Lowrance XOG

[Moraflex]

Originally Posted by walstib

Hey Now,

Well, tried converting a route saved as a .gpx file through GPSBabel (pc version this time). Selected waypoints and tracks like Robert's screenshot and my address book loaded hundreds of waypoints. I reset the whole unit to get rid of the waypoints in the address book, then converted the same .gpx file and only selected tracks. Same thing. I keep getting the waypoints loading up in the address book???? Any suggestions guys? Thanks in advance.

Also on a side note, I copied some MP3 files onto a couple of different SD cards and I noticed I get a ghost file with a .- in front of every song file. These do not have any bits of data, just renamed files???? So when they get selected they do not play, the unit just stops playing.

Here is an idea you might try. It keeps the address book clean for me. GPSBabel from GPX to USR and name the file, then open the USR file in Lowrance MapCreate software to make sure its OK (optional). Then, on your computer, take the USR file and save it to your XOG card via a card reader or just use the unit itself. Then go into the XOG and (off the top of my head here) go into the options menu and "Save or Upload data", find that file on your card and upload it.

I keep hundreds of routes in a "USR" folder on my desktop. When I go to Utah for instance, I load all the Utah files on the XOG flash card and pull them as needed during the trip. Works great.

[walstib]

Originally Posted by Moraflex

Here is an idea you might try. It keeps the address book clean for me. GPSBabel from GPX to USR and name the file, then open the USR file in Lowrance MapCreate software to make sure its OK (optional). Then, on your computer, take the USR file and save it to your XOG card via a card reader or just use the unit itself. Then go into the XOG and (off the top of my head here) go into the options menu and "Save or Upload data", find that file on your card and upload it.

I keep hundreds of routes in a "USR" folder on my desktop. When I go to Utah for instance, I load all the Utah files on the XOG flash card and pull them as needed during the trip. Works great.

Hey Now,

Thanks for the reply. Do I understand you correctly, in that I should open the usr file in MapCreate, then save the just opened file from MapCreate to the SD card? I have only been copying the usr file directly to the SD card.

I don't have a copy of MapCreate anymore, I had one from my iWay 100M, but had an unfortunate incident with it. So I will need to buy another copy and have to try this out.

[Big Toe]

When I got home last night my XOG was waiting for me. This is my first GPS. Looks like a neat little unit. I would like to mount it just above the steering stem some how on my V-Strom. Any idea's?

[MGB]

I recently got one too, and plan on using my ram mount (already on the bike) and buying the ram mount designed to hold the XOG.

I've got mine (currently an older GPS unit) left of center so it's doens't block any gauges.

[Moraflex]

Originally Posted by walstib

Hey Now,

Thanks for the reply. Do I understand you correctly, in that I should open the usr file in MapCreate, then save the just opened file from MapCreate to the SD card? I have only been copying the usr file directly to the SD card.

I don't have a copy of MapCreate anymore, I had one from my iWay 100M, but had an unfortunate incident with it. So I will need to buy another copy and have to try this out.

I am at work answering this without the unit in hand.
You can bypass MapCreate and do it. However I really need to get the unit in hand to retrace my steps. If I remember correctly, when I drew a route on MapCreate then exported it to the GPS device it listed all the way points in the address book. That's a pain in the ass because you have to delete one way point at a time.

I'll go mess with it this weekend and report back to you Walstib.

[rwamf]

Originally Posted by walstib

Hey Now,

Well, tried converting a route saved as a .gpx file through GPSBabel (pc version this time). Selected waypoints and tracks like Robert's screenshot and my address book loaded hundreds of waypoints. I reset the whole unit to get rid of the waypoints in the address book, then converted the same .gpx file and only selected tracks. Same thing. I keep getting the waypoints loading up in the address book???? Any suggestions guys? Thanks in advance.

Also on a side note, I copied some MP3 files onto a couple of different SD cards and I noticed I get a ghost file with a .- in front of every song file. These do not have any bits of data, just renamed files???? So when they get selected they do not play, the unit just stops playing.

If you convert "ROUTES" you will get waypoints added to the addressbook, I don't mess with routes, I ONLY USE TRACKS, much easier and cleaner.
I have "usr" files with 50-80 tracks in them, GPSBABEL will only convert what you have, if you have a track file "gpx" and convert it to "usr" and check "routes and not "tracks" you will still only get a track file in the conversion.
I make routes in my Delorme software and in there I can convert the route to a track file, works great.
I don't use it for MP3's so I don't know, I did put a few songs on the card and it worked no problems.

[Big Toe]

I,
Does the USB cord to PC cord charge the battery too like an Ipod?
It's -20c out and I don't want to go out and plug it into the car.

[Moraflex]

Walstib,
I tinkered with the XOG for a few minutes this morning.
When you copy a route into the XOG, do not allow the unit to plot that routes course, doing so automatically enters the way points into the address book. Rather, when you approach the area the route is at, just follow the red dots. I like to make all tracks/routes a solid red line. To do that you go to Options>My trails> (click on the trail) >Pattern, then put in ------------ and this tells it to go solid red. Another thing to keep in mind is the XOG can have up to 9999 way points per trail/track. Thats equal to about 250 miles of tracking per trail. very cool. Hope this helps

[Moraflex]

Originally Posted by acormier7

I,
Does the USB cord to PC cord charge the battery too like an Ipod?
It's -20c out and I don't want to go out and plug it into the car.

Yes it does

[Big Toe]

I just got my XOG and ripped a bunch of cd's to put on a sd card. When I ripped them, they get saves as a wma and won't play. Can they be saved as an mp3 some how?
Thanks,

[JimNtexas]

Originally Posted by acormier7

I just got my XOG and ripped a bunch of cd's to put on a sd card. When I ripped them, they get saves as a wma and won't play. Can they be saved as an mp3 some how?
Thanks,

The XOG won't play WMA. It will play MP3. If you are using windows Media Player you can set it to rip mp3 in the options-rip music tab.

Another thing to know about the XOG is that you can create playlists also. The technique that works for me is to plug the SD card with my music into the XOG, connect the XOG to my windows computer, and create a playlist with MediaPlayer by dragging files from the XOG to Media player. Once I have my play list I 'save as' the playlist back to the XOG using the m3u format. The playlist will appear on the XOG and works fine.

[Big Toe]

Originally Posted by JimNtexas

The XOG won't play WMA. It will play MP3. If you are using windows Media Player you can set it to rip mp3 in the options-rip music tab.

Another thing to know about the XOG is that you can create playlists also. The technique that works for me is to plug the SD card with my music into the XOG, connect the XOG to my windows computer, and create a playlist with MediaPlayer by dragging files from the XOG to Media player. Once I have my play list I 'save as' the playlist back to the XOG using the m3u format. The playlist will appear on the XOG and works fine.

Jim,
Thanks for the tip's.

[Big Toe]

Hi,
Is the ball on the Ram Mount cradle for the XOG in the center? I'm ready to order one but I want to determine the length or the arm I need. I don't see the view of the rear of the cradle.
Thanks,

[mxdad23and331]

vertically , below center about 3/4"

[andrewgore]

I managed to score an XOG today for 120$ at cabellas. (149-30$ off purchase). I wanted to be able to put in tracks and whatnot to actually plan out a fun ride instead of my general getting lost on my own type of thing.

After much reading, espresso, and head scratching, I can't for the life of me get my file I have here to work properly with my GPS. Here is my rundown:

I received a GDB file for a Wisconsin trail ride. I've been trying every known possible combination of inputs\outputs for GPSBabel to make it export an appropriate file. No matter the combination of things I try, I can't seem to get it right. Each output file, I'm left with 2500+ or so addresses in my address book, or when loading the file onto the XOG, it halts half-way giving the "too much info" alarm.

I noticed that no matter what setting I use for translation with GPSBabel, my files when opened with the Lowrance GDM6 program only show waypoints.

Should I convert these files to GPX first and then convert to the USR file? Should I find some way of opening the Garmin Mapsource files? I'll be toying with this for the next hour or so or until I fall asleep at the keyboard here Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Andrew