Originally Posted by
Christo613
Oh my, this feels like using the internet in 1992...
And if I want to follow a route created on RWGPS, how would I do that?
It really is pretty simple. I own and have used an Etrex20 for cycling navigation the past 7-8 years. This is how I do it to meet my own needs. Others may suggest other options, ad nauseum..and good for them.
1) Download a TRACK from RWGPS
2) Download/install Basecamp to your PC
3) Connect your Etrex to the PC via a usb cable (possibly supplied with your Etrex when you bought it, as mine was)
4) Basecamp will indicate your Etrex is connected.
5) Import your RWGPS TRACK into Basecamp
6) Transfer the track to your Etrex from Basecamp via menu on top (Device>Send to Device).
7) done
Eject your Etrex from the PC, fire it up, toggle to your Track Manager..select the track hit Go and you're on your way. This all sounds busy, but can be accomplished in 5 minutes.
Originally Posted by
downtube42
The etrex series has primitive turn by turn capabilities. By primitive I mean effectively none. The way to navigate is with a breadcrumb gpx which shows up as a line on the display. Your location is a dot. Navigation is done by keeping the dot on the line.
The screen is such low resolution and contrast, that if you have both background map and your route turned on, you can't discern route from map.
When navigating on bicycle, turn the map off. Use your breadcrumb and dot to navigate. I probably rode 50k miles using an etrex exactly like that. If you miss a turn, you won't know until you notice your dot hanging out on and empty screen. Fun times.
If navigating on foot, maybe you can see well enough to use both map and breadcrumb.
As I mentioned..I've been using an Etrex 20 for many years and everything you describe has not been my experience. I have an updated background map loaded, I select a track and hit go..I zoom in to a 500 foot scale..and follow the track with all the roads around me completely visible. No muss, no fuss.
There's been a couple Etrex threads lately where some people trash them..from their comments it's fairly easy to see that the trashing's roots lie in the owner not knowing how to use the unit, rather than it not working. Of course they could have a defective unit..who knows.