google maps to tread app

[jessnjames]

I'm new to the Forum, Hello!
I've a new zumo xt2 but like google maps and planning on my laptop. Do I have to use Google My Maps (which I don't like much) to create GPX files or is there a way to do this with normal google maps? Alternatively, what's the most up to date garmin software I can put on my laptop to avoid using google maps? Note, I have the Tread App on my IPhone, but I guess I can't put that on my laptop for planning...
Many thanks.

[Peobody]

@jessnjames, welcome to the forum.

The most current Garmin route planning software for a PC is Basecamp. Unfortunately, it is old software that has been out of development for many years but many of us still use it. There is a forum on this site that is dedicated to it. Alternatively, Kurviger is an online route planning tool that has been getting a lot of mentions lately. I have tested it and came away impressed, but not enough to move away from Basecamp, which I feel proficient in (that is another way of saying that I resist learning something new until there is a very compelling reason). There are a number of others which I suspect folks will mention as they find this discussion.

[smfollen]

Welcome @jessnjames

There are lots of pc (mostly web) based route planners around, including Kurviger as Peobody mentioned. Each has its pros and cons.
I often start with Rever but sometimes use Google My Maps. In either case I go from there through Basecamp and then to the XT2 via USB cable, using Trip Manager viewtopic.php?t=3150. Although it is old, and even warns about compatibility with the XT2, Basecamp works well and can use the same maps as the XT2 which is helpful. Use Garmin Express on the pc to download the latest maps to your XT2 and to install them on your pc.

If you are new to the XT2, @jfheath provides a very helpful post here viewtopic.php?t=3361

If you are new to Basecamp, In addition to the Basecamp thread viewforum.php?f=16, you might check out EZ Moto Tim's tutorials on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SZ6SIh ... RyauzcFgK7

The Tread App is the only way to send files to the XT2 wirelessly but it has several issues so I avoid it entirely. Some people on here do use it. You can find plenty of related posts on this forum.

In case it helps you, I wrote some software to convert Google KML files to Garmin comparable GPX files. You can find it here https://github.com/SteveFollen/Trk2Rt/t ... r/Download. Related post here viewtopic.php?t=3581.

You can find plenty of help on this forum.

[jessnjames]

Thanks for the replies folks. Most informative.

[jfheath]

Thanks for the mention @smfollen.

I came to the XT2 from the XT1 , so the guide for which @smfollen provided a link - that is for things that I have come across that are different from the XT1.

There is another guide that I created - more complete - for the XT1, much of which is still relevant to the XT2.
viewtopic.php?t=1464

The links to these two guides are always near the top of the first page of the forums Zumo XT forum or the Zumo XT2