gpx or tcx

[judder]

So I have eventually ordered a garmin edge 800. .
When planning a route and downloading onto the garmin which file is better gpx or tcx. .
Have done a few searches and an still none the wiser. .
The idea is to plan a route and get turn by turn directions on the screen with the ability to go off course if needed and get guidance back to it...
Thanks

 

[Gary E]

Never used tcx so can't comment on that but I always download my courses as GPS files onto my computer (I keep them all filed away in case I want to use them again) and then transfer them to my 800. I get turn by turn and guidance back onto my route if I stray.
One point worth noting is that you have to select turn by turn on the 800 for each ride before you start the route. Otherwise the default setting is for turn by turn to be set to off. Once you've started the route and realised you're not getting turn by turn, it's too late! - too be honest it's the one thing on the 800 that annoys me, my 705 remembers your last preference and doesn't need all the faffing about.

 

[yello]

When planning a route and downloading onto the garmin which file is better gpx or tcx.

gpx - imho. it's an industry standard format

tcx is a Gamin (proprietary?) output file isn't it? It can contain other non-location related data like speed, elevation, etc plus heart rate and cadence, if you have those bits of kit.

Interestingly, Garmin have dropped tcx in favour of the .fit format on it's later units. Seemingly, they couldn't include temperature in a tcx (without significant rework).

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

gpx - imho. it's an industry standard format

tcx is a Gamin (proprietary?) output file isn't it? It can contain other non-location related data like speed, elevation, etc plus heart rate and cadence, if you have those bits of kit.

Interestingly, Garmin have dropped tcx in favour of the .fit format on it's later units. Seemingly, they couldn't include temperature in a tcx (without significant rework).

Yep. My new 800 uses .fit, I now know why

 

[HLaB]

If you put GPX or TCX in the Garmin/ New Files folder it automatically convert them to FIT files. IME, TCX and now FIT files are better for navigation they give more detailed turn by turn information (you need to enable it though with the 800, it was aoutomatic with the 305; OT the 305 autosynced the 800 doesn't it seems like a few steps back to me )

 

[HLaB]

Interestingly, Garmin have dropped tcx in favour of the .fit format on it's later units. Seemingly, they couldn't include temperature in a tcx (without significant rework).

Thanks I wondered why the 800 uses fit instead of tcx

 

[Shut Up Legs]

.FIT is also a lot more compact, which means less disk usage on the Garmin 800 compared to the 705. The only issue I have with .FIT is that it's binary format (compared to .TCX which are text XML format files), so you need to use a Garmin-supplied API to be able to read it. I recently added .FIT support to my bicycle trip tracking application (it originally read just .TCX files).

 

[Supersuperleeds]

gpx, it is compatible with more things, for example memorymap will let you import gpx files and then convert them back to routes with full data

 

[02GF74]

.gpx

 

[yello]

The only issue I have with .FIT is that it's binary format (compared to .TCX which are text XML format files)

As someone who has had need to hack tcx files, that would be an issue for me too.

I presume though that you could upload the .FIT file (to Connect or wherever) and export it as .TCX (with consequential data loss) and then do whatever hacks you wanted.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

As someone who has had need to hack tcx files, that would be an issue for me too.

I presume though that you could upload the .FIT file (to Connect or wherever) and export it as .TCX (with consequential data loss) and then do whatever hacks you wanted.

Yes, I tried that, while my work on my application to make it handle .FIT files wasn't yet done. I found that if I upload the .FIT file to Garmin Connect, then export/download as .TCX, for some weird reason the paused time was all gone! . This data loss can't be explained by the difference in formats. I know there are other converters, but they have drawbacks: one I found was free but had a file size limit, and others required a registration fee. For me, at least, the best long-term solution was to update my application.

 

[ufkacbln]

GPX is not universal. Some GPX files do not contain all the details.

SatMap for instance does nt include speed in the GPX file.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

GPX is not universal. Some GPX files do not contain all the details.

SatMap for instance does nt include speed in the GPX file.

I beg to differ. I use satmap and when I open the GPX file with an editor all the speed data is there.

 

[PlymSlimCyclist]

Sorry to bring up an old topic, but would you all recommend the GPX for an Edge 510?

I've an event this weekend and would like the best file for the job, although I know for The Arrow, it's file was GPX, whereas I think I've added the TCX file for this weekends event.

 

[HLaB]

Ride with GPS advise a TCX course. IME too thats better for navigation too as it gives more turn by turn info.

http://ridewithgps.com/help/garmin-edge-500