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Alternative software?

Former Member
Former Member over 4 years ago

It's so cumbersome to work with Basecamp. Does anyone know of alternative software to create routes and upload them to our Garmin device?

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Which device in particular? Programs that create valid gpx files can be used to get data onto most Garmin devices.

    Having said that I don't find BaseCamp cumbersome so maybe you could be helped to improve your ability with it if you explain the issues causing you problems 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to SUSSAMB

    eTrex20 here.

    There are a lot of things i probably don't understand about Basecamp.

    - I still don't know how to manage my routes in Basecamp. I save routes in my device and in my PC. So the moment i connect my device i have all routes double in Basecamp. 

    - All my routes are displayed at the same time. All in nice Magenta. Unless i one-by-one make them transparent, of course. But then i don't see them anymore. I guess i am doing something wrong with folders, lists and list folders.

    - Creating a route manually is a pain. I select the route creation tool, drag my start point and cannot move forward unless i select a destination. I don't want to select a destination, i want to select the different roads i want to take. My routes are always Home to Home. 

    - We need intuitive map movement using the mouse when using the route creation tool. I don't want to rely on the Zoom and pan arrows in the lower part of the map. 

    - I want to have an EASY way to continue planning a route. Whenever a route is on the mak and i click the route creation tool, a new route is created. There is no easy way to make a route longer. Well, i suspect there is, it's just not so easy to find.

    - I have created about a 1000 Home to Home routes of less than 20m distance. Probably i am using the route creation tool in the wrong way.

    Should i go on?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    You'll only get double routes if you select the top level folder.  BaseCamp is a database. The pointers to the data is what you see in the folders and lists, so data items can be in one list or multiple lists. Data, or rather the pointers, removed from all of your lists will be shown in the Unlisted data folder.  Using folders and lists is key to using BaseCamp successfully, and as well as all my lists containg routes etc I also have a list named temporary, where I create my new routes.

    I'm guessing, as you have an Etrex, that your routes are mainly walking ones.  The best way I've found to create them is using the Direct activity. Extending routes is easy, select the insert tool and hover the pointer over the end of the route you want to extend until it turns into a circle then click and away you go. This may be different on a Mac, I use Windows.

    It might be worth reading through the mac tutorial here https://www.newenglandriders.org/learn-basecamp/

    It's aimed at Zumo users but should help anyone using BaseCamp 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to SUSSAMB

    Ok, i get the folder structure and i understand that i need to store every Home-to-Home route i create FOR MY MOTORBIKE in a separate list. So yes, i agree, i don't get the folder/list concept at all. I just wanted to have all my routes, and i don't have that many to be honest, in one folder so i can select them and see them on the screen. Not selecting the folder and see ALL routes on my screen. But that's another topic i have open.

    What about the other "usability" issues i explained?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Well i covered some of them, but try reading the tutorial I pointed you at, as I'm on a Windows system some of the ways of doing things are different.

    Yo must have fun reading an Etrex on a motorbike Slight smile

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to SUSSAMB

    I must admit, the tutorial from the New England Riders is absolutely great. Garmin can learn from this on how to write a tutorial. Very comprehensive and now i understand why i need to put every ride in its own list. Thanks for pointing this out. It makes my life with Basecamp a whole lot easier.

    Ah, and yes, an eTrex is actually a nice device for the motorbike. I put it in Compass mode and it gives me all the information i need. I am not trying to read the map on the bike, if that's what you mean, no. ;-)

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Great, I'll close this thread