Long Route how-to in basecamp

Former Member over 10 years ago

I've got 3 different Nuvi's (1400 series, 2500 series), and I've loaded Basecamp to use to create custom routes. One example is a trip I take from Tn to FL whre I want to goa particular way, not the way the GPS would calculate on it's own. I tried creating a GPX from Google maps using various 3rd party tols, and managed to get a GPX file loaded but it didn't work so well.

So, I tried Basecamp. Seems to be a reasonable tool for the task but...

I tried to create a route using trip planner. As far as I can tell, at least with my Nuvi's, there's no way to load trip planner info/routes onto the devices. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

A simple route would do, so I choose new, route. I get the pencil tool. And the tutorial shows to click on the 2 spots to start and end to get the route calculated. My problem is when in pencil tool mode, it's pretty difficult to navigate from my start spot in Tennessee, to the end location in FL. Especially if I don't know where to start zooming. How can I enter the start and end points without using the pencil tool? And/or, how can I start then switch to pan mode to get to the new spot, then switch back to pencil mode to mark it?

What is the best-practice for defining a long route like this in Basecamp?

Thanks
Scott

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

Try viewing the videos here http://www8.garmin.com/learningcenter/training/basecamp/ and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JnqwnHEPPY

Note though that the Garmin videos are a bit out of date compared to the current Basecamp versions but should give you an idea. Having looked at them please feel free to come back with any specific queries.

I've never used trip planner in BC, seems over complicated for my use. I just create routes using the route tool, which as I understand it is what you'd like to do.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Saw the first one before asking. Not practical to "draw" a 8 hour route. So I gather the best way is to create 2 waypoints and route between them?

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

Correct, then adjust as necessary.

0 BTLAAKE over 10 years ago

Should you not want to use waypoints for your initial route, I would suggest making a waypoint near your destination for a visual reference and set the detail level to no higher than medium. Go to the start point and begin the route with the pencil tool. Now zoom out using the mouse wheel or ‘-‘ key until your destination is visible. Pan the map using the arrow keys until the destination is centered. Begin to zoom in with the mouse wheel or ‘+’ key, panning with the arrow keys as needed until your final destination can be selected with the pencil tool. You can delete the waypoint when finished.

An alternative to the arrow keys is the overview map window found on the view tool bar. When the cursor is placed in the overview map window, it will change to and behave as the pan tool without loosing focus on the route tool. The shaded area represents the area visible in the larger map window.

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

Saw the first one before asking. Not practical to "draw" a 8 hour route. So I gather the best way is to create 2 waypoints and route between them?

Just another tip ... be aware that a route that long may not calculate on the nuvi, so be prepared to break it into 2 or possibly more depending on the length/complexity. There doesn't seem to be any hard and fast rule, just trial and error, but I've found once you get beyond a few hundred miles nuvis will occasionally report a memory error and be unable to finish the calculation.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Thanks guys. The route box shown (where you drag the waypoints into a start/finish box) in the videos doesn't appear to exist anymore. So I selected 2 waypoints on the left from my collection then chose "file, new, new route with selected waypoints". Then I adjusted accordingly.

The Nuvi (my older one in this case) made teh whole route without complaint, so I was good there this time anyway, didn't have to split.

I had some trouble when I inverted for the way back route. It went to a dead straight line between my waypoint in TN and in FL. I figured out I had disconnected the GPS and it had to be connected to use the map. It would be nice if I could load the maps into the software so I could use BaseCamp without the GPS attached. Possible?

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

The 'boxes' are still there. Unfortunately there's a tick box there which allows the user to select 'do not show this box again', which is possibly what you've done. Uninstalling then reinstalling BC should reinstate it, I don't know of any other way.

You can install the maps into your PC for Basecamp to use, just go to Express, select Advanced Options and choose 'Download to PC'.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

There is a field in the Basecamp config file that you could change if you are confident with a text editor.

You can find the file "user.config" in the following place on Win7 -
"C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\GARMIN_Corp\BaseCamp.exe_Urlxxxx\4.3.4.0\"
The final folder names and Basecamp version may be a bit different, but this gives you a starting point.

The value you need to change is in this key.
<setting name="ShowRouteCreationDialog" serializeAs="String">
<value>False</value>

You need to change "False" to "True".

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Excellent, thanks both. I have the start/end dialog re-enabled.

re loading the maps on the PC, very good, I have it loading. Will take a little while. For my older Nuvi I hav a lifetime map update subscription. For the newer ones, I only have what came on them (NA I presume). Are there any issues with creating a route using the map I downloaded to the PC from (or related to) the Nuvi 1400, creating a route, then attaching one of my newer Nuvi 25xx units and loading the route? Map conflicts etc.?

0 SUSSAMB over 10 years ago

There's no problem doing it but you may find the route being recalculated differently on your 25xx units. However each new nuvi comes with the nuMaps guarantee. If you haven't already updated the maps and you're still within the 90 day window you could do so and install the map to your PC at the same time.

If you're not within the window there is other advice which will help so let us know.