2015 Google Maps Integration

Hi folks.

Going on another trip in 2 weeks.

Any advice on how to integrate Google Maps / Google Earth with Basecamp? They took out the "send to GPS" feature, so I'm a bit confused using both Basecamp and Google tools.

Any insight appreciated.

Cheers

Top Replies

beerich over 10 years ago +1

Yes. Basecamp can be a really stodgy application to work with. It is not anywhere close to Google Maps. GM is where I can view routes, as this is essential for safety. I still can't seem to get a proper…

All Replies

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

I just got started with Basecamp in combo with a Zumo 660 on my motorcycle. I’ve been using macs for 20 years and marine Garmins for 15.

I’m mostly interested in telling my Zumo where I want to go (rather than the other way around) by making specific scenic backroad routes on the mac so I can then easily follow them on the bike.

I’ve been absolutely stunned how insanely difficult, non-user friendly and un-intuitive this all is. It feels like I’m using a PC in 1994!

Google maps and routing is far superior but I can’t transfer to Basecamp. I tried GPS Visualizer and other third party ‘translators’ but it’s all clunky and not working good. Can we please all start using a standard file format! What a nightmare!

I use Strava for my bicycle rides. They have routing integrated with Google Maps and seem lightyears ahead of Basecamp.

And no Garmin…. I’m not interested in publishing “Adventures”!

Just a good route, on a good map, with good directions.

That’s all.

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

Actually I'm not sure why you're having problems, probably because you're unfamiliar with how BC actually works. If you look at the Zumo forums many use BC very successfully. Its advantage is that it can use the same map that's on your Zumo, so removing one source of error. I use BC to send routes to my nuvis, and have done for many years. If something isn't working for you please explain what, and maybe you will get some help.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

You are right… despite hours of messing with it it’s still unclear, clunky, difficult and crash prone. And that’s not because I’m an idiot but because it’s lousy software.

Yes, I could spend hours on the forums discussing a long list of specific complaints and issues and learn about a long list of work-arounds and un-intuitive semi-solutions.

THAT is exactly the point!

All that shouldn’t be necessary. A relatively savvy mac user like myself shouldn’t have all these frustrations and problems. If the maps and software were better I’d be out riding my motorcycle rather then having to spend frustrating hours in forums.

Take a look at Apple’s Pages software or the mapping tools of Strava to see what a modern interface looks like. Pages especially is a deep and feature rich program that is not perfect but still awesome. I don’t spend any time at the Pages forums. I just use the hell out of it.

0 beerich over 10 years ago

Yes. Basecamp can be a really stodgy application to work with. It is not anywhere close to Google Maps. GM is where I can view routes, as this is essential for safety. I still can't seem to get a proper track into a route without BC turning it into some convoluted thing that I instantly toss. Follow track is what I'll be doing I guess.

And I completely agree with this Adventure stuff. I'd rather Garmin spend more time integrating proper integration with the best tools out there, instead of trying to become Facebook. After my trip, the tracks that I take, I clean up and publish as a GPX or KML if anybody wants it. Leave it technical, but make it slide very nicely with the go-to tools out there. Google Earth has great routing tools. Unfortunately my Mac's outdated cards means GE won't work, but my travelling laptop will.

I think there's been a huge lack of insight, or effort into asking the community what could work best. The sheer number of Garmin applications, the changes to applications, POI managers, Route loaders, software downloaders...it's a dog's breakfast. It's totally confusing. There's these little booklets showing me how to use these things. What Garmin needs is a cohesive approach to all of this so that it doesn't confuse people. I spend a lot of time in these forums, and I shouldn't have to.

0 beerich over 10 years ago

I agree. I'm a software developer. Interface and integration are critical. I'm in a hotel on my laptop, trying to find routes and POIs (hotels, restaurants, bike shops, attractions, addresses) and my go-to is Google Maps or Google Earth. Push to my Garmin GPSmap 62stc, a top model, should be seamless. Basecamp is this big thing that stands in the way.

Garmin, are you listening? This whole ball of fur needs a re-work.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Perhaps things have imroved since the latest post as I found the transfer from Google Map to Basecamp and then to my Garmin2597LMT worked fine.

0 beerich over 9 years ago

How did you send something from Google Maps to Basecamp? Details.

Cheers

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

How did you send something from Google Maps to Basecamp? Details.

Cheers

You need to set up your route using My Maps, not maps.google.com. My Maps lets you convert the routing to a KML, which will then open in BaseCamp.

0 beerich over 9 years ago

You need to set up your route using My Maps, not maps.google.com. My Maps lets you convert the routing to a KML, which will then open in BaseCamp.

Sorry, but that is a hack roundabout way of getting things done. Sending directly from a map is the best way by far, but that is now gone. Garmin's supplied map system in Basecamp is close to useless for this.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Sorry, but that is a hack roundabout way of getting things done. Sending directly from a map is the best way by far, but that is now gone. Garmin's supplied map system in Basecamp is close to useless for this.

I think Google made that change to Maps, and I don't believe it is Garmin's problem. If you have a google account, you can access "My Maps" from the pulldown menu on the left side of the screen. Set up your map as you usually would at maps.google.com, except that it is now listed under My Maps. When you are finished with your routing, click on the three vertical dots next to share, top left. This gives you the option to save the map as a .KML file. That file can be opened with Basecamp, no issues. It is not a workaround, it is how Google decided to change their support for Maps.