Routing on Sat Navs - how to do it

[Custom24]

I've put together a three part tutorial on YouTube which describes how to do this, as I know it is a confusing topic for many.

Routing explained, particularly for Garmin Nuvi 700/800 series, using free software and services
What is routing? GPX Files, TomTom ITN files
Preparing routes on the device and using software

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laay3AOjFr4
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL3qh2tdSaE
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV0kg4CaaZk

Check them out.
Thanks, Mark

[Horse]

Thanks, I'll have a watch later.

Had an odd instance yesterday: planned a route the 'old' way, by map and common sense, checked it on theaa.com route finder as a sanity check and to find time and distance, then switched on the Garmin It agreed with the other two.

Off we went.

Half way along we switched on the satnav - no power cable (for some reason it won't stay plugged into the Astra's lighter socket) so running on battery only - to check our location.

Although we were on the 'agreed' route, the Garmin now wanted us to take a [longer] detour off the planned route!

Weird. We ignored it

[Gareth]

no power cable (for some reason it won't stay plugged into the Astra's lighter socket

Some Garmin units come with a small plastic collar that, probably, most people either lose or throw away. The idea is that it fits over the power connector plug so that it has a snug fit in the socket in European cars. Have a look at the wikipedia page that explains differences in size of sockets in American and European cars.

[GJD]

Useful stuff Mark. Thanks for posting these. I've just (last few days) started playing with Tyre and satnav routes for the first time and you've accelerated my progress up the learning curve .

[Horse]

no power cable (for some reason it won't stay plugged into the Astra's lighter socket

Some Garmin units come with a small plastic collar that, probably, most people either lose or throw away. The idea is that it fits over the power connector plug so that it has a snug fit in the socket in European cars.

Hmmm . . . interesting, ta.

AFAIR, there were no 'spare' bits in the box, and the standard plug fits fine in the Filly's socket (IYSWIM ) in her Altea.

We also have a phone charger which fits both cars - just I'm slightly wary of using a phone charger to drive the Garmin.

[jont]

We also have a phone charger which fits both cars - just I'm slightly wary of using a phone charger to drive the Garmin.

Presumably the end of the phone charger cable to fit the phone is mini or micro USB if it will fit both phone and Garmin, in which case it should be providing 5V and so /should/ be fine to use on either.

[Horse]

We also have a phone charger which fits both cars - just I'm slightly wary of using a phone charger to drive the Garmin.

Presumably the end of the phone charger cable to fit the phone is mini or micro USB if it will fit both phone and Garmin, in which case it should be providing 5V and so /should/ be fine to use on either.

Yup, both the same.

Just I'm a bit wary of blowing up the Filly's Garmin - she uses it most days as her job involves criss-crossing the county from often [almost] random locations

[Octy_Ross]

Presumably the end of the phone charger cable to fit the phone is mini or micro USB if it will fit both phone and Garmin, in which case it should be providing 5V and so /should/ be fine to use on either.

acid test would be; if the unit charges when plugged into a pc then it's a standard USB pinout (there are only 4 so you could multimeter check them)

[Horse]

Presumably the end of the phone charger cable to fit the phone is mini or micro USB if it will fit both phone and Garmin, in which case it should be providing 5V and so /should/ be fine to use on either.

acid test would be; if the unit charges when plugged into a pc then it's a standard USB pinout (there are only 4 so you could multimeter check them)

It does

[Terry Williams]

Thanks for these Mark. Very useful. Just need to clarify a point. The unit holds only 10 routes. Can more than ten be stored in "My data"?

Having watched again I've now found the answer. But what I cannot follow is to get the route into gpx file and cannot open them in internet explorer. Is there someone who can please put it into an idiots guide for the most computer illiterate person on the planet.

Thanks

[Custom24]

Terry - what exactly is it you would like to be able to do? What is the start point and what is the end point you want?

(e.g. start point is gpx file available on Internet link or in an email and end point is you want to have it on your Nuvi and drive it?)
Mark

[Terry Williams]

Mark,

I am trying to create a route on google maps, following yourvideo however I cannot get a gpx file- it is called MHT.

Furthemore when i open the nuvi drive there is no gpx foldershown as you mention in your video.

Terry

[Gareth]

Terry,

What model satnav do you have?

[Custom24]

have done a quick 5 min vid showing the process in more detail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOBjKxrmbf8

[Custom24]

gareth
terry has a nuvi 700 series