Latest XT2/Tread software version

For help and advice on the Garmin Zumo XT2.
turbo19
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by turbo19 »

Lanso wrote: Sun Nov 30, 2025 7:36 pm
jfheath wrote: Sun Nov 30, 2025 5:48 pm
Are you using, or have you used @FrankB's Trip Manager to put your routes onto the XT2 ?
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I am quite happy with the XT2 now that I use TM - it doesn't alter the route names or positions and RUT behaviour and route point removal is no longer an issue. But I do not allow synch.
I get that you're very familiar and highly enjoy TripManager.

But everyone is hopeful with every software update that we don't need TripManager anymore.
Especially since I still think that in 2025, transferring files with a cable or micro SD card is archaic. It's like starting your car with a hand crank every day. :lol: :lol:
jfheath
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by jfheath »

turbo19 wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 6:10 am Especially since I still think that in 2025, transferring files with a cable or micro SD card is archaic. It's like starting your car with a hand crank every day.
It’s ok having state-of-the-art technology if it works, but at the moment the state of the art is that it doesn’t work.

And you still need to use usb a cable if you want to remove gpx files from your device.

But I used to like the facility to transfer gpx files from pc by email to your phone for the Drive App to pick up. This worked whether Explore was set up to synch or not. You can do it with Tread, but then synch has to be enabled, so it’s back to using the cable.

I’ll use the best method to achieve what I want. I’m not interested in the latest technology for its own sake.
In 2025, ‘newer’ rarely means better. It often means poorer quality for greater profits.
Have owned Zumo 550, 660 == Now have Zumo XT2, XT, 595, 590, Headache
Use Basecamp (mainly), MyRouteApp (sometimes), Competent with Tread for XT2, Can use Explore for XT - but it offers nothing that I want !

Links: Zumo 590s . Zumo XT & BC . Zumo Navigation Booklet . Zumo XT2
turbo19
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by turbo19 »

jfheath wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 7:26 am
turbo19 wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 6:10 am Especially since I still think that in 2025, transferring files with a cable or micro SD card is archaic. It's like starting your car with a hand crank every day.
It’s ok having state-of-the-art technology if it works, but at the moment the state of the art is that it doesn’t work.

And you still need to use usb a cable if you want to remove gpx files from your device.

But I used to like the facility to transfer gpx files from pc by email to your phone for the Drive App to pick up. This worked whether Explore was set up to synch or not. You can do it with Tread, but then synch has to be enabled, so it’s back to using the cable.

I’ll use the best method to achieve what I want. I’m not interested in the latest technology for its own sake.
In 2025, ‘newer’ rarely means better. It often means poorer quality for greater profits.
We agree that it's the best method for routes drawn in BC or other apps.

But I still think they could have made it more user-friendly, especially coming from the Drive app, as you say, which worked very well for transferring GPX files on the fly.

It's supposed to be a device for travel, and I don't find it very user-friendly to have to carry around a microSD card or cable transferring things to the device every day. Often I'm traveling in a city and I plan a short route for the day, with 2-3 sightseeing stops, and it should sync everything properly and respect the routes drawn in Tread (which it doesn't). Anyway, we'll see what happens when the new device comes out.
proofresistant
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by proofresistant »

@jfheath, thank you for your detailed answers, as always.
I completely agree with you on everything you wrote about GPX file handling and have had the same experience.
Out of habit, I had completely forgotten why I transfer GPX files to the SD card and not to the internal memory.

But let's get back to the topic at hand.
I have the same expectations as @turbo19.
Unfortunately, and I just wanted to mention this beforehand, even with the latest versions, synchronization still doesn't work well enough to be used without worry.

PS
I'm so glad there are still staying user-friendly developers like @FrankB :-)
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by TheoTiger »

“It is admirable that Frank.B can create a program that works, while the developers of the Garmin Zumo XT2 cannot. They should be ashamed. Compliments to Frank.B.”
turbo19
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by turbo19 »

TheoTiger wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 1:47 pm “It is admirable that Frank.B can create a program that works, while the developers of the Garmin Zumo XT2 cannot. They should be ashamed. Compliments to Frank.B.”
+1000
jfheath
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by jfheath »

turbo19 wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 6:10 am It's supposed to be a device for travel, and I don't find it very user-friendly to have to carry around a microSD card or cable transferring things to the device every day. Often I'm traveling in a city and I plan a short route for the day, with 2-3 sightseeing stops, and it should sync everything properly and respect the routes drawn in Tread (which it doesn't). Anyway, we'll see what happens when the new device comes out.
I agree with that aspect completely. But I have never had an issue with creating on the fly - mainly because I don't do it a great deal. Only to try it and see - it has never behaved unexpectedly. I did test this thoroughly on the XT1 - it was doing this that confirmed that saved routes never displayed RUT behaviour when the same route imported as a gpx file did.

Amongst other things, I trained as a teacher of Outdoor Activities and I taught and practiced navigation with map and compass. The key part of it was making a route card with identifiable points and working out by hand the compass bearing, distance to walk, amount of climbing involved and tiem to get to the next point. Tedious yes, but it ensures that all of the hard work is done before you get into the hostile environment horizontal rain and sleet in thick fog on a remote hill top.

And being someone that practices what I preach, this stays with me. I plan everything beforehand for our tours. Including emergency escape routes. As we get older, we plan trips which are like a clover leaves. eg Tomorrow's ride is 120 miles from A to C going in a wide arc through point B. But if we are tired, we can miss out point B and just ride 20 miles to point C.

But - it is worth noting - It is worth creating a set of well chosen Waypoints - and by that I mean the Genuine Waypoints that get transferred to the Zumo XT2 as Waypoints and all earlier Zumos as 'Favourites' - ie Saved locations that are not necessarily part of any route. I do not mean the waypoint that is used by MRA, other software and almost every zumo user on Facebook forums - who think that the term means any placed point on a route; or that they are the same as Via Points. Waypoints are not part of a route at all, even thought hey can be used to form a part of a route - as either a Via or a Shaping Point.

So after I get off my hobby horse, I can tell you what you can do with a genuine Waypoint

If you have waypoints saved and transferred with your gpx file to the Zumo XT2, then you can very quickly build a reasonable route on the XT2's Route Planner, and keep all of the Route points as Via Points / Stops. You can reorder them easily and they keep the given name, and do not change position. All you do is start a route, add a start, search icon, Waypoints, select, and move on and add the next 'Stop'. At any point you can save what you have and then come back to it. You just have to make sure that your Waypoints are not placed on one side of a dual carriageway.

If you haven't tried this, it is worth a go. IT could get you out of a sticky situation without a great deal of effort.

Don't even think about changing them to shaping points though - I could tell you what happens if you do but I'll leave that for another tirade. Routes created like this will behave properly, never get stuck in a RUT, even if you have to Skip one of the points. You can can do it without having to have synch set up when you installe the Tread App. ( I haven't actually checked out what it does if you do allow synching). I assume that it will change it if it is allowed to synch back from Explore to the XT2.
Have owned Zumo 550, 660 == Now have Zumo XT2, XT, 595, 590, Headache
Use Basecamp (mainly), MyRouteApp (sometimes), Competent with Tread for XT2, Can use Explore for XT - but it offers nothing that I want !

Links: Zumo 590s . Zumo XT & BC . Zumo Navigation Booklet . Zumo XT2
turbo19
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by turbo19 »

New Tread version for Android, 17Mb

2.12.45 (9/12/2025)
jacq
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by jacq »

jfheath wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 2:31 pm

If you have waypoints saved and transferred with your gpx file to the Zumo XT2, then you can very quickly build a reasonable route on the XT2's Route Planner
Where do you plan your Waypoints before transferring them to Zumo XT2?
jfheath
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Re: Latest XT2/Tread software version

Post by jfheath »

jacq wrote: Tue Dec 30, 2025 5:55 pm
jfheath wrote: Tue Dec 02, 2025 2:31 pm If you have waypoints saved and transferred with your gpx file to the Zumo XT2, then you can very quickly build a reasonable route on the XT2's Route Planner
Where do you plan your Waypoints before transferring them to Zumo XT2?
I use Basecamp. Create the Waypoints with the flag tool. Basecamp uses the maps that are identical to the ones that you load into the XT2.
Export them as a gpx file and place that on the SD card in a folder called Garmin/gpx - (but actually, the XT2 finds gpx files wherever you place them.). Use the SD card rather then Internal storage - the XT2 removes them from the gpx files once it has imported them otherwise.
Have owned Zumo 550, 660 == Now have Zumo XT2, XT, 595, 590, Headache
Use Basecamp (mainly), MyRouteApp (sometimes), Competent with Tread for XT2, Can use Explore for XT - but it offers nothing that I want !

Links: Zumo 590s . Zumo XT & BC . Zumo Navigation Booklet . Zumo XT2
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