Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Topic created by KathyM on Mon Sep 19, 2016 at 10:28 am

KathyM
Num Posts: 31
Primary Club: DVOA
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First O: 0

I have a Garmin Forerunner 220 and cannot get my GPX files to upload correctly.  When I upload, all I see are little blue squares without a route.  Does anyone know how to correct the problem?  It is happening with DVOA and National events.  I have successfully uploaded with Runkeeper GPX files, but this is the first time I am trying to upload Garmin GPX files.  Are they incompatible for some reason? 

If the Garmin GPX files are the problem, can I download TCX files from Garmin and convert into a version of GPX files that routegadget can use?

I hope someone can help me with this!  Otherwise, this watch just became a very expensive paperweight.  I love the watch because the battery life is much longer than my phone (for Runkeeper), but it isn't very useful if I cannot use the GPX files on Routegadget!

Thank you,
Kathy
 

Reply by KathyM on Mon Sep 19, 2016 at 12:25 pm

KathyM
Num Posts: 31
Primary Club: DVOA
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I had some success with importing the Garmin data to Runkeeper, then exporting the GPX from Runkeeper (so it appears to be a Garmin issue).  Unfortunately, the miles are very inaccurate from Garmin to Runkeeper (1.1 miles vs. 4.4 miles).

For the Orange course at Hickory Run, I apparently forgot to start my watch until Control 1.  Is there a way to upload the data starting at control 1 (I had no luck shifting the start time)?  I would really like to see what I did between Control 3 and 4.

Thanks,
Kathy

Reply by Steve on Mon Sep 19, 2016 at 4:31 pm

Steve
Num Posts: 412
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Upload your course, then add a blue dot near start. move this new dot to the first flag, and the rest of the course should make the adjustments for you.  When you run the animation, your dot will jump very quickly to the first flag, then go at a more normal pace.

Reply by KathyM on Mon Sep 19, 2016 at 7:35 pm

KathyM
Num Posts: 31
Primary Club: DVOA
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Thank you, Steve.  When I move what looks like the first blue dot, will the course appear?  Right now I can only see the blue dots, no controls or the start/finish.  I may have to try this on the next course I run.  It looks like in addition to starting the watch late, I also accidentally turned it off after control 7.  While I loved this course (very challenging and very well designed), it was not my best day :).

Reply by furlong47 on Mon Sep 19, 2016 at 11:16 pm

furlong47
Num Posts: 388
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Since Garmin Training Center decided the other day that it no longer wants to work (even when repaired or uninstall/reinstalled) I downloaded Garmin Express and found that the .gpx files generated there don't load properly. I did see my route, sort of, but it was big angular squares as if the sample rate was only once every few minutes. Downloading the .tcx and converting it worked, and this is what I also did when using Training Center. The conversion site I use is gpsvisualizer.com

Reply by KathyM on Wed Sep 21, 2016 at 12:42 pm

KathyM
Num Posts: 31
Primary Club: DVOA
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I'll try converting the TCX file and see what happens.  Thanks for the link to convert.  I already drew my route for the event at Ward Pound Ridge (while I remembered it!).  Can I upload the GPS for the same course?  I'd like to see if my memory was accurate.

I really like the Forerunner watch because of the battery time, but the Garmin software leaves a lot to be desired.

Reply by KathyM on Wed Sep 21, 2016 at 1:08 pm

KathyM
Num Posts: 31
Primary Club: DVOA
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This watch has officially frustrated me!  I just took a closer look at the files (after having no luck uploading the converted TCX file - that part worked, but it still shows only half the course).  For some reason, the watch recorded my pace for the first 25 minutes, but not the GPS.  The GPS record starts 25 minutes into the course. 

Has anyone had this problem with the Forerunner watches?  Or know a solution?

Thanks,
Kathy

Reply by ErikEddy on Wed Sep 21, 2016 at 3:32 pm

ErikEddy
Num Posts: 410
Primary Club: DVOA
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First O: 1998

Odd.  I've never had an issue with 310xt- I have Garmin Express.  I usually just download the gpx file from Strava (or I could probably from Garmin Connect- I auto transfer GC to Strava).  Do you use either of those sites?

Reply by furlong47 on Fri Sep 23, 2016 at 5:57 pm

furlong47
Num Posts: 388
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Bucks County Community College
First O: 1994

I've never had a problem with it not recording the track except when I started it late and it didn't acquire satellites until I was already moving. I'm assuming it found the satellites before you started? My 305 has been great, except one of the buttons just finally died and I have to put tape over the hole and open it to poke it with a pen to use it. Luckily the one I only need for deleting history. I don't know how the newer watches are. The software, on the other hand, is very tempermental.

Reply by edscott on Sat Sep 24, 2016 at 6:03 pm

edscott
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That would be a great tool for an advanced training exercise at the Hickory run weekend.  Run a short but very technical course.  Enter your route, then enter the GPS version of your route for comparison.

Reply by Sandy on Sun Sep 25, 2016 at 9:57 pm

Sandy
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The club used to own a handful of gps watches for exactly that kind of training exercise.  Do we still have them?

Reply by KathyM on Mon Sep 26, 2016 at 11:30 am

KathyM
Num Posts: 31
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Thanks, everyone!  I have been able to successfully upload by saving the TCX file from Garmin Connect and converting it using gpsvisualizer.com.  I'm still not sure what happened at Hickory Run.  I thought I had the GPS satellite lock, but it is possible that I didn't.  I was very careful about making sure I had the lock this weekend.

Sandy and Ed - that is a great idea for the training weekend!  If you cannot locate the GPS watches, anyone with a cellphone can download the Runkeeper app for free and save GPS files from the app.  It is a lot less problematic than Garmin, but it can use up the phone's battery quickly.  I can usually make it through an Orange course without running out of battery, so it might work well for a training exercise.

Kathy

Reply by furlong47 on Mon Sep 26, 2016 at 6:31 pm

furlong47
Num Posts: 388
Primary Club: DVOA
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First O: 1994

Did DVOA have them? I know QOC has some that they lend. I don't remember DVOA doing so.

Reply by Steve on Tue Sep 27, 2016 at 8:30 am

Steve
Num Posts: 412
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First O: 1993

My bad memory thinks John Campbell had them for the juniors. 

Reply by Len on Wed Oct 5, 2016 at 2:31 pm

Len
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I'm jumping in late but I hove found (just resently) that my garmin forrunner 110 downloads GPX like Julie stated. I have discovered that at random intervals, the file jupms to W 0.0, S 0.0. If I eliminate those entries, it comes in ok. You can see what I mean if you look at my enrty for Hickory Run (red). I did not edit it and can not load a new entry until this one is removed.