XT2: Section 1 - Key Terms

1.03 - Via & Shaping Points
Via Point  
  • Via points are shown as Orange flags on the XT2 screen and map.
  • A Via point is a route point that will announce as you approach and arrive.
  • The XT2 will always navigate you to a via point until it has decided that you have visted it. You are deemed to have visited it as soon as it gives the first message - "In half a mile arriving at NamedViaPoint on the left".
  • Via Points mark the beginning and end of a route 'Segment' on the XT2.
  • If you change a Via Point to a Shaping point, the location of the point may move.
  • Only Via points are shown in the list of 'Next Destinations' when you select Go! to start a route.
  • You can display trip data (at the right hand side of the screen) relating to Via points. Eg ETA at the next Via. Time in hrs and minutes to the next Via. Distance to next Via. The same options are not availabl for shaping points.
  • The search for traffic and incidents on the route ahead seems to be restricted to the current segment only.

  • Via points are subject to changed behaviour when navigating if RUT conditions are met. See later.



Comment
If you change a Via point to a shaping point, you would expect the route to remain the same - as it has to pass through the points anyway. But with the XT2 it doesn't always work out like that.

The via points mark the beginning and end of a segment of the route. It seems that the zumo XT2 calculates the best route one segement at a time rather than looking at the entire route. It is likely to calculate a different route if it is looking at A to C, than if it is looking at A to B and then B to C.

Calculating a route set for 'Faster Time' seems to mean 'use faster roads' to get to the destination. And the XT2 will do that even if it takes longer to reach the end point. From casual observations it seems that if there is a 'faster road' which it can use and that is closer to your current position than the next route point, it heads for the faster road. But that is an opinion formed from a few casual observations.
Shaping Point  - 

  • Shaping points are used to force the route along particular roads.
  • Shaping Points appear as small light blue discs on the route.
  • Shaping Points do not give an alert as you approach or arrive.
  • If you miss a shaping point the Zumo will find ways to get you to navigate you back to it. -
  • If you rejoin the magenta route line after missing a shaping point, navigation will continue as if you had visited it
  • Shaping points do not appear in the list of 'Next Destinations' when starting a route.
  • Shaping points cannot be used to display arrival time, distances or duration in the Trip Data display.

  • Shaping points are subject to changed behaviour when navigating if RUT conditions are met. See later.
Comment
On the XT2 - shaping points have displayed some weird routing behaviour. From the results of tests, shaping points -
  • have been relocated to different roads when synch'd with the Tread database
  • have been removed from routes when a navigation instruction has been ignored.
  • have been relocated when changed from a Via point in the Tread App (XT2)
  • have been relocated when changed from a Via in the Zumo route planner/trip planner (Zumos 595, XT1 and XT2)
  • do not retain their name on the XT2 - they are all called 'Shaping Point'.
Most of the above issues can be prevented in ways which are described on later pages.
1.03 - Via & Shaping Points
The information on these pages has been acquired from personal experience of using and testing the behaviour of Basecamp and my Zumos XT and XT2. I have no links with Garmin except that I raise issues about my Zumos' behaviours from time to time. These pages are presented for interest only rather than instructions. The contents of these pages must not be shared, copied, transmitted, redistributed or re-published in any form without my permission. (C) JHeath 2025.