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New England Riders is hosting a GPS/ Routing class tomorrow 3/19 at the 8 Point Sportsman's Club in Sterling, MA at 12:00pm. We will be going over Mapsource and GPS usage. The course outline is below. All are invited.
1) Getting to Know Mapsource - (Mapsource is a Garmin Windows-based computer program that lets you create routes and waypoints and then send them to your GPS. It also lets you transfer data from your GPS back to your Windows-based computer. Apples/Macs use a different Garmin program called RoadTrip)
• Menus
• Tool bars (icons for some of the most useful parts of the menus)
• View->Show toolbars to select which toolbars you see
• Grab dotted lines to the left of each toolbar and move toolbars to your preferred location
• Data tabs (maps - for some older GPS, waypoints, routes, maps)
• Graphic map
• Mini map
• Splitter Bar (can move)
• Status Bar
2) Setting up Mapsource - Mapsource is available on DVD, online at Garmin.com, or on SD/micro SD data cards.
Mapsource comes with a base map of North America that has only major roads. Mapsource also comes with a detailed regional map that needs to be updated periodically. Most newer GPSs come with a detailed map of North America that has minor roads and points of interest like restaurants.
• You must unlock maps so that you can view and transfer detailed map data.
• Must input 25-digit unlock code (on yellow slip) and Registration code or Mapsource will not work properly (don’t lose code!)
• 8-character coupon code unlocks a single detailed region for some GPS.
• Prompted to unlock at end of install procedure. Alternatively, you can……..
• Utilities Menu -> Manage map products. This also shows you what version detailed map you are using
• Help Menu -> Check for Software updates, Help File. This also shows you what version mapsource
• Edit Menu -> Preferences -> Routing, Display, Position (pick units) – we’ll get to this in a little bit, Waypoint Categories, Web Links
3) Using the map - Map Tool, Zoom Tool, Hand Tool, Waypoint Tool, Route Tool, Selection Tool (M, Z, H, W, R, S)
• Moving the map – hand tool, scroll bars, arrow keys, arrow+ctrl, zoom tool (zooms in), ctrl+zoom tool (doesn't zoom in), mini map
• Zoom in/out. Zoom in/out buttons, Draw zoom box, Zoom tool. Maps scale.
• Map Detail Setting
• Find places with find feature, find nearest places, recently found places.
• View Menu -> Go To Position to move to specific coordinates. Ex. N42.55779 W72.28615 (try it). Choice of 3 coordinate units: DD.ddddd (decimal degrees), DD MM.mmmm, or DD MM ss.s. Decimal degrees is the default for Google Maps and Microsoft Streets and Trips. N = north of the equator, W = west of Greenwich, England (London). When using +/- N is positive and W is negative.
• If want coordinates to give someone else, just place waypoint and read coordinates.
4) Creating routes that work for you and others even after recalculating
• Route tool, Route data tab
• Waypoint data tab
• Route preferences. Edit -> Preferences -> Routing
• Create a "Blank" map with popular waypoints (Home, Shell Orange). Save under different name.
• Copying routes and waypoints from one map to another
• Drawing a Route
• via points are suggestions - the GPS will take you there if it is convenient
• waypoints are commands - the GPS will take you there no matter what
• Use waypoints for ride start and end and any food, fuel, or scenic spots that you don't want to miss
• Moving waypoints – select tool, right click waypoint, move waypoint
• Inserting more via points
• Using many via points
• Extend a route. If route is active, select route tool. If route is inactive, select the route so that it gets dark pink and then click on endpoint once with select tool cursor.
• Zooming in so that via points are placed properly. If an intermediate via point is off route, click on it with the select tool and move it onto the road.
• Don't put via points right before a turn. You'll miss the turn
• Reversing a route. Make sure there are no via points before turn in reversed route.
• Finding good roads: Paved vs dirt, away from side streets, curvy, rivers, hills, ocean.
• Utilities -> Celestial Information. Sun & moon info for location at center of map
• Using Google Maps and Google Earth (more later)
5) How to download routes and then check to make sure that they will work in your GPS
• What is a GPD file? What is a GPX file? All routes and waypoints are saved in GPX format on your GPS. If not using Mapsource (hotel computer?), must download a GPX file to your GPS. GPX files of all routes have been added to the website.
• Downloading from Mapsource to your GPS. (Mapsource automatically converts file to GPX format before saving to your GPS)
• Recalculating a route and comparing it to original
• Downloading a Mapsource file from the NER website to your computer. Opening file.
• Downloading a GPX file directly to your GPS. Hook up GPS with USB cord. Use "My computer" to find Garmin internal drive and the removable SD drive. Drop or copy/paste GPX file to the SD drive.
6) How to change a downloaded/ shared route so that it fits your needs
• Use selection tool to change a route
• Add and delete via points
• add new start and end points
• Using BONE files and NER Route files to create a custom route
• Copying and pasting routes and waypoints from one Mapsource map to another
• Create a new Route from W Mass BONE, S VT BONE, MA Views BONE, and VT Views BONE.
7) Using Google Maps and Google Earth
• With any tool selected, Right click (not on road) and select "View satellite imagery" for Google Maps)
• View -> View in Google Earth to see map in Google Earth
• View -> Go to Position to input GPS coordinated. Can use GPS coordinates to go back and forth between the exact spot in Mapsource and Google Maps (just use same GPS units)
8) How to share routes and upload them to the forum
• Using SD cards
• Posting to the forum
• Posting to the website – might be good idea to include route distance and the number of via points
9) How to create and change routes directly on your GPS.
• adding start and end points
• adding intermediate points
• checking your route
10) How to change a route on the fly if there is road congestion or a detour
• detour tool (erratic for me).
• Zoom out, pick a spot on your route and make it a favorite.
• Press “Go” and make the favorite a via point.
• Sometimes have to stop route, go to new favorite, and then re-start route.
11) Updating the maps and software on your GPS
• Set up account and password on "My Garmin" https://my.garmin.com.
• Download map upgrades. Get lifetime maps if you expect to keep your GPS for a while.
• Amazon.com has discounted Garmin maps. http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-n%C3%BC...0051966&sr=8-1
• To update the GPS software download Garmin Webupdater, connect your device, and follow the directions: http://www8.garmin.com/products/webu...wtoinstall.jsp
12) GPS specific groups
• 1 Garmin Zumo 665 - Mike G
• 3 Garmin Zumo 660 - Renee (yamamama41), Joe
• 10 Garmin Zumo 550 - Easy Ed, FXDWGArt (Artie), Twox48, Pam (anijamyang), Paul (snappa), Laure Paul, Alan Paul, Jeff Cutler, GeneR and Lucy
• 1 Garmin Zumo 450 - Steve (chliberty)
• 1 Garmin Zumo 220 - Kathy (vstarlady1)
• 0 or 1 Garmin 2820 - PuckerNoMore (Rich) (or maybe a 2730)
• 2 or 3 Garmin 2730 - Cammy (Ron), Dan (2whelundered) and Betsey, PuckerNoMore (or maybe a 2820)
• 4 Garmin 2720 - 2wheels4dan, Bgiff (Bill), Jack (JJFlash), Jersey Dave
• 7 Garmin 2610 - GoldWingBob, LN/RN (Ellen), Jack (JJFlash), Deb (moonjester), Ken (matarheel), Paul Collins, Jersey Dave
• 1 or 2 Garmin Quest - Jim (oldstonejim), Nathaniel (maybe)
• TheWarrior17 (Mike)
• Wingman (Steve)
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