn Basecamp. Once you get started with it you will find it easy and powerful to use. Loading to GPS is simple, either drag and drop or a click of the mouse. There are many good teaching videos online to help you get started. And it's all free.

.

 

[Fred W]

One other thing that causes problems when trying to use most any mapping software that outputs its routes in the *.gpx format (other than Basecamp or Mapsource) is it generates tons of viapoints for the route to make sure that you follow that route explicitly. Which is all well and good, until you actually try and run that route with GPS's audio piped into your helmet.

Every one of those stinkin' via points gets announced by the GPS voice as "approaching", and then when you get there it announces your "arrival" to the point, and then proceeds to tell you which way and how far to continue to the next via point, which is often straight ahead anyway. In other words, the Garmin voice will bug the **** out of you.

The work around, if you insist on using these other programs to create the initial GPX file, is to import that GPX into Basecamp or Mapsource first and then massage the route by deleting as many of the viapoints as you can without altering the route, before sending it to the GPS.

You'll also learn that you do not want viapoints to be located at the corners that you will also be turning at as the announcement of the viapoint will over-ride the announcement for the turn. Instead just move those points (if you really even need to keep it) to shortly just after the turn, so that you get the turn direction first.

Have fun.

 

[MartyA]

Tom and Fred make good points.

I learned Streets and Trips years ago before I had a GPS and I continue to use it first most of the time. It is easy and it prints nice paper maps with several options for the output. I ride with folks who don't have GPS so I give them paper copies of the route. Making changes in S&T is easy also.

Once I have a route in S&T I export to GPX file then with Mapsource (soon to be Basecamp) I import the GPX, "recalculate", then upload the route to the GPS. Fairly straightforward process. Just look closely at your route after you recalculate in case it takes you somewhere between your waypoints that you don't want to go.

 

[Twigg]

You don't have to delete any waypoints from a supplied route to stop Miss Garmin making annoying announcements.

What you do instead is this:

Import the route (.gpx file) into a "New List Item" in BaseCamp. Double click the route to open the "Route Properties" box.

That will list every waypoint in the route. Decide which ones you want to hear about. For the rest, simply right click the point and choose "Do Not Alert"

That changes the waypoint from a "Via" (announced) to a "Shaping Point" (Unannounced)

It's very quick, very easy. It avoids the problem of the GPS unit re-calculating the route on different roads if you delete any points.

 

[Chuck35]

Mapquest will export to a Garmin. YMMV

 

[Hollywoodgt]

Ok ok ok ...... I'll learn base camp!!! Not what I wanted to do thought I could avoid that. I need a mapping teacher.

Thanks so much for the replies and information.

 

[rbentnail]

Ok ok ok ...... I'll learn base camp!!! Not what I wanted to do thought I could avoid that. I need a mapping teacher. Thanks so much for the replies and information.

Good luck! I'm a MapSource guy and even with tutorial after tutorial I never did figure out BaseCamp, especially the file management. But give it a shot, maybe it'll work for you https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/157654-basecamp-find-feature/?do=findComment&comment=1144001

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And as always I am thoroughly confused by other folks' statements. One guy is talking about announced VIA points, another guy is instructing how to unannounce WAY points (instructions btw don't work in MapSource for me). Am I the only one who finds these replies/instructions incompatible with the request? Aren't VIA points and WAY points two different things?

 

[Hollywoodgt]

Thanks again I'll do some reading and see if I can figure it out

 

[Fred W]

You don't have to delete any waypoints from a supplied route to stop Miss Garmin making annoying announcements.
What you do instead is this:

Import the route (.gpx file) into a "New List Item" in BaseCamp. Double click the route to open the "Route Properties" box.

That will list every waypoint in the route. Decide which ones you want to hear about. For the rest, simply right click the point and choose "Do Not Alert"

That changes the waypoint from a "Via" (announced) to a "Shaping Point" (Unannounced)

It's very quick, very easy. It avoids the problem of the GPS unit re-calculating the route on different roads if you delete any points.

Thanks. I was actually (somewhat) aware of this feature in Basecamp as Iris and I were trying to use that feature to make her GPS routes not show so many darned flags on their old Streetpilot GPSes. Basecamp did not help in that regard at all. I suspect they are much better off now in that regard with their new zumo 590LMs.

I am one of the Mapsource power users, and have heavily resisted switching to Basecamp up till now. But this feature may be what it takes to get me off my duff and switch over. I'll have to play with it some more.

Now, if they would just make the Basecamp file management more intuitive...

edit - Oh wonderful. I just found out a new little "feature" of Basecamp for those of us that are perfectly happy on Windows XP SP3, even with the threats of security doom at Micro$oft: The latest version of Garmin Basecamp, version 4.3.1 requires you to update the Windows.NET framework to the latest version. Guess what? M$ will not allow XP machines to install the latest framework, so it's a no go. Is this software constitute extortion, or what?

Luckily, Garmin still has a "Legacy" version (4.2.5) of BaseCamp available on their download page that works with the last XP downloadable version of the Microsoft.NET. So XP machines will be stuck at 4.2.5 forever. I suggest that you get a copy and save it now, as who knows how long they will keep it available.

 

[snackbauer]

I found Brian R's post and tutorials found on the IBA discussion forum to be very informative on routing. I know it's focused on rally type routing, but can be applied by those of us that don't do rallies also.

I don't like relying on the GPS to handle an entire route. Seems like I'm getting messed up too often during a trip or the data gets hosed. I'd rather feed it the waypoints and pick them off sequentially. I use Brian R's numbering scheme for the waypoints. Maybe I'm simple minded but I feel more in control this way. I can also use a much simpler/cheaper GPS to route my trip. I can use mapping software like Basecamp (the best) to create the waypoints and if the routing criteria of Basecamp is the same as the GPS, there should be no difference in how the GPS routes you compared to Basecamp, at least I haven't found any.

I've been using a Garmin nuvi 52LM ($75 at Target) this year for Tour of Honor routes. It's just about as basic as you can get but still has lane assist and lifetime maps.

Thank you Brian R, wherever you are.

https://www.ironbutt.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6686

 

[bigjohnsd]

I put in my destination, turn on the TomTom and start riding, When I see something interesting I head that way, the TomTom always tells me how to get where I want to go in the end.

 

[Fred W]

There are many different way to use a GPS. None of them are right or wrong.

Last couple of years I have participated (a lot) in some of the Tag O Rama games on ADVriders (I'm "1 Wheel Drive" there, FWIW). When heading out on a tag grab, I'll usually take a few minutes before leaving home to find the exact tag locations (I often go for more than one TOR tag in a day) using all of the resources of the intarwebs, then save them as Waypoints (aka favorites). With a general idea of which direction I need to go to find the location, I'll head out, and then at some point use the GPS to route me there.

I've hit some really fun new roads doing that by selecting the right combination of avoidances. I'll usually turn on avoid Interstates, and Highways, and when on the Vstrom I'll leave "unpaved roads" unchecked. If you then pick "shortest distance" (instead of shortest time) the GPS will send you down some interesting goat trails. On the FJR I usually avoid unpaved roads and use shortest time and still see some new roads quite frequently. Anyway, after finding the old tag I'll often just ride around aimlessly looking for something new and interesting to tag. I figure if the road I'm riding on is fun that other folks would probably like going there too.

But the other way that I use the GPS on the motorcycle is where I'll have planned out the entire route before leaving home. I don't seem to have any of the problems that snackbauer has with the route screwing things up, but that just may be because I've been doing that routing stuff longer and know more of the little tricks to developing a nice route.

One handy trick is to preview any of the roads that you are a bit unsure of in Google Maps, using either satellite view (zoomed way in) or street view where that is available. If the street view is available it is always a passable road, but can still be a dead end as the Google Van doesn't always know where it is going either, so you want to make sure the blue line goes all the way through. Sure, sometimes you still get surprised, but it isn't usually that big of a deal to go off the route and get back onto it again..

 

[TomInPA]

My experience is very close to yours Fred. I have plotted complex routes with numerous waypoints in preparation for group rides, and also navigated on-the-fly letting the GPS take me. On the way home from the SEO Ramble this Spring, I set the Streetpilot to Prefer minor roads and Perfer Major roads, and direct route. This had the interesting effect of taking me over several single lane paved roads across the ridges of Ohio through Wayne Nat'l forest between Hwys 26 and 800. Also some one lane remote places in WV, and an interesting bunch of twisties in WV and PA. I have done this same thing to navigate from the Upper Penninsula of MI to the Black Hills of SD, so it can be done over a long distance if you're into seeing some new sights.

Mapping and navigating by GPS takes a basic understanding of your surroundings, and I think it is really helpful to carry a map, or to pull up information on the iPhone when needed as a supplement. I'm looking forward to getting the new 590LM and see what the curvy roads feature does for me.

 

[FJRPittsburgh]

I use DeLorme's Street Atlas software for work on a laptop to create routes to cell towers for testing purposes all over Western PA. All mapping software has its quirks and Street Atlas is not an exception. I was also a MapSource user with my Garmin 550 and 660, but slowly trying to figure out the new quirks in BaseCamp. As I've found in literally any software package I use, the only way to really learn how to use it properly is with personal experience. All the tips and tricks noted in this thread are very helpful. When receiving the GPS route that KJ put together for us in Tyre for the SE Ohio ride, I experienced my first quirk. The route was uploaded to my Garmin 660 successfully, but wouldn't calculate do to what it said was too many way points. I didn't have time to investigate the issue at the time, but now I see why it happened. I'm going to spend more time learning BaseCamp. Garmin has some good short helpful videos online which I'm sure will be helpful. When I first played with BaseCamp I thought either I'm really stupid or this program is a little archaic. Both are true, but I'm now leaning toward me being stupid.

Please continue passing along any BaseCamp route creation knowledge gained. Thanks.