Upgrading from Zumo XT to XT2

[Don Stauffer]

John, I'm somewhat familiar with the Explore issues that I see in the XT. I have little green flags all over my routes, destinations that I once searched on the GPS. I deleted the Explore app from my phone, and have not spent the time to figure out a way to make them all disappear. I don't mind having a Garmin on line database of places I've searched, but I don't want them cluttering my map view.

[John S Parry]

@Don-Stauffer said:

John, I'm somewhat familiar with the Explore issues that I see in the XT. I have little green flags all over my routes, destinations that I once searched on the GPS. I deleted the Explore app from my phone, and have not spent the time to figure out a way to make them all disappear. I don't mind having a Garmin on line database of places I've searched, but I don't want them cluttering my map view.

Don, I'm not an expert on everything Explore DB. I just know enough about it that I've avoided it from day #1.

Too many users have had issues with it. I want nothing to do with any SW that can manipulate route components. The manual method of a wired copy of your GPX file from your computer to the GPX folder on your XT bypasses any unwanted manipulation. Additionally, I store all my routes on the SD Card within the Garmin, which protects against internal storage corruption issues. Ask me how I know...

From what I've read, Explore is like a virus that is very difficult to eliminate once you enable it. I wish I could offer the correct steps, but some Internet searches should provide the answers you need. What I can say with certainty is that eliminating Explore and using the manual copy technique will provide a stable environment for MRA to XT transfers. I've never had a glitch going down this route.

[Guzzist]

@Don-Stauffer ...let me help to find the best solution for you. I don’t want to persuade you – at best, I want to get you thinking...

I have been using Garmin Devices for decades. But at some point, I was frustrated with navigation, planning, data transfer, performance, overheating and map correctness! I tried several devices and apps at smartphones. But nothing satisfied.
Similarly, Android Auto and CarPlay devices aren’t a solution for me, as they’re ‘dumb’ devices that can only mirror a smartphone – and even then, with fewer features.

I discovered MRA and came to love it for my detailed travel planning. I wouldn’t have needed it just to find my way to the nearest ice-cream parlour. And I was able to transfer all my routes from Garmin Basecamp and continue to use MRA as an archive.
But as well as route planning, MyRouteApp also offers route navigation. I found this app much better than others on the market too. Best of all: routes planned in MRA no longer need to be laboriously transferred to the Navi device via file transfer – there’s wireless automatic synchronisation; that's a game changer!

After comparing lots of different Navis, I found that a DMD model was the best choice for me. The manufacturer designs the hardware and software specifically for the tough and harsh conditions of off-road driving – in heat, cold, wet weather, bright sunshine and under heavy vibration.
That does come at a price, of course. Standard rubberised outdoor devices may be cheaper – but they didn’t last the test for me.
The devices run on Android, so the MyRoute Navigation Next app can be installed without any problems. And it works perfectly alongside the DMD2 app, which is preinstalled on the device. So I use the MyRoute app for on-road navigation and the DMD2 app for off-road navigation.

The next game-changer is a remote control from DMD – a small button mounted on the handlebars – pre-wired with connectors. This allows you to operate the app without taking your hands off the handlebars and without having to take off your gloves.

But I could go on and on about it here; why not give it a go at a trade fair – I reckon you’ll be impressed too.

[Don Stauffer]

I appreciate your enthusiasm for the DMD / Android solution. I've already worked out the mechanical, electrical and software requirements for the Garmin. It's old fashioned, I admit. But it fits my old school BMW very nicely, and I'm not very keen on starting over with a new system. I'm not sure you appreciate how limited the cockpit area is on an older RT. I'm now in my 5th decade of touring, and I value simplicity over new features. Navigation assistance with minimal distraction is my ultimate goal.

[John S Parry]

@Marinus-van-Deudekom said:

If you compare an Garmin XT 3 to my T865X tablet it will be quite obvious that mine is not alone better but its multifunctional

I'm here to learn. How is the T865X tablet "better"? A more detailed explanation would be appreciated.

[Don Stauffer]

@John-S-Parry Thanks John, I'll look more into the Explore and Garmin interface / interference at some point. I have spent some time with 3rd party GPX editors, and have in mind a stand-alone file of 'permanent' destinations that I could maintain and use off-line. Like many others, I started routing with Basecamp, but never found it intuitive or easy to use in any way, even after working through several tutorials.

We'll see what future versions of the Route App have for Favorite and POI support, that could replace the need for any independent Garmin or GPX archive.

I do appreciate your help and comments!

[Con Hennekens]

@John-S-Parry said:

At the physical device level. The Garmin doesn't overheat. It can tolerate Death Valley USA level heat and other abuses that a phone can't. Additionally, the Garmin screen is completely readable in glare, while the phone isn't.

This is largely depends on the choice of phone. Mine is military specced with a 3000 Nits brightness. More than enough to be used with a matte screenprotector to reduce glare.

And on the Android side, the rugged versions of phones I've researched don't provide the full functionality of regular phones for everyday use.

Motorola has a large lineup of these military specced high brightness phones. The Edge 60 Neo for example can be bought for around 225 euro, and is perfectly fit to be used as a daily phone. If you are a high-end phone user perhaps it is not your thing, but choosing a Zumo also means an extra device. I bought my motorola dedicated for navigation alongside my daily pixel.

But yes, a Zumo can be, under specific conditions, be preferable. It would be very bad if it could not... I did not mean to start a flame war, thanks for your motivation in favor of an XT3.

[Mzokk]

FWIW I have a Zumo XT but now use MRA for navigation. Part of the reason is that my honda Africa Twin adventure sports has a built in AA/CP screen (Made by Garmin!!) I can control the map and waypoint skipping etc from the bar buttons on the Honda. I've found the app to be reliable for me for over a year and 5 multi day trips. I still use the Zumo XT and have it mounted on the Honda as I still have a use for proximity alerted POI's and I use it as a backup with all of my planned routes on the Zumo and I also run the track of the route on the Zumo. I had a look at the XT2 when It came out and a couple of things Garmin did put me off it. Number one was that you can't bluetooth routes to other Garmin devices on the XT2 and I often lead groups and this facility was important. For the XT2 and I believe 3 you can only share directly with Zumo's that can run Tread?? John would probably be able to correct me on this. For me this is not so important now as I can connect older Zumo devices to my phone and transfer routes via a Garmin Lead. In your scenario since you already have an XT give the routing app a go for a while and if you don't get on with it its no loss. I too used Garmin devices for over 20 years and their hardware is good and reliable. Unlike others I have no issue using Basecamp and still use it for POI handling along with POI loader. I also still use it to combine daily track files for tours and have no issue creating routes on it. For me the USP of MRA is the ability to create routes quickly on the fly when I'm on tour and the ability to access them on any device anywhere. Garmin's software support and the routing algorithms they use for their devices after the 390/590 range no longer suit my needs. Its good that we are now spoilt for choice though.

[John S Parry]

@Con-Hennekens said:

But yes, a Zumo can be, under specific conditions, be preferable. It would be very bad if it could not... I did not mean to start a flame war, thanks for your motivation in favor of an XT3.

Con, no flame war. I don't have stock ownership in Garmin, and would stop using Garmin devices in a minute if I felt there is a superior (for me) alternative.

At a practical level, a military grade phone (as you pointed out) would meet durability standards. I'm not sure that I could personally live with that kind of a phone as a primary everyday device, given the added weight/bulk, and a less than highest end camera. At least that what I've read about this class of phones. And of course, it's not Apple.

HW aside, there are the many functional differences between a phone app (MRA or otherwise) and an XT3. I outlined many, and they're features I wouldn't want to live without leaving an XT3.

I respect your loyalty towards the MRA phone app. I have the same allegiance towards MRA Routeplanner. I do hope the MRA app continues to evolve and someday reach a level of stability I could live with.

[John S Parry]

@Mzokk said:

I had a look at the XT2 when It came out and a couple of things Garmin did put me off it. Number one was that you can't bluetooth routes to other Garmin devices on the XT2 and I often lead groups and this facility was important. For the XT2 and I believe 3 you can only share directly with Zumo's that can run Tread??

I understand your points regarding the XTs and the sharing of routes. It's definitely a weak point in Garmin world. I don't know what Tread can or can't do in this regard, because I don't have external storage (Explore DB) activated in the app. My "neutered" version of Tread provides me traffic alerts and control of music on my phone -- that's it. When I lead rides, I distribute GPX files the old-fashioned way, which as you know is cumbersome, and doesn't always work as planned.

@Mzokk said:

In your scenario since you already have an XT give the routing app a go for a while and if you don't get on with it its no loss.

Back in late 2024, I actually did make an honest attempt to learn and use the MRA Phone app. I think I did achieve some proficiency. I certainly liked the Sync function for seamlessly transferring routes through the MRA cloud from Routeplanner to the phone. But I ran into a few problems that frustrated me and tempered my enthusiasm. The primary issue was finding that off-line vs on-line doesn't necessary calculate the same. I posted a topic at the time, outlining in detail how the two versions differed and contrasted with the XT calculation. Corjan responded (I'm paraphrasing) with "What do you want me to do about it"? I was a bit shocked to get a response like that. But his message was that it's a HERE issue and his hands were tied. It's the same response we get to many of the outstanding problems today. It simply not acceptable to me that I couldn't trust consistency of route calculation at all layers of MRA.

Regardless, with my overall testing, it always went back to my XT having navigation functionality that didn't (and currently doesn't) exist in the app. As I mentioned to Con, I hope the app does evolve to a point where I can re-consider it in the future.

[Con Hennekens]

@John-S-Parry said:

I respect your loyalty towards the MRA phone app.

I cannot deny that some fellows became friends (or I would not dare... ), but it is not about loyalty. At the time I was really struggling many years already with Mapsource as well as Basecamp, looking at the same videos trying to find out how it works again. It did never stick. When I learned about MRA planner I was still using a zumo (I went from Streetpilot 2610 to Zumo 660 and Zumo 390). The planner was a real nobrainer compared to the Garmin alternatives. Then MRA came With Navigation (which in our circle we call "Previous" by now ) I tried it for a few rides, and I never felt the need to pick up the Zumo again. So not just loyalty, but also the genuine belief that it works great as an ecosystem. And you are right to add "for me", because that's actually what it is. I am a tourer, I don't do off road, make most of my own routes. We just have different use cases or methods I think.

[Marinus van Deudekom]

@John-S-Parry said:

Regardless, with my overall testing, it always went back to my XT having navigation functionality that didn't (and currently doesn't) exist in the app. As I mentioned to Con, I hope the app does evolve to a point where I can re-consider it in the future.

You are comparing the app from 2 years ago to a brand new XT3. You leave out that the app has had a couple of major make overs since then.
What functionality do you find in that XT3 that you dont find in MRA Next anno 2026.
That would be a fair Comparison

[John S Parry]

@Marinus-van-Deudekom said:

You are comparing the app from 2 years ago to a brand new XT3. You leave out that the app has had a couple of major make overs since then.
What functionality do you find in that XT3 that you dont find in MRA Next anno 2026.
That would be a fair Comparison

You never did answer my question asking if you have extensive (or any) XT experience. If you don't, much of what I describe isn't going to make much sense or have the impact that it should. Regardless, I outlined some of the major differences in post#3. if you dispute any of those or want clarification, I'm happy to have a discussion.