This is some of the stuff I have learned about doing GPS routes for myself but also for sharing with others. Feel free to add your knowledge. I really have not made that many routes but I have worked with many programs, units and with the national rally teams to be sure routes worked for all users. Not that they all did but that is how you learn.
It really does not make a difference what program you are using, Basecamp, Mapsource, Tyre, Furgot, HD trip planner or whatever, they all do about the same thing. These thoughts seem to apply to them all.
1. Routes and not tracks. Tracks are for hiking or seeing where you have been with bread crumbs. Routes are for driving on the road and some units may not even see tracks.
2. GPS units and maps are not all the same. When you share a route you made others stuff will be different in some way and it will need to recalculate the route based on its settings and maps. More on this as we go. Shoot even the map you use to make the route can be different than the one on your unit.
3. Make your route so it will share. Here is a sub list of things to do and not do.
a. Make your settings for both your unit and the program for avoidance and routing style something logical to start with. Do not set no highways unless all your routes truly never touch a highway. About all I do is set no gravel (if on Concours), no ferries unless I know there is a ferry crossing in the route like in 2012 and sometimes no tolls but I leave town on a toll road sometimes so for me I leave that avoidance off.
I set routing to shortest distance but I usually test the route so that it recalculates the same in either shortest distance or fastest time, you should also. Your unit or the one you are sharing with may have the other setting and that will change the route.
b. Place your waypoints well. I was told by Garmin that on many units you have to pass within 10 meters plus or minus the current accuracy for the passing of the waypoint to be registered by the unit. That is usually about 90 ft. You have to blow the map up full zoom and check EVERY point to be sure it is on the road within that tolerance. Be sure it is on the correct side of the road if divided.
Note: if you do drop points on one side of a divided road then that route may not be reversible anymore. If you plan on reversing your route consider the effects of where you are placing points.
Watch that the point is not where you can't get to it. Like over a destination like a building or the grand canyon. The gps will never know you made it there if you do not drive over it <90 feet. Not all units have this tight of a tolerance but the ones that do also keep asking for you to do uturns until you do pass the point and that is a real pain for anyone.
Have enough points to force the route you want. Some programs help with this and will add via points to your route for you. Others you have to do it yourself.
c. Do not place points at intersections. This causes some units grief. Place at least one point on every road you want to be sure you travel. I like placing them mid point of the road. Sometimes a little ways after a turn works well also. Again if you plan on reversing the route then just after a turn is just before when it recalculates.
Always be sure you are thinking the next person will end up having to recalculate the route and their unit will be set up different. Most web based routing programs like google maps, mapquest and others will let you set a start point and an end point and then you can drag the route to where you want it. When you send this to your unit, if you can, in most cases you will only get the start and end points and your unit will route you between the two any way it wants. You will not get the route you saw on your screen when done playing.
Good luck and please add your .02c
Please consider this for a sticky.
Enjoy the Ride
It really does not make a difference what program you are using, Basecamp, Mapsource, Tyre, Furgot, HD trip planner or whatever, they all do about the same thing. These thoughts seem to apply to them all.
1. Routes and not tracks. Tracks are for hiking or seeing where you have been with bread crumbs. Routes are for driving on the road and some units may not even see tracks.
2. GPS units and maps are not all the same. When you share a route you made others stuff will be different in some way and it will need to recalculate the route based on its settings and maps. More on this as we go. Shoot even the map you use to make the route can be different than the one on your unit.
3. Make your route so it will share. Here is a sub list of things to do and not do.
a. Make your settings for both your unit and the program for avoidance and routing style something logical to start with. Do not set no highways unless all your routes truly never touch a highway. About all I do is set no gravel (if on Concours), no ferries unless I know there is a ferry crossing in the route like in 2012 and sometimes no tolls but I leave town on a toll road sometimes so for me I leave that avoidance off.
I set routing to shortest distance but I usually test the route so that it recalculates the same in either shortest distance or fastest time, you should also. Your unit or the one you are sharing with may have the other setting and that will change the route.
b. Place your waypoints well. I was told by Garmin that on many units you have to pass within 10 meters plus or minus the current accuracy for the passing of the waypoint to be registered by the unit. That is usually about 90 ft. You have to blow the map up full zoom and check EVERY point to be sure it is on the road within that tolerance. Be sure it is on the correct side of the road if divided.
Note: if you do drop points on one side of a divided road then that route may not be reversible anymore. If you plan on reversing your route consider the effects of where you are placing points.
Watch that the point is not where you can't get to it. Like over a destination like a building or the grand canyon. The gps will never know you made it there if you do not drive over it <90 feet. Not all units have this tight of a tolerance but the ones that do also keep asking for you to do uturns until you do pass the point and that is a real pain for anyone.
Have enough points to force the route you want. Some programs help with this and will add via points to your route for you. Others you have to do it yourself.
c. Do not place points at intersections. This causes some units grief. Place at least one point on every road you want to be sure you travel. I like placing them mid point of the road. Sometimes a little ways after a turn works well also. Again if you plan on reversing the route then just after a turn is just before when it recalculates.
Always be sure you are thinking the next person will end up having to recalculate the route and their unit will be set up different. Most web based routing programs like google maps, mapquest and others will let you set a start point and an end point and then you can drag the route to where you want it. When you send this to your unit, if you can, in most cases you will only get the start and end points and your unit will route you between the two any way it wants. You will not get the route you saw on your screen when done playing.
Good luck and please add your .02c
Please consider this for a sticky.
Enjoy the Ride