GPS Training podcast – number 61

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Best route planning software, battery save tips, ways to carry your GPS, and Andy’s top tips.

Welcome to the GPS Training podcast, it is our 61st episode.

This month I am joined by Andy or ‘tech’ guy at GPS Training, welcome Andy to this month’s podcast.

In this month’s podcast

1. Garmin BaseCamp, Xpedition 2 or the GPST Free OS Planner?
2. Battery Save tips as winter is looming
3. Ways to carry your Garmin and SatMap GPS Unit
4. Andy’s top tips

So, without a further ado let’s get on with this month’s GPS Training Podcast

1. The first thing on this month’s Podcast is a look at BaseCamp, Xpedition2 or the GPS Training route planning software.

When would you use each of them and why?

We have had a few people call and ask the question – which should I use?

• What is route planning software?
• What is Garmin BaseCamp?
  PC/ Mac? – Desktop only?
  Free, but really need Garmin GPS if you want OS maps on it
• What is Xpedition2
  Good points about it – saving into cloud, easy to use
  Poorer points – subscription based
• GPS Training OS Planner
  Good points – Online route planner, Simple
  Poorer points – Can’t store pre planned routes/ tracks within unit

• BaseCamp – offline no internet, Garmin GPS with OS Maps, birdseye map downloads, software updates,
• Xpedition2 – Online- premium map for other parts of world, manage Expedition cloud can be used for wifi sync of routes setup wifi Xpedition2 live site – Enter user name Xpedition username & password
• GPST OS planner – Online , GPS with no os maps or want more detailed 1:25k, simple to use less tools but easier, no subscription free

Links to each of the Route planning software we have discussed –

• BaseCamp – https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/software/basecamp/
• Xpedition2 – https://xpedition2.com/
• GPST OS planner – https://gpstraining.co.uk/pages/ordnance-survey-route-planner
  
  2. As cooler weather is just around the corner, we look at the best way to conserve your battery level in an outdoor GPS Unit
  
  Garmin tips for better battery life –

Units that run on AA batteries –

• Correct battery setting, recommend Eneloop or Lithium
• Keep spare batteries warm, eg inside pocket

For all units – both AA batteries and built-in batteries

Setup display Battery save function

• Battery save – swipe down oregon 700 or power button other units reduce backlight
• Setup Map – Orientation North Up
• Leave screen not on map page
• Wifi , Bluetooth turned off

1. SatMap tips for better battery life

– lower main backlight using button on the side and use Advanced power setting change boost time to no more than 20 seconds

• Power control screen turn off down from 3 minutes to 1 minute
• Advanced Power Setting – Power saving mode – Advanced (Only North up)
• Power off button – set button to screen off in settings – hibernate settings make button 3 screen off
• Advanced power – make sure Lipol Rechargeable selected with SatMap battery or if using emergency aa pack recommend Lithium AA change here talking about this later.
• Spare batteries as Garmin keep warm, take battery out if not using for sometime

You will find videos about battery save tips and lots more in the GPS Training online resource. Please just go to GPS Training and click on – online resource – on the top menu bar

3. The next thing on this month’s GPS training podcast the different ways to carry an Outdoor GPS unit

Garmin –

1. Carabiner Clip – black or silver
2. Garmin Backpack Tether
3. Garmin Cart Mount
4. Garmin Quick Release Lanyard
5. Garmin Retractable Lanyard
6. Garmin Lanyard Carabiner
7. Garmin Montana 700 Carry Case
8. Garmin Montana 600 and GPSMAP Carry Case
9. Garmin eTrex and Oregon Carry Case

I have created a video looking at the varies Garmin accessories – just go to GPSTraining.co.uk > Product Reviews > The best way to carry a Garmin GPS unit – your options

SatMap –

1. Carry Case – official/ non-official
2. Lanyard
3. Quadlock belt clip

To find out more about the accessories we have listed above please go to GPS Training > GPS Store > Accessories

4. The next thing on this month’s GPS Training Podcast is Andy’s top tips – and we have lots of them –

Garmin –

• Turn by turn routes or snap to path planning using other apps cannot be reversed on unit, make 2 x versions
• That old chestnut importing GPX file that are routes and too big for unit – converting to track or splitting down

SatMap

• Settings – Route rending – Normal Route colour (Colour you see when planning route directly on screen) highlighted route colour (colour you see on route in front of you) Completed Route colour (Colour change of route as you travel over it)
  transparency how opague higher number fades routes I normally have mine around 30%
• To navigate a GPX file sent to satmap it needs to be route to activate, some downloads are tracks as mentioned earlier import into Xpedition changes to route, in unit you can go to internal folders – tracks – actions – select convert to route, icon for track footprint for route 3 line green red dot

To find more top tips please do sign up for the GPS Training online resource, this is packed full of video top tips. Go to our website – gpstarining.co.uk and click on the – Online resource – on the top menu bar

And Finally

Jon leads

• Many thanks for listening to this month’s Podcast.
• If there are any subjects you would like to cover in future Podcast’s, please do get in touch – ASK US SOMETHING!
• Give us a call especially if you are thinking of a new GPS unit
• Please do look a look at both our physical GPS courses and also our webinars, just go to GPSTraining.co.uk and click on – GPS Training courses.
• Please do tell your friends about the podcast and GPS Training and encourage them to subscribe to it on whichever Podcast app they are using.
• AND don’t forget to give us 5 star rating on iTunes and Google Podcasts, for Android users, just look in the Playstore and download this app, search for the GPS Training Podcast and subscribe to it.
• If you can also snazzy review on whatever platform you listen to us on it would be appreciated.
• And please take a look at our YouTube channel – upload a new video every Wednesday – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjbymBvv1f2gyfZgNNV27xw
• Many thanks to Andy for joining me on this month’s podcast.