Custom route issues with a Zumo 660

[Twin4me]

Hi Everyone, apologises for bringing my Aprilia Tuono loving self over here however I feel the you guys are the font of all knowledge with regards to GPS and Zumo 600 in particular. (The Tuono forums are all about slip on exhausts and windscreens!)

I've been a Garmin user for a few years now, I previously had a Nuvi which my daughter now uses.

I've just upgraded to a Zumo 660 as I have a trip to the alps planned this Summer.

The main reasons I bought this was the bluetooth communication (I have a Scala headset at the moment), and the ability to load in custom routes (something that was missing from the previous unit).

First up I'm a Mac user and based in the UK (which may be important)

OK so here is my problem. I inserted my DVD, registered the maps and as a test I created my route to work using Roadtrip, however this would not load to the GPS.

So I then created it on Mapquest. I put in the basic route, then dragged the route to the one I actually ride. Horrible software, the interface zooms out everytime you change a point, which means you have to zoom back in again...grrrr! However I saved it and sent it to the GPS but it didn't seem to show up.

I then created it using Basecamp, loaded it to the GPS unit, success. It asked if I wanted to include the maps, first time I tried it seemed to hang so I exported again and said, no.

When I went to the custom routes I could see it saved and selected it, it then went into a "calculating route" screen and got to 99% before seeming to hang once again.

The next morning I selected this from my custom routes link and set off, however it had completely re-routed me onto different roads, I suspect that this was the original route that came up by default.

Am I missing something obvious here?

I struggled with base camp as there is almost no detail on the maps, is this right?

I've just downloaded Roadtrip to my work Mac and there is almost no detail on the maps again. Do i have to download all the maps from Garmin and/or insert the DVD to show these?

EDIT - I think I may need to download the maps to my work computer to get more detail?

All I really want to do is create a route (Google maps?) and then send it to the device and make sure it doesn't decide to randomly change the route on it's own, which defeats the purpose of creating one!

 

[Bumpkin]

I can't really help with your Mac issues but you will probably find that you have to import the routes to actually see and use them in the Custom Routes menu on your Zumo.

Go Tools > My Data > Import Route from File and select the routes that you want to import.

 

[NLC]

Make sure that your map versions are the same on the unit and Basecamp. Forget using Roadtrip. Import your route as Bumpkin said. The best way to do it is to create a new folder on Basecamp - put all your waypoints etc in there and then drag them to your zumo. If you get stuck the people in the US at Garmin are very good - when you call just ask for Mac support. They can link into your computer and show you how to do it on the screen.

 

[red1]

I just gone through the same pain !

... but I have a pdf from Garmin that takes you step by step. Unfortunately it's 2.1mb but if you want it I'll email to you

 

[Twin4me]

I just gone through the same pain !

... but I have a pdf from Garmin that takes you step by step. Unfortunately it's 2.1mb but if you want it I'll email to you

Thanks Red 1 - that would be really helpful, I will send you a PM with my email.

EDIT - just discovered I can't do this.

Can you email to: hoskinssignup (AT) me.com please?

 

[Twin4me]

I can't really help with your Mac issues but you will probably find that you have to import the routes to actually see and use them in the Custom Routes menu on your Zumo.

Go Tools > My Data > Import Route from File and select the routes that you want to import.

When you say to do this are you talking about using the Zumo or the computer?

I see the Zumo as a hard drive on my Mac and can drag files onto it but the screen is blanked out when it's attached to the computer.

Is there a folder I should put them in?

 

[Bumpkin]

When you say to do this are you talking about using the Zumo or the computer?

I see the Zumo as a hard drive on my Mac and can drag files onto it but the screen is blanked out when it's attached to the computer.

Is there a folder I should put them in?

Sorry, do this on the Zumo.

Again not sure about doing this on a Mac but whatever route planning software you're using see if you can save your route files in GPX format. Put these in a folder on your SD card, or on the Zumo internal memory itself (it will find them on either), called /Garmin/GPX/. Then try to import as described in my earlier post.

On my PC using Mapsource, using the 'send to device' command does the same thing though this is to a Nuvi 765t which is similar to your Zumo in many respects. I can also plan routes using third party software such as ITN Converter and TYRE, not sure if similar are available for the Mac though.

 

[Twin4me]

I managed to download a few of the routes from Basecamp, although it was still a bit flaky and took a few attempts.

 

[Twin4me]

Still having some issues.

I managed to download a few routes, but I have a question about using Basecamp on a Mac.

Do I have to have the DVD, with the maps, inserted into the DVD drive so that I can actually see any detail on the basecamp maps?

Also I guess there is no way that I can download the maps onto my work computer and my laptop so I have a set on each?

 

[Twin4me]

I think I just answered my own question.

The default display is "Global" Map, I have to switch it to Europe to get the detailed view.

I also found this very helpful link which shows you how to import a shared route and correct it step by step:
http://rolfje.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/how-to-share-garmin-routes-with-your-friends/#comment-1228