Apologies for umpteenth extrex 20x upload question!!!

[padonbike]

Hi I'm struggling with my new etrex 20x as it seems to be be limited to accepting gpx files any bigger than 30kb and any more than 100 waypoints.
I have a 84km route plotted on bikehike that is 44kb and 284 waypoints but it won't load to my garmin and show the full distance of the route - only as far as about 72km!
I have uploaded to the correct GPX location on garmin AND the unit is not filled up with any other routes, so plenty of space showing on device and SD card.

I have imported the route to Gypsies and reduced trackpoints to 100 and this has reduced file size to 14.2 kb. The full route will display on the garmin but is not usable as too many plotted waypoints have been deleted and too many corners have been cut between the waypoints that are left!
I also tried to split the route down into two smaller parts on Ridewithgps, but this is a paid for feature that I didn't fancy paying for.

Things are tricky on small gpx files that should be well within the capacity of the device, but for heavier stuff it doesn't want to know: I loaded the 2018 HT out (517kb) and although it is showing in the GPX location when the device is attached to the computers, it does not even show in Routes when I try to access it from the Garmin.
I'm sure I've missed something really simple, but it's doing my head in!

Summary: looking for advice for uploading gpx routes plotted on bikehike to etrex 20x via PC in uncompressed form so that all the waypoints that I've painstakingly plotted are then present on the device.
Thanks in advance!

[ScotRoutes]

Save the route as a Track before uploading it.

You can convert it in somethi g like Basecamp.

[padonbike]

Thanks mate - that totally works!!!
Didn't even need to use basecamp, just saved as gpx track on bikehike, rather than gpx route.
Happy New Year!

[techno]

I've another Etrex noob question:
When creating a route (to be converted into a track for the Etrex), are waypoints essential?

[Mariner]

are waypoints essential?

Yes - if I understand your query correctly.
Waypoints are the points you add to your 'creation' so the gps knows where its going next.
See http://www.navigation-professionell.de/ ... -settings/
http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/wgarmin.htm

You can also add points associated with cafes, pubs, public loos and super markets and garages etc. I think even water taps on SDW.
These are listed with the route and track in BaseCamp and can be added to your track/route.

to be converted into a track for the Etrex

Are you sure your question is not 'why is my track covered on golf flags'?
If so you can change on the fly on the unit.

[ScotRoutes]

Semantics...


You always need at least two "waypoints". One at the start, and one at the end.
If that's all you have then your Etrex will try to route you between the two points. If your map supports routing along roads then it'll usually find the shortest way. If it doesn't then you'll have a straight line between Start and End.

You can insert interim waypoints to make the route go where you want. Again, routing will either follow roads or be straight. The more you insert, the more control you have over routing.

If you save the resultant data as a Track then the Etrex will not do any other routing on the fly, simply direct you between each point.
(And when you save it as a Track, these Waypoints will be called Trackpoints)


I use Basecamp which gives me the option of creating Tracks or Routes.

[techno]

Thanks scotroutes & mariner. I think that answers my question.
Will have a play with the Etrex when I finally manage to get out on the bike.

[techno]

Semantics...


You always need at least two "waypoints". One at the start, and one at the end.
If that's all you have then your Etrex will try to route you between the two points. If your map supports routing along roads then it'll usually find the shortest way. If it doesn't then you'll have a straight line between Start and End.

You can insert interim waypoints to make the route go where you want. Again, routing will either follow roads or be straight. The more you insert, the more control you have over routing.

If you save the resultant data as a Track then the Etrex will not do any other routing on the fly, simply direct you between each point.
(And when you save it as a Track, these Waypoints will be called Trackpoints)


I use Basecamp which gives me the option of creating Tracks or Routes.

I've got the hang of route plotting but now have a question about the way the etrex behaves.
I have created tracks and routes with waypoints at every turn along the way and the device doesn't give me audible alerts when approaching the pre-programmed waypoints.
I've created them in bike hike, basecamp, and viewranger. all with the same result.

I have the turn warnings turned on in the setting.

How do others use the etrex?
do you plot a track/route and then follow the pink line as if using a paper map, with no audible / visual alarms?
create fully waymarked routes that bing at every junction?

I think that the audible alerts would be very useful when tired in unfamiliar territory and at the moment for some reason I cant get the device to alert me to turns.

[sean_iow]

How do others use the etrex?
do you plot a track/route and then follow the pink line as if using a paper map, with no audible / visual alarms?
create fully waymarked routes that bing at every junction?

I think that the audible alerts would be very useful when tired in unfamiliar territory and at the moment for some reason I cant get the device to alert me to turns.

I just follow the line on screen. When I first got mine I was expecting it to be more like a car sat nav. Once I realised it's more like a tiny map which is always the right way up with my location shown it made more sense. As for alerts, I did once have a route set up with the alerts, it was on the road and for road riding it works quite well like this. When I bailed on my YD300 I put in the location of the start and I let it route me back to the start choosing it's own way and it had full turn by turn alerts - skimming over the fact that a 'road' also includes green lanes so I still had to ride over the Dales and the biggest climb of the whole ride

I once used my Edge 500 with a breadcrumb trial on an off-road ride but it was beeping all the time to say I was off-route as the location of the track on the ground wasn't close enough to the mapped route, this was very annoying and made the function useless, I imagine the same might happen with the Etrex if the mapped route didin't match the tracks on the ground closely enough.

[Scattamah]

Like Sean, I use the Etrex mainly for following a track. I set mine to show track up unless I'm wanting to read the map in which case I switch to north up. Also switch off everything else to maximise battery life - sounds, alerts, very low backlight, etc.

Greetz

S.

[techno]

ok, thanks you two.

[ScotRoutes]

If you are using Basecamp to create a Route then you can set "Alert on Arrival" at any selected Waypoint. I assume that your Etrex will react accordingly. My Oregon certainly does. In fact, it will alert on any Waypoint in its memory regardless of whether or not I am following a Route or Track. You can use this function to create additional Waypoints at critical turning points, bothies, signposts, cafes or whatever.

[techno]

If you are using Basecamp to create a Route then you can set "Alert on Arrival" at any selected Waypoint. I assume that your Etrex will react accordingly. My Oregon certainly does. In fact, it will alert on any Waypoint in its memory regardless of whether or not I am following a Route or Track. You can use this function to create additional Waypoints at critical turning points, bothies, signposts, cafes or whatever.

ok Scott, I'll look at that and try it.

[sean_iow]

On the Etrex 20 you can set up proximity alarms. It's done via the menus and you chose a waypoint, either pick a point on the screen or from the waypoints in it. You can then choose the distance from the point for the alarm (the radius around it) and I think the text to display - although that might be the name of the waypoint so some clever waypoint naming can assist, for example "Turn L off route - shop 500m on" to remind yourself of supply points.

It's a bit clunky if you had lots of points but handy for things you need to alert yourself to. I had one set up for a particularly bad descent on a route so that if I arrived in the dark and tired I wouldn't just hammer down the approach slope only to find myself riding (crashing) down an old quarry. Also handy if the point is off your route, you can make the radius large enough to beep when you cut through it and the text gives the information.

[fatbikerbill]

I prefer to follow a series of waypoints instead of a bread crumb.

I was struggling for ages but came up with this solution.
http://owtbutwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/1 ... 8.html?m=1

Hope it helps.

Bill

[techno]

I prefer to follow a series of waypoints instead of a bread crumb.

I was struggling for ages but came up with this solution.
http://owtbutwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/1 ... 8.html?m=1

Hope it helps.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I'll try that and see what happens

[techno]

On the Etrex 20 you can set up proximity alarms. It's done via the menus and you chose a waypoint, either pick a point on the screen or from the waypoints in it. You can then choose the distance from the point for the alarm (the radius around it) and I think the text to display - although that might be the name of the waypoint so some clever waypoint naming can assist, for example "Turn L off route - shop 500m on" to remind yourself of supply points.

It's a bit clunky if you had lots of points but handy for things you need to alert yourself to. I had one set up for a particularly bad descent on a route so that if I arrived in the dark and tired I wouldn't just hammer down the approach slope only to find myself riding (crashing) down an old quarry. Also handy if the point is off your route, you can make the radius large enough to beep when you cut through it and the text gives the information.

I'll look into this as well Sean, I wonder if you can do it via Basecamp?