Basecamp for complete Numpties

[Bumpkin]

Have a look here

Once you've picked up the basics you'll find it easier.

Do I have to zoom right in to do that? It seems very clunky.

If you suspect that you're dealing with a dual-carriageway or motorway then you definately need to check as have a routing node on the wrong side of the Armco can have you being instructed to loop back to visit that point from the next junction to the previous one. What I tend to do is to rough out the route and then check each node in turn at a closer zoom level. The route properties dialogue (double click the route in the left window) shows each point, described my road names, and clicking each in turn zooms in close enough for you to see the exact placement of that node.

A few other tips (assuming that you're using a PC rather than a Mac, as the latter may differ):

Zooming and panning of the map can be done with one tool, the Hand tool, quickest way to get around the screen IMHO - Keyboard short-cut 'H'

There are other short-cuts for the tools, as you get used to using Basecamp using these will greatly enhance and speed up your route plotting. Click 'Tools' in the main menu to see a list.

 

[Stonker]

Thanks. Just watched you videos. Very useful.

If I want to select the ferry port at calais though, I can zoom in to calais but do I then have to know where the port is?

Similarly for my hotel, if I know the address, can I just use the 'find' tool?

 

[Bumpkin]

Thanks. Just watched you videos. Very useful.

If I want to select the ferry port at calais though, I can zoom in to calais but do I then have to know where the port is?

Similarly for my hotel, if I know the address, can I just use the 'find' tool?

Addressing in France isn't as good as in the UK their equivalent of post codes cover a far wider area. If I can't find places by searching Mapsource (not good at searching at the best of times) or now Basecamp (quite a bit better IMHO) I usually locate places in Google Maps and then right click > 'What's here' for their long/lat and then drop a waypoint anywhere in Basecamp and change it's long/lat to that in Google Maps. The waypoint will then move to the location.

Leaving Calais Ferry Terminal you need to start your route on the green arrow here. This will then lead you onto N216 out of town and on your way. You won't get a satellite lock waiting to disembark due to the hull of the ship, you'll need to pull over as soon as possible and tell the sat nav to take you to the start point when you load your route.

Always end routes at ferry ports and start a new one on the other side.

 

[Stonker]

OK I've changed the coordinates to 50.966617,1.870422 for the ferry port but is is in the middle of nowhere....no roads or anything. Do I need to increase the level of detail or something?

 

[Stonker]

My hotel is in Mettet in Belgium. If I search for cities, it doesn't find anything

 

[cookie]

Do I have to zoom right in to do that? It seems very clunky.

only if you are manually finding the start/finish. i tend to find them before starting routing, and add them as waypoints. very handy having your hotel say as a waypoint. easily found when you want to get back there.

i've never had an issue with waypoints being on the wrong side of the carriageway. i can see how it is possible, but i've always found mapsource or base camp is smart enough to know what i want

 

[Stonker]

OK but how do I find the hotel, I can't even find the town using the 'find' facility

 

[Stonker]

OK, I found the hotel in Google Maps and copied the coordinates in. I now have a straight magenta line between my 2 waypoints. How do I plot the route?

 

[ghiribizzo]

Was/is the satnav connected and on? I just searched for Hotels as you'll see - no needing to input the coordinates.

 

[Stonker]

No, I'm just using Basecamp. Do I need the Zumo connected?

 

[newboy]

This is the bit that confuses me... how do you get the Route options - tab shown here... I don't get that in my routes - only if I import them from elsewhere!!!

Recalculating the route by changing the profile from None to Motorcycle

 

[cookie]

OK, I found the hotel in Google Maps and copied the coordinates in. I now have a straight magenta line between my 2 waypoints. How do I plot the route?

hmmm. you've done it right, but looks like there's a setting in base camp that's not right.

it should have calculated a route following the roads and you'd have a wiggly magenta line.
i've not got base camp to hand so i can't check the possible settings issue.

 

[Bumpkin]

OK I've changed the coordinates to 50.966617,1.870422 for the ferry port but is is in the middle of nowhere....no roads or anything. Do I need to increase the level of detail or something?

Entry of coordinates into Mapsource and Basecamp has to be done a specific way, you need to indicate whether it's North or South of the Equator and East or West of the Greenwich Meridian. Hence 50.966617,1.870422 = N50.966617 E1.870422

 

[Bumpkin]

OK but how do I find the hotel, I can't even find the town using the 'find' facility

You need to search first for the city of Mettet and then, once this is centre of map or selected do a search for 'Hotel/Motel'. I did this and found 15 hotels in the vacinity. Granted Basecamp will only have a selection of hotels. For a broader selection; track down the address, find that in Google Maps and then get the long/lat to create a way point as above.

OK, I found the hotel in Google Maps and copied the coordinates in. I now have a straight magenta line between my 2 waypoints. How do I plot the route?

A couple of possibilities here; You may have the direct routing method selected for the route, double click the route (name) in left window this should open the route properties. In the drop down menu at top right either 'Motorcycling' or 'Automotive' should be selected. 'Direct' is an off road point to point method.

You can sometimes get straight line, point-to-point routes when you import a route generated elsewhere, isn't the case here but worth a try; right click the route (name) in the left window > 'Advanced' > 'Recalculate Selected Route(s)'.

HTH

 

[Bumpkin]

This is the bit that confuses me... how do you get the Route options - tab shown here... I don't get that in my routes - only if I import them from elsewhere!!!

If you read the text you'll see that is a route imported from Mapsource.

You can get that tab back by selecting 'None' at the bottom of the Activity Profiles drop down.

 

[Stonker]

Entry of coordinates into Mapsource and Basecamp has to be done a specific way, you need to indicate whether it's North or South of the Equator and East or West of the Greenwich Meridian. Hence 50.966617,1.870422 = N50.966617 E1.870422

Yep. I sussed that bit and felt really clever! The location of the ferry fort in relation to the town looks right (to the east of the town) bit it just shows not near any roads. There is hardly any detail on my map. I've tried changing the detail setting but it doesn't seem to make much difference

 

[cookie]

Yep. I sussed that bit and felt really clever! The location of the ferry fort in relation to the town looks right (to the east of the town) bit it just shows not near any roads. There is hardly any detail on my map. I've tried changing the detail setting but it doesn't seem to make much difference

sounds like you're on the basemap not City Navigator. have a look under Maps in the menu bar.
if you have CN selected, is it unlocked?

 

[Stonker]

You need to search first for the city of Mettet and then, once this is centre of map or selected do a search for 'Hotel/Motel'. I did this and found 15 hotels in the vacinity. Granted Basecamp will only have a selection of hotels. For a broader selection; track down the address, find that in Google Maps and then get the long/lat to create a way point as above.

I did search for Mettet but couldn't find that either.

A couple of possibilities here; You may have the direct routing method selected for the route, double click the route (name) in left window this should open the route properties. In the drop down menu at top right either 'Motorcycling' or 'Automotive' should be selected. 'Direct' is an off road point to point method.

You can sometimes get straight line, point-to-point routes when you import a route generated elsewhere, isn't the case here but worth a try; right click the route (name) in the left window > 'Advanced' > 'Recalculate Selected Route(s)'.

HTH

Neither of those seem to be the problem. I guessed 'direct routing' was the problem but couldn't see how to switch it off

 

[Stonker]

sounds like you're on the basemap not City Navigator. have a look under Maps in the menu bar.
if you have CN selected, is it unlocked?

Are you talking about the maps dropdown? 'Global Map' is the only option

 

[cookie]

Are you talking about the maps dropdown? 'Global Map' is the only option

i'm using basecamp on a mac, so it's slightly different.

you should have something like this:

if you're on the basemap, it would explain the direct routing issue.