HawkeyeCubs34

I uploaded a course to my Garmin Edge 500. I know there is a function where turn by turn directions can be viewed, but then you can't see your main data fields. Can I keep viewing my main data fields but have the device tell me when I am supposed to make a turn?

(this was hard to explain in text, hopefully my question is clear)

volosong

When I used my 500, I loaded in a route for a charity double-metric century that was in an area I don't often ride and was unfamiliar with the streets. Less than halfway through the ride, I turned that stupid feature off because it would always tell me to turn AFTER I had passed where I was supposed to turn. And, because the 500 doesn't have the ability to display after-market street maps, there is no way it could guide me back on course. I found that capability worthless and never used it again when using the 500.

I've since then purchased an 800 and it does a pretty decent job showing map data, indicating a pre-loaded route, and gives enough advanced warning that you know you will be turning well before you get to your turn. The 800 works so well that I have not felt the need to upgrade to the 810 or the 1000. The display on the 800 is large enough to show both the map and turn direction/distance to turn/etc.

Looigi

As I recall if you're doing a course, the turn instructions embedded in the course file should be displayed over the main data screen for a few seconds then disappear. It's been quite a while since I used the 500 for following a course so my memory may be off.

The distance the turn indication is displayed before the turn is a function of the course file. The turn instructions are not created by the device but rather are embedded along the course in the course file by the software/site used the create the file. Some of these allow setting the distance ahead of a turn that the turn alert is embedded/displayed, often the default is 200', which usually works pretty well.

In Garmin devices with maps, (705, 800, 810, 1000) the device analyses the course file and then it can create turn alerts based on its map. These are displayed an appropriate distance ahead of the turn.

Anthony.L

I have the Edge 510 and this is my experience. I start the ride by loading my course and then starting the timer. I select the screen/training page with my data points. When a turn comes up it flashes to the navigation screen for 5-10 seconds, and then goes back to my training page.

Anthony.L

I've never had this issue with the Edge 510. Turns always get announced 200-250ft prior, and it counts down footage on the screen to the exact turn.

The issue I do have is sometimes it says turn right, but the arrow on the screen is pointing left contradicting itself. I've also had once or twice where it said turn right, but I actually needed to turn left (or vice versa).

chaadster

To my knowledge and familiarity, the Edge 500 does *not* have turn-by-turn navigation, no "turn alerts", no maps, only breadcrumb routing, where you just follow the line on the screen from an upload GPS route.

cafzali

This is correct. If you want turn-by-turn navigation, you have to go to the 800 or 810.

chaadster

Oh, I just realized what this says...maybe my file didn't have "turn instructions." I wasn't aware files could even have that kind of info; I'll need to look that up. It would certainly enhance the navigational utility of the E500 (were it to work, which from the other posts here, I take is not granted!).

chaadster

Aha, looky here...TCX files have "cue sheets" that embed turn alerts as Looigi said, and Ridewithgps premium accounts can create them to fire ahead of the turn, to avoid the frustration that Volosong experienced!

https://ridewithgps.zendesk.com/entr...se-TCX-or-GPX-

Cool guys, thanks!

cafzali

Right and I just realized what I said was at best confusing and could have been interpreted as flat out wrong. What I meant by navigation was being able to enter an address, look up a point of interest, etc. as you can do in the 705, 800, 810, etc. That's where the 500 series has fewer capabilities than its more expensive cousins. However, you can create a track and it will follow it.

Athens80

Thank you for posting that. I use a free account at ridewithgps to generate an occasional new TCX course for my Garmin 500. I didn't realize that ridewithgps offers earlier turn notifications on a TCX course through their premium accounts.

I follow a route fine (maybe immediately doubling back once or twice when I see I've passed a turn) when viewing the 500 course map, since it shows the direction of the next turn and a line drawing of the course ahead of me. If I go off course, it's easy to see where I went off course and how to get back, even if I've gone a ways -- perhaps some unplanned exploration of new streets.

But there are times when I'd like to have the 500 display on the main data readings while having the turn indicator pop up well before the turn. Chaadster's link has this helpful info:
Are there other bicycle route planners that provide an advance turn indicator for a TCX course without a premium account?

chaadster

The big question for me, now, is whether the multiple steps involved in using RWGPS Premium cuesheet routes uploaded to my E500 is worth the hassle compared to upgrading to an E800 with native turn-by-turn navigation, which costs only about $250 bucks nowadays, quite lower than in the recent past. Not an insignificant sum, for me anyway, but certainly low enough to make me think the ease of use may be worth it.

njkayaker

Bikeroutetoaster will copy the "course point" earlier in the track (that is, you get two announcements). It does this without a subscription.

Note that ridewithgps lets you add custom cue-sheet items without a subscription. That means you can put them anywhere you like (that might be OK to do for short or regularly used routes).

Garmin's term for what ridewithgps calls cue-sheet items is "course points". These are displayed as pop-ups on the Edges (including the ones without maps like the 500) when you arrive at the course point coordinates. Differences in the map used to plan the route from the real world can cause these to pop-up gnot exactly be where you expect (like after tgevturn).

The 500 is well-liked and is useful for navigation. Still, I find the maps (like on the 800) very useful (I wouldn't get something without maps). The 800 works very well.

korbjonathan

i honestly had no idea that the garmin 500 was even capable of having turn by turn directions. i will have to try that out