[Hogges]

Basecamp is frustrating only initially but really an incredibly powerful tool. They just made a few interface choices which are throwing people off. The biggest one is that one has to push the ALT key to edit a route. I cannot recommend John Chivers’ videos enough, this one really gets you all the basics in 20 minutes:

I only bought my Garmin GPS two years ago but I’ve been leading most group rides since because the route planning is flawless with Basecamp having the identical map as the GPS. Some of my best buddies don’t even bother with their GPS’ any longer, they just follow me

 

[FelixH]

I hate the map interface though. Very, very unfriendly compared to any other maps such as Apple, Google or even OSM. Evera now and then, I watch a new tutorial on youtube and I forget everything again in no time. I thing that a piece of software which requires you to watch so many tutorials should be buried next to those E.T. Atari games

 

[Hogges]

I hate the map interface though. Very, very unfriendly compared to any other maps such as Apple, Google or even OSM. Evera now and then, I watch a new tutorial on youtube and I forget everything again in no time. I thing that a piece of software which requires you to watch so many tutorials should be buried next to those E.T. Atari games

All true but if you have a Garmin GPS then the fact that Basecamp downloads and uses the actual map from your GPS is invaluable. If you plan a route in Basecamp and upload it to the GPS it will be 100% identical (all routing options being equal). With other route planning tools this accuracy is impossible because the maps will always be slightly different and therefore the GPS will have to reinterpret the information and route it again, which can lead to unintended u-turns and other routing errors.

 

[Zubb]

All true but if you have a Garmin GPS then the fact that Basecamp downloads and uses the actual map from your GPS is invaluable. If you plan a route in Basecamp and upload it to the GPS it will be 100% identical (all routing options being equal). With other route planning tools this accuracy is impossible because the maps will always be slightly different and therefore the GPS will have to reinterpret the information and route it again, which can lead to unintended u-turns and other routing errors.

Well that’s good sound logic. But BC still sucks in almost everyone’s opinion and other options work seamlessly with my Garmen NavV.
If BC works for you that’s awesome. But most of us aren’t able to find the same success.
after countless hours of tutorials I will never give BC another hour of my life. They are dead to me.

 

[DaveFromDenver]

Well that’s good sound logic. But BC still sucks in almost everyone’s opinion and other options work seamlessly with my Garmen NavV.
If BC works for you that’s awesome. But most of us aren’t able to find the same success.
after countless hours of tutorials I will never give BC another hour of my life. They are dead to me.

Zubb, what's your favorite?

David

 

[mikec]

I learned Garmin's mapping tool a few years ago from the New England Riders site: BaseCamp. Go there and pick your operating system. You'll have to spend some time with it but you will have your "Ah-Ha" moment. It's a very powerful program.

Mike

 

[DaveFromDenver]

Well, I’ve been using it for years and still waiting for my “aha” moment.

 

[mikec]

Well, I’ve been using it for years and still waiting for my “aha” moment.

If my 73 year-old butt can do it, you can, too. Check out the link I posted above. It really helped me!

Mike

 

[Zubb]

Zubb, what's your favorite?

David

REVER
It just works.

 

[Zubb]

I learned Garmin's mapping tool a few years ago from the New England Riders site: BaseCamp. Go there and pick your operating system. You'll have to spend some time with it but you will have your "Ah-Ha" moment. It's a very powerful program.

Mike

No I won’t.
I’ve been through most of his videos. And TT’s and everything else on YouTube
REVER works.

 

[Zubb]

REVER
It just works.

And by the way, REVER Pro is 100% worth it. Having all the Butler maps right there overlayed on your maps makes route planning super easy and way way way more interesting.
I do all my route planning on the laptop/desktop. It just shows up on my phone which is a couple extra steps I don’t need to do. I also prefer to download the .gpx to my desktop and just drag it onto the Garmin NavV.

 

[jaxon]

Thanks for your reply Zubb. I deleted the Garmin Express and BaseCamp apps, restarted my iMac, and connected the Zumo to one of the USB ports. Checking the finder under locations, I only see 2 volumes: Macintosh Internal SSD, and External (a Samsung SSD). If I reinstall Garmin Express it will be added as a third volume just below External.
On my iMac the Zumo icon never shows up (unlike my Windows PC). This is consistent with Garmin's statement: The following devices (Zumo XT) are able to connect to Garmin Express on a Mac computer; however, they will not appear as a drive on the desktop and the device's internal files cannot be accessed without special software. A Windows computer must be used to view the internal contents of these devices.

I don’t understand how you can get the Zumo icon in your Finder.

....

You likely need to open "Finder Preferences" and select which disks you'd like to view.

 

[wilsaxom]

Maybe would be simple find software engineers or supporting team like mlsdev.com?
In addition to software development, software engineering also involves concepts such as software reuse, software abstraction, and software configuration management. Software reuse refers to the practice of designing a piece of software that can be reused repeatedly by others in similar situations (e.g., refactoring a user interface to make it easier to use). Abstraction is a technique that simplifies the designing process by removing non-relevant details from the program code, so that the software can be analyzed more easily for bugs or defects.

 

[Motormike]

Basecamp will drive you totally insane. When you think you've figured it out, and your in the middle of that great trip, and hit the "GO" button on your Nav V and watch your Garmin route you in a completely different way than the one you spent hours planing at home...yep, been there, done that. Fu*k Garmin and Fu*k Basecamp, they've ruined enough of my trips.

 

[GrayBeard]

Basecamp will drive you totally insane. When you think you've figured it out, and your in the middle of that great trip, and hit the "GO" button on your Nav V and watch your Garmin route you in a completely different way than the one you spent hours planing at home...yep, been there, done that. Fu*k Garmin and Fu*k Basecamp, they've ruined enough of my trips.

There are pretty straight forward ways to prevent that from happening yet still preserve the auto rerouting that you might want from time to time during your trip. I'm not defending how difficult it is to use basecamp but it is a pretty powerful tool for planning your navigation.

 

[mikec]

Graybeard is right. All you have to do is insert a few shaping points along your route.

Mike

 

[Zubb]

Yes but, …… I’m starting to get a migraine just thinking about opening basecamp again.

REVER makes me smile though. I’m just not smart enough for BC.

 

[webfors]

I've been using Scenic for a couple years. I watched my poor riding buddies curse their way through hours of basecamp on our last night on a big trip a couple years ago.

Me? I sat by the fire with some pops, chatting up new friends, relaxing, and thanking the universe I wasn't sitting at the table with the Basecamp junkies. I booted up Scenic on my iPhone 11, spent maybe 10 minutes prepping my route for the next day, and the next day it just worked..

After they wasted their evening away, and consumed all their patience, I asked if they wanted me to export the GPX file for their use. I sent it via text with two clicks.

I'm not in the business of learning NAVs. I'm in the business of riding till the big man turns out the lights.

 

[Hogges]

Graybeard is right. All you have to do is insert a few shaping points along your route.

Mike

And always create a track from the route (in Basecamp, just right click on the route) and upload it also to the GPS device. The track will be overlaid onto the map (you can choose the color) and will never change, so any rerouting can be taken or ignored depending on what happens along the way.

 

[mikec]

I'm an idiot (I bought a new 441 Victor). BaseCamp was a struggle, for a while, but I learned it. if I can, all y'all can, too. It really is a powerful tool.

Mike