Recommend Me a GPS

ST1100Y said:
Good for you...
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Wow. I was just trying to help. Well, at least if you let out all the bad feelings on me, maybe the dog was spared a few kicks.
ST1100Y said:
i) its another online(!) planer...
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Uh...yeah. The thread seems to be full of people looking for a solution other than entering it directly in their GPS.

ST1100Y said:
ii) paywall for essential functions, like [save as]...
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Didn't notice. I've never paid the paywall...yet I did it. Maybe you missed something?

ST1100Y said:
iii) attempting to upload a Garmin *.gpx file containing 4 individual routes, caused it to build one giant route out of it... 😒so I'd have to store each single(!) route as individual *.gpx file, multiplying my planning efforts enormously...
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Why did you enter one file with four routes? Seems like an operator error. You're smarter than the program. Work around it.

ST1100Y said:
iv) the imported route differs largely (it displayed being 60% off, but at least it recognizes), requiring quite some editing...
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Didn't have a problem on my end. Operator error?

ST1100Y said:
v) exported it specifically for the TomTom Rider 550 I've around her, which gave me a 0MB *.itn file... pfffff... :rolleyes:
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Wait...you're uploading a "Garmin" file to use on a TomTom...and blaming me for your misfortunes?

ST1100Y said:
vi) the native plan.tomtom.com is also an online thing...
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Beats me. I gave up on TomTom years ago. You're on your own to figure that out.

ST1100Y said:
more effective to throw a *.gpx at the internal memory of the Rider 550... which routing of course differs then...
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You weren't promised a perfect solution...just something that seemed to work nicely in one situation. As they say, YMMV.

Chris
 
ddemair said:
And here's how it works with a bicycle computer GPS using RideWithGPS:

1) go to RideWithGPS on the PC.
2) click on the roads you want to follow (no tracks, waypoints, etc., just click on roads)
3) save and select send to device (phone or bike computer)
4) open RideWithGPS app on phone or bike computer and select saved route.
5) click start/go for turn by turn directions

If you get off route, it directs back to the route.

It really couldn't be much simpler and this is what I was hoping the car/motorcycle Garmin would do. Unfortunately it doesn't unless you create "tracks" with basecamp for example. I tried doing just that and it was excruciatingly tedious since it required switching back and for between tracks and pan. I don't just want to go somewhere, which it is probably great for, I want to follow specific roads of which there may be many dozens.

Of course, Garmin can't be everything to everybody. I'm just a little spoiled by Garmin's implementation for bicycles. It works great for bicycles, but I would need a larger screen for the motorcycle. If they made one, I would be a happy clam.
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To accomplish what I described above, here's what I did:

I mounted my phone on the bike, plugged it into a charger and installed an app that keeps the screen open. Done. If I wanted to, I could connect an intercom via Bluetooth and get voice directions too. I choose not to have that level of intrusion.

If there's a downside, RideWithGPS costs $60/year and in bright sunlight the screen is a little hard to see.
 
ddemair said:
To accomplish what I described above, here's what I did:

I mounted my phone on the bike, plugged it into a charger and installed an app that keeps the screen open. Done. If I wanted to, I could connect an intercom via Bluetooth and get voice directions too. I choose not to have that level of intrusion.

If there's a downside, RideWithGPS costs $60/year and in bright sunlight the screen is a little hard to see.
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IMO... voice directions are more useful than seeing the screen.... seeing the screen means you're moving your eyes away from the road to orientate yourself with what's on the screen. Voice directions, once you train your mind, can be heard and understood without taking your eyes off the road and sometimes much better.
 
Mellow said:
IMO... voice directions are more useful than seeing the screen.... seeing the screen means you're moving your eyes away from the road to orientate yourself with what's on the screen. Voice directions, once you train your mind, can be heard and understood without taking your eyes off the road and sometimes much better.
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This ^. There's a time and place to view the screen and it's not always readable in some conditions. The only thing I use the screen for is a quick glance to see the shape of the road ahead.
 
Uncle Phil said:
One of the things I like about IGO Primo on the Chinese GPS is you have the choice of several voices for directions.
I prefer Dave - if I am going to be ordered around I prefer it to be by a man ... ;)
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I remember some years ago some different voices were available for the Garmin GPS. I remember they had a Mr.T voice. "Go Left now you fool!"
 
VERY often I disregard the route and just turn wherever I want to. Leading to a babbling GPS voice about u-turns etc. So I don't do the voice and only look at my screen, or mostly my actual map!
 
Mellow said:
IMO... voice directions are more useful than seeing the screen.... seeing the screen means you're moving your eyes away from the road to orientate yourself with what's on the screen. Voice directions, once you train your mind, can be heard and understood without taking your eyes off the road and sometimes much better.
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I get that. When I'm driving my car someplace totally unfamiliar, I un-mute google maps. If I have a basic idea or I'm going to be on the same road for a while, I leave google maps muted.

There's a time a place for both. On the motorcycle, I try to memorize the route if possible so I can just enjoy the ride. If I can't memorize it I used to write cue sheets and keep it on my tank bag. That works, but not well. In any case, I do find voice navigation intrusive to my peaceful enjoyment of the road. I'm sure not everyone does.

I also have a Triumph Bonneville which I use for more local rides. I don't need any navigation help for those rides since I'm either familiar with the roads or I know how to get back to them. Sometimes I'll just wander. Those are my mental health rides and I enjoy the subtle thump of a parallel twin and the otherwise quiet ride. My mind wanders too.
 
ddemair said:
I do find voice navigation intrusive to my peaceful enjoyment of the road.
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Me to. About the only time I use the voice is when I am in an unfamiliar and busy city environments. Using the voice allows me to keep my eye on all of the fools around me in the congested city traffic and not have to look away at the GPS screen. That doesn't happen that often because I avoid those environments as much as I can.
 
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