Using MRA routeplanner with old Garmin GPS devices.

[Mzokk]

Using MRA routeplanner without Garmin Drive

Older Garmin GPS devices can’t use Garmin Drive to transfer routes to the unit. For those with Old units and an Android phone the GPX files can be transferred as follows. (Tested on a Zumo 340 390 and BMW Nav 4). So that you can have a compact on the Fly routing solution for trips.

1. Download the route you want to put on the device from MRA routeplanner to your phone.

2. Connect the phone to the Garmin GPS device with the Garmin unit lead and a USB (A) female to USB (C) adaptor or a USB (C) to mini USB(B) lead. I’m not sure that this will work with a phone that has a micro USB connector (with the appropriate adaptor or with an apple phone)



3. Open the phone and navigate to its file manager. This varies depending on the make of mobile phone/personal choice but you should see the Garmin as an attached device. The Garmin USB device is just the SD card if you have one in your unit.


4. I had downloaded a route from MRA routeplanner onto the phone so I hit the downloads button and selected the file I wanted to transfer.



5. And copied it into the Garmin>GPX folder



6. The file will appear on your imports on the device.



7. Import it and start it up in trip planner.


Similar transfer capabilities could be achieved with a USB(C) micro SD card reader and transfer the micro SD card with the GPX file on it from unit to unit.

 

[Orinoco]

Good to know, thanks. I've a later Garmin 346, but the Smartlink from Garmin can sometimes be a bit flaky, I'll give this a go.

 

[MaybeweeGS]

This thread amongst others gave me the inspiration to pursue transferring MRA routes to my Zumo 390.
Whilst I am happy creating MRA routes on my Android phone I find it far easier to use the Files bucket on my Tablet than on the phone.
Having transferred a number of gpx 1.1 files to the Zumo I wrote up the process as.much to aid my memory as anything else.
It replicates the process described by Mzokk very closely. ---

Copying an MRA file from my Android tablet to Zumo 390 which has a USB card installed.

Create a route in MRA.!
Open Route Lab, in MRA.

Open the Route, to be copied to the Zumo.
Click on the Page Menu box.

Select Save As.
Select gpx 1.1

The file will save and a download box will appear on the tablet screen - ( it does on my samsung tablet).
Close MRA.

Connect the Zumo to the Tablet with a USB A to C cable.
Ignore the Zumo.

Open Downloads in the Tablet.
Select the file and a ✓ appears.

“Options” will appear on the screen.
Select Copy ( it wants to know where you want it copied to)

Select USB
Select Garmin.
Select GPX.
These three steps are key. The file must be saved into the GPX folder in the USB.
Only now, click Copy.

Disconnect the Zumo.

Switch on the Zumo.
The option to Import the new file will be offered; or you can use the Import function on the Zumo to select the file later.

Open up Trips and select the route.