UK youth hostel POI 's

[BigonaBianchi]

...hitting custom poi in my garmin throws up alist of loaded poi's

each has just one line

i.e
bike store - Worthing
I click on enter...it throws up save map or go to as options

That's it. So My guess would be to have the Hostel name-tel number right up front so it shows on the list .

 

[ColinJ]

Ha ha - I had already used POI Loader to make a POI file in gpi format. I just added .txt on the name so the CycleChat software would let me upload it. Strip the .txt from my file name and copy the file into whatever folder you normally store your POI files in on your GPS.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I must be being really dumb. ..but when I download the file it automatically strips the .txt from the name leaving only .gpi

However poi loader still cannot see it. It says it has to be a .gpx or a .csv file

But when I change the name to a .gpx it tells me it is invalid.

I just don't get it...

If poi loader would allow me to browse into a folder to the actual file it might help...

 

[andym]

I don't want to spend ages creating a POI file that doesn't work, so I'll do one with just 3 or 4 hostels in and you can see if that is okay***.

When I create the points in my software, I can give them sensible names like Mankinholes YHA.

There is also a GPS name field which I think I am supposed to restrict to only 6 characters so that could be a bit of a problem. I'd be tempted to id them like this e.g. youth hostels YHA046, Scottish youth hostels SYHA34, Independent hostels HOS001, bike-friendly B&Bs BAB043, bike-friendly hotels (Travelodge, Premier Inn etc.?) HOT123 and then maintain a list which could be printed out to identify them.

There is a comments field for each point in which I was going to include some or all of the following information:

• Name of establishment
• Phone number
• URL of website
• Email address

How does that sound? How would you access that information on your GPS. Mine is a basic Etrex which can only display the 6 character GPS name, AFAIK.


I'll create the list of YHA/SYHA first, then extend it with other establishments as I find out about them.

One of the advantages of POIs is that there are fewer restrictions than with waypoints so you may get away with longer names. But it's sensible to put the basis info into the comments field as this is available to older as well as newer gpses

Here are some links to tutorials on freegeographytools.com that you might find useful (the first one especially as it discusses the limitations on the length of names and datafields):

http://freegeographytools.com/2008/introduction-to-garmin-gps-poi-points-of-interest-data

http://freegeographytools.com/2008/creating-a-garmin-poi-datafile

http://freegeographytools.com/2008/managing-custom-poi-data-on-a-garmin-handheld-gps

http://freegeographytools.com/2008/creating-custom-icons-for-garmin-points-of-interest-poi

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks Andy - that's very helpful.

I would like to buy a more sophisticated GPS, but money is tight and my old Etrex still does the job so that will have to wait. I'll have to get BOAB or one of you to test any files that I create.

 

[andym]

Thanks Andy - that's very helpful.

I would like to buy a more sophisticated GPS, but money is tight and my old Etrex still does the job so that will have to wait. I'll have to get BOAB or one of you to test any files that I create.

You're welcome. If the file works on an old gps then it should work on a new one.

 

[ColinJ]

You're welcome. If the file works on an old gps then it should work on a new one.

I meant that my Etrex GPS does the basic navigating job, but it will not load POI files in GPI format. I can load GPX files containing waypoints. In fact, I would rather just create GPX files because that is easier and they are not Garmin-specific.

What are the benefits of POIs over waypoints, and therefore GPI over GPX? (We shouldn't need proximity alerts.)

 

[ColinJ]

I just remembered about this thread ...

Is there some reason why a GPX file containing waypoints representing the hostels wouldn't do? (Not that it really matters because it is easy to create the POI from the GPX.)