track files are automatically created (logged) by your GPS, from a track that you have alreadyfollowed.route files are manually created, for the navigation of a route, that you intendto follow.Here are some of the key differences and shared similarities between routes and tracks: Because of these similarities, it creates quite a bit of confusion. This question comes up a lot, as there are many similarities between routes and tracks. What is the difference between a route and a track? Notice how much more detail the track file has when compared to the route file example further up the page. This track file was automatically recorded on my GPS after I rode it. The example above is a track file of Sawpit Road. A PC or laptop with a mouse makes route creation far faster, much easier, and more enjoyable. While many of these apps are becoming more advanced, creating a route on a mobile phone's small screen is never as nice as creating a route on a large screen. There are increasingly more phone apps that allow you to create routes on-the-fly. Once you have created your route, you then export it to your GPS device. When it comes to planning short routes, this can be ok, however for planning routes over large areas or over multiple days/weeks, it is much easier to create a route on a device with a larger screen such as a PC, laptop, or tablet. This route file can be used on your own GPS device to navigate, or you can share it with others.Īdditionally, you can create routes directly on a GPS device, however small screens can make this a fiddly task. After you create a route in map editing software, you export the route as a GPX file to your GPS device. Each Mototoken can be downloaded as a GPX file, and loaded to a GPS to navigate to.Ī route file is best thought of as a collection of waypoints, that make up a “path” that you can follow.Ī route is manually created, typically in map editing software. This map features waypoints at locations that are interesting to visit, such as epic lookouts, iconic rivers, historic places, or weird and wacky landmarks. You can use this GPX file to return to this great campsite later, plus you can share the GPX file with others, so they can visit it too.Ī real-life example of a waypoint is the Mototoken map below. Your GPS device will then create a GPX file that stores the coordinates of that location. Let’s say you find a great campsite, and you “mark a waypoint” on your GPS device. This is handy when you are out exploring, and you find a cool place that you want to mark for returning to later. This action will “create” a waypoint at your current location. Most GPS devices offer the ability for you to “mark a waypoint” by pressing a button. That’s it – a waypoint is simply the map coordinates of a single location. Waypoints are typically used to mark the location of a campsite, a hut, an iconic lookout, etc. The differences are described below: What is a Waypoint?Ī waypoint contains GPS coordinates of a single point (a single location on a map). gpx extension and essentially look the same on the surface, a GPX file can contain either a waypoint, a route, or a track. This includes dedicated GPS devices such as a Garmin GPS, and also smartphone devices with map navigation apps installed. In this article I refer to using GPX files with a "GPS device".
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |