Making Track visible on the Map

[gibboian]

Hi, I've just spent a few hours reading the posts on this incredibly helpful forum.

I'm an experienced Garmin user but recently changed from a Nav VI to the XT. I think it would be really useful on my long trips to see the track on the map under the route to spot any odd recalculation behaviour.

I created a couple of collections in Explore and synced to the XT. I added a track to the XT and put it in one of the collections. I was then expecting to see the option (below "Track width") to display it on the map... However that option isn't there? Any suggestions?

[lkraus]

The option to display the track is not available if you are using Explore. That's one of the reasons many of us do not use Explore at all.

There are detailed instructions here somewhere to disable Explore, but I think it involves removing the Explore app from your phone, a reset of the XT to restore factory settings, and then bypassing the Explore option during the initial Zumo setup.

You can continue to use Drive.

[gibboian]

Thanks for this advice - it worked perfectly.

I did a factory reset and removed explore from my phone.
I tested with a matching Trip and a track it worked just as I had wanted it to.

[Peobody]

I agree with @lkraus about Explorer. It seems to be more of a nuisance than a benefit.

You may have come across discussions about custom profiles that make the track line visible (wider) under the magenta route line. I messed with that but ultimately realized that I did not care about seeing the track line underneath. Setting it to a contrasting color (black) and the track width to "Wider" is plenty for any deviation to be obvious. The "Wider" width is not necessary but it adds to the visibility of the track line when the route deviates.

[gibboian]

I agree, I only want to spot if I deviate from the track. It doesn't need to be visible unless I move off it.

[lkraus]

I rely on voice instructions for long stretches, so I can easily miss seeing the track diverge from my route. Using a wide, black track puts a border on the route, giving me reassurance that I am still on route. If I don't see the border when I do look at the screen, I know I've gone astray.

I've attached my favorite map theme. It has high contrast colors and I've modified it to provide very wide tracks.

[gibboian]

I'm not sure how to load the file onto the XT but that sounds like a great idea

[Peobody]

I rely on voice instructions for long stretches

I'm the opposite. I mostly ride with voice navigation turned off. Still, I understand the point @lkraus makes. When I know that a calculation has occurred I will zoom out and look for variances, reloading the route it any are significant but subtle one could go unnoticed so it would not take much for me to be off-track without realizing it. I will give that map theme a look.

[Peobody]

I will give that map theme a look.

It is loaded. My first impression is..."Nice!". The contrast colors do look better, at least sitting here on my patio table. A track width setting of "Wider" is needed for the the track line to be visible outside of the route line. On Thursday I leave for a 6 day ride so that will be a good test. Thanks @lkraus.

[gibboian]

Is there a link to instructions on loading a theme? I would like to see how that one looks