1.4 Some Garmin Definitions

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Key Information - so we are all speaking the same language.

The terms ‘Trip’ and ‘Route’ often seem to be used to refer to the same thing, although the later Zumos and the now aging Basecamp do not seem to use the terms consistently. Sometimes the word ‘Route’ seems to be a better term than Trip. Basically you plan a Trip, but you follow a Route.


These are my interpretations which fit most occurrences.

Trip

Describes a journey from start to end as a sequence of locations which must be visited in strict order. A Trip may include the date and time of the journey.


Route

This is the course that has been calculated in order to get the rider from one location in the Trip to the next. The Route is the XT’s magenta line. There are times when the Route may be recalculated, but it will always visit each of the locations defined in the Trip.



Route Point

A term that I use for any fixed location in a Trip. Start, End, Via or Shaping Point. These are all types of Route Point which the route must visit in the order that is listed in the Trip. A route is calculated between each pair of adjacent route points in the Trip.


Start / End Point  

These are special only because they must be there, one at each end of the route. They behave like Via Points, but are shown on the map an in the Trip as green and chequered flags.



Via Points   


Route points which are often thought of as stopping places. Garmin also calls them ‘Destinations’.

Via Points:

  • appear as an orange flag on the map and on the route list
  • alert the rider on approach
  • ‘Select Next Destination’ when starting a route shows only Via Points as the available options
  • can be used to display Estimated Time of Arrival, and time / distance on the Trip Data display.
  • usually represent key places on the route, stopping places, land marks etc.
  • need to be placed strategically when planning a route
  • the Zumo XT insists that you visit them
  • .. but can be by-passed by using the Skip button
  • are easily converted to non-alerting Shaping Points.

Shaping Points    

Optionally placed in a Trip between Via Points to force the route to take particular roads.
Shaping Points:

  • are shown as blue discs on the XT’s map and on the route list in the Zumo.
  • do not announce on approach or arrival
  • can be ignored by pressing the Skip button
  • the XT will always navigate to a Shaping Point …
  • … unless the plotted magenta route is re-joined after the Shaping Point
  • can be converted into Via Points

Automatic Skip


Shaping Points and Via Points can be skipped semi-automatically - if instructions are ignored on at least 2 occasions. A prompt is displayed on screen to confirm.


Waypoints


'Waypoint' is the name given to any point that has been stored prior to creating a Trip. Sometimes called ‘Favourites’ or ‘Saved’ Locations. They may be added to a Trip or kept for later use.

Many other mapping programs use the term ‘Waypoint’ to refer to any fixed point on a route. Garmin’s definition is different and is often misunderstood.

  • Waypoints are added to Zumo XT Favourites (UK) on transfer to internal storage. For non-UK Keyboard settings, 'Saved' is sometimes used instead of Favourite.
  • Waypoints have to exist before thay can be added to a Trip (unlike ad-hoc Via and Shaping Points)
  • When a Waypoint is added to a Trip it becomes a Via Point in the Trip by default, but it can be changed to a Shaping Point (and back)
  • Waypoints are transferred to the Zumo XT automatically if they are part of a route.
  • Waypoints retain the name that you give them in Basecamp.
  • The Zumo XT has access to several databases which contain pre-defined Waypoints
  • On the Zumo XT map, a Favourite can be made to show as one of 46 different symbols.
  • Only Waypoints will show up in the bottom left ‘Data Window’ pane in Basecamp.

Saved Waypoint


Where I have used this term, I intend it to be the same as Waypoint. I sometimes put ‘saved’ in front in case I haven’t made it clear enough that a Waypoint has to be created and saved before it can be used.



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The information on these pages has been acquired from personal experience of using and testing the behaviour of Basecamp and my Zumo XT. I have no links with Garmin, and these pages should not be regarded as instructions. They are presented for interest only. The contents of these pages must not be shared, copied, transmitted, redistributed or re-published in any form without my permission. (C) JHeath 2021.