How to export GPX files to Zumo XT without recalculation

[Nick Carthew RouteXpert Senior]

Dear Garmin experts. I am asking this question on behalf of a fellow (frustrated) Garmin user from Italy called Enrico.
I would like to hear your suggestions for transferring GPX files generated by MyRoute to my Garmin Zumo XT. Unfortunately I can never be sure that the import as a route remains unchanged. Despite the waypoints placed, Zumo feels free to vary the route between one waypoint and the next according to its logic: therefore, regardless of the settings with which I created the route - often completely manually to pass through certain places without considering the fastest/shortest route. If, however, I view it as a track on the Garmin, it remains faithful to the original but I lose all the information relating to the route, including recalculation in the case of forced detours. In short, how can I be sure that the route built with MRA is read as is by the Zumo XT? (It's not just my problem; the whole group I'm part of has the same problem.)

[Travellexxie]

GPX1.2 recalculation set to off.

[Mzokk]

Or lots and lots of shaping points to pin the route if you want to use gpx 1.1

[Travellexxie]

@Mzokk exactly, but I prefer in this case the 1.2 and make the track visible.

[Will Brooks]

All valid ways mentioned above. The other way (more manual and user dependent!) is to have the track visible on the screen of the XT as well as the turn by turn route loaded and when the route and track don't match, ignore the route and follow the track!

I generally use shaping points where the XT logic could use a different road to help "force" it and that with the combination of having the track overlayed on the map means I can ride the route I originally planned but also gives my flexibility if I want to divert due to accidents/road closures etc.

As always it's a personal preference but this works for my usage of both MRA and the XT, others will have different views

[Travellexxie]

@Will-Brooks that's why I wrote: "make the track visible"

[HABVEN aka MrMRA]

A route is always calculated; by placing the waypoints correctly and using a sufficient number of them, the route will match the planned route exactly—provided the correct map is used and the planner's settings align with those of the XT. It makes no difference which GPX format you use for the Zumo—GPX 1.1 (the standard) or GPX 1.2 (MRA's proprietary version). GPX 1.2 is transmitted as a route track with waypoints, so you need to include a certain number of waypoints in your route (up to a maximum of 28). If you do not wish to use waypoints, use GPX 1.1 instead.
And as previously mentioned: disable recalculation for planned routes, make the track visible, ensure you are positioned at or near the route's starting point, and make sure your Zumo has a connection to at least three satellites.
It really isn't that difficult...

[Travellexxie]

@HABVEN-aka-MrMRA not 50 viapoints?

[John S Parry]

@HABVEN-aka-MrMRA said:

A route is always calculated; by placing the waypoints correctly and using a sufficient number of them, the route will match the planned route exactly—provided the correct map is used and the planner's settings align with those of the XT.

........

It really isn't that difficult....

Thank you. For some reason, many believe that route recalculation can somehow be "turned off" when a GPX is imported into the Garmin. You can control recalculations in off-route scenarios, but there is no way for the Garmin to initially accept the GPX and automatically store it as created. Using MRA 1.2 is the closest GPX format to accomplishing no recalculation on the Garmin side, but re-calculation still does take place.

[HABVEN aka MrMRA]

@Travellexxie said:

@HABVEN-aka-MrMRA not 50 viapoints?

That is for the BMW ConnectedRide Navigator

[Andy Beviere]

@HABVEN-aka-MrMRA with the greatest of respect that is utter rubbish which is why so many people have been asking the same question for years… and it is literally years now, I can’t believe people are still parting with in excess of £500 for a device and as for that Tread app…

I have had pretty much every sat nav going on my motorcycle journey (forgive the pun) and its only DMD that doesn’t mess with the ‘planned route’ this is an important distinction to make, I’m talking about sitting down and planning a cracking ride for example in Spain not using the device to go from AtoB… I plan on here and export to DMD and not once have I had an issue, plan on here and export to the Zumo XT2 and nothing but issues, I could go and on with other examples... couple below for you.

Example: Last year we were having a cracking ride in the Saint Mere Eglis area of France, using Zumo XT2’s next thing we know we’re on a motorway for an hour and a half as the route had been changed, we should’ve been following the ‘planned’ coast road. Later in the year I had the same issues on a trip with my wife.

Regards,

Andy.

[Stevedo 6 0]

@Andy-Beviere With all due respect, I suggest you learn how to use the Garmin to the best of its abilities. Yes, there is a learning curve, I suggest zumoforums.co.uk. I struggled with my Garmin devices, like you, for a number of years. Today, I have no issues because I understand how to get the most out of it.

I have Gold and lifetime licenses here for MRA online planner and MRA Navigation app. I thoroughly recommend the planner but rarely use the navigation app and discourage others from using it too (let's see if V6.0 improves things). Garmin is a much better navigation device than MRA on a phone IMHO.

[Parantapa]

Export the route in MRA as a .gpx 1.2 file (route, track, POI). On the Zumo XT, disable route recalculation and set the routing option to ‘Shortest time’. The Zumo XT should not be synchronised with the Garmin Cloud, as this causes many problems with routes that were not created using Garmin Explore. On the Zumo XT, install the latest maps and display the track in a different colour, e.g. red. Then start the route. Where the route deviates from the track, the track will be visible in red. Then follow the red line instead of the route. With this method, there are rarely any deviations from the route planned in MRA.
I hope that was reasonably clear. I have to have this translated as I only speak German.

[Parantapa]

@Andy-Beviere sagte:

plan on here and export to the Zumo XT2 and nothing but issues, I could go and on with other examples...

Regards,

Andy.

These problems arise almost exclusively as a result of synchronisation with the cloud. The route must not be uploaded to the cloud, as this will alter it significantly.
If you upload the route directly to the Zumo XT 2 or 3 and then synchronise it with the cloud, it will almost always remain unchanged.
In other words, do not upload it to the Tread app and then synchronise it with the cloud from there!
With the XT 3, Garmin has made things even worse than with the XT 2.

[Andy Beviere]

Thanks for the replies, sorry but I’ll address both posts in one… first I never said I use MRA navigation, I plan in MRA and use DMD and I’ve had zero problems… zero!!! I’d be interested to know why you’re so against it though? Learning curve? What learning curve? Garmins are easy so please don’t assume that I’ve not tried persevering with them, the problem is they don't do what you want them to do unless you let it plan from AtoB, as I said these questions have been getting asked for years… just simply go on any nav/bike forum and its the same thread over and over, but hey if Garmin works for you then great…

Next, cloud who said anything about cloud? I always used the MRA connector, then I tried saving to drive to see if that would help and whatever route I took to get the file on the Garmin the route would be changed, in the preview everything looked great until you hit go and then you’d have no idea until an issue arises on the ride… and yes I’ve used all those different settings. Why after all that money you’d be happy with having to lay a track over a route is beyond me…

I’ve been at a junction in Spain with four mates all following a planned gpx route, all on Garmins and all four people were getting different directions… no thank you, I’ll stick with MRA to plan DMD to navigate. Just MHO gents.

I wish my German was as good as your English!!!

What’s happened with the XT3 then? And this just reinforces my point without even knowing what the issue is … Someone from Garmin R&D needs sacking!!!

[Parantapa]

It’s all fine. I’ve just pointed out where the problems with Garmin lie. On the one hand, it’s the cloud, and on the other, it’s the route recalculation. As far as I’ve known Garmin, route recalculation has always caused problems, even without the cloud. That’s why many people display the track on screen to check it. Unless you’re planning a route from A to B directly on the device, in which case it doesn’t matter.
If you copy a track onto the Garmin device and convert it into a route on the device itself, it works well too. Unfortunately, though, a lot of information gets lost that way.

[Marinus van Deudekom]

@Andy-Beviere dmd uses OSM for the map materiaal. Garmin ofcourse Here

[BertM]

@Marinus-van-Deudekom said:

@Andy-Beviere dmd uses OSM for the map materiaal. Garmin ofcourse Here

whats your point???