Elevation plot with Basecamp courses not working

Former Member
Former Member
Has anyone been able to get the elevation plot to work on the 5X for a course made in Basecamp?

The course shows full elevation data when viewed in Basecamp, but that data is missing when transferred and viewed on the watch. The course otherwise displays/works correctly, as per previous Fenix models.
I also tried to transfer as a track instead of a course, but it doesn't seem to show up anywhere accessible on the watch to test (I vaguely recall being able to work with tracks with one or all of my previous Fenixes as an alternative to using courses).

Surely Garmin didn't intend for courses to be made only in Garmin Connect? It's missing a huge amount of trails compared to the Topo maps, to the point of being virtually useless for planning hiking routes (at least in my local area and nearby places I've checked). It makes no sense to include Topo maps with a watch that has decent navigational features if you have to use a very limited interface with simplified maps (Garmin Connect) to create the courses.

I'm hoping this is just a bug or I'm doing something wrong. Any ideas?
  • As far as I know, there are no elevation data available for any courses sent to the 5x, even if you save a round trip course (which shows an elevation plot), after saving the course there is no elevation plot available anymore...

    I transferred the courses in basecamp into tracks and send them to my 5x to get the elevation plot (worked for me), perhaps you have to import the elevation data from a map with elevation data into the track before sending it to the 5x.

    Maybe a bug, but this could only answer garmin...
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Not only the courses from Basecamp, but also the courses created by the watch. I asked the watch to generate some courses this morning and the elevation data is missing from the three options it provided.
  • I have ditched basecamp and have just uploaded .fit files straight to the watch. There are a few tools made by members to convert gpx files to fit files. Its the only way that I know of to get waypoints, elevation plot and course all into one file that the watch reads.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Thanks, I'll give a .fit file a go.

    Surely, this is a bug though? From memory, the Fenix 3 could display a course elevation plot if it was contained within the file, like how you are doing it... I thought the Fenix 5X was meant to be able to display elevation for any course due to the onboard topo maps?