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Edge Explore or Oregon 7xx? - difference in TBT and handling route deviation

Hi all,

I'm looking for a new GPS bike computer, after several years using the Edge 810.
Liked the 810 very much, but it had one very annoying and for me big issue. That's how the 810 handles route deviation when riding a route from A-to-B, that was calculated on the 810. The 810 insists you go back to the point where you deviated from calculated route. Even when you are close to endpoint B, the 810 keeps navigating back to deviation point. This behaviour was for me very frustrating and finally sold my 810.

When the Edge Explore came, I thought this is exactly what I want. Aimed more at the tourrider. I'm not interested in all the sports stuff that's on the Edge 1030. The Explore has just enough sports on it, to make it interesting. And for Firstbeat sport metrics at the moment I use my Forerunner 645, which works fine for me.

Unfortunately it seems the Edge Explore (and also the Edge 1030) has the same irritating route deviation issue as my (previous) Edge 810. From sports perspective I can partly understand this behaviour. Because sport is more aimed at riding a predefined course. The Explore and the 1030 seems to share the same navigation software, and thus same behaviour. But the Explore is more aimed at the tourrider, so for the Explore I find this route deviation behaviour not so logical.

It seems that the Oregon 700/750 doesn't have this route deviation issue. On those devices, when deviating from a calculated route from A-to-B, the Oregon re-calculates the route to endpoint B. That's perfect and how it should be. Unfortunately the Oregon does not give turn-by-turn instructions when riding a predefined course. That's a real pity.

From bike riding perspective, I prefer the Explore. But it should behave like the Oregon when deviating from a calculated route from A-to-B.
Perhaps I'm searching for something that will never be. So, in doubt which to buy.

What are your thoughts or opinions on this?

0 Krispie76 over 6 years ago

If you want TBT on an Oregon you need a PC with Basecamp. Then you can convert a track to a route and add waypoints to make the route follow as good as you can the same path as the track. There is a limitation of 50 waypoints but you can get far with this.

Some limitations are, that it is recomended to use the exact same map on your PC and Oregon and also use the same route settings. The waypoints should be as far as I know what I call hard waypoints (the ones that give you a warning when you pass them). You must turn on the warning on passing waypoints in Basecamp or the Oregon will just calculate the shortest route from the start to the end of your ride. If you created a ride which is a giant loop where A and B are close to eachother then it goes straight from A to B and there is nothing left from your ride. So hard waypoints are a requirement to avoid this.

So, converting a track to a route needs some end user effort and it is sometimes not easy to make route and track follow the exact same path. It is also highly dependent to the quality of the map you are using. For some rides I spend the effort but I must admit I usually just follow the track and nowadays in many cases use the Oregon while on the road, just point on the map where I want to go and let it calculate.

I am not sure how it behaves if you miss a waypoint. I think at first it also just wants to route you back to that waypoint but as far as I remember when close enough to the next waypoint it starts routing you to that waypoint. Maybe I have to retry in the coming days and let you know just to be sure.

0 ArnoldvO over 6 years ago in reply to Krispie76

Thanks for replying and explanation. This means the Oregon is not the device for me.

Because I like the way I can very easy send a GPX route with Garmin Connect app directly to the Edge device.

I guess I have to live with the way the Edge device handles route deviations.

0 Krispie76 over 6 years ago in reply to ArnoldvO

You need a PC to put routes/tracks on the Oregon. A workaround could be to remove the SD card and put it in your tablet/smartphone to copy the GPX file. Then put it back in the Oregon.

But the Oregon cannot work with courses, so you cannot use Garmin connect to transfer courses. However you can usr GC for the rest. I am using the Oregon when I need navigation. I have livertrack enabled and when I finish the ride it automatically uploads to GC/Strava. So all this stuff can be used.

Still need to retest how it behaves when you miss a waypoint.

0 ArnoldvO over 5 years ago

ArnoldvO said:
Unfortunately it seems the Edge Explore (and also the Edge 1030) has the same irritating route deviation issue as my (previous) Edge 810. From sports perspective I can partly understand this behaviour. Because sport is more aimed at riding a predefined course. The Explore and the 1030 seems to share the same navigation software, and thus same behaviour. But the Explore is more aimed at the tourrider, so for the Explore I find this route deviation behaviour not so logical.

Hi,

A Garmin representative told me that the Explore does not behave as I wrote above. So, I bought the Edge Explore.

And indeed, with route deviations the Explore give good directions. Meaning, when riding a course it brings you back to the nearest point of the course and with A-to-B navigation it recalculates route to endpoint B. Perfect!.

I'm happy with the Explore, which is a significant improvement on all aspect compared to my previous 810.