GPX Versions 1.1 vs 1.2 for Garmin Visually Explained

[Mzokk]

If you use the Garmin "Faster Time" Algorithm then the XT will recalculate along the main roads if they're available along your route.

[Simon James Hancock]

That's already checked and I managed to configure the skip next point button on my map screen of my XT2.

[Steve Jarrell]

@Simon-James-Hancock Personally in that situation I would just put the beginning and ending via points in the route and then put as many shaping points in as necessary to make the route go where you want it to go, then export it in 1.2 format and use it in both units. By doing so you basically have a track within the route that the Garmin is forced to follow.

Here's what I verified today with my XT3 and 595. I do have auto recalculate turned off on both units.

The problem with multiple via points is that if you do tell the Garmin to skip one, it uses its own logic to recalculate the entire route from via point to via point. On two different GPSs that's almost certainly going to give you two different routes.

On the XT3, when you begin your route, if you tell it to start at one of your via points it will start at that point and follow the remainder of your route as you planned it.

On the 595 when you start at a different via point than the beginning it behaves the same way that skipping a via point does and recalculates the entire route.

Confused yet?? This is very inconsistent but it's the way it works right now.

Bottom line??? Here are your options IMO.

1. As I said with two Garmin units, turn auto recalculate off, just use beginning and ending via points and shaping points as necessary to form your route the way that you want it and use the 1.x format.

2. Just follow a track, but this doesn't give you turn by turn instruction and it's very distracting to have to be constantly watching the screen for directions.

3. Export the track, then once it's imported into the Garmin have the Garmin create a route from it. I really don't think that this is going to be any different from my first suggestion above though.

The other thing that I would HIGHLY recommend if you're going to be traveling with someone in a separate vehicle is to get a pair of Cardo (or similar) communicators so that you can talk back and forth. For your friend in the truck you'd have to rig up some type of wired earbuds or an external speaker and rig up way for him to use the microphone but IMO it would be WELL worth it.

[Steve Jarrell]

@Simon-James-Hancock The easiest solution to this issue isn't using multiple via points as they will cause unwanted rerouting issues if you skip them even if you have auto recalculation turned off as I've documented.

Instead, try this....

When you turn the power off on the bike the GPS will lose power and will begin a countdown before it turns off. Cancel the shutdown. Then you can quickly press the on/off button and it will go into standby mode. When you power it back up it will be in exactly the same state as it was when you turned the bike off.

[Steve Jarrell]

@Simon-James-Hancock "As I will not be connecting the Garmin to my phone or headset I could just use a track too, what do you think?"

I missed this part before. The issue with a track is that you have to really be watching your GPS constantly as you don't have any turn-by-turn instructions, and especially being in a foreign country and not knowing the roads I wouldn't feel comfortable with that.

I would absolutely have the voice commands coming to my helmet, and as I mentioned in my last post I would also have a means to be communicating with the other person that's following you.