GPS Tutorial for Garmin Devices
So many people have asked GORC how to add or convert GPS files and send them to their Garmin device that we decided to write our own universal tutorial.
Why You Need to Convert Files in the First Place
All those GPS tracks you see filling the Internets nooks and crannies over on Garmin, MapMyRide, EveryTrail, Strava, GPSies and beyond are usually saved as GPX files which stands for GPS Exchange Format. This format contains the tracking data of a particular track on a given day. It stores all the user's points and relevant information that can be later used to superimpose this data onto a map, stored for archival purposes or shared among other GPS users.
Your awesome Garmin device strapped to your bike stem can't deal directly with the GPX data format. If you want to load a track of your friend's fastest lap ever around Matson Hill you are going to have to do a little work.
Your Garmin device needs the GPX data file translated into a CRS file which is understood by the Garmin Training Center software and stands for Course. A Course file tells your device how fast your friend was going on that track, the overall time it took to finish the course, how many miles to go (countdown) and other useful data. The best part is that your Map screen will show a breadcrumb of the track (Edge 205/305/500/ForeRunner series) and a highlighted, sometimes navigable line on the Edge 605/705/800 series. This is useful if you are great at getting yourself lost in the woods or turned around at an intersection.
The main part to remember is this: If you see a GPS track you want to follow on your Garmin device you will first need to convert it to a CRS file before sending it to your unit.
It looks long and drawn out but is relatively quick and easy.
Part I: How to Convert a GPX/KML/TCX file to a .CRS file that can be read by your Garmin device.
1. Download a GPS track you want to put in your Garmin
2. Go to gpsies.com/convert.do
Intermission:
Wait, What is GPSies?
GPSies is a German-based site and the service is based on an an idea by Klaus Bechtold, a enthusiastic runner and software developer.
It's unclear whether it is still a one man operation because a lot of the supporting pages are in German. Many, many people use GPSies because of it's ease of use to convert files into other useful formats. The GORC web admin has been using this service since 2007.
End Intermission
3. Browse and upload your file
4. Choose "track" and from the drop-down choose "Garmin Course CRS"
5. Press Convert button
6. After a few seconds the file should start downloaded to your computer.
7. Find it and know where it's at for Part II
8. You have now converted a GPS file into a Garmin Course readable file
Part II: How to add a course to your garmin device.
Forerunner Series / Edge 205 / 305
1. Attach the garmin to your computer and make sure the software (Garmin Training Center) recognizes your device.
2. Open Garmin Training Center (software that manages your garmin device)
3. Go to File--> Import--> Courses and select your course file that you converted from Part I
4. Once imported, this course should show up under the folder COURSES in the left pane of the program.
5. Now to add the course to your Garmin device, Choose Device--> Send to Device. This will now start the upload process of the route/course from the Garmin Training Center software to your Garmin device.
Note: With the Forerunner / Edge 305 Series:
Memory limitations on these devices make you choose wisely. When you 'Send to Device' a pop up window will show you all the courses and then you can select individual ones to put onto your device. Iif all of your courses in the Garmin Training Center software will fit in the memory then it will simply load them all up.
DONE! All that is left to do now:
Step 6: Get on your bike and ride the course!
Go to Training--> Courses--> Select your course--> Select "Do Course"
Edge 500 / 605 / 705 / 800 Series
To put a TCX or a GPX file on your Edge 500 / 605 / 705 / 800 Series, you can transfer it to the Garmin using a simple drag-n-drop method. Every computer is different, but the general idea is that the Edge 800 acts like a USB thumb drive. Plugging it into your computer should allow you to view the files stored on the unit. Once you have it plugged in, open up the "drive" associated with the GPS unit, then open the "Garmin" folder inside the drive. You'll now see a list of several files/folders. One of the folders is called "NewFiles". You should copy (drag the icon) the file to this folder. Once done, safely remove the GPS unit. "Safely remove" means follow your systems instructions for removing a USB flash drive.
Once the file is transferred to the Edge (500 and higher series) and is safely removed from the computer, power the device up. You should be able to find your route under the "Courses" menu. From there it should be fairly self explanatory.
Go to Training--> Courses--> Select your course--> Select "Do Course"
In order to switch between the data fields and the map press the "mode" button a couple of times.
Note About Course Names in the Course List:
The Course name listed on your Garmin device will be what the GPX data file is saved as ie, "Femme Osage Ride." If the Course on your desktop is renamed to "Cool Ride" and dragged to your GPS you would NOT find it under my Courses as "Cool Ride" but as "Femme Osage Ride" since that is what the internal GPX data contains as the file name.
This is important for people who quickly create/find GPX files. If you make a quick and dirty GPX track on Google Earth or Maps and save it out the default name is always something like "2012-01-28T17:27:33Z" -- hardly a useful name. Be sure to name it something you will remember.
Again, simply renaming the file to something you want does not change the Course name inside your Garmin device.
