Upload routes to Garmin 3790T?

[inkey$]

Had the unit since Christmas. Looks great and performs okay (albeit slower than my previous Garmin), but I want to be able to design a route and upload it to the unit via my MacBook. Never done this before so what will I need and how easy is it?

Also, has anybody else with the 3790T had issues with software update on the website not ever showing you've got the latest version, even though you've gone through the whole installation process there?

 

[WLH]

I am pretty sure that it is possible. The first thing you will need to do is to download the Garmin Plugin for Safari or Firefox.
Here is the link...
http://www8.garmin.com/products/communicator/

There is quite a bit of info on the web about how to do this. This is something I am also looking into but have not had the time.

 

[inkey$]

Cheers WLH. Uploaded the plugin and will do another search, Its never easy is it?!

 

[WLH]

Cheers WLH. Uploaded the plugin and will do another search, Its never easy is it?!

Never....

As I understand from what I've read you plan your route in Google Maps then transfer that link into another Google program which converts the route to WAY POINTS and then converts the file into a GTX format I believe is then uploaded in the Garmin. I've was going to do that last year and Google did an upgrade to there map program and the conversion to the GTX file type was not working. Let us know how it works out and I will be on this as well in a few weeks.

 

[inkey$]

Just been looking and apparently Google and Garmin have fallen out and its not very well supported anymore. MapSource is apparently the way forwards, but its a nightmare to get/run on a Mac so I'm investigating running Parallels on my MacBook so I can get a stable copy. Have downloaded some software from the Garmin site called BaseCamp but it's not got the level of detail i require. Only the main roads and none of the fun ones :thumbsdown:

Will keep you posted.

 

[WLH]

inkey$, like you said, "It Never Easy"...

 

[wegras]

May sound like a daft question BUT is there any way of saving "MY"favourite route to a " place " ie where I know a better route than the sat nav ( Garmin now and in future)
As saving destination only gives Sat nav free reign to pick it's own route again :?

 

[WLH]

May sound like a daft question BUT is there any way of saving "MY"favourite route to a " place " ie where I know a better route than the sat nav ( Garmin now and in future)
As saving destination only gives Sat nav free reign to pick it's own route again :?

Yes, it's pretty straight forward to save a destination to your GPS which I don't see as that useful. The trick is to save a specific route which works by saving each turn as a way point. That forces your GPS to plot the route from one way point to another. There are a lot of issues to overcome with doing this and the first one is getting a GPS unit that allows you to save a large number of way points. Garmin allows, the last time I check, you to save a very large number of way points. Garmin also had some kind of deal/agreement with Google about developing this technology but now it sound like that deal has fallen apart... Anyway that is my understand of how this works. If anyone knows or has a better understand of this please share you knowledge.

 

[wegras]

WLH
Cheers for that

 

[inkey$]

Haven't tried it out yet, but think I may have found the Mac friendly solution. And it's free in the Mac App Store too. Go there and download BaseCamp for your desktop or laptop. Should be able to create routes and upload to your device from there.

Am going to play now and see if it works.

 

[WLH]

inkey$, excellent find....
I am getting ready to go to a ZSCCA club breakfast and then a car show but will check it out tonight when I return....

 

[inkey$]

Seems to be working okay WLH, although I'm finding it tricky uploading to my Garmin at the moment (it's not what you'd call obvious!). Sure I'm doing something wrong but at least I've managed to sort out a test route and insert waypoints. Let me know how you get on too and have fun at the breakfast club

 

[wegras]

http://www.gpspassion.com/upload2/HiddenTrackLogHowTo.pdf

An excellent doc which explains how to track and record a trip and software to convert to a .gpx file .
Now have to work out how to upload back to Garmin ( mine is a 770) but that would provide a route by the look of it
Interestingly mine would not work ,then found a recent firmware update and ...it now works

 

[inkey$]

Cheers Wegras. I'll check out the link.

 

[WLH]

I' also playing with another Garmin product for Mac call "Road Trip"...
wegras, nice find...

 

[inkey$]

Yeah I've got Road Trip too WLH, but cant seem to get any level of detail on the maps other than main motorway roads.

 

[WLH]

Yeah I've got Road Trip too WLH, but cant seem to get any level of detail on the maps other than main motorway roads.

Same problem I'm having but yet is should show the detail. I am going to call Garmin Support tomorrow and see what the hell is wrong...

 

[inkey$]

Good luck and look forward to hearing the feedback. I'll continue to experiment

 

[WLH]

Good luck and look forward to hearing the feedback. I'll continue to experiment

I called Garmin customer support and got a live person withing minutes.....
He also seemed to know what the issue was and how to fix it....
The Garmin maps must be downloaded to your computer. This involves purchasing the latest update if you don't already have it and downloading again except just before you get to that point where the download begins there is an "Advanced Option" and that option is to load a copy of the map to your computer.

Ok, so no problem for me as I have lifetime updates so I logged into my Garmon account and went to the My maps section and downloaded again. The Garmin tech stayed with me on the phone and made sure I followed all the steps correctly and I now have the maps installed. As I have spent most of the afternoon on this project I will likely not get back to plot a route and try to load it into the Garmin until tomorrow. So don't spend any money to download anything until I can see if this actually works as described. However, it does look promising...

 

[inkey$]

This is great news WLH, and well done for managing to get some live feedback from Garmin HQ Shall await further news before reaching for the credit card!