Is my Basecamp operating correctly?

Former Member over 12 years ago

I have a new Mac with Basecamp on it. We drive long trips and I like to design our routes on my computer and then download them to my NUVI 2555. Being used to the Mapsource program, I find it quite cumbersome to design, download and then follow the routes on my device using Basecamp. A typical route may be anywhere from 200 miles to 1500 miles with 10 - 20 waypoints.

My problem is that the route is not one long continuous route but a series of sub-routes from one waypoint to the next. When I bring the route up on the device, it will show the first of these multiple sub-routes or legs as I call them. I will drive "thru" the leg, the next leg will then show up in it's magenta color, and it will go to the next waypoing. It goes on andon like this. Is this the way Basecamp works??? Mapsource showed the entire leg as one route, not a series of routes from one waypoint to the next.

Also, when I start the route up to drive it, if I pull down the directions from the green "directions" bar at the top, it shows the route broken down into segments with a "GO" button beside each. Is this normal???

Also, sometimes when I have stopped for lunch and then started the device back up, it asked me which waypoint I wanted to go to. I don't keep up with where I am in the list of waypoints, so I have to guess. Which of course means that I guess incorrectly and the device wants to take me back to a waypoint I have already passed. That's a mess.

Do you find these issues to be the case too, or am I using it all wrong???

Also, since I'm venting so much, I get some little green signs along the route with a white heart in them. Got any idea what these mean?

I have spent hours on the phone with Garmin and they assure me all this is normal. Really???

Thanks for your help,

Dick
[email][email protected][/email]

0 SUSSAMB over 12 years ago

Garmin are correct. You have a newer nuvi that uses 'trips' not 'routes' and this is how they work. It's also why many of us are hanging on to our 14xx series GPS, the last 'route planner capable' nuvi :)

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Thanks SUSSAMB for the reply. I wish Garmin had told me (and maybe they did and I just didn't "hear" it) that a "route" is now a series of "trips". The "new and improved" version of a routing program, Basecamp, is not so new and improved for me. Mapsource was much, much easier for me. However, that being said, I just have to learn it and how to use it.

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

a "route" is now a series of "trips".

Actually it's the other way around; a "trip" is a series of "routes". ;)

If you like Mapsource and also have a Windows machine (or Bootcamp/Parallels on your Mac) there is no reason why you can't use it for planning instead of Basecamp. That will not change the way the routes behave on your Nuvi, but it's compatible. You will just need to switch the Nuvi from MTP to USB mode for it to work with Mapsource.

-Boyd

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

It's also why many of us are hanging on to our 14xx series GPS, the last 'route planner capable' nuvi :)

The Last of the Mohicans :p

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Thanks SUSSAMB for the reply. I wish Garmin had told me (and maybe they did and I just didn't "hear" it) that a "route" is now a series of "trips". The "new and improved" version of a routing program, Basecamp, is not so new and improved for me. Mapsource was much, much easier for me. However, that being said, I just have to learn it and how to use it.

Keep in mind that this behavior is not a BaseCamp requirement. The nuvi you purchased requires BaseCamp to transfer routes in this manner so that the nuvi's Trip Planner app will work the way the nuvi Dev Team want it to.

Hopefully the new v4.2 Trip Planner in BaseCamp will never take on this behavior or entice the non-nuvi brands to add a nuvi based Trip Planner app. I'm in favor of a Trips app for the GPS's but I'd like to see one more in line with the Adventures app on my Montana and the other handhelds.

The first time one of my Garmin GPS's start braking up my Route's into segments (as they see fit) I'll sell it.

0 PSEABOLT over 12 years ago

It's also why many of us are hanging on to our 14xx series GPS, the last 'route planner capable' nuvi :)

You are correct and Garmin is loosing money from this user. Why won't Garmin make an Auto GPS that supports BaseCamp as well as the Montana.

0 PSEABOLT over 11 years ago

Managing geodata is complicated and every evolving, Garmin has went to extremes to support legacy GPS models. BaseCamp is a great application, like any complicated application there is a learning curve. If you are having problems downloading routes, it probable has more to do with your GPS Firmware than Garmin's computer software. BaseCamp is trying to interface with hundreds of different models, different memory, different firmware. BaseCamp must rely on the GPS to accept uploaded information and this is every changing. Garmin nuvi 2013 line call routes, trips and handles the upload differently. BaseCamp does not document uploads to the hundreds of different GPS supported and I don't think it should. I think the biggest problem is Garmin does not document uploading using BC in the GPS manual where I think it should be documented. I recently purchased a Nuvi 3597 LMTHD, BaseCamp was in the manual one time as a file type accepted. Even so, I can plug the GPS into my Mac, it mounts in BC, drag any route and drop it on the Nuvi and the Nuvi follows the exact same route. If you are talking about Nuvi prior to 2013, they may or may not allow routes to be uploaded and if you can upload routes, unless you match maps and preferences your route may change, depending on memory, it may even change if you do match maps and preferences.

0 PSEABOLT over 11 years ago

Just a short update, I replaced my Nuvi 1490 LMT with the Nuvi 3597 LMTHD. Routes upload into the trip app on the Nuvi and do not recalculate the route. The biggest problem with my 1490 was uploaded routes being recalculated and changing. The Nuvi 3597 eliminates this issue. The 3597 is a improved and worth 3 times the cost of the 1490 in my opinion. My only complaint is the legacy file management system on the unit that will not allow BaseCamp to delete any save data and to remove geodata (waypoints, routes, etc.) from the Nuvi. You have to delete from the GPS and mount the volume on the desktop and delete every thing in the GPX folder on the Nuvi. Just putting the gpx files in the trash is not enough, you have to empty the trash.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Just a short update, I replaced my Nuvi 1490 LMT with the Nuvi 3597 LMTHD. Routes upload into the trip app on the Nuvi and do not recalculate the route. The biggest problem with my 1490 was uploaded routes being recalculated and changing. The Nuvi 3597 eliminates this issue. The 3597 is a improved and worth 3 times the cost of the 1490 in my opinion. My only complaint is the legacy file management system on the unit that will not allow BaseCamp to delete any save data and to remove geodata (waypoints, routes, etc.) from the Nuvi. You have to delete from the GPS and mount the volume on the desktop and delete every thing in the GPX folder on the Nuvi. Just putting the gpx files in the trash is not enough, you have to empty the trash.

Try the latest JaVaWa Device Manager...it has a new feature to eliminate the "Trashcan" on the device. That way when you do "delete" the data it is GONE.

0 PSEABOLT over 11 years ago

Thanks