Cannot get BaseCamp to calculate a route

Former Member over 12 years ago

I am about to have a stroke with Garmin, BaseCamp and my BMW NAV IV. It's hard to believe, but I get much better service out of my ancient 2610, Mac and RoadTrip than I do BC. I have watched the tutorial videos ad nauseum and still can't get this idiot program to work right. I have the latest update, 4.0.4 but I can't get it to calculate or draw a route via roads, just point to point.

Here's what I'm doing. Using BC, I'm selecting one of my waypoints (current location, or home) and then clicking on my desired destination. I get a straight, heavy magenta line from Start to Finish, but no route info, or roads. I have clicked recalculate until my mouse is tired, but I cannot get it to follow ANY roads. I only have avoid interstates and unpaved roads selected. I am using the motorcycling activity, but even when I change that to automobile I still can't get anything but straight lines between my waypoints.

This program is so vastly inferior to Road Trip it isn't even funny. With the routes previously stored/created in my NAV IV, if I try to bluetooth transfer of a route to another NAV IV, my unit powers down completely without transferring any data. Is there any way to create routes in the much better Road Trip program and transfer them to the NAV IV without downloading a bunch of 3rd party software?

Any "constructive" help would be appreciated.

0 Killtimer_ over 12 years ago

OK, to start with, what maps are you using (have loaded) in BaseCamp? The included "Global Map" does not auto-route.

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

I am using the default map I guess. I have the updated maps in my NAV IV, but how do I download them into Base Camp? Please forgive my ignorance.

0 danham_ over 12 years ago

Plug in your GPS and wait!

Is your GPS plugged into your Mac while BC is running? If not, you will get nowhere until or unless you install the maps on your Mac (or simply plug in your GPS). Next time you update maps, you can then install them on your Mac as well.

I understand you are frustrated, but I bet once you get the map sorted out you will agree that BC is head & shoulders better than RT any day.

Unless the Nav IV has a feature that is radically different than the zumo 660 on which it's based, there is no way to transfer routes via Bluetooth, period. The transfer function on my zumo 660 writes a route to the SD card, which can then be plugged into another GPS and that's the transfer.

-dan

0 Killtimer_ over 12 years ago

BaseCamp will read and use, but not load to the computer, maps from the Nuvi series onward age wise. AFAIK, the BMW units can't be read. You've got two options. Buy maps from Garmin to load to the computer or use open source maps like the ones from http://www.openstreetmap.org The routes created on OSM may or may not work on your unit without the GPS recalculating. Sorry, I have no experience with the BMW units.

Edit: Dan's advice is good. Plug the unit into BaseCamp and give it some time.

0 danham_ over 12 years ago

Killtimer:

I am very surprised to hear that the BMW units have that restriction. Are you sure? They are basically zumos with some extra buttons and a BMW price tag (I should know, my zumo 660 is mounted on a BMW F800 ST) [grin].

-dan

0 Killtimer_ over 12 years ago

Killtimer:

I am very surprised to hear that the BMW units have that restriction. Are you sure? They are basically zumos with some extra buttons and a BMW price tag (I should know, my zumo 660 is mounted on a BMW F800 ST) [grin].

-dan

I don't know for sure Dan, I've never played with a newer one. I assumed the OP had tried the connection option. I know they're based on current Garmin hardware, but with many differences, interface for one.

0 JaVaWa over 12 years ago

This program is so vastly inferior to Road Trip it isn't even funny

BaseCamp isn't inferior to RoadTrip; the opposite is true.

I am using the default map I guess.

Do you see a lot of detail, or only larger cities and major highways? Can you switch to another map? (there should be a drop down box present in the toolbar; but you can always switch through the menu)

I have the updated maps in my NAV IV, but how do I download them into Base Camp? Please forgive my ignorance.

By running the updater again; check option to install on the computer too (is unchecked by default).
However, BaseCamp has the option to use the maps directly from your GPS, as long it is connected to your computer.

AFAIK, the BMW units can't be read.

The Nav Iv can be read by BaseCamp, just like the zumo 660.

Unless the Nav IV has a feature that is radically different than the zumo 660 on which it's based

Yes, it has (apart from the hardware buttons): it can transfer routes via Bluetooth...

0 Killtimer_ over 12 years ago

The Nav Iv can be read by BaseCamp, just like the zumo 660.

Good to know. This should solve the OPs routing problems.

0 danham_ over 12 years ago

Thanks for the info on BT - always up for learning something new.

-dan

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

First off, thank you all for your kind help and patience. I think I found one of my problems; I had newer maps loaded on my "old" laptop and when it crashed I never installed them onto my new MacBook. So, that may be issue #1. I have, however, hooked the NAV IV to the new laptop and never had any luck getting it to work with BC. Last night, I downloaded the latest maps from Garmin for my IV. I am in the process now of installing the maps on the NAV IV. After it is finished, I'll try using BC again.

As for the BT file transfer, the BMW NAV IV manual does claim that routes can be transferred from one NAV IV to another via BT. We used to be able to do it but after a software update last year we lost that feature. Even the dealer can't get it to work. Go figure. But I'll give up BT file transfer for the ability to plan routes on my Mac and transfer them to the NAV IV.

Also, as for the extra buttons, this NAV IV is installed in the K1600GTL and it has a built in cradle in the dashboard and is controlled via the iDrive (wonder wheel) on the bikes handlebar. No funky cradle with the extra buttons. But in doing so, I also had to give up the ability to get traffic alerts due to the wiring harness not having the built in receiver for the traffic info. Win some, lose some I suppose.

Again, thank you all for your support. I'm hoping this update works as advertised and I will be on the happy side of Garmin again.