How best to save routes/waypoints

Former Member over 15 years ago

I am very happy with HP program--no problems on my computer (Dell running XP-Pro). My question is how best to keep track of the routes/waypoints that I have created.

When I use various SD cards I wind up saving certain routes to certain cards, then when I go to load them into the Garmin 540 I get an error that I have used too many routes.

What I would like is to learn how best to save routes and then use them on the 545. Should I load routes I am going to use for a certain day on the 545 then remove them and add routes for a different scenario, say a 2 week vacation where I need a whole bunch more routes. Can I keep all routes on an SD card and then just call up the ones I want to use, or do I need to load the routes I want to use into the 545--this would involve deleting routes and adding routes once the limit of routes is hit.

Also, is there a way that a future upgrade to the 540 series can accomodate more routes?

Thanks!

Rodd

0 Former Member over 15 years ago

Rodd,

For the 540, based on the specifications here, these are the limits:
Waypoints: 1,500
Routes: 20
Track log: 10,000 points; 20 saved tracks

As you might know, when you insert the SD card from the 540, HomePort will discover it and show it in the list as a device. You can now create folders on this device. Just make sure that for each folder you create, you do not want to go over the maximum limit for your 540. For example, you can create a folder Florida1 and save up to 20 routes in it. If you have more data than your device can accept at one time, create the data in a different folder.

You can then take the SD card to your 540, and select which of those folders you want the 540 to import. To import more data, you would delete data that you no longer need on the device and then tell the device to get data from the next folder. I do not have a 540 with me, so let us know how this works for you.

0 rwidman over 15 years ago

Rodd,

For the 540, based on the specifications here, these are the limits:
Waypoints: 1,500
Routes: 20
Track log: 10,000 points; 20 saved tracks

As you might know, when you insert the SD card from the 540, HomePort will discover it and show it in the list as a device. You can now create folders on this device. Just make sure that for each folder you create, you do not want to go over the maximum limit for your 540. For example, you can create a folder Florida1 and save up to 20 routes in it. If you have more data than your device can accept at one time, create the data in a different folder.

You can then take the SD card to your 540, and select which of those folders you want the 540 to import. To import more data, you would delete data that you no longer need on the device and then tell the device to get data from the next folder. I do not have a 540 with me, so let us know how this works for you.

Do that or use multiple SD cards with different sets of routes on them. That's what I did with my 182c and the Garmin chips.

0 Former Member over 15 years ago

Routes/waypoints

Thanks guys-- I like the idea of creating different folders on the same sd card and then choosing which one to upload to the 540.

Now, if I make changes to one of the routes, or add a new waypoint while the sd card is in the 540, will the new addition(s) be saved onto the sd card when I remove it?

Garminrodd

0 Former Member over 15 years ago

how to select folders on SD card

I have followed Neolite's advice and created several folders on the SD card that are each broken down by Geographical use. e.g., New England, New York, Florida. Now when I insert the SD card in the 540 I cannot see where I can choose which folder to open. My choices are: merge data, delete data on unit, copy data. I have not opened any of these choices because I don't want to delete anything by mistake either on the 540 or on the inserted SD card.

So, could you please run me through how to open a specific folder on an SD card and put that info onto the 540.

Thanks!

Garminrodd

0 rwidman over 15 years ago

I have followed Neolite's advice and created several folders on the SD card that are each broken down by Geographical use. e.g., New England, New York, Florida. Now when I insert the SD card in the 540 I cannot see where I can choose which folder to open. My choices are: merge data, delete data on unit, copy data. I have not opened any of these choices because I don't want to delete anything by mistake either on the 540 or on the inserted SD card.

So, could you please run me through how to open a specific folder on an SD card and put that info onto the 540.

Thanks!

Garminrodd

I can't help you with Neolite's suggestion, but if you use seperate SD cards instead of folders on the same card, you won't have to worry about selecting folders. SD cards are pretty inexpensive.

0 Former Member over 15 years ago

GarminRodd,
Once you select the 'Merge From Card' option on your device, does it not take you to a page that lists the folders on the card?

If you are worried about data loss, you could do the following to back up the data from your device to your computer: Insert an SD card into device, select 'Save To Card'. Name it 'FromDevice'. Insert SD card to PC, copy the file Garmin\FromDevice.adm from the SD card to a backup location on your PC.

Please note that the instructions above are from looking at the menu options for a 430s. Your device (540) might not have similar text and might not have the same options.

0 MACHRIA over 15 years ago

GarminRodd,
I'd add one thing, when you change areas, instead of selecting "MERGE" when loading a new folder, select "REPLACE". This will delete and over-write all data on the device (the 540), and copy all the stuff (WP's, routes and tracks) from the selected folder on the SD card.

Example: lets say you are in Florida, and have your 540 loaded with nothing but your Floriday WP's and routes. Now you come back to New York. Stick in the SD card, select Import data, and when asked select REPLACE from SD Card. Now the 540 will delete all the Florida data, and import nothing but the New York data.

This will help keep you from reaching the limits of too many routes or WP's...

One thing to note, if you make any edits/adds/deletes ON the 540 while using it, make sure you Save to SD card at the end of the day, and load those new changes into Homeport at home, and copy (send to) those new changes to the respective folder (new york, and/or Floriday). So the next time you load that folder onto the device, you get the new changes/adds/deletes.