Garmin Forerunner 920XT
General
- Mounts OK as a USB stick without problems to: get activity files (.FIT) and put firmware updates on.
- As far as I can see you need Windows/Mac to setup the wifi (one-off).
- Download firmware updates directly from watch with WiFi on: Menu / Settings / System / Software Update
Loading Courses to follow
One reason for my choosing this device is that you can follow a
breadcrumb trail on it: useful for new routes, esp. on holidays un
unknown areas. But Garmin seem to have made it hard: you can use
the Garmin Connect website but I found this limiting, so use
QMapShack:
QMapShack on PC: plan route
Install QMapShack
(not the easiest tool to use, but *very* powerful once you have
worked it out !)
- plan route (e.g. load Vector map, right-click, Add Track, Ctrl-v (snap-to-vector), l-click to add next point, r-click to finish)
- (NOT Route (can't import routes directly to Garmon Connect))
- to extend existing route: save GPX from Strava or Connect, then load and edit in QMapShack (more reliable than loading FIT directly (Apr20))
- planned route out, now to add same return: R-click on track, Reverse Track, save to same Project, select orig + rev track and Combine Tracks (probably need to fix timestamps for return section)
- (Nov19: not needed) add some fake timestamps (Edit, Change timestamp..., set a fake start time and speed (use Obscure Timestamps, with a value)
- (else Garmin Connect may reject it)
- (not needed Oct19 when creating from existing GPX)
- (July18: I could not get Speed to work)
- (June20: see that DEM is disabled: when enabled can set DEM and Speed (use Sportive preset) OK (apply/gear buttons on RHS visable))
- save as GPX: select the *Project* (not the route), R-click and save as GPX 1.1
- Check GPX file only has 1 trkseg tag, otherwise remove intermediate end/starts as 920XT will only use first one !
- (if Connect Import fails may need to edit to 1 segment and/or fix timestamps: gpsbabel -i gpx -f in.gpx -x track,faketime=20100506060000+5 -o gpx -F out.gpx)
- (not needed July18 / needed Oct19 / not needed Jan20)
Garmin Connect website: create Course
(details may vary if Garmin update their website !)
(new method, Nov19 (maybe the "Import" option was there before but I did not spot it !?))
- Garmin Connect / Training / Courses
- "Import" (below Blue "Create Course" button)
- Get Started
- Use OpenStreetMap
- Edit title (not too long: 15 chars shown on watch) and Save
(old method, pre-Nov19)
- Garmin Connect
- manually import your saved GPX file
- rename the new Activity to something short (this will appear on the GPS device screen)
- Save as Course (option on "gear wheel") / else send-to-device on "gear wheel"
- Delete this fake Activity (option on "gear wheel")
Garmin Connect website: prepare to transfer Course to GPS device
(details may vary if Garmin update their website !)
- Garmin Connect / Training / Courses
- select your course
- "View Details", "Send to Device" ->
- (pre-Jan20) should now appear in Transfer Tray (icon with 2 opposing arrows)
- (Jan20) click on watch icon in top right / (device pops-up) / click on number to right of device to show what will be synced)
- (may *also* go to error page trying to connect directly to device (can only work on Windows !) - ignore this and go back to previous page)
GPS device: Download Course (from website) (sync)
e.g. for Forerunner 920XT:
- unlock device
- (ignore any sync messages: this step is still needed (July18)) hold down Menu button, "Connect to Wi-Fi"
- hopefully your course will transfer with no further action (may be slow)
- Menu / Navigation / Courses - hopefully you will see your course !
Loading Courses to follow (tablet/bluetooth)
TO DO: started experimenting with planning a course in Nexus 7 using
OsmAND and then using Bluetooth transfer direct to 920XT (IIRC it is
best to pair from within Garmin Connect app).
Garmin Connect Android App / BT to watch (2020)
- Open GPX file in Garmin Connect app (eg using a File Browser) and Save
- BT connect with watch
- Training / Courses / (select course)
- ?text Send to Watch / sync
QMapShack - other tips
Maps
TBW
DEM
(Au20) DEM only works correctly if QMapShack set to Metric (QMapShack seems to assume that DEM units are metric, even if set to imperial (ie no conversion applied) !)
- Browser: ViewFinderPanoramas.org - DEM- download area needed, eg N30
- cmdline: unzip to N30
- gdalbuildvrt N30.vrt N30/*hgt
- gdaladdo N30.vrt 2 4 8 16
- QMapShack: ensure path is set to DEM
- reload map and DEM and activate new DEM
- DEM/N30 - activate hill shading etc
Garmin Edge 800
General
- Mounts OK as a USB stick without problems to: get activity files (.FIT) and put firmware updates on.
Following a Route
- plan as above, normal GPX track is OK (1.1)
- set course colour before following it (spanner icon)
MORE TO DO
Garmin GPSMAP64s
Super rugged, rubber grip, waterproof, removable batteries AA (so
replacements easily carried) (I use rechargables), can load OSM
maps on microSD card, best GPS reception (find ref, but has never
failed me !), carabiner clipon
TO DO incl Waypoints, other maps
Other programs
- OSMand - Android map program, offline, free, OSM maps, routing, GPX export
- GPXsee - (Linx/Mac/Win) mapping program with support for many files formats, incl FIT
<< Back to Computer/Linux page | << Back to Front page | Email me