Using BaseCamp To Manage Home/Favorite Locations Then Updating My GPS?

Former Member over 10 years ago

Hello All!

I just purchased a Garmin nuvi 2797lmt and I am loving it so far. :) I have a question about Favorite places on my GPS and Base Camp.

1. Can I use Base Camp to create a new Favorite location and then update this new location to my GPS? Or do I have to add Favorites using the GPS device itself?

One other quick question, not sure if it belongs here but I will give it a try...

When I first plugged in my GPS to my car and selected Navigate->Go Home it asked me how to store/save the home location (Use Current Location, Enter Manually, etc.). I clicked Use Current location because I was parked just outside my house.

Now I need to change my Home location but I can't seem to figure out how to do it. I have been reading the Garmin documentation for my nuvi but I can't find anywhere that tells you how to change the Home location once it is set. It only says how to do it initially (like I did above).

2. How to I change my Home location once it's already set.

I guess this question could be related to BaseCamp if the answer to my first question is yes. It would be very nice if I could connect my GPS to my computer, open BaseCamp, and see my Home and Favorite locations. Then hopefully it would be possible to change any of these locations using the BaseCamp map interface (drag the symbol, edit the location, etc.).

Thank you,

Jan

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

1. Yes you can send waypoints created in BC to your nuvi. Note that BC does this by sending a file named temp.gpx to your nuvi. This is merged into your favourites when you switch on the nuvi. Once the data you've sent has been merged be sure to delete temp.gpx ... otherwise you will never be able to delete the data contained in it from your nuvi, as it will be re-imported every time you switch it on.

2. Simplest way is to delete home then do a Where to, Home. You can then re-input it.

It would be very nice if I could connect my GPS to my computer, open BaseCamp, and see my Home and Favorite locations. Then hopefully it would be possible to change any of these locations using the BaseCamp map interface (drag the symbol, edit the location, etc.).

That isn't possible, you can certainly see your favourites etc in BC but you can't edit data directly on the nuvi using Basecamp.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

2. Simplest way is to delete home then do a Where to, Home. You can then re-input it.

[stuff about changing locations on the Nuvi via BC]
That isn't possible, you can certainly see your favourites etc in BC but you can't edit data directly on the nuvi using Basecamp.

This is technically correct, but Jan, you can sort of accomplish what you want...
With your Nuvi connected to Basecamp, you can select all waypoints in the device and "send to" a folder/list thingy in your BC database. Then, you can modify any of those in your database and subsequently "send to" the Nuvi, thus over-writing the waypoints in the device itself. Be advised though, some data about the waypoint (I've not quite figured out exactly what yet, but I know the symbol for sure, but possibly other extra data like notes and phone numbers) will not transfer between BC and Nuvi... but for simple navigation it works more than adequately.

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

The problem with that is it doesn't 'overwrite' what's on the device. It merges what's in the nuvi with what's been sent.

What of course you can do, and it's what I do when doing a major edit (but is beyond what the OP was asking), is to copy everything into Basecamp, disconnect the nuvi then delete everything off it (favourites, trips) and switch it off. Close Basecamp and reconnect the nuvi to the PC. Ensure at this point there are no gpx files in the GPX folder on the nuvi, if there are delete them. Now run Basecamp. It should show the nuvi as 'empty', if not you've missed a step.

Now you can edit the data you originally copied and when you're happy with it send it all back to the nuvi. Disconnect from PC and switch it on. Check the data you transferred is there (it should be).

Once you're happy it's all there switch off the nuvi, connect to PC and delete temp.gpx from the GPX folder. That step is essential, for the reason mentioned earlier.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Yes, and it is about time that they redesign things to allow a proper sync of data with the device, at least on new models. All of this required manual intervention is too much for the average user and make the devices seem antiquated.

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

Unfortunately it's not a Basecamp issue but the way the auto GPS work. I can't see it changing any time soon. The fact is Basecamp was initially designed to interact with Garmin's handheld range, over the years those of us with nuvis, zumos etc have started to use it and it's been adapted for our use, but the Basecamp team can't change the software design of all the Garmin auto GPSs out there.

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

I was playing about with BC this afternoon and unless I've missed something there appears to be a change in the way Basecamp sends data to my nuvi. It will not create the temp.gpx file if the waypoint name already exists, in the past I think it did and you ended up with duplicate waypoints/favourites on your nuvi.

If this is a change it's for the better IMO.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Unfortunately it's not a Basecamp issue but the way the auto GPS work. I can't see it changing any time soon.

It is both Basecamp and the devices that need to change. They could implement the change, if they wanted to do it..... This is the sort of thing that keeps people from buying a GPS and simply using their phones. Garmin needs to get with the times if they want to keep market share. Being able to easily sync data would be a great thing. They could even do it via BT, if they wanted. It is only a matter of programming.

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

Well it's true if they completely redesigned both of them. Bear in mind no program can do what you suggest to a nuvi. Many folks of course simply switch them on and use them, only a small percentage want/need more more advanced features.