Navigation with Garmin 205/305?

digitaldave
digitaldave Posts: 114
edited August 2009 in Road beginners
Is it possible to plan a route using an external planner, load this route on to a Garmin 205/305, and then use the Garmin to navigate the route? I know the 205/305 don't have internal maps, so was wondering if the route could be prepared externally and then loaded on the device for navigation...

Thanks,

Dave.

Comments

  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    Yes, I plan the route on mapmyride and use trailrunner to transfer the route to my 305. You then get a "breadcrumb" trail on the screen to follow.
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    Yes you can do it (I'm about to head out with just such a ride). I use Memory Map to create the route (or download other routes) and save as .gpx file, then convert it to a course using gpx2crs (google it). This then gives a course to import to your garmin which has he advantage over a track of being virtually unlimited in points. You then follow the course.
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  • acidstrato
    acidstrato Posts: 945
    you can also download other peoples activities and load the course onto your garmin and follow their route and compareto their stats
    Crafted in Italy apparantly
  • lastwords
    lastwords Posts: 304
    As above, i use map my ride then export it in garmin format and use garmin training centre import it as a course then export it to the garmin.

    In the garmin handset you select the course in the training section.

    When exporting from map my ride you can select a pace or avg mph then the gamin uses virtual partner and displays a second arrow on the map screen i find this good for trying to improve my pace.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    cjw wrote:
    Yes you can do it (I'm about to head out with just such a ride). I use Memory Map to create the route (or download other routes) and save as .gpx file, then convert it to a course using gpx2crs (google it). This then gives a course to import to your garmin which has he advantage over a track of being virtually unlimited in points. You then follow the course.

    Bit laborious using Memory Map to create the tracks isn't it? Why don't you use something like bikehike that has a follow roads option?
    More problems but still living....
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    amaferanga wrote:
    cjw wrote:
    Yes you can do it (I'm about to head out with just such a ride). I use Memory Map to create the route (or download other routes) and save as .gpx file, then convert it to a course using gpx2crs (google it). This then gives a course to import to your garmin which has he advantage over a track of being virtually unlimited in points. You then follow the course.

    Bit laborious using Memory Map to create the tracks isn't it? Why don't you use something like bikehike that has a follow roads option?

    Not too bad, however didn't know bikehike could do that (only used it once early on and it was pretty buggy then). I'll give it a go... thanks.

    PS.. just back from 40 mile Garmin course I mentioned - beautiful day out there and loads of cyclists :D
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  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    cjw wrote:
    Not too bad, however didn't know bikehike could do that (only used it once early on and it was pretty buggy then). I'll give it a go... thanks.

    PS.. just back from 40 mile Garmin course I mentioned - beautiful day out there and loads of cyclists :D

    I used to use Memory Map before I discovered bikehike. Went from taking a bloody long time to plot a 200km route to taking 10 minutes! Bikehike also has 'reduce points' in the options, which is better than the Memory Map reduce points option as you can actually choose how many points to reduce the track to.
    More problems but still living....
  • johncp
    johncp Posts: 302
    and there's also bikeroutetoaster and bikely and no doubt others will be recommended. Might seem complicated at first but like most things doing it is the best way to learn. Try to make sure the turn warnings are given in good time - I nearly got in a mess the first time out because the warnings came on or even just after the junctions!
    If you haven't got a headwind you're not trying hard enough
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    I don't like the turn warning options myself just prefer to see the map and follow the line (hence using courses rather than way points). Does look like Bikehike is a good option.
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  • carl_p
    carl_p Posts: 989
    I use the Marengo link here to design a route with waypoints. It also has a useful tutorial...

    http://frank.kinlan.co.uk/?page_id=410

    I then import it to my 205 using the Babel link here

    http://www.breadedcod.com/2008/04/07/us ... e-data-on-

    I reckon the Garmin is the best upgrade I've bought for my bike. Seeing parts of Norfolk I never knew existed.

    Don't know why Garmin don't rollout software with the 205/305 GPS. It has the functionality so why not exploit it?
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  • Thanks for the replies everyone :).

    What are the differences between courses and routes? If I've understood it correctly, the route has many data points and gives the 'follow this line' bread crumb route, and the course just points the direction to the next way point. The bread crimb version seems like the option I'd be more able to cope with ;).

    I've had a look at a couple of the sites mentioned, and Bikehike seems to be quite simple to use. I've looked at the export options, and it seems that it can output in TCX or GPX format (among others). Can these be read directly in to the 205/305 to give a suitable route to follow?

    Thanks,

    Dave.
  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    Otherway around. A route is max of 100 points and directs point to point. A course is a (pretty much) seemless line following the road, all turns etc.
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  • Thanks :). So, does that mean I could use the TCX export option from Bikehike (http://www.bikehike.co.uk/help.html#R7) to produce a course to follow on my rides?
  • fnegroni
    fnegroni Posts: 794
    Just use gpsies.com, all in one solution: draw the map, and then upload directly to Edge with browser plugin.
  • Thanks for the heads up on GPSies.com - had a quick look and it looks pretty good :).