After choosing view selected data in GE (in this case aroute) in HP, on either mac or windows, the route will showup in GE in the Left window under folder Homeport-Routes-Paths Folder. Its Gui appear as three little magenta filled dots, connected by thin line in triangle configuration. This appears similar to the Gui that represents a path "route" made in GE, the difference is that that the dots fo GE route don't have Magenta infill. If you right click a native GE Gui route and select "get informatin" or "properties", an info window will pop up and on the far right it will give the distance of the route. However, if you do the same for imported route from HP, you don't get the distance information field. QUESTION: how do you convert (WITHIN GE) the imported route into a normal GE path to get this distance field to display?
HOMEPORT GE Q&A
(54 posts) (8 voices)-
Bermudaboy
MemberQuestion 2: In GE, with NOAA Raster Overlay Charts, can you change the transparency of the chart to see more of the GE sat photography? ... Not question anymore, just found out the answer.. After selecting the chart, in the "Places" on menu on the left pallet, at the bottom, and just to the right of the magnifying glass, is a square that looks like a "spectrum" , its called the opacity button, click it and a small ball in Mac, and square in Windows, will appear to the right in long dial box, drag it to the left and the chart will become more and more transparent.
Posted 6 years ago # -
JoeWildlife
MemberI have all my individual routes different colors in GE. Now whether that transfers successfully to the GPS depending on the method/program used, is a different story. I beleive you can change the colors individually within the GPS itself if memory serves me.
When I use GE, I download the .kml file I think it is, use GPS Babel to convert to a .gpx, and typically use Easy GPS to actually download to the GPS attached via the USB port. I beleive others use the Homeport software to load GE output to the GPS. Same end result, different techniques.
Using GE with the NOAA charts the first couple times I attempted it, I got a huge red X across the screen. Upon figuring out how to eliminate that, it became a usable tool for me.
The making of tracks in GE is more user-friendly than doing so in EarthNC. It seems if you screw up and add incorrect points on a track in Earth NC, you can't delete them easily. It is simple in GE.
Joe
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberGE TIP: to move an aready placed pin (waypoint) or to edit (lengthen, delete, change position of turn points, etc) a path (route), first you have to select the item, and push "get info" or "properties" button. While info window is open, you can move by justing clicking and dragging, for truncating a path of 3 segments to two just drag the 2nd point as close as you can to the 3rd. to length the route, click on last point, then click to your next way point.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberGE TIP: (with info window open) this is little confusing, but once, you have extended a route by left clicking the last wp and then clicking the new one, or you have left clicked any wp and deleted by pushing the delete key button (as well this will truncate and run straight path between the two outer wps), then the right mouse click button get new function of being a one push deleter, so for example any segment you right click on will automatically delete the very last segment of the route (not the segment that is being right clicked)
Have to push ok, on the info box to record any changes made.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberTIP: Import GE Path to HomePort Route:
Select Ge path, choose save as place, save to desktop. Open HP choose import, select file, push ok, It will show up at bottom of HP left window under "recenty imported items" as a track tool file, now just right click on it and menu will appear, and select "Convert to Route", and immediately the new "route" file will appear right below up the tracktook file you just imported. (Do not need to use any intermediate conversion software) (note terminology on mac and windows homeports use slightly different words)
TIP: Homeport to GPS,
Have your GPS connected to computer, select the items you wish to send to GPS, right click and choose from the menu "send to device" and will be automatically transferred to your GPS (or you can use the transfer fimenu a the top menu bar) You do not need any intermediate software software
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
Member(for above tip, in Mac the menu name is Transfer in Windows it is Device
Question 3 On Etrex 20:
Can sort waypoints by closest location and alphabetical order.
For Routes, it does not let you do that. So before sending to device from HP has to list in order desired, is there any better way?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberQuestion 4 Homeport: The difference between a track and route? Got the part that a track is made and laid out on the gps as result of and actual journey, that parts easy. Looking for the reason why in Homeport you can create new tracks in the same way you can create a new route? What are the advantages/disadvantages of creating our using either a track (created in computer not historical one) or a route?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberHomePort Tip: enter menu VIEW/Toolbars, make sure these are checked for display in top gui menu: chart tools, detail level, device transfer, drawing tools, edit, playback and (the one that always gets dropped for some reason, and not found anywhere else in menus/tools/utilities) Tide Current Prediction. Click on location/waypoint, click Tide gui, choose closest location on right, use "change date/time function" to get historical or future information. (double directly on T or C marks on chart when close)
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberGPS INPUT COORDS CONVERSIONS
Convert minutes/sec N 46°4’30” to decimal
4/60=.066666 + 30/3600=.00833333=.075
46.075°
Convert Decimal back to Minutes /Seconds
46.075°
.075 *60= 4.5 .5*60= 30
=46°4’30”
Convert minutes/sec N 46°4’30” to minute decimal
30/6= 5
46°4.5'
Convert Back:
.5*60=30
46°4’30”
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberQuestion 6 GPS setting: I have alway had Glonass and Waas/Egnos set on, as I have read it is more accurate pics ups signals faster, etc, etc (whether that is necessary is also in question). Question is do having these on draw anymore battery power than having them off. Figure they are passive, but?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
Member<script src="safari-extension://com.ebay.safari.myebaymanager-QYHMMGCMJR/b0706ad3/background/helpers/prefilterHelper.js" type="text/javascript">
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Question 6 -Tried testing GPS accuracy with Glonsass & Waas/Engos on and off, and did not seem to be any real difference, at least for sitting in the driveway of Charlotte NC. Best accuracy it showed was 14 feet both with on and off in clearing, but closer to garage/obstruction "seemed" generally to get better accuracy with both on.Posted 6 years ago # -
JoeWildlife
MemberTracks vs. Routes:
Yes, tracks are typically created as you travel with your GPS on and tracking enabled. It is like a bread crumb trail. Tracks are static. Meaning, they are a fixed line on a map regardless of your direction or location.
It puzzles me why there is no consistency between softwares on the terminology. Some use Route or Path. But in my experience, Google Earth, EarthNC, and the old GeoGarage actually create Tracks for you, not true Routes.
If I understand it, a Route is basically the same thing as a Track as far as it is a line connecting two points. However, the difference is how the GPS uses a route vs. a track. A track is just a line on the map. The GPS "navigates" a route. In other words, the GPS treats a route as just a bunch of waypoints, and points you to the next waypoint. So if you get off to the side of a route, it points you to the next waypoint embedded in the route. You may or may not actually be able to get there--there could be something in the way.
I prefer tracks. I think I understand this correctly. Guess it doesn't really matter because I get tracks by default, so I better like them!
Joe
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberJoe, I think routes for plotting and navigating are the "route" to go, cuz gives you record of the actual waypoints/turns. Following a successful historical track through a narrow channel, an exception to that I guess... Just don't understand why HP lets you make "artificial" tracks and trying to figure out what advantage that might be or what I'm overlooking?? . HP, lets you easily convert the tracks from GE or even HP to routes before sending them to your gps device (also give you the option to define how may waypoints that HP will create when it converts the track to a route) . Anyway going to do a few tests this afternoon, I havent ever used Active Route function much on my gps, and going to test to see how well it works with trying to jump (skip to the another) waypoint along an active route..
Posted 6 years ago # -
BustedRudder
MemberYou guys are on the right "track". Download "GPS track editor". Use it to open up a GPX file and you will see that the tracks your GPS records are position points recorded about every 20 seconds. They are not waypoints as those have more meta data associated but tracks do take up space. For instance the capacity of a 78sc is 2,000 waypoints and 10,000 points. A unit will begin trucating older data when limits are reached.
I always erase everything in my GPSs prior to an EC then download the same waypoints and tracks from prior ECs. I only maintain 2 routes and those are for Florida Bay.
The cool thing about GPS track editor is that I wind up with tracks for an EC spread across 2 or 3 GPSs. I can merge those into one track for the whole race.
Posted 6 years ago # -
This is personal preference but I use routes as they are relatively easy to edit and provide more options while navigating (view distance off course, bearing to next waypoint, distance/time to end of route, etc), and for trip planning; (e.g. Homeport will show you what time you can expect to arrive at any route waypoint). I update my routes after every EC after comparing with my tracks. While navigating a route I also see my previous tracks on the screen.
A trick to plan water use: If you know how many liters/hour you normally consume you can enter this in your Homeport boat profile (under fuel capacity and liters used per hour) and can see how much water (fuel) you expect to consume on a route.
Keeping everything as a route means that your options appear in the same menu when navigating, and the GPS can display them alphabetically or by proximity. That said it can be confusing to remember what route to select as you don't get a view of them all on a map, you have to select them by name which is not very intuitive.
I convert some tracks to routes, other routes I create by hand in Homeport. As a tip, when working in Homeport, you can use BirdsEye satellite imagery to overlay small areas of a chart for more detail. Downloads are slow and require an annual subscription but I find the option worthwhile. Some of the imagery is excellent but often is not as clear as Google Earth, IMO. You keep the imagery even if your subscription expires.
I often have multiple routes for the same area, giving options to duck the wind, etc. I leave my tracks as reference of where I actually traveled. I find that looking at a map with lots of tracks can be a visual mess of spagetti, if you frequent an area a lot, but it's personal preference. That said, you can save, clean and edit your tracks. You can also turn track display on or off.
Some disadvantages of routes: for a route to show on the map you have to select it first (press find, then route). One hassle is that if you are navigating a route, turn off the GPS and turn it back on, you are no longer navigating the route and have to find the route again. I consider this a bug and have reported it to Garmin (to no avail). In contast, when you navigate to a waypoint and turn off the GPS, you are still navigating to the waypoint when you turn the GPS back on.
Your GPS model will have a limit on how many waypoints can be added to a route. This is why I prefer my primary and backup GPS to be the same model. For example, the GPSmap78 supports 50 routes with up to 250 waypoints per route. The GPSMap76 also supports 50 reports but with only 50 waypoints per route. That means that if you have a very big route that works fine on your 78 and copy to your 76, some of the route waypoints will be truncated (without warning). Check your routes before you race! Not fun to discover that your route is incomplete while on the course!
FYI you can convert tracks to routes in Homeport. You can also navigate a track on your Garmin GPS. In this case a route will be created, including any waypoints you have along the track.
Greg
Posted 6 years ago # -
JoeWildlife
MemberCool info here. I like hearing the benefits of Routes--knowing distance to end would be good. However, the limits on the number of points/turns in a Route are much lower than tracks. Doing a Route through the WW might not work...
That said, I prefer tracks because I'd rather see on the screen where the track is, and know which direction I need to head to get back on it, than be told in numbers and with an arrow that I am so far off it and have to go in said direction to get back on it. I guess I'm more into visual interpretation. I mean, what kind of male of this species isn't? We see a woman and know what we like...when the numbers 36-24-34 doesn't mean as much and leaves much to the imagination...
Joe
Posted 6 years ago # -
Joe,
I'm also very visually oriented so do almost all my navigation from the map screen. You only see the "numbers and arrow pointer" if you choose to use the compass screen while navigating a route.
While navigating a route, if you use the map screen (my preference), you see the map and your position, any active tracks AND your route shown as a big magenta line (or the color of your choice) that is easy to follow. You can add display fields to show at the top of the map screen if you prefer.
I'm not near water at the moment, the example below is just a test route (topo map) that I use to near my house to play/learn. The first image is navigating a route as seen from the map screen. The magenta line is the route and the blue "spaghetti" is a bunch of active tracks. In this case data fields tell me how far off couse from the magenta line I am, bearing to the next waypoint (to allow use my compass), distance to the next waypoint and distance to the end of the route. The second image is of the compass screen.
Greg
Posted 6 years ago # -
Cwolfe
MemberData Data everywhere and not a drop to drink.........
I now turn my compass off as it is a big user of energy. Battery life significantly increased sans compass.
Thanks for all the tips. Greg. I am curious about your minicell holder. A picture is worth a thousand camels...Would you be willing to share an image of it on the boat. I reallly like my ram mount but even using the shorts "arm" I worry a little about the torque arm force on the deck. Not an issue with Kruger's but a bit of one with the more delicate kayaks.
Cwolfe
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberJoe, like Greg was saying there are various ways menu options and set ups to to actually view the line of your route depending on the set up you choose.. My route line is set for magenta color too. In reality I never use it, cuz I can't see without my readers, so I typically start my route, and set my Trip Computer display to three large letter blockout, top is "pointer", "middle is speed", and bottom "VMG". Then I set my compass display, same way with large letter block out, top large letter to "to course" bottom to pointer within compas I toggle between these two mainly out on the course.. Actually looking at chart view of my magenta rout is only when I stop, which is seldom....
Just for kicks I tried a track in the neighborhood, and when I went to active route function midway (say for example to skip a few intemeidate waypoints cuz its hi tide and don't need to sail around the shoal) and in track mode it doesn't give me that option it only gives me the finish point of the track. I am still though very curious why HP lets you make tracks in the sofware, and what they could advantage might be hidden there....?/?
Look forward to anyone with good answers to questions further up in this thread!
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberQuestion 7: GPS Menu Page Toggle
Last one reminds me of another question I cant find answer to... In fact can't toggle between two selected screens on my etrex 20, for example I cant' just hit one button and go from Trip Computer to Compass display. Gotta hit menu, arrow down and select the display, and pretty tough to do on the fly with hands full.. Anyone know any trick to do this, and on the larger gps that you guys use, does it give function for toggling?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Charles,
The mount I use isn't fancy, it's caveman-simple, using materials I had on hand. It weighs about 3oz and allows the GPS to be angled forward/back with one hand. Material is 1/4" minicel, bailing wire and duct tape. This was meant to be just a short-term fix, thinking the wire would quickly rust, but even after 2 ECs, the wire is fine. It is designed expecting the GPS to be in a bag (aquapac), with the plastic foot of the bag resting against the cockpit coaming for support, and acting as a hinge. That said I also use it without the GPS bagged. On the back of the unit bailing wire, held by duct tape, runs along the perimeter of the bag, and then outward for two small "wings" (to hold the GPS).
I keep the bag tethered to deck lines and remove both the GPS and holder from the deck if going through any kind of surf.
I also experimented with a much simpler design, just a foam wedge under the bag, that adjusts the angle by moving the wedge forward and back, but it was more fussy to use.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy,
I no longer have an etrex but I believe you can use the back button (right side) to toggle screens. I don't recall if the thumb stick works for this too. I found this which might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvrcvrL8ugI .
On the GPSMap 76, 78 series you hit the "page" button to go to the next page, or hit the "quit" button to go to the previous page. You can add/remove screens from the menu and change the screen order to suit your needs.
Greg
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bermudaboy
MemberMade a holder that allows me to switch gps from tack to tack on the boom.. works perfect...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb5N5ywQ52o
Being the consummate rank-amatuer paddler, I thought I was so smart, when I snapped it on to the center of my paddle during a training session, (same diameter as I made my paddle from ws carbon boom) Bout the first time in my life I almost started a chum line in my wake.. from trying to catch glimpses of a constantly moving gps. Great ideas and reality sometime mix rather poorly.
Posted 6 years ago #
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