Hey guys, got a garmon 540s from jim and now i want to start making some routes and such. Anyone have any input how they do there own routes? Is there a software you can use to do it then transfer it on over to the gps?
Route Plotting
- Thread starter capt_jack
- Start date
mrsrobinson
Well-Known Member
I set waypoints using the scroller on the screen. Then, I build a route using the waypoints.
Not sure about the 540, but I use Garmins Mapsource on my PC and do all the planing on it. Some times I'll overlay it on Google Earth checking out motels, restaurants, etc around my trip. Once I've got it all fine tuned I'll download the route and waypoints to my GPS 276C. You can do a search on the forum I know there is a thread about it here.
SearayPaul
Active Member
There are at least three ways to make a route with the 540.
You can open the 540 to the area you are trying to travel and enter waypoints along the way. The Garmin will save these waypoints and create your route. You will you use your curser and the save function repeatodly. Save the route to the card (SD). For me this was a little slow and time consuming.
The next way is to spend more money with Jim and buy mapsource from him. I perfer this method and Jim won't mind the sale. You open up the map area you are intersted in and create your route on the computer using two icons. My computer is much faster and crisper than the Garmin is. Also my screen is a tad bit larger than the 540 screen. I am much better with the mouse also. The computer will also keep a running total of distances for you and probably some other stuff I have not found yet. When you are done save the route to the card and put it in the garmin. Your route can then be opened. You also can upload your actual run to mapsource to keep your trip for prosperity. Now if I could just figure out how to send the file to another member.
Third way. Get your buddy to give you his route.
Anyway have fun.
You can open the 540 to the area you are trying to travel and enter waypoints along the way. The Garmin will save these waypoints and create your route. You will you use your curser and the save function repeatodly. Save the route to the card (SD). For me this was a little slow and time consuming.
The next way is to spend more money with Jim and buy mapsource from him. I perfer this method and Jim won't mind the sale. You open up the map area you are intersted in and create your route on the computer using two icons. My computer is much faster and crisper than the Garmin is. Also my screen is a tad bit larger than the 540 screen. I am much better with the mouse also. The computer will also keep a running total of distances for you and probably some other stuff I have not found yet. When you are done save the route to the card and put it in the garmin. Your route can then be opened. You also can upload your actual run to mapsource to keep your trip for prosperity. Now if I could just figure out how to send the file to another member.
Third way. Get your buddy to give you his route.
Anyway have fun.
Last edited:
Very easy just save the file using Mapsource then email the file to the member.
PS. Paul, Do you have the track for your last trip saved via mapsource yet. (Grin)
SearayPaul
Active Member
Chuck, you may mail.
edsmax
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- Feb 11, 2009
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I wouldn't recommend this method. I have done this before with my 545s and it would routinely send me into very dangerous areas (where local old-timers would never travel) and it would also send me on the wrong side of bouys. I no longer use the "guide to" feature. And yes, I have my parameters set for my safe depth.
sb in gp
Active Member
I have the Garmin Mapsource software (Inland Lakes version, bought from Jim) and I have been dissappointed with the detail it provides on the map. I'm not sure if I'm using it wrong or or I have the wrong maps or what, but Lake Erie looks like one big blue blob with no depth showing at all. Here is a picture of Cedar Point on Lake Erie. It shows the buoys, but that is it, even if I zoom.
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bushway9172
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RollerCoastr
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SB, the MapSource map for Lake Erie is highly-detailed, so either your map is locked, or you have the preferences set to hide detail.
I wonder if it's the latter, because your screenshot shows the correct buoy locations. Typically when a map is locked, most buoys aren't displayed and the land masses are more vague.
MapSource is a great product. We've discussed Garmin's problem of licensing and map formats before, so I won't go into that, but BlueChart vs. G-Chart issues aside, I have yet to use a plotting program that's even close as good as MapSource.
I use it by saving a file of waypoints, which I name and assign symbols to. When I want to create a new route, I open the waypoints and spend seconds "connecting the dots". A new destination typically only require a few new waypoints, which of course get named and saved in that file.
So for example, if I want to plot a course from the nautical mile to say, my first trip to Lakeview Park in Windsor, I'd start at "JeffBeach" which has a marina symbol assigned to it, then to "Gaukler" which has a green can symbol, down to "Det Range" (light) and make a new one for the turn into the channel and Lakeside itself. That process takes just minutes. I can delete the extraneous buoys in that file, save it, and save the new waypoints I made for future use. Routes and waypoints can be cut and pasted individually from file to file.
I came to the same conclusion. It produces routes that are safe as far as the data is concerned, but by not including buoys, markers and other visuals, it gives you a route that requires the operator to stare at the plotter screen to follow. I'm surprised their lawyers let them release a feature that works like that.
I wonder if it's the latter, because your screenshot shows the correct buoy locations. Typically when a map is locked, most buoys aren't displayed and the land masses are more vague.
MapSource is a great product. We've discussed Garmin's problem of licensing and map formats before, so I won't go into that, but BlueChart vs. G-Chart issues aside, I have yet to use a plotting program that's even close as good as MapSource.
I use it by saving a file of waypoints, which I name and assign symbols to. When I want to create a new route, I open the waypoints and spend seconds "connecting the dots". A new destination typically only require a few new waypoints, which of course get named and saved in that file.
So for example, if I want to plot a course from the nautical mile to say, my first trip to Lakeview Park in Windsor, I'd start at "JeffBeach" which has a marina symbol assigned to it, then to "Gaukler" which has a green can symbol, down to "Det Range" (light) and make a new one for the turn into the channel and Lakeside itself. That process takes just minutes. I can delete the extraneous buoys in that file, save it, and save the new waypoints I made for future use. Routes and waypoints can be cut and pasted individually from file to file.
I came to the same conclusion. It produces routes that are safe as far as the data is concerned, but by not including buoys, markers and other visuals, it gives you a route that requires the operator to stare at the plotter screen to follow. I'm surprised their lawyers let them release a feature that works like that.
Which version do you have? I thought the great lakes are on Garmins Blue Chart software not the Inland Lakes? My Inland Lakes give detailed info on 99% of the lakes around me even some of the very small lakes.
K-9
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where to
navigate- set waypoint
navigate- set waypoint
sb in gp
Active Member
I agree with your assessment of manually plotting a course with Mapsource, it is 100x easier than trying to use the GPS.
I am still baffled by the lack of details on my map for Lake Erie. When I open the Map Manager under Utilities it shows the "US Inland Lakes 2008" with a status of "Not Lockable". So I assume it is not locked, and I must have the wrong maps.
Jim are you out there? Can you confirm?
The Garmin Website is very confusing when it comes to selecting maps for a region. Why would Lake Erie not be considered an inland lake?
Just looking on the Garmin site it looks like Lake Erie is:
on the US Inland Lakes charts.
! = New to/updated in 2009
on the US Inland Lakes charts.
sb in gp
Active Member
I saw that on their site too. And since Lake Erie was only recently discovered, they probably didn't get around to charting the depth until this year.
Sorry for the sarcasm, it just ticks me off how bad Garmins product descriptions are on their Website.