Turn by turn GPS help, specifically for eTrex

[multisportscott]

Hi one and all, I recently used my GPS as my primary tool for navigating through an event and learnt some very valuable lessons. Until that event I had used my GPS to basically record my route and to verify my position, which worked perfectly on routes I had good knowledge of! I now know you need to be really zoomed in to see the track being created when off course!
I am having trouble getting turn by turn "instructions' on my .gpx routes. I have added the navigation screens on the map page to tell me the distance to and name of next waypoints, but how do I now get that information into my route?
Do I have to make each and every turn a waypoint to have this work? If so, can this be done automatically when creating a route? OR, can an imported .gpx route have the waypoints automatically created or do I have to go through the route and create waypoints for every turn manually?
Then, once I have the turn by turn waypoints, how do I have proximity alarms created for the turns?
Am I expecting too much from my device? I know that is how a friends 810 (or similar) unit works this way, as in it tells him when a turn is coming up, when he's gone past a turn etc.
The answer may well already exist somewhere on the forum but I can't seem to find the exact answer I'm looking for, feel free to point me to the right place if it does.
I feel a bit stupid because I am sure it is quite easy but I certainly can't work it out.
Thanks in advance, Scott in NZ

[RonK]

Assuming the map you are using is routable, then I think you need a track, not a route, to use TBT navigation.

[vikb]

I am having trouble getting turn by turn "instructions' on my .gpx routes. I have added the navigation screens on the map page to tell me the distance to and name of next waypoints, but how do I now get that information into my route?
Do I have to make each and every turn a waypoint to have this work? If so, can this be done automatically when creating a route? OR, can an imported .gpx route have the waypoints automatically created or do I have to go through the route and create waypoints for every turn manually?

First question do you have maps that are capable of auto-routing you on your GPS on the desired trails you want to ride?

I don't so I create tracks manually and don't bother with the turn by turn navigation for bikepacking. Where I ride turns are not coming at me so fast I can't glance down at my screen and ensure I am still on route.

If I am doing a road ride I'll use that capability on my computer to rapidly generate a route for me by selecting a few points on the route and letting it auto-populate the rest of the route.

You can create a route manually by clicking on each turn to create a waypoint. Just be aware your Etrex can only process a limited number of waypoints per route file so you may need to create multiple files.

[multisportscott]

Thanks for replies.
I'm pretty sure I need to follow a Route, I think a track refers to a route "recorded" by the gps, happy to be wrong though.
I am not sure why the maps loaded on my gps unit affect it, isn't it more about how the Route is created? i have created Routes on ridewithgps and Garmin basemap, both allow auto-routing as far as I'm aware.
Thanks, Scott

[RonK]

But do your maps? What maps are you using and are they routable?

[bmike-vt]

A track is the tracing of the roads and trails you ride, if recorded on the GPS.

A track can also be created in the computer and something like ride with GPS. This is a line you can follow on the GPS unit.

A route is typically a selection of points that the GPS or the computer then interprets and 'connects the dots' by routing you through those points. The maps you have need to be 'routable' in order for this to work (well). Note that many trails are not routable so you will miss turns on trails unless you add points at critical locations to force the unit to route through them.

If you are road riding routes can work pretty well. But because the route is generated on the device it may be slightly different than what you built in your computer. (The randonneuring folks have work arounds and tips and tricks to keep you on the exact precise route). If you just need to connect 2-3 points and don't care about the precise route, then the auto routing might work for you.

If you are riding mixed terrain routing like this might not work for some or most of your route. Really depends on of the trails you've picked can be interpreted.

For all or mostly trail riding I wouldnt worry or try to use a route - I would generate a GPX track and just follow the line.

For a mixed ride I do the following:
Create the GPX track, load to unit.
Create a route - adding points at trail intersections and key points.

On the unit, show the track on the map. Don't navigate with it, just show it on the map. This way you'll see if your route and your track line up.
Load the route and navigate using it. If done right with the right maps you will get the turn warnings.
(I don't use beeps and notifications, so you are on your own there...)
This shows you the actual squiggly line on the screen and overlays the choppier straight line route over top (again, maps are key here to get autoroute get to work right).
I have distance to next up as one of the data fields - so I can see how far it is to the next turn, waypoint, etc. This isn't always exact depending again on how the track and route overlay... But is generally close enough.

For riding like your friend does with beeps and bloops at every turn your maps on the device have to be compatible with routing and you have to fuss with the settings for turn notifications. But I don't use those features... Most of the time I generate a track from ride with GPS and or TopoFusion or BaseCamp and follow the line. I zoom in enough to see what's coming up and glance at the screen to know where I'm going. For longer rides I have made little cheat sheets like cue cards, but don't do that anymore. I just follow the line.

Not helpful if you ride with music or get lost in your thoughts and need constant reassurance and pointers that you are on route... But has worked well for 60,100,200 and 400k rides.

[RonK]

For a mixed ride I do the following:
Create the GPX track, load to unit.
Create a route - adding points at trail intersections and key points.

On the unit, show the track on the map. Don't navigate with it, just show it on the map. This way you'll see if your route and your track line up.
Load the route and navigate using it. If done right with the right maps you will get the turn warnings.

Sounds convoluted Mike - why don't you just add the waypoints to the track and navigate it?

[bmike-vt]

It's not. In RideWithGPS you can export a track and route with a couple of clicks.
I only add waypoints at trail intersections as most trails don't route.


But I generally just follow a track and don't bother with the routing.

[RichG]

Hi bmike-vt, I've just read a post you put up in 2015 regarding following a mixed ride on your Etrex (ie seeing a route and a track at the same time on the screen) and I'm interested in knowing how to do it please. I've loaded a route (with directions) and an identical track to my Etrex, loaded the route and pressed Go, then gone to the menu, track manager, click on the track and then view map which allows me to see both the route and track on the same screen but with the Go option at the bottom of the screen. If I press Go the route disappears and I'm left with just the track. If I don't press go but pull the toggle down, Go disappears and I can then follow the track and route with turn warnings but I don't see my data screens and the screen does not track up? Any ideas please?

Cheers

[Dennis]

Same here.... years later. Use: show on map, not view map!

[RichG]

Hi Dennis cheers for that, I'll give it a go 👍🏻

[RichG]

Yep that works! Easy when you know how 😁😁

Cheers Dennis

[Dennis]

Glad to be of service 

[revcp]

Glad I stumbled on this thread!  I am starting a tour June 9.  Have a simple question to which I can't find the answer.  Can I follow a track (or route) and record a track at the same time?  I ask because it's a 4k mile tour, and we will of course at times have to deviate from the route I've uploaded to my 20x, but at the end of the tour I would like to be able to see where we actually went, crunch data, etc.