Another ETrex question, or maybe just a Garmin Question?

[just ducky]

I was playing around with my new ETrex again this weekend just practicing for when it really counts. There is a "route" feature, which basically lets you set a route of waypoints to follow, and it is supposed to automatically guide you from the first, to the second, to the third, etc. without having to stop and use the "go to" feature. In other words, once you arrive at one waypoint, it automatically starts you towards the next. Just wondering if any other ETrex or Garmin users have any tips on using the "route" feature. I've been trying and trying and can't seem to get this to work. I get to the first waypoint, and it says "arriving at destination", but it doesn't go to the next waypoint. I've read the manual over and over, so don't bother pointing me there.

[Michigan Hunter]

To set up a route, you select your final destination. (home, the blind, a city, etc) then let it calculate a route to get there. It will take you to all the turns of the roads to get there. Last year we went to Wyoming, I selected the camp site in Wyoming and it calculated the highways to get there with turns, etc. You must be selecting the first waypoint and it takes you there. Select the ending waypoint.

[just ducky]

To set up a route, you select your final destination. (home, the blind, a city, etc) then let it calculate a route to get there. It will take you to all the turns of the roads to get there. Last year we went to Wyoming, I selected the camp site in Wyoming and it calculated the highways to get there with turns, etc. You must be selecting the first waypoint and it takes you there. Select the ending waypoint.


Hmmm....interesting. I followed the instructions in the manual to the "T", but what you say makes sense. Gonna have to play around a bit more with the thing. Thanks for the idea.

[Michigan Hunter]

That's how you learn the darn things. Playing around with them. Mine is on my belt all the time and I use it every chance I get. Example: My route to the hunt property follows several roads but one long one is a new highway and not on my maps. So I set up a track to the property and it follows the track exactly on the roads and over the track where it has no road. Then when it's foggy or dark I 'follow track' or 'trackback' and know where I am all the time. I also have a holder on the dash with the 12vdc cord and have it lighted all the time. People should use them as much as possible and you will find they are easy and valuable that you wonder how you got along without them. When I use 'go to' maybe to home my wife is amazed when I give her the exact time we will arrive!
Enjoy it, you have a lot of technology there............

[just ducky]

As suspected, it was "operator error" :lol: I went back and followed the instructions for using the "route" function word for word, and it worked fine. Exactly as you indicated Michigan Hunter....once I entered the various waypoints in my route, a prompt asks you to tell it which one is the end destination...I was blowing right past that prompt thinking I knew what I was doing...WRONG! I inadvertently was skipping the one most crucial step. So it was assuming I was just doing "GoTo" for each waypoint. Very simple now that I know what I was doing wrong. :bonk: My bad!

[roger23]

Been there done that .Its a bitch I don't know why machines make us look so stupid. I am at the point of asking the kindergartners to show me how to use my new cell phone

[just ducky]

Now that I've played with the thing over the last few weeks, all I can say is "I love my ETrex!". More options on that little sucker than I personally will ever need.

[Splitshot]

I have never used the route feature, but most of the other features I have. I believe you would only use it in off road nagivation, but not sure. I just purchased a Nuvi 660 and have been on the phone with Garmin tech several times in the last couple of weeks.

It is one of the big reasons to purchase Garmin. Best tech support I've seen. Call them at 1-800-800-1020 and they will give you the answer.

[just ducky]

I have never used the route feature, but most of the other features I have. I believe you would only use it in off road nagivation, but not sure...

I'm using the "routes" feature on the water out duck hunting, and I'll give ya the best example I found for why....I'm hunting Saginaw Bay a lot, and as most know in recent years the bay water level has been way below normal. There are a lot of spots that you could tear up your lower unit real easily. One particular spot on Saginaw Bay where I launch my boat is also known for fishing nets. The nets extend a long way out into the bay. So number one...the low water means I have to know exactly where the channel from the launch heading out is (waypoint location). Second, once you leave the channel, you often come across boulders, logs, or just shallow spots that you need to avoid (another or maybe multiple waypoints). Then, ya gotta know where the end of those damn fishing nets are so that when you're motoring along in the semi-darkness, or snow flurries/fog, you don't run across the nets (another waypoint). Then of course you may have a particular spot that you wanna hunt (waypoint). So by using the "routes" feature, I can program in all of these waypoints, set the route, tell it to get me from the first to the last, and viola.....instant roadmap on Saginaw Bay. It really does work fantastic, and is an absolute necessity out there in low light conditions or poor weather.

[Michigan Hunter]

You know, when setting a 'route' in the Bay it takes you straight line to each way point. If you have particular ways you want to go instead of straight line you could use 'tracks'. How you get it is to go exactly the way you want to go in the daylight by setting 'tracks' on and it will give you a route that follows exactly the way you drive the boat (curves, turns, etc.) Then save that route. Then in the dark or fog you simply follow track to the final waypoint and it will guide you exactly like a path.............
I do that when in a woods (with no road) and it will guide me exactly to a waypoint I want to go to. You could have waypoints on the track and go to any waypoint you want if it's on the track.

[just ducky]

You know, when setting a 'route' in the Bay it takes you straight line to each way point. If you have particular ways you want to go instead of straight line you could use 'tracks'. How you get it is to go exactly the way you want to go in the daylight by setting 'tracks' on and it will give you a route that follows exactly the way you drive the boat (curves, turns, etc.) Then save that route. Then in the dark or fog you simply follow track to the final waypoint and it will guide you exactly like a path.............
I do that when in a woods (with no road) and it will guide me exactly to a waypoint I want to go to. You could have waypoints on the track and go to any waypoint you want if it's on the track.

Man, there you go again Michigan Hunter....another great option! Haven't played with the "tracks" option yet, but I definitely need to. As I said before, this little ETrex has more features than I'll ever need. Then again, I'm a K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) kinda guy! I have absolutely no need for all the premium options of a higher-priced unit. God I love this thing! ;)