A possible tidy-up of the GPS section

[Wapping]

This seems like a good idea Richard.

I suspect that the BMW/Garmin units, primarily Nav 5 and 6 are still the most common amongst inmates, even if they are no longer available.

A section for them may still make sense though…

Thank you.

I was thinking that a sub-section for the 5 and 6 (possibly the 4, too) might suffice for the BMW branded legacy devices.

Maybe something like:

BMW branded devices

— Six (VI)

— Five (V)

— Four (IV) and earlier


Logically, this section will see less and less traffic as time moves on.

 

[Wapping]

What a good guess.

Phew!



It’s not entirely unlike when bods say OSM and we’re never quite sure if they mean Ordnance Survey or Open Street.

 

[Berin]

The GPS section is popular and sees a good amount of frequently very useful and / or interesting posts.

From time to time we have a tidy-up of the section, not least as things move on. I am wondering if it’s time to have another. If so, how might bods like to see it done?

My suggestions are:

A. Sort out the Garmin device section / sub-sections. Garmin (and to a lesser extent TomTom) used to dominate the market, with umpteen devices, often just known by a number. Without a doubt Garmin’s popularity is on the slide but, unlike a BlackBerry is not yet dead. Maybe retain the XT and XT2 devices (as they are both relatively new and definitely different devices from each other) but move Garmin Zumo 346-396 into the ‘Older devices’. sub-section.

B. Retain the MapSource and BaseCamp sections but perhaps combine them, in rather the same way as ‘Older devices’ is divided.

C. The Montana device seems to be the ‘go to’ choice for off-road device based navigation. Should it have its own section, just as say the XT and XT2 devices do? Or, might it be better to create a fresh sub-section, simply titled ‘off-road’ to cater for anything off-road, whether it be device or mapping? I think I favour the latter as it’s fairly niche and those that do a lot of off-roading generally know what they are talking about, so it can sort of run and moderate itself perhaps?

D. Set up something for Beeline, maybe?

E. Have a general tidy-up of the rest. Retaining (as opposed to archiving) most but perhaps reorganising the sections a bit.

Reorganisation does take a bit (sometimes a lot) of moving about but it does work. I think the tidied-up Travel section and its better presented sub-sections proves that. I am happy to talk with Paul to see what can / should be done but would like to hear from others too, please. To this end, please add any suggestions to this thread over the next month, we can then see what might or might not be popular and / or possible.

Thank you.

Richard

​

I think a separate Montana section would be good, as those devices are quite different to XT/XT2/tread, and are also different to the other “off road” devices which are typically android phones or tablets such as the Drive Mode Dashboard devices, or other Android devices which run locus maps OSMand etc, which are of no interest to road riders.

So from my point of view:
Montana Section and
Off-road devices and apps

Thanks for the initiative

 

[Wapping]

Thank you, that was just what I wanted / needed to see suggested for off-road.

Maybe mix off-road maps into it, too?



How about:

Off-road

—- Montana

—- Other off-road devices and apps

—- Off-road maps

 

[richardbd]

Thank you.

I was thinking that a sub-section for the 5 and 6 (possibly the 4, too) might suffice for the BMW branded legacy devices.

Maybe something like:

BMW branded devices

— Six (VI)

— Five (V)

— Four (IV) and earlier


Logically, this section will see less and less traffic as time moves on.

That makes sense

 

[Berin]

Thank you, that was just what I wanted / needed to see suggested for off-road.

Maybe mix off-road maps into it, too?



How about:

Off-road

—- Montana

—- Other off-road devices and apps

—- Off-road maps

Generally, the off road maps or topo type maps can be added to all the devices above, so it probably makes sense to have separate subsection for maps, yes

 

[GSian]

Quick question.

Does tablets need to be combined with Chigee etc? I don’t use either, so I have no idea. That said, I’ve always imagined them to be distinct from each other.

You're right, tablets and phone mirroring (CarPlay Android Auto) devices like Chigee, Carpuride, Aaoochi etc are a completely different thing. In my opinion they should be separated. I doubt that anyone that uses a tablet on the bike would use CarPlay or AA.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

Thank you.

I was thinking that a sub-section for the 5 and 6 (possibly the 4, too) might suffice for the BMW branded legacy devices.

Maybe something like:

BMW branded devices

— Six (VI)

— Five (V)

— Four (IV) and earlier


Logically, this section will see less and less traffic as time moves on.

The Zumo user forum has that layout for those devices.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

I think a separate Montana section would be good, as those devices are quite different to XT/XT2/tread, and are also different to the other “off road” devices which are typically android phones or tablets such as the Drive Mode Dashboard devices, or other Android devices which run locus maps OSMand etc, which are of no interest to road riders.

So from my point of view:
Montana Section and
Off-road devices and apps

Thanks for the initiative

Agree with Berin on that.
We both use Montanas and I also use a tablet with DMD2 and OS.
I do think a .gpx thread would be good though.
For example, I have over 100 routes/tracks on the Montana/Basecamp. Probably 40% are GS capable (would be more if it wasn’t so wide hipped) however they’re all predominantly UCR/green lanes with links of road.
So the travel section isn’t the right place in my opinion

 

[Wapping]

I do think a .gpx thread would be good though.
For example, I have over 100 routes/tracks on the Montana/Basecamp. Probably 40% are GS capable (would be more if it wasn’t so wide hipped) however they’re all predominantly UCR/green lanes with links of road.

The GPS section caters for much more than off-road, which is a comparatively niche area, especially when it comes to more than a rough lay-by or a tricky speed hump outside Tesco.

We purposely separated problems around communications, as these clogged up things. To my way of looking at it, it makes no sense to have GPX files for off-road within the GPS section but then none for say, France or Germany on-road, which are being successfully shared there.

Are these off-road routes particular to one area geographically or spread around Europe?

Are they in a form that is easily shareable?

Maybe we can make something bespoke somewhere in the forum, if not in GPS? I think it’s a good idea and worth working on.

 

[Wapping]

I have ‘spoken’ with Paul, who has given the tidy-up initiative his blessing.

That said, it won’t start until the consultation period is over. Not least as some thought has to be given to its structure. Keep the suggestions coming, please.

Old posts and devices can / will be archived away, so not as to lose them. This important, not so that someone can find out why their Nav 1 is no longer working (where are you JB) but as a part of the whole UKGSer ‘history’.

Richard

PS I have stickied the news, just while the process gets underway.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

The GPS section caters for much more than off-road, which is a comparatively niche area, especially when it comes to more than a rough lay-by or a tricky speed hump outside Tesco.

We purposely separated problems around communications, as these clogged up things. To my way of looking at it, it makes no sense to have GPX files for off-road within the GPS section but then none for say, France or Germany on-road, which are being successfully shared there.

Are these off-road routes particular to one area geographically or spread around Europe?

Are they in a form that is easily shareable?

Maybe we can make something bespoke somewhere in the forum, if not in GPS? I think it’s a good idea and worth working on.

Using the bikes for what they weee apparently designed for.
No laybays or speed bumps in them other than those that are on the odd residential road leading to the requisite lanes.
Location as all across wales and many in northern France.
60-260 miles.
All saved as .gpx so struggle to see why they would not be “easily shareable”

 

[Wapping]

Using the bikes for what they weee apparently designed for.
No laybays or speed bumps in them other than those that are on the odd residential road leading to the requisite lanes.
Location as all across wales and many in northern France.
60-260 miles.
All saved as .gpx so struggle to see why they would not be “easily shareable”

Thank you. It’ll be good to have such a library.

We’ll look to include something, possibly not in the GPS section but in Travel. To be honest, I thought there was something already there. Or if not, somewhere else but maybe I dreamed it.

 

[Wapping]

Thank you. It’ll be good to have such a library.

We’ll look to include something, possibly not in the GPS section but in Travel. To be honest, I thought there was something already there. Or if not, somewhere else but maybe I dreamed it.

I have created a sticky in the Travel section, UK and Ireland

Thread 'Off-road GPX library for UK and Ireland'

Oct 4, 2025

A new section.

• Wapping
• Replies: 25
• Forum: UK and Ireland

• 

Could you load some sample GPX files in, please.

As there are lots, it might well help others if:

A. There is a separate post for each GPX file.

B. Something to help people flicking down the list, identify where at least the start / end points are and (if possible) its length and likely time.

I know this is a bit of extra work for you but it should save punters from having to tap on each GPX file to then maybe only find out it’s miles from where they’d like it to be. Some bods have a pretty short attention span and / or need help, trust me.

Thanks.

Richard

 

[Wapping]

Any more suggestions?