Tracking with Garmin Devices

[davidr]

Tracks and Tracking can be just another confusing aspect of Garmin GPS but it needn't be, here's a quick introduction to the basics of how tracks are stored on various GPS units and the Pros and Cons of each (for the units that I know)

Tracks are what's recorded by your GPS when you're travelling (provided the unit is switched on and track is enabled, done automatically on some devices). Tracking basically adds a historical point (at intervals set by you) at pre-defined distances for trips and journeys you've made. For example, I could switch on the track on my 276c, then set the interval at 250m and ride off, then when I come back later to look at the track, a line is drawn between the points every 250m. Each track point also shows a time, date and elevation.

A not so apparent difference between GPS devices is their ability to do tracking, so have only an active track log, some can save tracks and others simply archive active tracks (such as Zumo). Here are a few points about each system:

Active Track:
Most Garmin Motorcycle and Marine devices have some tracking ability with what's called an 'active track log', this records time, date, elevation, speed at pre-defined distances (set on your GPS unit) and is held in the unit until it reaches its active track memory limit.

Units with Active Track Feature:
GPS V, 60c, Quest, Quest II, StreetPilot, Zumo, 276c, 278

Saved Tracks:
Some units can then save the active track as a saved track, normally when you do this, some of the attributes of the track points are lost (e.g, speed, date) to save space on the unit memory. The tracks themselves can then normally be 'tracked back' from the unit (a real advantage if you're lost in the middle of nowhere)

Units with Saved Track function:
GPS V, 276c, 278

Archived Active Tracks:
Because of saved tracks losing some data, another method used more recently by Garmin (on units such as the Zumo) is to simply archive the existing track. This is not the same as saving a track as above, because although it does save more information about tracks, the track back functionality from the unit (without first re-interpreting the data via a computer and MapSource) is not quite as versatile.

Units with Ability to Archive the Active track when full:
Zumo

[davidr]

A very cool feature of tracking is also the ability to be able to load tracks that others have made (these can either be loaded as saved tracks) or MapSource and your unit can be 'fooled' into using the active log (so that more detail is captured) by simply choosing the name ACTIVE LOG XXX (where XXX is a sequential number from 001 onwards), these can then be loaded into your unit as Active tracks, quite cool.

[Jeff@TireBalls]

Originally Posted by davidr

A very cool feature of tracking is also the ability to be able to load tracks that others have made (these can either be loaded as saved tracks) or MapSource and your unit can be 'fooled' into using the active log (so that more detail is captured) by simply choosing the name ACTIVE LOG XXX (where XXX is a sequential number from 001 onwards), these can then be loaded into your unit as Active tracks, quite cool.

Very cool! I did not know that.

[davidr]

I know, it's great isn't it! It's a crazy but powerful secret little hack!

[Hilton]

Hi Dave, back in HKG for six weeks R&R. Great chance to nail down some of thr "Fuzzy" features on our Garmin. Some observations to date :
Letting Mapsource initially make a route start to finish and then saving. No intermediate waypoints at this stage. Checking with the michelin green routes, and then melding the two, using multiple waypoints. Saving between route constructions allows me to have multiple routes within the one document, and thus indivigual routes to choose from the GPS. Not elegant, but works for us.
Downloaded some routes recently from a German friend. Same version of mapsource, and we both had Nav III's. Just transfered the routes but discovered that my waypoint catagories had switched from my custom english ones to generic german, even with my original saved track maps. Weird. Also his routes were from Europe V9, my map data was Europe 2008. Sends a message on the GPS to say this and do you wish to recalculate ? If you press no, all the data road names etc, remain in German and tracking is rather patchy. If you press yes, translates back to english and knows where it is again. Should have taken the blue pill
Finally, just about to try a program called GPS Trackmaker. Just want to see if it can use our saved track data which I upload often, to recreate it as a route to then reload into the GPS. Have you heard of it ?
Had the chance to help a fellow traveller. His TomTom had frozen with no screen display and a quick internet search revealed the secrets to resetting. He was very happy with no map loss and routes intact. Just love the technology.
Trust this finds you both well, and your plans going well.
Cheers Hilton & Rena