Edge 830 add a waypoint on a route and display distance

And if this isn't possible can I add distance markers to the route like in garmin connect?

Perhaps try adding course points to your route wherever you want and use the Course Point Distance data field to countdown the distance to those points.

8833300 said:

If I'm on an active route I can add locations to the route from the map.

You aren't adding locations TO the active route. You are just adding locations (they aren't associated with a route).

8833300 said:

And if this isn't possible can I add distance markers to the route like in garmin connect?

You can't do that either (not really). The markers are just something that Connect displays.

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You can use @PeterK_55's suggest and use custom "course points" when you create the course on Garmin Connect.

The option for this is the Add Course Point item above the map when editing the course.

Really sad to continuously find out that the unit I paid quite a lot for is missing a lot of very basic features. Also, seems like Garmin has already stopped developing the software so not gonna get better. These suggestions do not work in the context I'm using the navigator in which is bikepacking. I need to be able to do route planning during my rides.

With such basic features, it will be easy to find another companies’ product. You’ll be able to sell the 830 for something. Chalk the loss as “learning experience”.

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Some navigation units let you load waypoint files, which are a small (ish) number of locations you “must” pass through and the GPS is free to determine the path between them. For this mode, it would be fairly easier to add/delete points and have the GPS calculate a new route. 

This mode would, of course, only work if you were using “ways” (roads or paths) that were included in the map on the device. For bike packing, I would not expect your ways would be reliably included. (So, this mode might not really be an option for you.)

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The Edges do let you create routes by picking waypoints but that requires the points to be on a way on the map. It’s fussy to do on a 1030+  (it would be more fussy on a 830.)  I don’t think many people use this feature. You might be able to stop the route and add points to it. You might need to remove waypoint you’ve already passed.

This mode is, actually, using a waypoint file. There just isn’t a way of providing the file. But, again, it’s fairly likely your ways aren’t always going to be on the map.

Most people use loaded courses, which are just track files). Since these are tracks with many points, it’s not  really possible to edit these on the device (it’s hard to edit these on a “real” computer).

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The 830 (and even later models) work like the older units. So, how they all work didn’t have to be a surprise (with doing some research beforehand).

The Edges, even as they are, work for many people. They aren’t going to work for everyone.