How to Keep Routes Consistent When Exporting to Garmin Zumo XT?

[Lex.Kloet.RX]

@nevatik I export the 1.2GPX version, make the track visible on the map in a nice color (anything but purple), set recalculating off and here you go. If you get lost (are off route) DO NOT PANIC!!!! but drive reLexed to the visible track/route. If there is a deviation, just follow it, because it will lead you to your planned route/track. And as soon as you are on the route again, (bike)life goes on

[Guzzist]

since I'm using MyRoute-App, I don't use any longer Garmin XT. But if I remember correctly, then gpx 1.1 file format is supposed to be used for Garmin XT. The gpx 1.2 file format is supposed to be used for Garmin XT2 (and Tread series).
If you mix it up, result may be trouble with Shaping Points and Via Points on Sat Nav after transmitting.

[Marinus van Deudekom]

@Guzzist That is not correct. the 1.2 format can be used on the XT. If you use the 1.2 format make shure that there are a couple of Viapoints in the route

[Guzzist]

@Marinus-van-Deudekom thank you for correction. But I did not wrote, it's not allowed/ not possible to use gpx 1.2. for transmission to Garmin XT. Technically you can - but there is a reason why we have the two different formats...
And XT (as the older one) is working verry different to the newer ones like XT2 and Tread

[Marinus van Deudekom]

@Guzzist The 1.2 format is one that isonly possible in MRA and made special for the use of Garmin Devices

[Steve Jarrell]

@nevatik All very good advice given here. The XT can drive you crazy at first. Here's what I do that gives me very consistent results. Some of this has been stated already.

1. When planning online I use the HERE maps as it seems to give the most consistent results. Understand that when you import a route into the XT it WILL recalculate the route based on its settings (avoidances, faster vs shortest, etc.) I turn off the avoidances and select fastest vs shortest. I also use the GPX 1.1 route / track / poi format.

2. Put in enough shaping points so that the route is as unambiguous as possible. Be generous with them in areas where there are different ways to get from point a to point b.

3. As others have stated, when the route is imported the track is imported as well. Go to your tracks and make the track that matches the route visible, then when you pull up the route any deviations will be obvious. Play with the track's width and color to make it obvious when you're viewing it overlaid with the route.

4. Another very quick check to see if the XT's route matches your planned route in the planner is simply bring it up in the planner, look at the total distance, then bring it up on the XT and check the distance there as well. They should be VERY close. If not, check the route vs the track on the XT, make the necessary adjustments in the online planner, then delete the route and track from the XT and import them again. After doing this a few times you'll figure out what to look for (where to put your shaping points) and it will become a lot easier. I just planned a 3 week trip that I'm starting on tomorrow with my brother that includes 19 days of riding, and I only had 1 route that I had to modify and that was because of something really dumb that I had done leaving out some obviously needed shaping points.

5. The other very important thing (to me) that I'll mention is that once you have the route roughly laid out with the shaping points and via points, bring up the waypoint list in the online planner, select the first waypoint, hit the zoom button, ensure that it's exactly where you want it, move it if necessary, then click the right arrow to advance to the next shaping or via point, adjust as necessary, and continue through the entire route looking for any adjustments that are necessary. Move the shaping or via points away from any intersections that may cause confusion.

This can be annoying and frustrating at first, but with a little practice you'll figure out what the XT is doing and you'll be able to force it to do exactly what you want it to do!

Steve

[Mike Luca 0]

I got tired of playing with 1.1/1.2 and resorted to exporting to XT using GPX 1.0. Seems to keep the fidelity of the route I planned and includes all of the waypoints and viapoints where I put them.

I keep the XT around as my 'belt and suspenders' approach. If my phone pukes, I have a dedicated satnav to fall back on. Just as long as I don't have to open Basecamp.

[AlanM]

@Mike-Luca-0
Mike, I have spent hours trying to get XT to copy a MR route accurately.
The tracks aways work but convert to trip just will not follow.
Tried saving in 1.0 on an old route and it worked first time.
Thanks for the tip.
AlanM

[Lex.Kloet.RX]

I have never had one problem with the 1.2 export to my XT. Recalculation set off, track visible.

[Boštjan Kreutz]

I am Zumo XT user since few years, but just recently became MRA user (I bought Gold membership). In general MRA is exactly what I needed for as how I do routes.

I do route planning on Windows Chrome webpage and minor adjustments on Chrome browser on android tablet (shortcut as an app to have full screen) that I take with me on longer few days trips. I then use andorid MRA app on my phone to export as version 1.1 and open with Garmin Drive, then bluetooth to export to Zumo XT. It works.

As someone suggested, Jheath's in Zumo forum is a must-read.

Also you have to have MRA gold membership because you want to use HERE maps.

You have to understand the difference between VIA (MRA = hand) and SHAPPING (MRA = tear) points, also to know that adding a waypoint for a city is not just search of city in the search bar, but to add waypoint directly to the road you want to drive by in that city... and use quite a lot of waypoints for a trip. And to have similar settings (avoid hightways, etc.) with MRA and Garmin XT...

A good tip is also about starting point... It should be a like 50 or 100 m in front of your actual start point so that you surely drive through it.

I also noticed that Zumo XT only show limited characters of route name in a Trip Planner. But if I name the route without spaces, I get to see longer names in Zumo XT, so it is better for organizing...

I am still learning, but so far... everything as planned