GPS Maps and Routing
#1
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GPS Maps and Routing
So I got a new toy, a Garmin Oregon 450 and have used it on my last mini tour. But I still have a hard time using it. Specifically using the routing functionality. Obviously for my nearly 200 mile trip I could not just enter my final destination or I'd be biking on the interstate all the way. I drew up my route on the computer using Garmin MapSource and uploaded it in a variety of formats.
- As a route. Well my route segments for a day were either to long or to complicated that by default the route had more than 50 navigation points. So the GPS would not calculate the route from it.
- A route with a max of 50 navigation points. Now the GPS can calculate a route but it's anything of what I want. It makes sure the navigation points are traversed but it may prefer other roads and causes me to zigzag and take undesirable roads.
- A track. This worked the best. I could overlay my map with the track and follow it. I did not get acoustic signals of a turn so I have to keep a close eye on the screen but I did get the remaining distance.
So the track option is somewhat workable but that means I need to plan out my whole exactly beforehand and doesn't give me much flexibility with my tour. I did try to use the routing feature a few times. It got me out of the starting town quite nicely but then wanted me to go on a gravel road. Since I didn't picked it it was sending me next on the interstate. Another time it send me to a level B (mud) road.
How do you use your GPS? Would the Garmin City Navigator North America do a better job of routing me while avoiding interstates, gravel roads and if possible busy highways? Or am I just expecting too much from technology? Even Google maps sends me repeatedly to gravel roads when I map a biking route with it.
BTW I'm using the free 4000MB Routable US map which is build from the Open Street Map project.
- As a route. Well my route segments for a day were either to long or to complicated that by default the route had more than 50 navigation points. So the GPS would not calculate the route from it.
- A route with a max of 50 navigation points. Now the GPS can calculate a route but it's anything of what I want. It makes sure the navigation points are traversed but it may prefer other roads and causes me to zigzag and take undesirable roads.
- A track. This worked the best. I could overlay my map with the track and follow it. I did not get acoustic signals of a turn so I have to keep a close eye on the screen but I did get the remaining distance.
So the track option is somewhat workable but that means I need to plan out my whole exactly beforehand and doesn't give me much flexibility with my tour. I did try to use the routing feature a few times. It got me out of the starting town quite nicely but then wanted me to go on a gravel road. Since I didn't picked it it was sending me next on the interstate. Another time it send me to a level B (mud) road.
How do you use your GPS? Would the Garmin City Navigator North America do a better job of routing me while avoiding interstates, gravel roads and if possible busy highways? Or am I just expecting too much from technology? Even Google maps sends me repeatedly to gravel roads when I map a biking route with it.
BTW I'm using the free 4000MB Routable US map which is build from the Open Street Map project.
#2
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I'd go to the Garmin Forums website
https://forums.garmin.com/index.php
and start posting there. the deal is that of course in those forums, you get explicit feedback
for what its worth...
I use a Garmin 705, and pretty much have had the same type of issues.
that is to actually use the GPS more than just a cyclometer
routing... I use both US Topo and CN North America
the routing function is ok...
typically I use my iMac, using BaseCamp, and make tracks for whatever my routes on tour are going to be
on my 705 I have CN North America
then I pick and download the specific sheets for Topo
I'm using a 2GB card
https://forums.garmin.com/index.php
and start posting there. the deal is that of course in those forums, you get explicit feedback
for what its worth...
I use a Garmin 705, and pretty much have had the same type of issues.
that is to actually use the GPS more than just a cyclometer
routing... I use both US Topo and CN North America
the routing function is ok...
typically I use my iMac, using BaseCamp, and make tracks for whatever my routes on tour are going to be
on my 705 I have CN North America
then I pick and download the specific sheets for Topo
I'm using a 2GB card
#3
Every day a winding road
So I got a new toy, a Garmin Oregon 450 and have used it on my last mini tour. But I still have a hard time using it. Specifically using the routing functionality. Obviously for my nearly 200 mile trip I could not just enter my final destination or I'd be biking on the interstate all the way. I drew up my route on the computer using Garmin MapSource and uploaded it in a variety of formats.
- As a route. Well my route segments for a day were either to long or to complicated that by default the route had more than 50 navigation points. So the GPS would not calculate the route from it.
- A route with a max of 50 navigation points. Now the GPS can calculate a route but it's anything of what I want. It makes sure the navigation points are traversed but it may prefer other roads and causes me to zigzag and take undesirable roads.
- A track. This worked the best. I could overlay my map with the track and follow it. I did not get acoustic signals of a turn so I have to keep a close eye on the screen but I did get the remaining distance.
So the track option is somewhat workable but that means I need to plan out my whole exactly beforehand and doesn't give me much flexibility with my tour. I did try to use the routing feature a few times. It got me out of the starting town quite nicely but then wanted me to go on a gravel road. Since I didn't picked it it was sending me next on the interstate. Another time it send me to a level B (mud) road.
How do you use your GPS? Would the Garmin City Navigator North America do a better job of routing me while avoiding interstates, gravel roads and if possible busy highways? Or am I just expecting too much from technology? Even Google maps sends me repeatedly to gravel roads when I map a biking route with it.
BTW I'm using the free 4000MB Routable US map which is build from the Open Street Map project.
- As a route. Well my route segments for a day were either to long or to complicated that by default the route had more than 50 navigation points. So the GPS would not calculate the route from it.
- A route with a max of 50 navigation points. Now the GPS can calculate a route but it's anything of what I want. It makes sure the navigation points are traversed but it may prefer other roads and causes me to zigzag and take undesirable roads.
- A track. This worked the best. I could overlay my map with the track and follow it. I did not get acoustic signals of a turn so I have to keep a close eye on the screen but I did get the remaining distance.
So the track option is somewhat workable but that means I need to plan out my whole exactly beforehand and doesn't give me much flexibility with my tour. I did try to use the routing feature a few times. It got me out of the starting town quite nicely but then wanted me to go on a gravel road. Since I didn't picked it it was sending me next on the interstate. Another time it send me to a level B (mud) road.
How do you use your GPS? Would the Garmin City Navigator North America do a better job of routing me while avoiding interstates, gravel roads and if possible busy highways? Or am I just expecting too much from technology? Even Google maps sends me repeatedly to gravel roads when I map a biking route with it.
BTW I'm using the free 4000MB Routable US map which is build from the Open Street Map project.
There should be an option in your settings to set routing for bicycle. There is also should be an option to avoid unpaved roads that you may want to use.
Bu the best thing I have found is to use a real map and route short hops from town to town as opposed to final destination.
#4
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I bought a Garmin Vista HcX for my recent tour on the Lewis and Clark trail. I downloaded ACA's waypoints, thinking that would make the gps useful. Not so much. The ACA waypoints include every possible stop, bike shop, campground, restaurant, etc. and they have options for routes all on the same file, so you end up with WAY more information than you need or can use. They also use arcane names for their waypoints so you need a code book to interpret them.
I went through a couple of their routes, tried to determine exactly which roads I would take and which waypoints I would possibly need, and delete all the rest. It was very time-consuming but it made the information usable, after a fashion. However, I ended up turning the gps off while I was on the route, and only using it for miscellaneous things. The maps were eaiser to use.
One time the gps was helpful was when I wasn't on the ACA route. I had to get from the Amtrak station in Portland to my motel on the north end of town. I created my own route at home using Google maps (bicycling) and the Garmin software. It worked great. It was especially useful when I came upon a closed bridge in a very confusing part of town. I had entered the waypoint for the motel. As soon as I left my planned route, the HcX recalculated and created a new route that worked. It wasn't on as bike-friendly roads, but I got to my destination.
The gps was also useful for finding restaurants, car rental agencies, motels, and various things that came up on the trip. I used it just for fun sometimes, to check on elevation gain.
A couple of times it was counter-productive. There were several MUP paths on my route, and the Garmin mapping software doesn't recognize them. It tried to take me on the roads that paralleled the paths. I would have been better off ignoring it and simply using ACA maps. As my tour progressed I learned to do this. During the last week I hardly used the gps at all, until I got to Missoula and had to start figuring out a place to stay, and a place to rent a car to drive back to Portland. It was helpful, though the phone book was more helpful.
I'll probably take the gps on my next tour, but will do my own route planning and mapping, and will be aware of it's limitations.
I went through a couple of their routes, tried to determine exactly which roads I would take and which waypoints I would possibly need, and delete all the rest. It was very time-consuming but it made the information usable, after a fashion. However, I ended up turning the gps off while I was on the route, and only using it for miscellaneous things. The maps were eaiser to use.
One time the gps was helpful was when I wasn't on the ACA route. I had to get from the Amtrak station in Portland to my motel on the north end of town. I created my own route at home using Google maps (bicycling) and the Garmin software. It worked great. It was especially useful when I came upon a closed bridge in a very confusing part of town. I had entered the waypoint for the motel. As soon as I left my planned route, the HcX recalculated and created a new route that worked. It wasn't on as bike-friendly roads, but I got to my destination.
The gps was also useful for finding restaurants, car rental agencies, motels, and various things that came up on the trip. I used it just for fun sometimes, to check on elevation gain.
A couple of times it was counter-productive. There were several MUP paths on my route, and the Garmin mapping software doesn't recognize them. It tried to take me on the roads that paralleled the paths. I would have been better off ignoring it and simply using ACA maps. As my tour progressed I learned to do this. During the last week I hardly used the gps at all, until I got to Missoula and had to start figuring out a place to stay, and a place to rent a car to drive back to Portland. It was helpful, though the phone book was more helpful.
I'll probably take the gps on my next tour, but will do my own route planning and mapping, and will be aware of it's limitations.
#5
Senior Member
I love to use a GPS for running, hiking, kayaking, and sailing, but on most tours I leave the GPS home. On an AC route I really do not find any added value to carrying a GPS. If the route is planned in advance a paper map if ine and a GPS isn't needed and if the route isn't planned in advance I'd still rather use a paper map.
Where I might be inclined to use a GPS is where I am not using roads at all.
Where I might be inclined to use a GPS is where I am not using roads at all.
#6
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I drew up my route on the computer using Garmin MapSource and uploaded it in a variety of formats.
It makes sure the navigation points are traversed but it may prefer other roads and causes me to zigzag and take undesirable roads.
When using the routing, it was a question of looking ahead to check to see where the GPS wanted to take me, and then making common sense decisions to ignore its advice when it was obvious I was being taken the long way around. The GPS recalculates so quickly that it's actually quite fun to watch it realize I missed its recommended turn, and it frantically recalculates a new route to shepherd me back to its route. I actually have gotten very attached this little GPS! It's like a faithful companion who's always keen to help and tell you how to get to where you want to go. In the middle of nowhere, all alone, you still have a friend. Maybe I need psychiatric help.
So the track option is somewhat workable but that means I need to plan out my whole exactly beforehand and doesn't give me much flexibility with my tour.
I did try to use the routing feature a few times. It got me out of the starting town quite nicely but then wanted me to go on a gravel road. Since I didn't picked it it was sending me next on the interstate. Another time it send me to a level B (mud) road.
Would the Garmin City Navigator North America do a better job of routing me while avoiding interstates, gravel roads and if possible busy highways? Or am I just expecting too much from technology? Even Google maps sends me repeatedly to gravel roads when I map a biking route with it.
BTW I'm using the free 4000MB Routable US map which is build from the Open Street Map project.
Thanks!
Neil
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