BaseCamp, Foretrex 401, Am I able to make a route using basecamp?

Your Foretrex should work fine with BaseCamp. It will take up to 20 routes and 500 waypoints. While you can get maps from Garmin that work with BaseCamp, the Foretrex doesn't accept maps, so it might not be worth the money.

I use Google Earth to enter waypoints (placemarks). I then export these in .kml format (Google Earth doesn't export to .gpx format). I then use GPSBabel to translate the .kml file to a .gpx file which can be loaded into BaseCamp. Once in BaseCamp you can use the waypoints to create a route and upload it to the Foretrex 301/401.

I think Garmin ought to offer better software for route creation. At least, it would be nice if BaseCamp could read .kml files directly.

In the other direction you can load .gpx files directly into Google Earth from the Foretrex 301/401. This is very nice for viewing tracks. One minor issue is that the current version of Google Earth seems to reduce the number of track points. This slightly reduces the accuracy of the displayed paths and the reported distances, which is a pity.

If you want to skip the Basecamp step, just plot your route on Google Earth using the 'Add Path' feature. Then export using File/Save/Save Place As... remembering to change to .KML extension. Then convert to .GPX using GPSBabel and finally drag and drop into the GPX folder in the Foretrex. It'll appear in the Saved Tracks when you disconnect from your computer.

You can also upload waypoints without going through Basecamp by creating them as described by WILDERNESSDAZE, then dragging and dropping the .GPX files into the GPX folder and miraculously they appear under Waypoints on the 401. I think you have to do a separate export for each placemark.

I tend to create a saved track as above to follow and then add a few key waypoints for info.

Now if only I could find my heart rate data to upload to Garmin Connect........

COLINOMAN, I've just bought the Garmin Premium Heart Rate Monitor. Whilst is seems to work I'm very disappointed by the apparent lack of software support.

Even with the latest Foretrex software version 2.40 I've found that the heart rate data is only saved correctly in the ACTIVE LOG tracks and not in saved track data. Either the saved tracks contain a constant heart rate value (eg 82) or the heart rate data isn't even included.

Then if you use Garmin Connect to upload the activities you have to do this manually, otherwise the heart rate data isn't included. you have to manually upload the Garmin/GPX/current/Current.gpx file from the Foretrex 401.

On top of this you can't use BaseCamp to edit the ACTIVE LOG tracks if you want to keep the heart rate data, although I was reading that there may be a beta version available that can support the full track data.

It's all very unfriendly and severely limits the usefulness of the HRM. I get the impression that Garmin don't want to support the crossover market between navigation and fitness training.