Using Basecamp Routes on etrex 20 get straight lines

Former Member over 13 years ago

I have been trying to create routes on Basecamp for hikes in the White Mountains using the Topo24k maps. The route looks fine on basecamp and follows the trail.

When I try to use it on the etrex 20, it puts straight lines between each trail junction where you change trails - I'm guessing that these are the waypoints for the route. The maps on the etrex 20 show the trails and the tracks follow them, but the planned route and distance to destination info is based on straight lines.

I can't seem to find any configuration parameters on either Basecamp or etrex 20 that change this behavior.

Anyone have any ideas?

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Assuming you have correctly installed the Garmin 24k maps on your eTrex, there must be a setup menu item for routing or navigation. It should have options for on-road and off-road routing. Off-road routing will produce the results you describe.

Sorry, since I don't have a new eTrex I can't be more specific, but every Garmin device allows you to choose the routing method somewhere in the menus. This must be done on the device itself, not in Basecamp.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Thanks! terminology is clear as mud

Seems "off road" does not mean "route alone trails" and "route on roads" means follow trails ...

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Seems "off road" does not mean "route alone trails" and "route on roads" means follow trails ...

In this case, exactly correct.

In general, these routing options don't make any distinction about what kinds of "roads" contain the routing data. The options simply tell the device to either use any routing data that is available (route on roads) or to ignore it even if it's there (off road).

...ken...

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Some Garmin models have a pedestrian vs automotive mode - check the menus. At least in theory, this means the routing will ignore things like one-way streets in pedestrian mode while automotive mode won't use trails. But my experience has been that it often doesn't work as expected. ;)