How are you starting a new running route in a new location (Garmin Express)

Howdy folks -

I think I'm doing something quite wrong, so looking for any help please:

When I go to Training/Courses, "Create a Course", then type in an address (OK Hotel, 123 Main Street, Anytown, CT, for example), and hitting the spyglass the map opens up with a "satellite height view", instead of a view that shows the street and building of the address. I'd guess the view that opens up is so zoomed out that it encompasses 30-40 miles North/South, instead of maybe a few hundred yards showing the building/street of the address I typed in.

The consequence of this is in order for me to zoom in on the actual starting point of the course I want to draw, I have to open Google Maps (which does have a very helpful initial zoom level), and use that to zoom in to the right level on the Garmin Express Map (back and forth many times).

Is there an easier way?

Thank you!

Top Replies

Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil +1

Yep Plotaroute, Komoot - have CIQ apps as well. DWMap can do it as well.

I guess the reason for a large initial zoom is to enable the user to see a wider picture before starting to plot the route. Like…

All Replies

0 Dr Phil over 5 years ago

I take it you are referring to course creation in Garmin Connect? I just zoom in. I don't do it that often that it's bothered me. But I guess a suggestion to Garmin Support might not go amiss. There are 3rd party sites that others use to create routes that may well be easier to use. Plotaroute comes up as one of them.

0 xray79 over 5 years ago

Did you try the Garmin Explore app? It's not that intuitive but works to import an route.

0 RunR over 5 years ago

There are numerous ways to bring a track on the fenix. My preferred one is the following:

I create a track with Locus Maps App (Android) and export it as gpx-file (you can of course just download a track or use other tools).

Then you go to the file explorer of your phone and tap on the gpx-file. Select "open with" and then the Garmin Connect app. The track is now imported to Garmin Connect and you can change the name etc. From there you can send it via Bluetooth to your connected watch. Alerts (turn right...) are added automatically.

This worked perfectly on my Fenix 3 and my new F5+. Only downside is, that you need to be connected to the internet, so it might not word when you are on a remote hut in the mountains.

Since a few months it is possible to generate a track directly in the Garmin Connect App, either automatically (round trip) or manually, but this is currently not really working for me, because it uses Google Maps which lacks most tracks in the woods. You cannot even use ways that are highlighted in the heatmap. The roundtrip function in the app is also of limited use, because it prefers roads, even if I select "trail running".

I hope this information is helpful.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

Yep Plotaroute, Komoot - have CIQ apps as well. DWMap can do it as well.

I guess the reason for a large initial zoom is to enable the user to see a wider picture before starting to plot the route. Like the above, I zoom in - but Komoot behaves quite well and has a few different maps to consult!