Tread Changes Exisiting Routes - Shaping Point Issues

[smfollen]

@JS_racer By explorer, I assume you mean the Garmin Explore web pages and the Explore data base (sorry, just being clear since Garmin uses the same names for multiple things). That Explore simply does not support shaping points at all. The issue of routes being changed seems to arise when the tread app syncs routes containing shaping points from the XT2 with the Explore database. If you don't let the Tread app sync, that issue is avoided. Tread has other issues too however.

I have stopped using the Tread app entirely, removing it from my phone and resetting the XT.

I use Basecamp for route planning and transfer routes either via sd card or by connecting the XT2 to my computer via USB cable. MRA should similarly work fine for you.

You can find additional posts here where others have found alternate methods or workarounds that work for them. The above is only my own approach.

[Regain]

@JS_racer I also use MRA. It took a while but I’m reasonably happy with my MRA-Tread-XT2 combo now. I build a route on MRA with enough shaping points so that Tread doesn’t try to change it. Do not use ‘Motorcycle’ on MRA, use the ‘Car’ setting. Once you’ve exported your built route to Tread, if there is any discrepancy with the track, simply add more shaping points in the MRA app (really simple to edit), then re-export.

It’s quite a trick gadget which needs some effort, trial and error but there are some real benefits to it. Much brighter and bigger screen and it seems to handle my Bluetooth connections really well.

Edit: for the purposes of the XT2, Tread = (Garmin) Explore as it is the interface between the two. It also sends traffic, speed cameras, weather and other stuff to the unit.

[jfheath]

skimming through this thread, as a possible xt2 owner, just got my xt swapped out by garmin..
the ignoring shaping points seems like a huge failure, as I'm sure you guys feel as well..
are there work arounds for that without basecamp, and without pulling the sd card ??

Yes - there are work arounds. I have the XT2 and XT1 mount on my bike. I'm going out with just the XT2 these days. I've got it tamed, and I have had to adapt a bit as well.

@FrankB also has something in the pipeline - TripManager - already available for the XT1. It isn't quite working with the XT2, but I'm helping to get that sorted out. We had a breakthrough last week - which still requires a lot of testing.

Is Tread like Explore, that Tread also wants to store and organize and do more, compared to say Drive for the xt, that just passes stuff along...

Basically Yes. Tread for the XT2 does the same job as Explore and Drive did on the XT1. And then some more.


'Explore' is software that runs on the XT1 - providing an interface between the user and the organisation of routes, waypoints, tracks and collections. It also provided part of the link to send data to the Explore database where everything was stored and assigned to your explore.garmin.com account.

The transfer of information is managed by the Drive app. The Drive app also controls the transfer of texts, messages, emails, phone call data, traffic, road closures, petrol prices, weather, ... It used to provide photolive info from static roadside cameras.

This is a step up from what was offered for the Zumo 590 and 595 - Smartphone Link.

Explore was also an app on the android, and app on the iphone, a web based program and Database Management Sytem that handled the storage and retrieval of data. I think there were 4 different things - all called 'Explore'. It allowed incoming data to be intercepted (eg emailed' gpx files), and transferred to the Zumo andhandled properly at the XT1 end. Exlplore also offered rather primative route planning - which used straightlines rather than plotting on roads. These could be transfered to the XT1 and a route was plotted which joined up the 'corners' or 'vertices' where the straight lines changed direction - calculating routes on roads using these points. eg here https://www.zumouserforums.co.uk/app.php/ZXT-P61

Tread has taken Explore up a few notches. It is now a much better route planning application on the XT2 (and it would be brilliant if a little more thought and care had been put into it.) You can now manage collectiosn on your Zumo - impossible on the XT1. It now handles all of the things that were done by the Explore app and the Drive app on the XT1, and more. There is no web based Explore program, but Tread still uses the Explore database, and you can still log onto your explore.garmin.com account and see the waypoints and collections that have been synched from the XT2 or from the phone's Tread App.

But it still has many issues, and although I have Tread loaded on my phone and conencted to the XT2 for traffic, weather, roadworks etc - I do not let it synchronise with my XT2 - an option that you get to see only once on the very first set up. You have to restore to factory condition to get rid of it. Not allowing synchronisation has solved many of the XT2 problems for me.

[smfollen]

@FrankB also has something in the pipeline - TripManager - already available for the XT1. It isn't quite working with the XT2, but I'm helping to get that sorted out. We had a breakthrough last week - which still requires a lot of testing.

Well that sounds promising. Thank you @FrankB and @jfheath

[FrankB]

@smfollen
It is promising, but as John mentioned, it needs testing. If you would like to be involved in testing, let me know. I can provide a link to a pre-release.

[JS_racer]

**xt2 ordered, be here tomorrow, 30 day free return**

say, for those with the shaping point issue with mra, are they using 1.1 or 1.2 gpx ?? ( i do use the compare in mra gold, to add more points if needed in the gpx.. not sure if that helps this moving shaping point issue.. the examples I saw had several shaping points putting the route on specific roads, and the trip ignored them.. )
seeing the xt2 still on sale today, might play with one for a couple weeks...

the smarter choice might be to sit pat for the next hardware release, but not sure when that will be..
my xt has been good, and I have it utilizing collections, and the rest with complex paths I would like to travel.. it definitely feels slow in some aspects,

(sure would like to have a specific collection not sync with the xt... my inreach saves its tracks in a separate collection, and that syncs and adds tons of tracks sorted by distance)

thanks so very much for your time.

[jfheath]

**xt2 ordered, be here tomorrow, 30 day free return**

There's a brave man !

I'm joking. I have an XT2 and an XT. And a 595 and a 590 come to that. The 590 is the most predictable of the bunch - but the dull screen and the battery draining in a few nanoseconds.... But it is the XT2 that I use on my bike. And that's because I've sorted out how to make it work for me, and FrankB has cracked the how to make it work for everybody. (Announcement soon). I'm a happy bunny again.

say, for those with the shaping point issue with mra, are they using 1.1 or 1.2 gpx ?? ( i do use the compare in mra gold, to add more points if needed in the gpx.. not sure if that helps this moving shaping point issue.. the examples I saw had several shaping points putting the route on specific roads, and the trip ignored them.. )
seeing the xt2 still on sale today, might play with one for a couple weeks...

MRA gpx v 1.2 doesn't have shaping points, so it cannot move them. But if it needs to recalculate, it can use only the Via Points.
MRA v1.1 does have shaping points. The XT2 has to calculate the route - which is no big deal because the chances of it not calculating a route are pretty slim. All imported GPX routes have the potential to develop the RUT issue and/or the probability that shaping poitns will be moved.

the smarter choice might be to sit pat for the next hardware release, but not sure when that will be..
my xt has been good, and I have it utilizing collections, and the rest with complex paths I would like to travel.. it definitely feels slow in some aspects,

The XT1 also had the RUT issue, it also renamed route points and under certain circumstances, if you devaite from the route it would regard both shaping points and Via Points as optional locations to visit - removing them from the route.

(sure would like to have a specific collection not sync with the xt... my inreach saves its tracks in a separate collection, and that syncs and adds tons of tracks sorted by distance)

thanks so very much for your time.

The best solution in my opinion is not to allow the XT2 or XT1 to synch with the Explore database AND to watch out for FrankB's Trip manager anouncements. (Coming soon to a forum near you). I've not found a way for it not to synch a particular forum. It seems to be all or nothing.

[Regain]

If you wish to use the full potential of the XT2 and let Tread sync with Explore, it needs to be gpx1.1 as Tread will not play with gpx1.2 at all. And of course then you can employ wireless transfer.

With cable/USB transfer, the XT2 will accept gpx1.2 routes directly from MRA and work as usual. To stay on your route, you will have to turn off auto-recalculate as any deviation from route may result in a completely different trip to your next via point (which I avoid using anyway unless I 100% know I’ll go there).

In any event, always display your track underneath your route so that you’re sure you’re going the way you planned. Lots on here and MRA forum about how to do that with Collections on the XT2 but come back if you need more answers when you’ve got the unit and scratching your head.