As far as I can tell, 820 accepts both filetypes.
With RWGPS you can add additional course points/turns, other than that, there are really no differences. I'd say it really depends on what you're comfortable working with.
I find both work, but typically use GPX on the 820 and TXC on a 500. I like RWGPS for laying out routes. It's been the best and easiest to use of the many I've tried. You can choose OSMs to lay out your route which will agree closely with the map on the 820. It''s also easy to switch from follow-roads to straight line segments where there are no routeable roads or trails and then back to follow-roads as needed. It's been awhile since I've used Strava for this and it may have these features now too.
Just have to quick questions, I tried googling but the results are confusing.
When I create a route do I save the tcx or the gpx file?
What site is better for creating routes, Strava, Ridewithgps?
Thank you in advance and ride safe!
No comparison....RWGPS is significantly better for creating your route. TCX will give you turn by turn directions and takes up very little space. As an earlier poster pointed out, you can add additional entries to the cue sheet as well and RWGPS will allow you to download the route to your phone if you want, and provide both visual and verbal turn by turn commands. Strava is great for analysis, RWGPS is great for creating routes.
I want to try out turn by turn navigation using a TCX route. Have prepared a route on RidewithGPS and downloaded to the Garmin 820 'New Files' folder, but after turning the 820 back on, no route turns up the 'Courses' folder. Connected the 820 back to my computer, and now no TCX file in 'New Files' folder either. It has vanished! All of this works with GPX files, but not TCX. I guess I must be doing something wrong as a newbie. Any suggestions? Many thanks.
It doesn't matter whether you use tcx or gpx files. They both contain the same information (a list of points that describe the track to follow).
"Turn Guildance" (big white arrows) will work the same using both.
Here is what makes tcx files different:
Tcx files can contain extra information called "course points". "Course points" are icons with short labels. They are used to provide "primitive" turn instructions for Garmins that don't have maps (like the 500/510/520).
The Garmins with maps can use "course points" too but those provide better turn instructions (the big white arrows). "Course points" still can be useful as a backup to the "Turn Guidance" or to provide information about locations (like rest stops) that the Turn Guidance knows nothing about.
Ridewithgps writes out its cuesheet items as "course points" in the tcx files it exports. You can add custom cuesheet items in ridewithgps (and these get written out too).
I prefer using tcx files on my 800 (because I use the course points).
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It doesn't really matter what course planner you use (strava, bikeroutetoaster, ridewithgps, Garmin Connect, etc).
The files you get from any of them are basically equivalent. Ridewithgps is one of the few that supports "course points" (Garmin connect doesn't).
I use ridewithgps and have no issues recommending it but, if people prefer another, that's OK too.
Hi, thanks very much for that very clear explanation.
However, my problem is actually how to get a TCX route onto my Explore 820. I can copy a GPX route into Garmin 'NewFiles' folder and after starting the Garmin it appears in the 'Courses' folder as a .FIT. I can then open it and use for navigation. However with a TCX file, after starting the Garmin it disappears from 'NewFiles' but does not appear anywhere else, and hence I can't open the course because it has vanished!
I want to try out turn by turn navigation using a TCX route. Have prepared a route on RidewithGPS and downloaded to the Garmin 820 'New Files' folder, but after turning the 820 back on, no route turns up the 'Courses' folder. Connected the 820 back to my computer, and now no TCX file in 'New Files' folder either. It has vanished! All of this works with GPX files, but not TCX. I guess I must be doing something wrong as a newbie. Any suggestions? Many thanks.
When it gets turned on, the Garmin processes and deletes the files in "\Garmin\NewFiles".
If the file can't be converted (maybe, it's not a properly formatted tcx or gpx file), it's still deleted (that way, it doesn't keep getting processed).
You don't get any error messages about files the Garmin can't convert.
It's odd that the 820 can't process the tcx files that ridewithgps produces (the ridewithgps tcx files are used by lots of people). I would suggest contacting ridewithgps directly (they are very responsive).
When it gets turned on, the Garmin processes and deletes the files in "\Garmin\NewFiles".
If the file can't be converted (maybe, it's not a properly formatted tcx or gpx file), it's still deleted (that way, it doesn't keep getting processed).
You don't get any error messages about files the Garmin can't convert.
It's odd that the 820 can't process the tcx files that ridewithgps produces (the ridewithgps tcx files are used by lots of people). I would suggest contacting ridewithgps directly (they are very responsive).
Thanks very much for the prompt advice. I will progress with RWGPS.
If the course name is the same as an existing course on the unit then it will replace it. Could it be that the tcx file is using the same course name as a currently loaded course.
