What's the difference between a route and a track?

I'm using Basecamp with a Garmin Montana 680T and 24K US topo maps. I create a route in Basecamp by clicking on various points along a road, and Basecamp complete the route, following the road. When I copy the route to my device, it appears as straight lines connecting only the points I clicked on in Basecamp. The route is of no use. If I convert the route to a track in Basecamp, it then appears as I would expect on the device.

I've read the Montana manual several times. It does not say what Garmin considers a route to be, or a track. Can you get turn by turn directions on a track?

0 Dennis_K_ over 7 years ago

Basically a Route follows a routable roads (as set in the Activity Profile's Route options) and a Track is a line between a series of points. BaseCamp does both but not all GPS units do. A Montana with only Topo maps wouldn't do routing. It would need to have the City Navigator maps installed to do routing.

0 ScottE over 7 years ago

Thanks. I understand that. But . . . why then could Basecamp create a route accurately (following all the curving roads) from the map, but the Montana can't interpret interpret it? They're both using the same map (TOPO U.S. 24K West v3).

0 SUSSAMB over 7 years ago

Because a route isn't sent as such but as a series of points. If you don't have a routeable map all your Montana can do is join those points with straight lines. You can though use the direct route profile in BaseCamp and then send that to your GPS.

However if BaseCamp is routing using the same map it should route correctly on your device. If it's not check the settings on your Montana since the 24K map is routeable so should provide routes.

0 Dennis_K_ over 7 years ago

I had to get out my 650 and see what's up. I never tried using Routes on the 650 so I didn't know the TOPO U.S. 24K maps were routable. I did a test and my 650 did the straight line thing after transferring from BaseCamp. I looked in setup for route settings and found in Setup/Routing/Activity was set to "Direct Routing". I changed it to "Automobile Driving" and the route followed the roads.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

In BaseCamp, can't you just convert the Route to a Track, and then copy the track to your device? I think that'd solve your issue.

0 SUSSAMB over 7 years ago

You wouldn't then get directions which I assume would be wanted.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

so in Basecamp software itself, are track and route synonyms?

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Typically that which we call a track is just a series of points sequentially placed from start to finish. Lines may be overlaid to sequentialy connect and route paths over the points. A track routing algorithm in its simplest form does not permit mid course diversions to other tracks nor does it permit connection to the original track if looped back.

If we want more routing options to other road, path, and trail layers, perhaps including directions to the next connected vectors, poets and other deep thinkers are required.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/play/77060

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Hi I will buy an 680 to and have many question can I ask you?

0 seilogramp over 6 years ago

Display_Name this is a forum. Ask away.