GPS Training Podcast – number 100

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The new Garmin Fenix 8, Irish mapping for a TwoNav GPS unit and a new GPS Training course for 2025.

In this month’s podcast

1. It’s our 100’th episode
2. Fenix 8 – what has changed
3. Irish mapping for TwoNav
4. NEW – GPS Training courses over Zoom for 2025
5. Andy’s Top Tips

 1. It’s our 100th podcast

Sorry it’s a little late in the month, normally it is the 1^st of every month.

Holidays and very busy at GPS Training

If you do not already do please subscribe to the GPS Training podcast on whatever platform you listen to us on

2. Fenix 8 – what has changed?

AMOLED screen – no longer EPIX

Fenix 8 – AMOLED
Fenix 8 – SOLAR

Additions –

– AMOLED comes in three sizes: 43/47/51mm
– Solar comes in two sizes: 47/51mm

– Solar edition only – New edge ring solar panel is far more efficient, and no longer covers display, improving clarity
– New sensor guard protects microphone and barometer (between buttons)
– New leak-proof button design using inductive buttons, so no actual hole in the case
– Added recreational scuba diving/apnea features, down to 40M with EN13319 certification
– Added diving no-fly and surface time features (widgets/data pages, etc…)
– Added access to phone assistant via microphone/speaker (with your smartphone)
– Added taking phone calls via microphone/speaker (with your smartphone)
– Added voice notes recorder (on watch)
– Added new offline voice assistant
– Added new maps radius zoom UI change
– Added new maps North Up quick toggle
– Added new maps layer selection quick access menu
– Added quick access touch unlock feature (temporarily unlocks touch, such as for a map during workout)
– Added new ‘Active Navigation’ menu system while navigating a course/waypoint/etc
– Added new consolidated ‘Saved’ feature, to find saved routes/waypoints/etc
– Added new dynamic round-trip routing, to auto—change route mid-way to achieve a specified distance if you go off-course (e.g. set for 5 miles)
– Added ‘Set a Target’ distance reminder, to remind you to turn around after the half-way point
– Added Ski difficulty tracking option
– Added strength training plans (4-6 weeks, via Garmin Connect)
– Added new watch face editor, and new watch faces
– Added new Countdown app to countdown to various dates/events
– Added new Focus Modes
– Added new online processing of troubled GPS tracks, using internal watch sensor data to correct them
– Major redesign of user interface, including widgets, settings, and activity/workout pages
– Revamped Notification Centre to include Garmin-based notifications (e.g., Morning Report or Daily Summary)

3. Irish mapping for TwoNav – potentially getting updated

Source: LPSNI Northern Ireland

Scale: 1:50.000

Format: Topographic

Size: 437.19 Mb

Resolution: 4.0 m/px

Version : 2012

£34.16

Southern Ireland OSM & TomTom

Overseas and Irish map options for TwoNav GPS Units

4. NEW – GPS Training courses over Zoom for 2025

Over the next couple of weeks we will be putting our 2025 GPS Training courses on the website –

Two-day ‘physical’ training courses around the UK – £195.00

Scottish Borders

Northumberland

Lake District

Peak District

Northamptonshire

Gloucestershire

South Downs

New Forest

Then we have out 1:1 over Zoom – 2 hours – £89.00 – at a time that suits you best

BUT, new for 2025 we are having 1 day group courses over Zoom
Unit specific – TwoNav, GPSMAP series, Montana series and maybe watches and other series of units going forward.

These will be – £75.00/ person
During the week

10.00 – 16.00 (with x 1 hour for lunch – giving time to digest what has been taught
Unit specific – Cover how to use GPS unit and planning routes on our free OS planner

– 4 people on each Zoom training course

5. Andy’s top tips

• TwoNav

If you own a computer you can organise your Routes into Folders
From your computer Windows File Explore, Mac Finder, locate TwoNav Data folder within the Data folder you can create folders and drop your GPX files into them

Then when you open up Routes from main menu you can see your folders

If you do not have pc you cannot create folders but you can change list order by going into Routes – tap 3 white dots bottom right – select Sort by – Date, Sport, File Name, Proximity, distance, Ascent etc

This will also change order in folders, ie distance longest first, ascent highest first etc

• Garmin – installed TopoActive Maps can I make them more detailed

Handhelds goto Setup – Map – advance setup – Detail – change from Normal to more or most
Setup – Map – map manager – turn of regions of OS if using map card , older units make sure topo active enabled , 67, 67i always enabled.

Basecamp Mac – detail level bar toolbar bottom of map

Basecamp Windows – View – Toolbars – detail level tick – new box Medium, can change to higher highest or low, lower, lowest

Lower when moving around