Mac to Garmin Zumo XT* GPX Transfer

[Steve Jarrell]

If you currently use MRB with PC and transfer your .gpx files to your Garmin XT, XT2 or XT3 via a USB connection, this post probably isn't for you.

The PC and Garmin XTs play nicely together. You just plug the XT into the PC's USB port and the XT is automatically seen as another drive in File Explorer. You can then easily the XT's file structure from File Explorer. I have a PC that I can use if I want to, but I prefer to use my Macbook Pro whenever I possibly can.

Also, if you're happy with whatever method that you use to transfer your .gpx files to your XT (the Drive or Tread app, the MRA connector, Basecamp, osmosis or whatever), by all means keep doing what you're doing!

However, for me, I'm old school and I like the speed, reliability and simplicity of manually placing my .gpx files into the XT's /gpx folder, then letting the XT import them when I start it up. I despise Basecamp, Garmin Express is outdated and I keep getting messages that a couple of it's components are not going to be supported in future Mac operating system releases, and I've found the Drive and Tread apps to be very cumbersome.

I also do NOT want my to sync my content back and forth to Garmin's servers. My new XT3 uses the new Tread app instead of the older Drive app. It does have cool features (provides weather and traffic info, makes connecting your headset really easy, etc.), however I found it's file synching with explore.garmin.com to be terribly unreliable, slow and frustrating, even on a very fast WiFi connection.

The issue in connecting the Mac to the XT, according to Garmin's own information (the XTs are on the list that is mentioned), is that, and I quote,

"The following MTP Mode devices are able to connect to Garmin Express software on a Mac computer; however, they will not appear as a separate drive and the device's internal files cannot be accessed.

A Windows computer must be used to view the internal contents of these devices. This includes any log files needed for troubleshooting."

This is partially true. If you plug your XT into your Mac the XT will be able go into file transfer mode, however you can't see it from your Mac's Finder screen. There is a very easy, simple, fast, bulletproof and FREE solution though!

There is an app called OpenMTP that can be downloaded here. If you want to make a donation to the developer (which I did) that's totally up to you, however it's not mandatory and there are no nag screens or limited features if you decide not to.

The interface is "simply elegant" with your computer's folders on the left side, and your XT's folders on the right, and you drag files back and forth in either directly. It looks like this:

The transfer is instantaneous, and you KNOW that it has successfully completed because you can physically see that the files have been transferred! When you're finished with the transfer you simply close the OpenMTP app, unplug your XT and it will turn off, then turn it back on and you'll be prompted to import the .gpx files that you just put into the /gpx folder.

This methodology works flawlessly 100% of the time.

Not that it matters to this discussion, but once your XT has imported the .gpx files from the /gpx folder to its "hidden" internal memory, you can then delete the .gpx files from the /gpx folder the next time you connect to it if you want to keep it cleaned out.

I have been doing a lot of testing regarding the .gpx 1.1 and 1.2 file formats and their pros and cons, and I'll create another post in the near future on that subject and link it here if you're interested.

Steve

[Nick Carthew]

@Steve-Jarrell Great solution and explanation of what has been a nagging problem for some time. Thanks @steve-jarrell

[Steve Jarrell]

@Nick-Carthew You're very welcome. Here's the link to my second post regarding the gpx 1.1 and 1.2 file formats that I mentioned above. I tried to add it to my first post but I guess I waited too long to edit it!

Steve

[Nick Carthew]

@steve-jarrell I am going to move this Topic and your .gpx 1.1 vs 1.2 Topic to the dedicated Export assistance Garmin section of this forum as they will be more easily found by Garmin users.