Here are my notes on how to use a route created using the excellent RideWithGPS with the Garmin Edge 800.
Initial Setup
You need to configure a few settings before using the Garmin Edge 800 (only need to do this once).
Select Menu, Spanner (Wrench), System, Map and then set the options like so:
Once done, press the back arrow, select Routing and then set the options like so:
When you get to Avoidance Setup, set the options like so:
Keep pressing the back arrow to get out of the menu system.
Putting a route onto the Edge 800
Once you’ve planned your route on RideWithGPS, use the export feature to save the route in TCX format.
Plug the Edge 800 into your PC and copy the TCX file into the Garmin\NewFiles folder on the Edge 800.
Unplug the Edge 800 and once it has booted up, select Menu, Courses, your course, Spanner (Wrench) and then set the options like so:
When you get to Map Display, set the options like so:
Of course you can pick any colour you like, but I find lime green works well.
Keep pressing the back arrow to get out of the menu system.
Navigating a route
Once you’ve done the above actually navigating a route is really simple, just select Menu, Courses, your course & hit the big green Go button. This will cause the Edge 800 to:
- Overlay the route on the map page.
- Give you turn-by-turn instructions (if your Edge 800 has the optional street-level map on SD card).
- Give a bleep and a left/right/straight instruction for every entry in the RideWithGPS cue sheet (note this rather unhelpfully happens when you’re right on top of the junction, not in advance).
- Shriek and show “Off Course” if you stray off the route.
An alternative (if you don’t want the bleeps & prompts) is to not hit Go but select the Spanner (Wrench), Map Display and set Always Display to On. Then keep pressing the back arrows till you’re out of the menu system. If you then find the map screen you’ll see your course displayed and you just need to follow the line. This option obviously removes any intelligence from the device, which is no bad thing if you’re not totally familiar with the technology and want to keep it simple and/or quiet.
Rafe – great notes
I have had trouble getting Edge 800 to give turn indicators – all set up as you mention.
Map – will the euro map seen on RWGPS be displayed on my Edge 800 or have you bought a Euro map ?
rgds
Derek
Hi Derek,
It sounds like you only have the base map that comes with the Edge 800 and this doesn’t contain enough detail for the Edge 800 to work out turn-by-turn instructions. You need a street-level map for this to work.
If you bought your Edge 800 without a street-level map then you have three choices:
1) Buy a micro SD Card and create your own map using Open Street Map (very cheap, but a bit of a faff and certainly not for the non-technical).
2) Buy a Garmin map on SD Card.
3) Use the Edge 800 without a map. You’ll still see the route and the Edge 800 will still bleep and show Left/Right/Straight for each entry in the RWGPS cue sheet (the bit on the left of the screen when viewing the route on RWGPS).
Sorry my notes didn’t make this clear, I’ll update them.
Regards,
Rafe
Hi Rafe
I have a few questions about the Edge 800 I hope you don’t mind answering?
Why Guide Text only when navigating?
Is Lock on Road where any routing or recalculating will only route on roads?
Why recalculate off?
With Map display I’m still not clear with what it does. I’ve been using this with on. What exactly does turning it off do?
Why course points off?
If i’ve loaded a course and i go off course i know it tells me i’m off but can it re-route you back to the course – not necessarily going backwards, i.e. will it guide me to the nearest point?
If I am out somewhere and i decide i want to join a course tha i have saved will it route me to the nearest point rather than the start?
Sorry for so many questions but i love this gadget but don’t fully understand it yet and am looking for some help.
Regards
Chris
Hi Chris,
No problem with questions though I’m not sure I can answer them all!
Guide Text – that’s the default I think and I’ve never questioned it!
Lock On Road – I think that assumes you’re on a road always, so moves the current position to be on the road even if the GPS has you slightly off it. Again, a default I’ve never questioned.
Recalculate Off – I like to plan a route and stick to it. If I need to divert I tend to zoom out and then use the map + original route to work out the alternative rather than the Garmin help me. Recalculating on the 700 was quite broken so this may now be a redundant habit.
Map Display – If “on” the route is always shown on the map, even if you’re doing a totally different route/course (or indeed not doing any course at all). I use this feature sometimes if I don’t want to “do” a course but still want to follow it.
Going Off Course – it should work like that but see my comment re Recalculating above
Joining a course part way round – it does indeed work like that.
Hope that answers your questions, any more ask away and I’ll try and answer.
I think the best thing you can do with the Edge is plot a simple course near your house then play with the settings. That’s all I did and whether I got it right or wrong could be open to debate. However, I’ve settled on the method outlined on this page and it works brilliantly for me.