Wednesday 14 February 2018

eTrex Rally Navigation

Intro

Navigating without the conventional Rally Navigation Equipment (i.e. Roadbook, CAP, Trip) has been a mission of mine since I started off-road riding some years ago.

I always wanted to know where I was going how far still to go and never really wanted to get lost.  I know, sometimes that is part of the adventure... but where I come from this could be dangerous.

So, I set out to investigate how I can do this without major startup costs and still feel like I'm in a "traditional rally" albeit just me, setup by me and riding on my own...

Why?

So you may ask why do you go through this effort ... well, I like to solve problems ... and this was a real problem for me.  I also like to do my own thing and not having to rely on some person or company to create, print or produce stuff for me.

If you still feel this has some relevance, keep reading...

Equipment and Software

The equipment and software I use:
  1. eTrex 10/20/30 - I have only tested this on the eTrex series.  More specifically the eTrex 20.  
  2. Viking Gps data editor and analyzer.
  3. A good gps bracket e.g. Rost Engineering eTrex bracket

eTrex

This is the heart of the navigation equipment.  The eTrex gps is an amazing device.  It's rugged and water resistant but unfortunately the screen is on the small side.  The newer devices have larger screens but I have not tested these.

Viking GPS data editor and analyzer

You have to give these guys credit. I have used various other software packages but none compare with the features in this package.  The interface may seem a bit outdated and the documentation is limited but the package is not to complex.  As you use it more and more, features emerge that are very useful.  It also uses OpenStreetMaps which I also think is great.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/viking/files/

Rost Engineering bracket

This bracket is damn good.  Its rugged, cost effective and protects your eTrex from damage.  It clamps down the device snugly without damaging it and mounts onto your handlebar.   They also ship globally according to my knowledge.

http://rostoffroad.co.za/product-category/gps-brackets/

How?

I follow this process:
  1. Create the track you want to ride in as much detail as you want or use a prerecorded one.  Note that this will be the main track you follow so don't make it to course
  2. Create a route with navigation information based on the track
  3. Optional. Create waypoints describing the terain. I have however found this to not be to useful
  4. Export the track, route and waypoints as a gpx file
  5. Upload the gpx file onto the eTrex
  6. Make the track visible on the eTrex
  7. Navigate to the route on the eTrex
Note: I won't be explaining everything in detail e.g. Setting up the software and eTrex.

Create Track

This is the actual track you would follow as you are riding.  It contains the detailed track data with all turns following the road you want to travel.


Since the track does not give any navigation information, you would get confused if the track was to cross.  This could cause you to turn when you were supposed to continue straight.  Thus the need for the route.

Note: You can use any colour for your track on the eTrex, but I have found black to give the best results w.r.t contrast and visibility in sun light.

Create Route

The route is created from the track but only contains key points where navigation information needs to be conveyed to the rider.  This could be compared to a tulip on the roadbook which contains navigation information at that point on the track.  The route is displayed in red.


Create Waypoints

You can create waypoint as part of your navigation, but since the waypoints are not bound by the route/track they are always displayed on screen and could confuse you as you are riding.  I normally create waypoints that only describe the terrain and not the navigation for a route.  This way the waypoints are not "linked" to the specific route you travel.

So, if you have more than one route which overlap one another (e.g. common roads) , the waypoints should not get in the way. On that common track you could have a rocky section or a sandy section.  The waypoints then point this out.

The golden rule I uses is:  A terrain waypoint is only valid if it's applicable from either sides of travel.  So, if its a sandy section, you would travel through sand no matter which direction you come from.  Rocks the same thing, Up-hills and down-hills ... not so much.

Export to GPX

Ensure you have checked what you want to export and right-click, select Layer-Name > Export Layer > Export as GPX...
And save the file somewhere.


Note that Viking only exports what you have checked to the gpx file.

Upload GPX file to eTrex

Open the eTrex in a normal file explorer and copy the previously exported gpx file into the <eTrex_Drive>\Garmin\GPX\ folder.


Notice that the exported name is the same as the layer name in Viking (i.e. WCB-Stage2.gpx)

Set track as visible

Now display the track you want to follow on the map. Go to
Main menu > Track Manager > track-name > Set Color = Black
then
Main menu > Track Manager > track-name > Show On Map
then go back to the Main menu.

Navigate the route

Now navigate to the route based on this track.  Go to
Main menu > Routes > route-name
Select Go.

Active Route

Once you have navigated to the route, the Active route shows the list of route point information - basically the items that will show up on the map as you ride ... the Guidance text.  


Ready to roll

Now you're ready to roll!

Track and Route naming convention

I prepend my track names with a "T-" and routes with an "R-" i.e. T-track_name and R-route_name.  This makes it easier to see if I'm using a track or a route.  

Navigation standard

I have devised the following general rules:
  1. The navigation must read like a sentence
  2. The direction must always be first if there is a direction and so it lines up with the info field on the gps
  3. Most important note must be first e.g. RLT before SA
  4. Notes are separated with a space
  5. Limit tulip information to 10 to 16 chars.  I found 10 to work well with good visibility. The more info you have the small the font gets. Garmin prepends your guidance text with e.g. "SW to " which takes up 6 chars (including spaces).
  6. Navigation information is added to the route not the track
  7. Split track if more than 250 route points (eTrex limit)
  8. Follow FIA lexicons as close as possible
Item
Description
!
Single caution (Take care)
!!
Double caution (You could get hurt)
!!!
Triple caution (You could get seriously hurt or even die)


^^ xxx
Continue strait at xxx degrees
<< yyy
Turn left yyy degrees
>> zzz
Turn right zzz degrees
<<V
Fork in road keep left.  Could be followed by xxx degrees
V>>
Fork in road keep right.  Could be followed by xxx degrees


(S)
Start of route
(P)
Stop.  Normally an intersection, crossing or traffic
(F)
End of route
(DZ)
Start of zone
(FZ)
End of zone
(50) (100) (120)
Speed limit
(CLK)
Clock
(FU)
Fuel
(CP)
Check point
(AZ)
Assistance zone
(V)
Village


AD
On the right
AG
On the left
D
Right
G
Left
SA
Sand
DN
Dune
DNT
Small dune
GV
Gravel
G/D
Left then Right. Chicane
D/G
Right then Left. Chicane
MVS
Bad
EMP
Stony or Rocky
DEF
Rough
ORN
Rut
<<SER
Tight turn in direction <<
SER>>
Tight turn in direction >>
HP
Off Piste
RIO
River (or water, stream etc)
E3
Narrow
DS
In
QT
Out of
NBX
Many
RLT
Slow down.  Could be: Dip, Bump, Compression, Ditch
$
Twisty
PP
Main track
TD
Keep straight
RO
Road (tar surface)
TDSPP
Keep straight on main track
TDRPP
Keep straight on main road
P//
Parallel tracks
P
Track
TJS
Always
VG
Vegetation
CX
Stone
EFF
Collapse
RP
To take
BETW
Between

Examples:
Navigation
Description
^^ 285 RO START
Keep straight at 285 degs on road.  Start of route
<< 344 GV
Turn 344 degs on gravel
!! RLT SER $
Double caution, Slow down, Tight twisty road
!! RLT <<SER
Double caution, Slow down, Tight turn to the left
V>> 5 PP
Fork in road proceed at 5 degs on main track
^^ 338 RO !! (V)
Go straight at 338 degs on road.  Be careful village ahead
! D/G ^^ 356
Single caution. Right then Left then straight ahead at 356 degs
<< 212 DS RIO SA
Turn 212 degs into river.  Sand
!! D/G QT RIO HP
Caution!! Right then Left out of river.  Off Piste (follow track carefully)
! G/D DS RIO
Caution. Left then Right into river

Setup the eTrex

Map Setup

The map needs to be setup with the following settings:

With the map displayed, press the Menu button, then Setup Map.  Change the following:
  • Guidance Text = Always
  • Data Fields = 2 small

The 2 small fields should be:
  • Heading
  • Dist to Next

Page sequence

Setup the Page sequence by going to Main Menu > Setup > Page sequence.  I use the following (in this order):
  • Main Menu
  • Map
  • Trip computer
  • Active Route
This allows you to use the Back button on the eTrex to cycle through the important menus without having to use the joystick.  I have found the joystick difficult to control with gloves on and especially while driving!

My Trip computer page looks like this:

Routing

Go to Main menu > Setup > Routing and make sure

  • Off Road Transitions = Auto

I found this default option to work the best.  The advantage is, you don't have to manually advance to your next point, the GPS will do it automatically.

Important:

One thing to note is that; As soon as you get close to your current tulip (the one you are heading for), the eTrex will already jump to the next tulip.  This is a bit unfortunate since you loose your current navigation information for this point.  I have tried various options but the auto still remains the best option.  I end up remembering what the current tulip information was, performing the action and continue. So keep your instructions as brief as possible.  This helps when remembering them as well as with the text size.



1 comment:

  1. Share the same feeling and thoughts! Nav equipment is expensive and in fact there are too many areas e.g. rally, enduro style...hard but not extreme, remaining within a limited budget!

    ReplyDelete

eTrex Rally Navigation

Intro Navigating without the conventional Rally Navigation Equipment (i.e. Roadbook, CAP, Trip) has been a mission of mine since I started...