fenix 6x navigation details respective to waypoints and route elevation

Hi 2043232,

You ask a lot of questions and I will try to give you the benefit of my experience with my 6xS. First, have you tried Garmin Explore for your hiking and outdoor activities?  You can indeed create waypoints and name them as you like. You can create Routes as well, and the watch will keep track of your time and distance enroute. Explore is a bit more difficult to learn, but once you get it figured out, it’s great. I use it with Connect all the time. Let me know how you get on with it. 

Your third question should be resolved by using “3D Distance” on the watch. This can be found in the User Manual and is pretty easy to set up. It can be set up for any Activity you wish, and IIRC, it should solve the problem you describe in Q.3. 

Give Explore a try and let me know if it suits you. Best of luck, and safe travels!

PK

Thanks for questin 3, I will try that. Documentation does not say, that this will improve estimations, but I'll try and see.

Regarding Garmin Explore mobile — I have it installed, but for me it's close to impossible to use. How I create routes: I use external tool to create gpx, which I import using PC and Garmin Connect app. In it, I name it, add required entrypoints and then upload it to watch. Should be equivallent to Explore app, IIUC. The questions 1 a 2 were about these waypoints. Can watch show distance/time to reach this waypoint? If it is possible when using Garmin Explore, please suggest me how to create such route and how to setup watch so that I can verify that. Pretty please! Same for displaying name of waypoints on watch, as sometimes the watch does not beep at all, sometimes it shows some cryptic number instead of waypoint name. 

EDIT: I found out that explore has also web app, I'll test that one as well. At least it turns out, that those mystical numbers were added into track by garmin connect instead of the name I put there. I'll retry that as well, maybe the rest is just fine. I'll be in touch

EDIT 2, QUESTION: it seems, that I can create route in garmin explore webapp, and I can create waypoints, however it seems, that waypoint are NOT party of way/route. Is there a possibility to have significant waypoints on your way/route, to be able to have time/distance needed to reach them?

Thanks.

I don’t use these functions personally, but I think this thread discusses what you are asking in 1 & 2:

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-6-series/232520/course-points-waypoints-displayed-during-courses/1102553#1102553

Hi,

I create my tracks with plotaroute.com. I also have a subscription so that it syncs the tracks to Garmin Connect automatically which is really nice.

Regarding waypoints:

When i create a route it adds automatically those waypoints as you said (turn left in 50m, right in 70m, etc.). I delete those directions (name in plotaroute) and afterwards I only add the waypoints I really need (e.g. of a summit, a crossing, a hut etc.)

So I have the possibility to see time, distance and arrival on those waypoints and also same measurements for the finish. And for me it seems as if this is calculated on the current pace but honestly I do not know exactly. 

Maybe you try out plotaroute.com (free version also works fine) and I hope your waypoint problem will be solved.

Best

Marcus

@tail.cafe  tried you method. I plot the route in plotaroute.com, deleted all turn waypoints, created mine. Exported as fit and uploaded to watch over usb cable to block interference with garmin sw. It seems (to short testing route) that I don't get bothering waypoints, and my own waypoints are hit (±). I had just 3 of them (short testing), one of them had even correct icon, two of them seems not to have correct icon. All waypoints had name, but only once the name was shown and it was a number like 24 instead of waypoint name like: pharmacy. Did you experience this? Does this have some fix?

Regarding number. Before I was creating gpx file externally, and importing it using garmin connect to create route. In garmin connect I created named waypoint. When I opened the route later in garmin explore (upon recommendation) I saw a number instead of name there. So there is something fishy going on, but this time I avoid all garmin desktop/web apps, so I don't know where the number is coming from. Any idea?

@ericgottlieb the link there is image. Do you know what that is? It seems nice, but I don't get this on my garmin 6x. No measurements on route, no title with next waypoint ...

While I was running the waypoint sometime had a name like TURN:100 (or similar) and when I reached it, the correct name was shown. I did not specify any icons or direction arrows in plotaroute, just a name. I also uploaded it via cable. For comparison: Here is my route I ran last Saturday:

https://www.plotaroute.com/routes/all/latest/1?MappedBy=329901&Terrain=Any&MinDist=0&MaxDist=&Units=km&Tags=

Despite I do not understand why there is something fishy going on it is way better than having an alarm every 50m for every single turn... :) 

Are you using activity settings-> Routing-> Courses-> 'Follow course' or 'Use map'?

Is it always in the data field Next waypoint you see the information change from number to name?

Follow Course is my preferred setting

Yes, that‘s the data field

It's possible that after you deleted the TBT instructions on plotaroute if you then modify the course at all it will re-add new TBT instructions. "Turn:100" sounds like a TBT instruction that is included just before your waypoint. Check again on plotaroute to make sure it only has your waypoints in the directions.

Edit: Just seen you posted the plotaroute and it only has the intended waypoints, so not sure what is going on. I can confirm that it has worked as intended for me a couple of times when just adding Aid Stations to a race route.