Thoughts on same start and end points?

[Peobody]

Early in my Basecamp/XT days I learned not to use the same route point as the start and end point. The reason that comes to mind is that when you arrive at the start point, the XT then thinks you are at the end of the route unless there is another via point in the route. Am I thinking correctly about this? If so, are there other considerations to having the same route point as the start and end point?

[Mzokk]

Like many folk I suspect, I do lot of circular routes from home (Ireland is criss crossed by many small roads and lanes). I usually put my start a couple of miles from home and my end point a mile or two from home coming from the opposite direction. I also put at least one Via Point/Waypoint at the farthest extent of the route along with numerous shaping points for the little roads I like to be on, to stop the device taking me straight back home if the unit recalculates.

[rbentnail]

I've had my XT do the "here you are!" ending when starting out. I put my start down the road at least 1/2 mile and use my driveway for the end. I learned very early it's not a good practice to have both points in the same place.

Another new-to-me incident occurred a few weeks ago. We often talk about putting the start point not where you are but where you're going to be b/c the zumo may want you to go to a particular point in, say, a large hotel parking lot, etc. I left a friend's house, coming home. Had the route active but not really paying attention when I noticed my arrival time getting later and later. Turns out a point on a 6-lanes-each-way highway was in a different lane than I was in so the XT thought I didn't pass through it and it kept wanting to send me back.

[Peobody]

The location of my new house is making it a bit challenging compared to the old one as far as using the same two waypoints as either start or end. I think I will create a waypoint at each neighborhood egress to serve as starting points and then a waypoint on the road outside the nearby grocery store as a common end point. Thanks for helping me think this through.

[Oop North John]

The location of my new house is making it a bit challenging compared to the old one as far as using the same two waypoints as either start or end. I think I will create a waypoint at each neighborhood egress to serve as starting points and then a waypoint on the road outside the nearby grocery store as a common end point. Thanks for helping me think this through.

I have a petrol station about a mile away that I use as the "end" point, and home is the start. That way when I set off from home the GPS thinks it has a route to do, and the petrol station at the end reminds me that it might be a good idea to fill up for the next ride. A win win