I’m thinking about buying an XT3

[Lord Snooty]

I am considering an XT3 as my next SatNav; however I had a chat with Dicktheleg this morning and he tells me that Garmin have changed the way you download and import a gpx file to the unit.

With my Nav5 I just plug it into the laptop and do a copy and paste so how is it done on the XT3 please?

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I’ve started you a fresh thread.

Richard

 

[casbar]

Have a search on the zumo forums or just use Google. But basically, you can do it by direct cable or use the Trend app. You can't use Garmin Drive as you could on the XT.

So if your a mac user, its a little bit more difficult.

 

[Buttertub]

I am considering an XT3 as my next SatNav; however I had a chat with Dicktheleg this morning and he tells me that Garmin have changed the way you download and import a gpx file to the unit.

With my Nav5 I just plug it into the laptop and do a copy and paste so how is it done on the XT3 please?

Just bought the xt3 6 inch a few weeks ago. Also the teqmount so it works with the bmw wonderwheel.
Did a fair bit of reading before hand and its designed to work with the tread app. You can upload gpx files but its notorious for changing routes when it recalculates and also when it gets into the xt3. I tried various file formats and had problems with route recalcs and then losing routes when the mobile signal got lost.
In the end i've set up as follows and its worked well.
_ took tread off, treat it as a stand alone
_ downloan mra routes with plenty of shaping points to an sd card in the unit
- plenty of shaping points

WIth no tread you dont get the fancy features like..... traffic or weather etc but that dont bother me. As ive been using it, its been flawless and just what i needed. Its super quick and broadly an updated xt2 with a much faster chip.

If you want any more info on my set up, as theres other things to consider, and what works give me a shout.

 

[John Armstrong]

With the XT2 and 3 you can have Tread and it's useful traffic and weather with it not "messing" about with shaping points as long as you don't let the app / XT synchronise. IIRC you do not allow external storage.

The XT3 like the 2 has the RUT problem and on the zumo users forum one of the members has produced a program that sorts this out, easily.

@Lord Snooty I would suggest you join and read carefully what's on the zumo users site to help preserve your sanity: https://zumouserforums.co.uk/

 

[DaddyPaddy]

Just bought the xt3 6 inch a few weeks ago. Also the teqmount so it works with the bmw wonderwheel.
Did a fair bit of reading before hand and its designed to work with the tread app. You can upload gpx files but its notorious for changing routes when it recalculates and also when it gets into the xt3. I tried various file formats and had problems with route recalcs and then losing routes when the mobile signal got lost.
In the end i've set up as follows and its worked well.
_ took tread off, treat it as a stand alone
_ downloan mra routes with plenty of shaping points to an sd card in the unit
- plenty of shaping points

WIth no tread you dont get the fancy features like..... traffic or weather etc but that dont bother me. As ive been using it, its been flawless and just what i needed. Its super quick and broadly an updated xt2 with a much faster chip.

If you want any more info on my set up, as theres other things to consider, and what works give me a shout.

I believe that if you can import the gpx files as a track (sometimes they pull through as both a route and a track). Then convert the track to a route within TREAD App it should stick to the original intended gpx route. HTH

 

[Buttertub]

I believe that if you can import the gpx files as a track (sometimes they pull through as both a route and a track). Then convert the track to a route within TREAD App it should stick to the original intended gpx route. HTH

Your probably right, i got frustrated with the tread thing, so binned it. I set it up originally not to sync, after reading potential problems, and for some weird reason it behaved as if it was syncing and actually deleted a route temporarily before it then re appeared again in duplicate once i'd re loaded it again.

I've bought it for a big tour next year ( to either run as the main, or a spare) so if i start having routing issues i'm stuffed, thats why i've just decided to run it without tread and keep it simple.

I seem to have it working now just how i need it to and from the tests i've done its doing exactly what i need it to.
......I download the routes onto the sim from the pc because that way i know i'll always have the unmolested original as a back up to hand. Rather than straight to the device.
...... import the one i want to ride on the day
....... import the route and the track at the same time
...... i can then load the route and also show the track so i can see if anything has changed e.g if i haven't quite got the shaping points in the right spot. I do like having the track show but cant seem to find a way to load a single track so hence one at a time.

Good suggestion about the track and conversion though, I'll give that a go when ive got more time, appreciate the suggestion.

 

[Berin]

More money, I know, but do have a look at the DMD Nor7e.

DMD Navigation | Rally & Adventure GPS Tablets | Torque Racing

Shop DMD Navigation (Thork Racing) hardware and software for off-road riding. Professional-grade rally tablets and controllers designed for the toughest environments.

torqueracing.net

Im finding the dmd2 nav software excellent, its got a great planning capability with DMD hub that syncs to the device, and allows route sharing.

None of the stupid RUT or other weird Zumo behaviour and because it runs the android os you can easily switch to MRA or google maps or whatever.

 

[Rasher]

The RUT bug still existing is insane, and it can strike at any time, sometime you can be half way along a days ride, have a small diversion where you hit the "skip waypoint" button - lets say to skip point number 10, and it instead of recalcing to point number 11 as your next point it decides you need to go back to point number 5 and pickup from there.

I like a "route" as I put my stops (coffee / fuel / lunch / POI's) as Via points, and use a fair number of shaping points, I then transfer to Garmin, go to the track and set "show on screen", then go to the route and view it, I can then scoll around and make sure it has calculated as expected, and if not I cna re-edit in MRS adding extra shape points to where it deviated....

...This seems to give me a pretty accurate result, then I show the track and but navigate the route, so I can see "time to next stop" on the screen, and have the track also displayed just in case it decides to do something mad, as soon as it wants to deviate from the track I can then go into "fix it mode", sometimes just skipping a waypoint works, other times I find it easier to just stop the navigation and re-start it again choosing "start from next closest entry point" and follw the track on the screen until it picks up properly again.....

...Although I doubt I will go to a XT3, as MRA Navigation is pretty good now, on last trip 2 of my mates run it and whereas I had several "Garmin moments" despite all the planning, the app stayed true to the route...

...sad, as everything else on the XT is great, the display, an OK music player, connects reliably to Phone / headset, the Weather Radar is quite neat etc etc. But it fails on the most important thing - navigation!

And the inability to use Drive to zap and MRA route directly to the unit from the phone on the XT3 is another step backwards, so after almost 20 years and half a dozen Garmins I won't be buying another one unless they start to give a fuck about their customers.

 

[Buttertub]

The RUT bug still existing is insane, and it can strike at any time, sometime you can be half way along a days ride, have a small diversion where you hit the "skip waypoint" button - lets say to skip point number 10, and it instead of recalcing to point number 11 as your next point it decides you need to go back to point number 5 and pickup from there.

I like a "route" as I put my stops (coffee / fuel / lunch / POI's) as Via points, and use a fair number of shaping points, I then transfer to Garmin, go to the track and set "show on screen", then go to the route and view it, I can then scoll around and make sure it has calculated as expected, and if not I cna re-edit in MRS adding extra shape points to where it deviated....

...This seems to give me a pretty accurate result, then I show the track and but navigate the route, so I can see "time to next stop" on the screen, and have the track also displayed just in case it decides to do something mad, as soon as it wants to deviate from the track I can then go into "fix it mode", sometimes just skipping a waypoint works, other times I find it easier to just stop the navigation and re-start it again choosing "start from next closest entry point" and follw the track on the screen until it picks up properly again.....

...Although I doubt I will go to a XT3, as MRA Navigation is pretty good now, on last trip 2 of my mates run it and whereas I had several "Garmin moments" despite all the planning, the app stayed true to the route...

...sad, as everything else on the XT is great, the display, an OK music player, connects reliably to Phone / headset, the Weather Radar is quite neat etc etc. But it fails on the most important thing - navigation!

And the inability to use Drive to zap and MRA route directly to the unit from the phone on the XT3 is another step backwards, so after almost 20 years and half a dozen Garmins I won't be buying another one unless they start to give a fuck about their customers.

Yep its a real shame about garmin, the xt3 is good solid sat nav but those foibles with changing routes and its behaviours can be frustrating.
Having said that i still bought it knowing the issues because i knew with compromises e.g not using tread sync and displaying tracks, i could out of it what i needed.

I tried the android auto stuff and it just wasn't for me, many have a good experience and thats good, just get what works for you nothing wrong with either.
I tried the 602bs just before buying the xt3 and just wasnt feeling it, it developed a fault so i sent it back for a full refund via the excellent sportsbike shop, hence the xt3. The phone was getting too hot for my liking, the screen wasn't as clear as the xt3 and it felt laggy to me. Worked with mra and google maps well though when it worked.

 

[Mzokk]

I still use a Garmin Zumo XT and a Zumo 340 and 390. To be honest the old 340-390 are better navigation units as they have a routing algorithm that matches basecamp. The XT requires more care and shaping points in route design than the old units. I use the XT now as a backup and for POI's and tracks, and use MRA or OSMand+ for navigation. Berin's suggestion is probably the ultimate at the moment and as its a very bright highly specified android tablet you can run any other Android based navigation software you like as well as the supplied DMD software and attendant supporting/planning/route sharing website. As with all systems there is a bit of a learning curve to get the best out of the systems/software.

John Millbank's overview that Wessie posted is worth a watch/read.

After riding for 30 years, this is my favourite sat-nav

Unbiased guide to ALL motorcycle navigation

www.bennetts.co.uk

 

[Berin]

I still use a Garmin Zumo XT and a Zumo 340 and 390. To be honest the old 340-390 are better navigation units as they have a routing algorithm that matches basecamp. The XT requires more care and shaping points in route design than the old units. I use the XT now as a backup and for POI's and tracks, and use MRA or OSMand+ for navigation. Berin's suggestion is probably the ultimate at the moment and as its a very bright highly specified android tablet you can run any other Android based navigation software you like as well as the supplied DMD software and attendant supporting/planning/route sharing website. As with all systems there is a bit of a learning curve to get the best out of the systems/software.

John Millbank's overview that Wessie posted is worth a watch/read.

After riding for 30 years, this is my favourite sat-nav

Unbiased guide to ALL motorcycle navigation

www.bennetts.co.uk

The only thing I’d say about this review is he’s not up to date on DMD, and if anyone is thinking of the Carpe Iter - which looks like a good device- then take a close look at the DMD Nor7e simply because it has the DMD 2 nav software and which is incorporated into the Android OS with its own very good app launcher.

The Carpe Iter will run DMD as an app but it won’t be integrated in the same way plus you have to pay for it.

I’ve been using the DMD device on my 1290 and in the car, once it’s set up it’s very easy to use,

 

[Treb]

Of all the satnags I've owned since 1998, the 276cX is the only one which has never glitched.
But, of course, it doesn't work with a daft wheel nor takes phone calls or messages or blah blah blah.
BUT it's one hell of a navigator
And before a 'bun' comes my way, it is button operated and yes if they were on the otherside it would be a bit more practical but hey as it's on my left they are just fine.
Just like the boxer engine, it is an evolution unit.
As for fuel databases or others, I build my own a few days before departure so they are as up-to-date as you can get.

 

[Headtester]

I recently got an XT3, it works well for me, clear display, good routing on ordinary journeys and it links well with my Cardo unit.

More importantly it doesn't cause my phone to overheat, go flat and keep crashing and it works when I don't have a phone signal. Yes I know you can work off line, use a spare phone and all that malarkey but having tried it the Aocci / car play device wasn't the solution for me.

I use MRA to plan more complex routes and they transfer over easily, I haven't linked it to Tread (because the advice I read on the forums was not to). The unit updates itself wirelessly and it's easy to use.

I'm really pleased with it.

 

[Rasher]

Really gone down the "Rabbit Hole" with this recently, and trying to do lots of little tests, plan to start messing with the TripManager tool, still pissed of that it is needed due to a "bug" Garmin will not fix (Repeated U-Turns or "RUT" bug) and claim is "by design", however the workarounds are out there.

I think the best fix has been documented in several topics, which is to ensure the route is a "saved" and not imported route, I believe XT2/3 you can just "Duplicate" and imported route and that will not have the issue, for my XT I have to start the route, then come out of navigation (but not cancel) and then "save active route", then stop navigation, then start it again using the "saved" route.

Lots of info here:

Weird Routing Behaviour - Major Success.

Remember the Repeated U Turn (RUT) behaviour, which crops up if you skip a route point early in a route and then later deviate from the plotted route ? What…

zumouserforums.co.uk

Worth a read throug, but if you cannot be bothered...

Basically it behaves differently with an "imported" route, something I was not aware of was that the route is not purely calculated by figuring out how to get from one way-point (shape or via) to the next by the device, but a certain amount of other data related to the exact route is in the GPX file - I (wrongly) assumed this was not the case and every route is "calculated" when imported or started.

The "Bug" (or feature according to Garmin) is as the route was not originally calculated by their software then it should not be changed on the fly, so if you miss a point (even a "shaping point") it will always want to go back to it, unless you ride until you pickup the original route (although I have seen this fail) - so even if you hit the "Skip Waypoint" button it wants to go back to the point you "skipped" - so if by design then Garmin should remove / disable the skip button for "imported" routes and warn you when you go to start them.

The fix I had been using was to stop navigation when it went mad, and restart the route with using "next closest entry point" which mostly worked well.

Some dude has put together what looks like a really neat app that can fix routes in bulk

TripManager

For a big trip this would help me a lot, I can dump all my routes onto the device up front, then get this app to remove the flag that it is imported which saves a load of pissing about....

...but puts me back into the dark ages (almost) of having to do all my planning and load every route that I might use from the PC to the device and then fix them with this tool....

...Although I can still send a route from MRA and use the start / save / stop / start again trick....

...Considering this is all due to a single bit in the file they set to a "1" that is changed to a "0" solves the U-Turn issue it is absolutely bonkers Garmin never either abandoned this flag as I cannot see it ever does anything good, or gave an option to remove the setting when imprting / starting / recalculating a route.....

...I can imagine all of the support team and programmers al knowing this is the only sensible thing to do but some fuckwit manager not wanting to admit there was ever an issue, so everyone has to put up with this issue, get lost, frustrated, hate Garmin just so he can insis he is right, meanwhile loyal customers abandon their products at an exponentional rate.

Great work from the community who it seems identfied the bahaviour, proved the behaviour and eventually decoded a load of Garmin files without any help from Garmin on the file format, found what caused the bug, reported the bug and still got a big "fuck you" from Garmin.

Someone should be sacked, however hopefully the info gets out there to as many pissed off XT users as possible.....

...I would still never buy a new XT2/3 on principle, but as used ones pile up as people walk away I might buy a used one if they get cheap enough.