Epix 2 city navigation

Realize that the navigation function in Garmin watches is intended for use within the context of an activity - like hiking, walking, biking, etc. While yes you can start a Navigation process and search for points of interest, for specific items 'around you' at the moment, and a few other options, the overall user interface of trying to navigate with the watch the same way that Google Maps (for instance) works, is going to less than optimal. Yes you can get turn by turn directions and follow those, but - it's a far cry from the highly optimized UI and navigation method on a larger screen, more capable device like a mobile phone. You can do it, but....it's not the same.

That works fine. Actually I find navigating in a city with the Epix quite convenient. The multiband GPS (GNSS) makes navigation between tall buildings reliable. There are two ways of city navigation: following a preloaded course (GPX) or navigating to a waypoint. In the latter case you make use of the local (phone-based) routing software. This works very well: it even allows you to wander around and will recalculate the route (to the waypoint) automatically

You can use explore app as a companion for city exploration. The maps aren't the best but has a nice poi database.

Thank you. I don’t think the manual states it as well as you do. Very helpful getting an opinion. 

Michael H.:

it will not get confused. and the turn by turn is very accurate. The issue is more around selecting your navigation point, where you get 3 options:

a) Around Me - only issue with this is the distance, where with the F6x the furthest I could get out to was 1km, and it didn't always have every listed place you might want. So pretty hit and miss. Haven't tested on E2 so may be a lot better and or go out further.

2) scroll around on map and select point - much better than F6x - but still a clunky way of doing this and not ideal unless you know where it is.

3) Use Garmin Explorer app - this is probably the easiest. Search for the apprex on Garmin Explorer (which is quick and easy - though data connection may be required- haven't tested it without it - though you could use free wifi points). Save the POI and sync it to watch - then select POI, and off you go.

Or just find the place in Explore and hit Start, and the watch will ask which activity you want to do and start navigating right away. Much easier. No need to save a lot of POIs on the watch you only use once 

After calculatin the route, the watch will sync it back to Explore on the phone, so you can have a look at the whole route before putting the phone back in your pocket.

Thank you for the info

I use the navigation function for walking in cities and find it excellent. I do not use any search on the watch (it is not very good), but with pre loaded routes (Garmin calls them courses) it is excellent. Turn by turn is very accurate. I also find using the watch like this more convenient than a phone. But the phone is much more convenient if you need to search.

The search function in the watch is completely useless unless the POI is very close. I have tried searching for places I KNOW are in the POI database, but just outside the range of those lsted if I just browse the nearby POIs under a category. After it hangs on the search screen (where there are dots and a line revolving around the edge of the screen) for about 10-15 minutes, I just give up. So the phone is 100% necessary to search for places not in the immediate area. Here in Oslo it's about 7-800m to the farthest away places in the browse category lists. (A bit farther in  the "Cities" list, I guess because there are less places considered cities around than restaurants or entertainment.) 

I hope this gets better in future updates, because since the POI search function is there, it would be nice if it actually worked.

Cheers,

Audun