Exporting 500+ point track files from Base Camp to GPS device

Former Member over 15 years ago

I am trying to export a 723 point 54.3 mile in length track file from Base Camp to my Garmin 76CsX. I know that the GPS unit is limited to 500 track points before it truncates the file. I have been told that you can get around this issue if you rename the file "Active Log". I have changed the name of the file to "Active Log", "activelog", and "Active Lognnn". In each case, when I sent the file to the GPS device, I received a message that the file had truncated. I viewed the file on the GPS device and it had in fact truncated the file to 33.7 miles.

How can I load this file into my GPS device in one piece? I know that I can cut the file into several pieces, all less than 500 points, but I have never done this before and I would like to keep the file intact.

Map Source users have the "filter" feature in Preferences that allows them to fit oversized track files into the 500 point limit for tracks stored on some Garmin devices. When will this "filter" feature be incorporated into Base Camp/Road Trip? Better yet, when will Garmin increase the size limit for storing track files in their devices?

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Some other GPS units will allow more than 10,000 points per track. The newer Garmins will allow multiple tracks of 10K points each, e.g. Oregon 450 and 550. They will also allow tracks to be loaded from the sd card.

If you are concerned about the fidelity of the simplified track the easiest way to check it is to save the simplified track and then display it in a different color along with the original track in BaseCamp. I usually display one in black and the other in red --- then a quick overview will show me where they diverge, Don't simplify to 10K points --- pick some smaller number so you can add back points if needed.

For 300 miles and 13,000 points is one every 121ft if you went all the way down to 9,000 you would have on the average one point every 176 feet! I find it hard to believe that the 55 foot difference would make it impossible to follow or find your trail!

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Thank you all very much for your help and suggestions. I found a perfect, perfect solution!

The trail I'm hiking, The Benton MacKaye Trail runs through GA, TN and NC....

So... I downloaded and installed (free) TOPO maps for these states from gpsfiledepot.com.

Then, I also downloaded "My Trails" from the same website, a transparent map with thousands of trails (including the one I'm hiking) and installed it.

I live 5 minutes from the Appalachian Trail and the Cherokee National Forest and I took the GPS loaded with these maps out for a test hike on different trails and they are all very nearly perfect. I also found it hard to believe that so many of the little trails in my area are also on the My Trails map.

Problem solved, and didn't cost a penny except for the donation I'm giving to the guy that made the maps. That's my kind of solution. :)

If you're not familiar with the site, www.gpsfiledepot.com, I highly recommend it. (My apology if this violates any rules or regs about outside sources)