NUVI 500 Data Mangement in Basecamp

When I connect my Nuvi 500 to basecamp I am unable to delete the routes and waypoints currently on the device. If I try and delete the info from my device and plug it in basecamp still shows it as stored on the device.


Also, I uploaded one list but data from that list and another showed up on my nuvi.

Has anyone had this problem?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    The nuvi series does not let you edit data directly on the device. I think the only way to remove existing favorites or routes is to use the menu commands on the Nuvi itself. Sending new waypoints from either basecamp or mapsource will ADD them to the existing favorites on your nuvi. If you don't want this to happen, you must first delete them as described above, then send the new waypoints.

    Only the newest handheld units allow editing of data directly on the device, such as the Oregon x50, Dakota, Montana and GPSMap 62 for example.
  • Thanks for the info.

    But I'm still puzzled as to why when I delete my information from the Nuvi it shows up on basecamp like it is still there.

    Has any one else experienced this?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    It's probably still there in Basecamp. It probably loaded into Basecamp when you first connected to the device. Now you'll have to delete it from Basecamp, too, if you want it completely gone.

    ...ken...
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    I think Ken is correct. As I said above, the newest handheld models can "sync" data between the device and Basecamp. The nuvi can't do that - Basecamp and the GPS contain their own copies of your data so you would need to delete it from each place.

    There is one other possibility. When you send data to the Nuvi from Basecamp, it is placed into a file and imported when the Nuvi starts. With the Nuvi connected to the computer look in the \Garmin\GPX folder. You will see one file named Current.gpx. This is a copy of the internal data used by the nuvi and is generated every time you start up.

    Do you also see another .gpx file there? Typically it is named Temp.gpx but might also have a name like Current2.gpx. This will be the file created by Basecamp when data is sent. You should delete this file, because otherwise everytime you start the nuvi, the waypoints you created will be re-imported and therefore will never go away.

    It's not necessary to delete Current.gpx, because it is only used for output and is regenerated at each startup. However, a file with any name BUT Current.gpx will be imported each time the nuvi starts.
  • Thanks Ostroff, it worked.

    After a bit of trial & error, I found out that If I deleted the info from the Nuvi,
    then connected the nuvi & deleted the files in the GPX folder my nuvi was clear when I connected it to Base Camp.

    I can't tell you how long i tried to get this to work, so thank you again for the tip!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Happy to help. The nuvi is a strange beast... :)
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Happy to help. The nuvi is a strange beast... :)


    Wow, it sure sounds that way. My eTrex doesn't allow direct editing either, but it doesnt seem to have that hidden file behavior either.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    The eTrex and other older models like the 60csx are completely different. Data is transferred to the computer by Basecamp/Mapsource "talking" to the gps using Garmin protocol. The nuvi series as well as newer handhelds use a file-based system where data is just copied to/from files in internal memory.

    The internal memory is mounted like a USB disk on the new models and you can directly copy files back and forth if you like. Internal memory is not user-accessible on the old models, you must use a program that speaks Garmin protocol.