PROXIMITY ALERTS - Basecamp and GPSMAP 62s

This is not a new observation, I've noticed it for a while now and cant recall if its been discussed. Since I just updated BC to v4.2.1 I thought I'd bring this up.

When I set distance for a proximity alert to a waypoint using Basecamp and send the waypoint(s) to the GPS, the proximity field is zero for the waypoint when I view its properties from within the device. I have to go through the waypoints in the GPS and set an alert distance for any WPs that I'd like an alert. In the reverse direction, if I set a proximity distance to a waypoint from within the device, that proximity distance will show in Basecamp.

Anything down the road to address this?

John
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    What kind of GPS is that? Could you check the gpx file that BaseCamp creates and verify that it writes the proximity information? Is it the same format you get from the GPS when it writes out the info?

    I'd like find out if this is a BaseCamp or a device issue.
  • This got interesting! It appears the problem is sending the waypoint to the SD card vs the device memory.
    The device is the GPSmap 62s with software version 4.90

    If I create a waypoint on the device and set a proximity, it displays as intended. (file: Waypoints_08-JUL-13.gpx)
    I use BaseCamp, create a waypont and send the file to the device "Internal Storage", the proximity alert is retained. (file: Waypoints.gpx)
    If I send the same BaseCamp created waypoint to SDHC "User Data" the proximity is not displayed in the waypoint properties. (file"Waypoints.gpx)!
    Except for the proximity alert, the waypoint appears to work normally.
    I've attached the two files mentioned above: "Waypoints_08-JUL-13.gpx" created on/by the 62s; "Waypoints.gpx" created by BaseCamp so you can examine them.
    Both gpx files are the same location.

    Thanks, John

  • Did some further testing Using a BaseCamp-created waypoint located on GPS. In the GPS Waypoint Manager, the proximity distance shows as expected. Using Windows, I moved the GPX file from GPS to the SDHC via "cut-and-paste". I Opened the file in Notepad and noted that the proximity distance is still intact. I then Viewed the WP via Waypoint Manager on GPS and proximity distance shows as expected.

    I Moved the file back to GPS (via Windows) and checked that proximity was still intact. Using BaseCamp and "Send To" I copied the WP to the SDHC card and deleted the WP from the GPS. The proximity distance shows in BaseCamp. I restarted the GPS and using Waypoint Manager examined the waypoint. The proximity value was now zero. Examining the file in Notepad, the proximity value was present even though it doesn't show on the GPS.

    Repeated the process again. Sent the WP to GPS via BC and verified the proximity was intact. Now via BC using "cut and paste" moved the WP from the GPS to the SDHC. The proximity distance is again zero. If I open the file in Notepad, the proximity distance is there even though it doesn't show on the GPS.

    Its clear that using Basecamp to copy the waypoint to the SDHC card whether from BaseCamp itself or, from the device memory to the SDHC is causing the proxmity to change to zero. The card by the way is a SanDisk 8GB micro SDHC.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Is there any difference between the file that BaseCamp sends to the GPS vs. the file that BaseCamp sends to the card?
  • Yes, there is a difference. I sent the same waypoint to both the device and the SDHC card.

    Examining the files with Notepad the following was noted:
    In the waypoint file on the GPS, under "<extensions>" the lines are prefixed with "<wptx1:" including the proximity line. This is the waypoint which displays the proximity distance in the waypoint manager on the device.
    <extensions>
    <wptx1:WaypointExtension>
    <wptx1:Proximity>2414.016</wptx1:Proximity>


    The waypoint file on the SDHC, which is the exact same waypoint, the "<extensions>" lines are prefixed with "<gpxx:" including the proximity line. It is this file that the proximity distance does not appear in waypoint manager.
    <extensions>
    <gpxx:WaypointExtension>
    <gpxx:Proximity>2414.016</gpxx:Proximity>


    In both files, the proximity distance value is present, the line prefix is different. I've attached the two files if you would like to examine further. The file name was changed in Windows to distinguish between the GPS file and the SDHC file.

    John

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Thank you very much for all your detective work. That should make it much easier to tackle the issue.