Not honouring route, navigating me onto trails

I observe something strange with the RWGPS course.

A lot of L/R/S turninstructions (Coursepoints) are missing in the Course.

Edge 530.

Is there a setting follow course_coursepoints only ? Should (must) result in only commands by coursepoints.

1. The course is not synchronised with the street or path data in the routable map. So the positions of all trackpoints are +/- shifted. 2. Probably one such a course trackpoint is by accident precisely located right onto the deviation path ?

It wasn't clear to me that the deviation was a result of a recalculation.

It seems that the course was created as an automated reversal of another course. That can create odd courses that really should be cleaned-up (vellynaught is correct about that). In particular, the reversal doesn't always handle divided highways or one way streets very well.

Recalculation should only be done if the device has determined to be off course (some distance away from the track). It doesn't seem that the device should have been seen as off course at the odd turn.

This reverse route doesn't look like it has these sorts of issues (at the location at issue).

Ideally, the track (the course) would be created using the same map as installed on the map.This is one reason one doesn't want to put control points at intersections. A point at an intersection on one map might be on the cross street of a different map (the one on the device) and make the device think you need to make a turn there.

So, given the point-at-an-intersection problem, it's possible that the deviation was caused by a random point "right at the deviation path". The problem is, if that's the cause of the deviation, there isn't anything practical you can do to fix it.

Which means you have to be smart enough to handle the issue when it comes up.

Suggestions:

1- Don't use recalculation. Often, it's not necessary.

2- Keep an eye on the map. This makes it easier to see if a turn really makes sense.

3- Treat the turn instructions as requests (that you consider, rather than commands you obey).

4- Try to use OSM maps to create the course (since OSM maps are what the device is using). (The course being discussed did that.)

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I observe something strange with the RWGPS course...

I did not look at the rest of the course. (Problems in other parts weren't going to be relevant to the issue being discussed).

It looks like this course was the result having RWGPS calculate a reverse course of some other course.

These reversed courses have to be checked very carefully to make sure they are good.

I'm pretty sure RWGPS is expecting people check these and not use them "as is".

Is there a setting follow course_coursepoints only ? Should (must) result in only commands by coursepoints.

No, there is no such option. 

Edge 530 user ?  

I don't have a 530. I have lots of experience with the 800 and some with a 1030. As it happens, the devices work pretty much the same (outside of any bugs one unit might have that others don't).

Just to be clear:

All the Edges can use FIT, TCX, and GPX files. These all work the same. Except FIT and TCX can have "course points".

Course points aren't used for anything other than being in a list and being displayed when you get near them (they don't provide any extra navigation magic).

I have the same experience with my Edge 530: I create a route using Ridewithgps (I'm not using an "out and back" function, I zoom in to the point of being able to create the route and navigate around traffic islands). I download the GPS file onto my device and still have the issue of it directing me to a trail or other deviation from the downloaded route. It's really weird...

What map are you using in RWGPS?

Your 530 is using maps based on Openstreetmap (OSM). You'll tend to get somewhat better results if you use OSM maps to plan the route (use the map selector drop down at the upper right).