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Best way to create and import course/trail route to Fenix5?

Former Member over 8 years ago

G'day all,
I'm moving from a Forerunner 620 to a Fenix 5 (Black/Black Sapphire Fenix 5 to be exact) which is currently sitting in my friends apartment in Hong Kong (pretty stoked as they aren't due here in Australia for a while, maybe weeks to a month, allegedly).
So I'm off to pick it up next week then on to Japan the next day to do a 3 day hike on the Kumano Kodo (Kohechi route).
As I won't have much time in the day or two between getting the watch and starting the hike I want to create some routes in the next week or so before I leave to put on the watch when i get it.
Usually I'd be happy to tinker and experiment myself to work it out but the limited time frame means I'm asking you guys for advice on the BEST way and best programs to do this with, and how then to get them onto the watch (bearing in mind I haven't done this before as my 620 didn't do courses).
In looking on the net and these forums there seems to be a few different ways to achieve this goal.

What is the best way to create and upload courses?

Happy to be directed elsewhere if this is not the appropriate forum for this question.

Thanks in advance...

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm not an expert on this but what I do is create the course on the Garmin Connect website (which is pretty easy) - these then appear in the Garmin Connect mobile app and you can send them to you device from that via Bluetooth. That's a basic way of doing it, no wires needed, but I'm sure there are more advanced/in depth ways of doing it.

What I find is a shame is that we can't add waypoints/saved locations from a website/app - you actually have to used "save location" and be standing in the place you want to store.

0 andriijas over 8 years ago

You can create courses here:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/courses

Save it and in garmin connect for mobile you can open courses and send them to device via bluetooth.

0 FlipStone over 8 years ago

I'm not an expert on this but what I do is create the course on the Garmin Connect website (which is pretty easy) - these then appear in the Garmin Connect mobile app and you can send them to you device from that via Bluetooth. That's a basic way of doing it, no wires needed, but I'm sure there are more advanced/in depth ways of doing it.

What I find is a shame is that we can't add waypoints/saved locations from a website/app - you actually have to used "save location" and be standing in the place you want to store.

About the latter (adding custom locations), I actually created a java application for this for my 735XT. It also allows you to convert gpx routes to fit format (there are just no directions available then). If you want, just give it a try and please let me know if it works (through direct message for example).

As I specifically made this for my 735XT I have no idea if this will even work for the fenix5-series, but might be worth a try right? Just want to emphasize that I wrote this mainly for myself so it isn't tested extensively and might wreak havoc on the world so use at your own risk and I can not be blamed or held responsible for anything!

Please read the readme.txt included for more info and a quick how to use it.

Download:

0 mappicus over 8 years ago

If it's of use to you, our routeCourse app was just updated to support the Fenix 5, 5S and 5X watches (and also the Forerunner 935). We're really excited by the release of the Fenix 5 watches as it's the first time that Garmin has given a watch the software feature that lets us download routes wirelessly from our website into the built in course/maps feature of the watch.

0 meste7 over 8 years ago

If it's of use to you, our routeCourse app was just updated to support the Fenix 5, 5S and 5X watches (and also the Forerunner 935). We're really excited by the release of the Fenix 5 watches as it's the first time that Garmin has given a watch the software feature that lets us download routes wirelessly from our website into the built in course/maps feature of the watch.

Mappicus, I have a question re your app: besides the fact that is very easy to bring a route to F5, what is the advantage to use your app versus, let's say, bringing a route through Garmin Basecamp. Also, are there any differencies in how your app vs Basecamp routes will look like on F5? Thanks

0 KEVINDBA over 8 years ago

Regressed from Fenix 3

Using my Fenix 3 I could drag/send a track to my watch and everything just worked. Not so with the Fenix 5. The software is less capable than the 3 clearly. This no longer works. You have to export out of basecamp, import to Garmin Connect. This would be ok except the stupid watch notifies at every slight turn. The Fenix 3 worked much better if you're a backcountry hiker. I don't know anyone that is comfortable with the detail available in Garmin Connect based maps for backcountry hiking.

If anyone has figured out how to make this watch work as well as the Fenix 3 with Basecamp please let me know. I'd be thrilled to learn I am doing it wrong.

0 gasteropod over 8 years ago

Not sure I understand what you say you can do on the F3 which does not work on the F5?

0 KEVINDBA over 8 years ago

Not sure I understand what you say you can do on the F3 which does not work on the F5?

Send a track or route to watch in Garmin Basecamp. Works on 3 not 5.

0 gasteropod over 8 years ago

Send a track or route to watch in Garmin Basecamp. Works on 3 not 5.

This works fine on my 5X. Just tried a test to double check. I cannot imagine they have made this a 5X specific feature, but cannot comment on the 5 or 5S.

0 KEVINDBA over 8 years ago

This works fine on my 5X. Just tried a test to double check. I cannot imagine they have made this a 5X specific feature, but cannot comment on the 5 or 5S.

Oh interesting - maybe an issue on my side. I sure hope so. Are you using a Mac or PC? I am using a Mac. Will try it on a PC if that's what you're successfully doing. Thanks