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[kravnut]

First time creating a custom route and was not happy with how it worked out on the GPS unit.  I created a custom route using the HD Ride Planer and loaded it to my GPS Unit.  The problem was that the GPS was trying to get me to go a different way than what I had mapped out in the beginning.  It appears that the GPS was trying to change my route based on the navigation preferences I have set on the unit.

The main issue is, I am planning a long weekend trip to Northern Pennsylvania and will be using custom routes that I want to follow just as planned.  Is there a way that I can ensure that the route that I have mapped out is followed exactly, instead of having the GPS unit trying to change my route based on the navigation preferences that are set on the unit?

I have searched both these forums and the zumo forums and have not had any luck with finding the answer.

[Eqcons]

First time creating a custom route and was not happy with how it worked out on the GPS unit.  I created a custom route using the HD Ride Planer and loaded it to my GPS Unit.  The problem was that the GPS was trying to get me to go a different way than what I had mapped out in the beginning.  It appears that the GPS was trying to change my route based on the navigation preferences I have set on the unit.

The main issue is, I am planning a long weekend trip to Northern Pennsylvania and will be using custom routes that I want to follow just as planned.  Is there a way that I can ensure that the route that I have mapped out is followed exactly, instead of having the GPS unit trying to change my route based on the navigation preferences that are set on the unit?

I have searched both these forums and the zumo forums and have not had any luck with finding the answer.

All you can do is add via points to force the Garmin to stick to your routes where it changes them - the Garmin always recalculates the route when it imports it, and its idea of the roads to take may differ from yours.  Add via points, load it again, check it, and if necessary repeat until it sticks to your route.

Jim

[iski]

Good suggestion Jim.  A tip - When you add way points it is best to do this when the map is VERY large.  Stick the pin at the cross roads or wherever EXACTLY or the Zumo will take you on side streets & all over the place trying to keep you on "your" route.  Enlarge the map to where you can stick the pin on the side of the street or road it needs to be on - EXACTLY.  You have to do this to "force" the route you want.  Otherwise, it will default to Shortest or Fastest - whichever you have set.

[FLHTCUSE7]

If you are not at the actual planned starting point when you initiate the route the GPS will ask you if it should route you to the planned starting point, or go from where you are.

I use the planner frequently and I really like it, sure occasionally I get a waypoint out of whack but its rare.

[FLSTFI Dave]

It is very frustrating to me that when I plan a route that the GPS Road Tech 660 changes it.  If your up loading a custom route it should stick with what you plan.  I usually do not notice the changes until it is too late, and I am on the road.  I plan 600 plus mile trips.

[Eqcons]

It is very frustrating to me that when I plan a route that the GPS Road Tech 660 changes it.  If your up loading a custom route it should stick with what you plan.  I usually do not notice the changes until it is too late, and I am on the road.  I plan 600 plus mile trips.

There's no way round it, Dave.  I plan 3500 - 5000 mile trips, break them into days, load them, check them, add via points, load them, check them, and repeat till the Garmin follows my route.  Sometimes it still won't though!

Jim

[SCRM-R]

Another suggestion that helps is make sure the avoidances are set the same on the Zumo as they are in Mapsource.  I.E., don't allow U-turns in Mapsource and disallow them on the Zumo.  This will sometimes cause major differences in the route when Zumo recalculates.

[Eqcons]

Another suggestion that helps is make sure the avoidances are set the same on the Zumo as they are in Mapsource.  I.E., don't allow U-turns in Mapsource and disallow them on the Zumo.  This will sometimes cause major differences in the route when Zumo recalculates.

In fact, I don't use MapSource - I think it's an awful bit of software!   I use Tyre or to do things online, the Harley Route Planner.

Jim

[mrmagloo]

Also, make sure you are using the same map version in the Zumo and Mapsource!  I always just click to start the route at point A, then click on point B.  Then go back to the start where the route begins to differ and double-click on the route. It will highlight and allow to to pull the route where you want. Anchor (via point) it to the next closest intersection that you want on the route. Then move forward along the route to where it splits off again, and keep pulling and anchoring it back to the preferred intersection. I've found this works pretty good, but after you upload the map, check it on the Zumo side by side in the overview and make sure it sticks after the import and recalc. If not, look in the zumo where is goes off-route, and put another anchor there. Works for me, but you definitely have to check them side by side.

[Midnight Rider]

I'll second the making sure the two maps are the same.  Also, when I send a route to the GPS in Mapsource, it loads in "My Data", so I go there to import it into "Custom Routes".  I say "No" if it asks me if I want it to recalculate.

As Iski said, when making waypoints in Mapsource, zoom in to the .5 mile view or more so that you can pin the precise point(s).  The thing I find most aggravating is when it tells you to get off the Inerstate at an exit, then get right back on...it has to be because it wants to do the "Shorter" route according to your preferences.

Mapsouce is not very user friendly, but if you mess around in it long enough, you can figure things out.

[SCRM-R]

The information below regarding importing custom routes was copied from Zumo Forums.  This is good information, especially for those with not a lot of experience importing custom routes.  Pay particular attention to the paragraph entitled Bottom Line.

Route Import:

"Import" refers to making a route active.  Internally, the route is transferred to the Zumo's internal memory and placed in the active list.  It should occur automatically when a route is transferred from MapSource to the Zumo (See MapSource Transfer below) and the Zumo is restarted; however, there are times when this doesn't happen.  You can also manually import a route by selecting "Tools/My Data/Import Data/Routes".

MapSource Transfer:

"Transfer" refers to using MapSource's Transfer Menu to move waypoints and routes to the Zumo or SD card.  You may also directly save route .gpx files to the Zumo using Windows cut and paste or MapSource's "Save As" menu.  The transfer rules are:

1.  If there are less than 20 active routes, new routes transferred to the Zumo are temporarily saved in the "Temp.gpx" file, are immediately imported, made active, appear in the "Custom Routes" list, and no recalculation message is displayed.  My tests indicate that there is no recalculation on reboot and the route is exactly the same as on MapSource!

2.  If there are already 20 active routes, new routes transferred to the Zumo are temporarily saved in the "Temp.gpx" file, but are not imported nor made active and will not appear in the "Custom Routes" list.  You won't receive a reminder message asking you to import the routes after restarting the Zumo so you have to remember to manually import the routes after deleting some active routes.  This always results in a lengthy recalculation regardless of the recalculation preference setting in the "Tools/Settings/Navigation" section.  (It sometimes seems to lock up my Zumo, but all is well after a restart...major bug!)

3.  If you transfer new routes to the SD card, the routes are saved on the card in the "userdata.gpx" file, are not automatically imported nor made active, and you will have to import them regardless of the number of currently active routes.  You should get a message within 30 secs of Zumo startup which asks to import the routes or you can manually import the routes later.  This always results in a lengthy recalculation which can take several minutes depending upon the number of routes being transferred and their complexity.  Again, the Zumo sometimes locks up, but is OK after a restart.  Unless you are sharing routes with another person or running out of Zumo drive space, there is no advantage of transferring routes to the SD card versus the Zumo.

4.  You can also save a route's .gpx file directly to the Zumo's "garmin/GPX" directory or the SD card's "garmin/GPX" directory via Windows cut and paste or use MapSource's "Save As" menu and the Zumo will recognize the route.  These route files are permanently saved until deleted via Windows so they are very safe as MapSource transfers don't affect them.  The route/s must be imported and will always be recalculated.  Typically, import will also lock up the Zumo, but is OK after a restart.

Bottom Line:  The only way possibly to avoid recalculation is to use MapSource's transfer function to move the route to the Zumo.  Before doing so, make sure there are less than 20 routes in the active list.  All other options require an import which always results in a recalculation and possible different routing.

MapSource Transfer File Name Feature/Bug:

MapSource transfer will NOT replace an existing active route of the same name (first 36 letters significant) even though MapSource says the transfer was OK.  This creates a problem when you modify an existing route with MapSource and transfer it with the same route name.  The new route is saved, but not imported nor made active.  There is no warning that your new route wasn't made active or that the old route remains active and unchanged.  Your options are:

1)  Delete the active route from the Zumo prior to transfer OR
2)  Change the route name in MapSource or on the Zumo prior to transfer OR
3)  Manually import the route even if you saved it to the Zumo drive.  The route is recalculated and made active with a slightly different name by appending a number to the end.

[kravnut]

Thanks for the info, I will have to give mapsource a try, I was using the trip planner on the HD site to make the route.  Don't know if that is part of the problem or not.

[ultrafxr]

Thanks for the info, I will have to give mapsource a try, I was using the trip planner on the HD site to make the route.  Don't know if that is part of the problem or not.

From my experience it probably is.  I imported routes from the HD Ride Planner (they were created by someone else).  I found via points way off the road or past turns resulting in a u-turn to get back to the missed turn.

I know talking about mapping software is almost as bad as about the type of oil to use, lol.  But personally even though I hated Mapsource at first, I perservered and finally mastered its little idiosyncrasies (well I think I did!) and use it exclusively.  By following the above suggestions I have routed us many times for thousands of miles with no glitches.

As for HD Ride Planner- well I just don't 'get it.'  Being internet based I find it slow and cumbersome (yes I do have a high speed connection so that is not the problem).  For me I find using a Garmin product (Mapsource) to create the route I want to ride makes the most sense and works best.

[Eqcons]

From my experience it probably is.  I imported routes from the HD Ride Planner (they were created by someone else).  I found via points way off the road or past turns resulting in a u-turn to get back to the missed turn.

I know talking about mapping software is almost as bad as about the type of oil to use, lol.  But personally even though I hated Mapsource at first, I perservered and finally mastered its little idiosyncrasies (well I think I did!) and use it exclusively.  By following the above suggestions I have routed us many times for thousands of miles with no glitches.

As for HD Ride Planner- well I just don't 'get it.'  Being internet based I find it slow and cumbersome (yes I do have a high speed connection so that is not the problem).  For me I find using a Garmin product (Mapsource) to create the route I want to ride makes the most sense and works best.

You really should try "Tyre" UFXR!  not perfect, but light years ahead of MapSource.

Jim

[Fired00d]

From my experience it probably is.  I imported routes from the HD Ride Planner (they were created by someone else).  I found via points way off the road or past turns resulting in a u-turn to get back to the missed turn.

I know talking about mapping software is almost as bad as about the type of oil to use, lol.  But personally even though I hated Mapsource at first, I perservered and finally mastered its little idiosyncrasies (well I think I did!) and use it exclusively.  By following the above suggestions I have routed us many times for thousands of miles with no glitches.

As for HD Ride Planner- well I just don't 'get it.'  Being internet based I find it slow and cumbersome (yes I do have a high speed connection so that is not the problem).  For me I find using a Garmin product (Mapsource) to create the route I want to ride makes the most sense and works best.

X2.. My experience has been the same.... may not be the best.. but it works best for me.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d