Garmin Edge 30 route help.

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I've got an Etrex 30 and up to now have been using it on trail mode simply because the 'simplified' information on the various niggles and quirks of Garmin mapping is overwhelming and I just haven't had time to suss the unit out properly.

The other day I'd put a route to Huddersfield to pick up an ebay buy, all was dandy until I came to the A629 - and there was no way in hell I was riding up that! I'd cocked up and not checked the route ridewithgps had plotted due to rushing around to set off in time.

So with a lot of faffing and asking locals I managed to get there in the end.

So now I want to use the turn by turn instructions and auto routing function this is apparently capable of.

But, if I follow the information I've read on the audax site, it just throws up errors.

So can someone tell me in simple terms how to get an audax route into the unit? For example I'm due to attempt the Seasons Of Mists 100km audax soon and would love to have turn by turn instructions.

I've found a GPX file and managed to that to basecamp with no issues, it's in the unit, but as soon as I ask it to route it off road as per audax site instructions....it errors.

I suspect it's down to some sort of waypoint limit, but if I try to use the ridewithgps waypoint limiting I just end up with a route that looks nothing like what it should.

Edit: I've the open source maps installed.

 

[HLaB]

Does it have a USB connection ? with the Edge 800 you just connect it and drag the tcx (better format than gpx also available on RWGPS) into the the folder 'New Files' (a sub folder of the Folder 'Garmin') and when you switch the unit on its there in courses. With the 800 change its settings to 'turn by turn' to get a turn left/right/straight prompts.

FWIW, I have opensource maps on my 800 and the procedure works for me.

With older units, its a bit more of a faff you have to import the GPX/TCX to Training Centre and then snyc it (send to GPS) and you can find it in the Training menu.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Yes it does have USB, I'll try it that way after lunch, doesn't accept tcx tho.

 

[HLaB]

Yes it does have USB, I'll try it that way after lunch, doesn't accept tcx tho.

Pity the Edge 800 accepts them and converts them, no idea what the Etrex 30 does.

 

[HLaB]

Found this (can't play it at work) but it may be of help
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHYZBjs7nUM

 

[ColinJ]

I don't want any device to auto-route for me precisely because I don't want to be randomly taken up busy/noisy/ugly A-roads. I want to choose the roads myself before I set off.

I don't know the Etrex 30, but I can get my ancient Etrex to work simply and reliably, and you should be able to get your device to work the same way!

My technique:

• Map the exact route, with every little twist and turn in the road. That gives accurate distance and climbing data.
• The device has memory limits, so the route needs to be simplified. Do this manually to make sure that the simplified version actually makes sense! Skip the twists and turns in the road and just make sure that the route is unambiguous at junctions and roundabouts. It doesn't matter if the road snakes about a bit but the display only shows a straight line, as long as it is correct at that T-junction at the end of the road.
• I can normally get at least 100 km worth of route in the memory limits of my device. If necessary, I split my tracks into 2 parts, usually pre-cafe, post-cafe, and change over when I set off again after the cafe stop.
• I don't use turn by turn instructions. The device has a mode that displays an arrow, but I don't like it. Using the 'breadcrumb trail' mode, I can see many hundreds of metres ahead what is coming up. The direction arrow dumps it on me at the last minute, making lane choice difficult and potentially confusing in traffic. I have even had it tell me to turn left, and then tell me 10 second later that I had gone wrong and should do a u-turn!

The only problem with my method is when I am forced to go off route by roadworks or accidents. That has only happened a couple of times in about 20,000 km of navigating so it isn't a big problem. Carry a printout of the map for the area you are riding in, just in case. (Not so much of a problem for you if your device includes maps - mine does not!)

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I reckon I've sussed it, I do a track on bikehike, then import into basecamp and then convert it to a route. It seems to sort it out as long as I set it to calculate "off road" for some reason.

I'll use it tomorrow to get to uni.

 

[ColinJ]

I don't really understand what it is calculating! Aren't you telling it where you want to go, rather than it telling you?

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

It calculated the directions and auto route if I want to go off route.