Navigation on Garmin Bike Computers
 

Any tips for navigation using the bike computer? Its annoying that you can't search out locations. I can navigate if I pinpoint a spot on the map by moving to it but I am new to the area and aren't familiar with all the locations. Its also time consuming. As it stands, I find my self going back to maps on my phone. There is an app that uses the MAPS feature to give directions on the garmin but the limitation is you cant see the speed and other features and it doesn't save the ride. Also there is no visual map just directions. Anyone doing it better than me?

If you use Strava, the maps feature there can be synced on your Garmin. Do you planning on Strava and then upload. If not, then there are probably more experienced users that can comment.

Strava as far as I can tell produces the routes without a specific address target in mind. I already do that well. What I'm looking for is a solution to this: your done with your ride and your friend tells you to meet them at coffee shop A. On Google maps, it's as easy as looking up coffee shop A and pressing go ... Any way I can emulate that on the Garmin to navigate to that specific location ? I have the edge 530

That is the biggest complaint of Garmin users - lack of Google Map style functionality. Think there may be a special forum here on Electronics

There are numerous apps that will let you devise a route and download it to a Garmin device. Whether any of those will allow you to download it over Bluetooth or WiFi without plugging into a computer I don't know.

It is possible to do what you want as follows: If you have a location saved you can use the Edge to navigate to it. If you haven't pre-marked a destination then you can browse the map under Navigation Options and then find a location and mark it. The top right button (...) allows you to toggle the left hand buttons between zooming and panning. It's quite cumbersome so it probably wouldn't be a great option for anything that's too far away. Once you have your location you then press and hold the top-right button again to mark it. You can then either save it or hit go and navigate to it. Having said all that, I've never tried it on my 530. I did once try it on my old 705; the maps on that were much poorer but I did get to my destination ok.

Short answer is, yes, you can emulate that.

Long answer is: yes, you can emulate it. There are two ways. (1) If your Garmin has the POI database loaded. Select Navigation -> Search -> POI categories -> , drilling into the thing you're looking for, but be advised it will be slow, the device is simply not optimized for making this a seamless and fast process. (2) Use Google maps, get a street address, and select Navigation -> Search -> Address, follow the prompts and enter the info, and get a route. The 2nd method is much faster, despite the extra steps.

Key here is "emulation." It is not integrated like a google search and mapping on your phone. But, it can be done.

It would be quite frustrating to enter an address using a few buttons. The 530 isn't really the appropriate device for that use. The 830 and 1030+ have touch screens which let's them use the screen as a keyboard.

Using Google is easy because the search is being done using fast (and large) computers with huge databases (Google searches are not being done on your phone).

​​​​​One way to get a location on your Garmin is to use the sendpoints website on your phone.

https://www.sendpoints.us/

This lets you get a 4 digit number for an address you searched for.

You then enter the 4 digit number on your Garmin using an IQ app/widget installed on your Garmin.

There's a sendpoints app but the GRouteLoader app and widget do the same thing (and other stuff too).

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/search...art=0&count=30

You can use IQ widgets while recording a ride. IQ apps can only be used when not recording.

Is the search address feature on the edge 530 or only the higher models? I don't think I've ever seen that

My Edge Explore has 'Search' and 'Find Address' options in the 'Where To' menu - Don't all the Garmin mapping devices have this?

Search can find POI's - Cities, Intersections, Coordinates, and you can drill down for Shopping, Food/Drink, etc. I've use it touring unfamiliar areas pretty effectively.

Ahhh. good point. That feature, which Garmin calls "on device course creation" (for finding POIs or entering addresses and making a course to it) are only available on the 830 and 1030+ (1030 if you find one also had it).

Therefore, my earlier post should have been "No, it cannot be emulated on a 530. It can be on an 830 or 1030+." AFAIK, it is also possible on an 820, and definitely on a 1030. Apologies for the confusion, I should have read all of your posts a little more carefully, [MENTION=499920]oik01[/MENTION].

Unfortunately, no. See my post above.

Wow. Add the $249 Edge Explore to your list. Navigation to known points was one of the reasons I purchased it, now it looks like even more a bargain.

It is definitely a bargain if it meets one's needs, which in reality is probably the vast majority of cyclists.

I don’t think the 530 has it. The devices with touch screens have more navigation features.

Is there a way to use the Strava or RidewithGPS app on your phone to develop a route, and download to the Garmin through Bluetooth? (Have to ask, since I turned my Bluetooth on for a couple days early in July.)

I have used the RWGPS app over bluetooth with the IQ app on the 830. I think that the 530 will also run the RWGPS IQ app.
How good is RWGPS at finding an address? Searched for that question and it appears that it never occurred to RWGPS to do that.

You can’t send locations from RWGPS.

Sendpoints is easy enough to use (see my earlier post).