GPS that lets you program route

This is a pretty good video tutorial on using Garmin's free "Base Camp" desktop software to create custom routes on your desktop or laptop and save them to your Garmin GPS. It will allow for as much or as little granularity as you need. And it seems that once you get through the initial learning curve of the software, the actual process of creating a custom route would be pretty fast, simple and effective. But you'd probably have to put your device in "car mode" to eliminate any potential problems as a trucker following a custom OD route as set by the state.

I'm unsure if the "custom routes" saved would be compatible with Rand McNally devices but I suspect not. Also, I'm, pretty sure these routes can be shared among others (pilot drivers) via email and some drag and drop techniques that you may have to tutor them on.

The video tutorial is done by a motorcycle enthusiast but the application to truck custom routing would still apply ... Some of the nitty gritty begins at around 03:00 (starting a new custom route), and 16:15 (saving to GPS device and loading route at the device level)



On a side note, I wonder if Garmin allows you to somehow save custom routes to a saved location? I can think of several places that have very particular and complex truck route into and back out of [from/to a typical begin/end point]. Otherwise, Garmin could not select the correct route if it's life depended on it.

 

I played around with this. Created a custom route into a shipper in New Jersey and exported the route to my Garmin.

All works well enough, but as with Garmins, when you have a trip with multiple via points (waypoints, legs, whatever you want to call them), the route overview will only show the highlight route to the next waypoint. It displays the total trip distance accurately but you have to wait to get to the pending waypoint to THEN see the next trip leg hi-lighted, and so on and so forth until you reach the end. So, you have to take it on faith the device has the route points loaded and will follow accordingly. I suspect Rand McNally does not have this weakness?

 

Nope, my experience in programming a Rand McNally is that it also has this weakness. You can only see the route and estimated time of arrival to the next waypoint.

 

I was wrong with my earlier post ... duh. The Garmin shows the highlighted route in it's entirety and the via flags. What I had done wrong was a learning curve issue with loading a "trip" and selecting the appropriate way point to target initially. Anyway, this software to device technique actually works pretty good once you grasp the basics and do a few.

However, I also understand the newer Garmin Dezl's with the "Custom Route Shaping" feature actually works pretty well but not sure how user-friendly the GUI is to use a finger to drag a route like you want. Not yet found a video review with a demonstration of this feature

Also as a side note, I think you have to have an SD card in the Garmin GPS SD slot to save custom routes to from a desktop. I have one but not sure if it's even possible if you don't have one in it.

 

I"m guessing this garmin is for computers? Can it be used with a gps antannae for actual guidance? And can it use your cell phone as a bluetooth receiver for actual guidance?

I used to run copilot 9 on windows 7 and used my cell phone as the antannae 2 years later and i have no luck using my bluetooth chips on windows 10 so THAT'S out. My lenovo pc won't use the built in chip. Neither laptop will use the asus bluetooth usb dongle. There just aren't any drivers.

I've used the microsoft thing also. On windows 7 using my cell phone.

 

I don't think Base Camp allows for direct GPS guidance inside the software. There are too many affordable, dedicated GPS devices available that are much more functional for mobile use. Why would one need or want guidance via a GPS enabled tablet or laptop?

But for all I know, it may see a GPS receiver and have a navigate function as long as you purchase a street level map.

 

In the beginning up to a few years ago. People on here were actually using laptops. Msft streets and trips. Some have even used tablets. I still have my 10 inch tablet with copilot. Used it for 9 months. Then i started using my sprint note2 phone with copilot. To which i still have and still works. I was going to give my verizon note2 to my aunt to use for gps. But when i turned it off as i had bought the s6. It decided it would never turn on again. I've never been able to make a verizon phone last. While all my sprint phones are still chugging away. Some day. I'm going to figure out a way to plug my verizon s6 into my computer to retreive my pics before i throw it in the trash. It lasted 3 months before the screen went dead.