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Garmin Edge Training Center - Please assist


Noel's picture

By Noel - Posted on 14 August 2008

The standard map in Garmin Training Center is crappy. Yes I know I can view it in Google earth but it looks like a million little photos laid down instead of a nice red/purple line. Please, I have been reading GPS and mapping forums and BS for about 2 hours. Save me! All I want to do is d/l a map and stick it in the Garmin folder and see a better map in Training Center. I never new the world of GPS was infinitely complicated.

A map with some topo lines would be nice, and a few more streets than the basic map shows.

Thanks for any assistance. I'd just like to get it right before I start stuffing around d/l'ing these 360MB files to find out it's the wrong one.

I searched NobMob a bit too as I know this has been discussed, but can't find the answer.

I got the overhauled 305 from the US (as referred by Carlgroover) and am very happy with it. Thank you.

Oh, also, any other tips on how to mount it so it does not fall off my bike (as I read this can be a problem) while I am performing amazing stunts that defy gravity (haha I wish) would also be appreciated.

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geoz's picture

give Motionbased.com a try.

Paul's picture

Noel pick up my 705 on Monday so I'm a novice and I hope this works for you.

What I wanted was maps on my GPS, similar to a car GPS (I don't know why I wanted them and I didn't want to particularly follow the roads, but I wanted them). The same maps can be used for Training Centre.

I was told that Training Centre is crap and that Motionbased (also owned by Garmin) is better.

To do all this I annoyed Rob, Dave (Arpit) and Hans, only understanding part of what they told me but it was enough because last night I loaded maps for all the eastern seaboard and Canberra on my GPS. I assumed it worked, I can see Cromer but I need to go elsewhere to see if it worked.

Step 1 - You need some software Mapsource or similar on your PC - it didn't come with my unit so I looked at buying it, but Garmin don't ship it outside the USA. I'll PM you an alternatie

Step 2 - Maps This site http://shonkylogic.net/shonkymaps/ takes publically available government maps and they make it available to Joe public for free. The download is 340 megabytes but that is for all Australia, once you load this file into Mapsource you can pick the maps you want to load by region (e.g Eastern Seaboard, just Sydney, etc).
There are detailed maps, conours, etc I'm still to see how detailed the detailed maps are.

I'll also PM you with another site that does free maps - I didn't try them but the process is the same.

Step 3 - Using Mapsource upload the maps to your GPS - mine automatically appeared in Training Centre.

If you have any technical smarts you can do this, because I fumbled my way through.

I'll send the PM.

Paul

Rob's picture

What Paul writes about the 705 is very interesting, but no use to you with a 305. Sorry 'bout that.

As for looking at where you've been, MotionBased is the go. There's another site http://gpsies.com/ that might be worth a look. MotionBased uses the MB agent for upload. GPSies uses the Garmin web plugin from what I can tell - I haven't tried this.

Anyhow, once you have your data in one of these it's easy to view on Google Maps in your browser or Google Earth. They also plot profiles and of course MB shows heartrate and all that other good stuff.

I could blather on about gpsbabel and how to use it under Linux but won't bore you with that - use one of the above web services.

nh's picture

Does anyone know how use pytrainer and/or gpsbabel with *.tcx files from training center?

Carlgroover's picture

I had this site recommended to me for charting your rides and it seems very user friendly with many good features, I'm still loading my stuff into Motionbased as well but the good thing with SportTracks is you don't have to pay them to keep all your training details like Motionbased.
Cheers.

Nick R's picture

Go to http://www.gpsoz.com.au/tracks4australia/ for another free map download which can be loaded into Training Centre and Mapsource and I assume Garmin Edge 605 and 705. Doesn't have contour lines but it is free and better than the basic map PCBasemap that comes with Training Centre. Also it is only 39 MB download rather than 300MB+

I use SportsTracks to store data and www.bikeroutetoaster.com or Google Earth to plot course maps and www.gpsies.com or TCX Converter (http://www.visivaworld.it/gallery/64/TCX-C-Exper...)
to convert KML or GPX files to TCX format needed to upload to Garmin

HeezaGeeza's picture

Hi,

Had the same dilema and there are a few ways to solve it but the easiest and cheapest is http:www.gpsies.com . You can draw a map, or import a KMZ or KML file from Google earth (Get the trails from this site. Start by saving a KMZ file to your desktop from one of the trails here, then go to GPSies and import KML and save as a new track (I've actually uploaded quite a few for Sydney already.

Connect your Edge 205 or 305 while the site is still open and you'll see 'import to Garmin Edge' as an option. I import at a CRS file I think, if not a TCX instead. If successful you'll hear the Edge beep.

Now go to Training, Courses and then find the course and select Enter. Check it loaded by selecting View Map. If OK, just do the same but select 'Do Course' when you hit the trail. You'll see a solid line to follow as you go.

You can also upload from your Edge to the site and save the track to view in Google Earth or Google Maps in the window also and save the data (includes time and elevation too)

Handy for trails you're not too sure of. Give it a go and you can email me if you have any queries......

kiwiboy's picture

This is really useful thanks. However when I do the import CRS file the Garmin beeps says import completed but it does not show up in courses. :-/ ? All that shows up is the entry.
I have successfully imported as a Route, (albeit truncated) but really wanted a CRS file.

Any ideas ?
thanks
Mark

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