Garmin BaseCamp™ Tutorials
This series of long-form videos explains how to use most of Garmin BaseCamp’s™ features in detail.
Tutorial Videos Index
1-Tutorial Series Overview
In this video we take a look at the tutorials I’ve prepared for Garmin BaseCamp™.
2-BaseCamp™ Why Is It So HARD?
Why is BaseCamp So Hard? In this video I’ll attempt to explain why Garmin BaseCamp™ is so difficult for new users and how to deal with its eccentricities.
3-BaseCamp™ Why Is It So GOOD?
Why is BaseCamp™ such a good program? In this video I give 9 reasons why I beleive Garmin BaseCamp™ is worth the effort to learn how to use it.
4-General Setup
In this video I go over setting up BaseCamp™ to get it ready to use. You’ll learn how to turn on the toolbars, set some options, and create a folder and list.
5-Creating Routes
In this video you will learn several ways to create routes in Garmin BaseCamp™.
6-Modifying Routes
In this video you will learn several ways to modify routes we created in Garmin BaseCamp™
7-Creating Waypoints
In this video you will learn several ways to create waypoints in Garmin BaseCamp™.
8-Adding Waypoints to Routes
In this video you will learn several ways to add waypoints to routes in Garmin BaseCamp™.
9-Searching for Waypoints/POIs
Garmin BaseCamp™ has a comprehensive search feature. In this video I explain how the search function works.
10-Area Avoidances
In this video I’ll show you how to designate areas on the map to avoid when creating routes.
11-BaseCamp™ Move the Map
In this video I show you five ways to move the map in Garmin BaseCamp™.
12-Mixed-Profile Routes
Coming soon…
13-Folders & Lists
In this video we’ll look at using folders in BaseCamp™ to assist you in organizing and planning long trips.
14-Databases
BaseCamp™ stores data in a database. In this video I explain how to backup the database and create multiple databases that can be shared.
15-Import from Google & Tracks and Routes
In this video we look at how to import Google maps into BaseCamp™ and explore the differences between Tracks and Routes.
16-Trip Planner
The trip planning feature in BaseCamp™ allows you to plan multi-day trips. In this video I explain how to use the trip planner.
17-Custom Waypoints
In this video you’ll see how to download custom waypoints from POI-Factory.com and load them into Garmin BaseCamp™
18-Custom Waypoint Symbols
In this video you’ll see how to download custom waypoint symbols from POI-Factory.com and install them in Garmin BaseCamp™
19-Transparent Symbols – BMP
In this video we’ll edit a custom waypoint symbol in BMP format and give it a transparent background.
20-Transparent Symbols – PNG
In this video we’ll edit a custom waypoint symbol in PNG format and give it a transparent background. Next we’ll install the symbol in Garmin BaseCamp™.
21-Scratch-Built Symbols
In this video we’ll create a custom waypoint symbol in GIMP rather than modifying an image we downloaded from the internet.
22-Geotagged Photos
In this video we’ll import geotagged photos and geotag photos that have not been geotagged.
23-Geocaching
In this video we’ll look at Geocaching and import geocaching locations as waypoints.
24-Bird’s Eye Imagery
In this video we’ll use the Bird’s Eye Imagery feature to import satellite view images.
25-Custom Maps
In this video we’ll look at two types of custom maps. We’ll install an open-source map and import a custom overlay map.
26-Zumo-XT2 Compatibility
Recently Garmin released the Zumo-XT2 and updated BaseCamp™. The latest version of BaseCamp™ displays a message that says the program does not support the XT-2
You mention the difference between Waypoints and Shaping Points (being listed in the list area or not), but not how to create shaping points. I have used Basecamp for sometime now, and my previous Garmin units did not announce the “waypoints” that I had changed to shaping points, via the route detail waypoints list. But now my Garmin 660, announces everything, whether it is designated as “Alert on Arrival” or not. Is there a way to have the Garmin 660 not announce every waypoint/shaping point, based on the settings in Basecamp or the route?
Shaping points are created when you Alt-drag a route or use the Insert button to alter the route.
Older models of the Zumo such as the 660/665 alert everything. There’s no way to change that. Thanks for watching my videos.
Thank you for the reply. You have a very good series of tutorial videos for Basecamp. I use Basecamp extensively for leading my rides. When I first purchased my Garmin 660, when I designated my waypoints as “not alert”, they where silent, but after a firmware update from Garmin, the 660 began announcing everything. I was told that one of your videos described a way to make the Garmin 660 “not announce shaping points” once again, which your video defined as those waypoints not listed in the library. I guess they were mistaken, when they viewed your videos. Take care and God bless you and yours.
Sorry, I didn’t do a video on that. I’m not aware of way to do that on my 665. Check out this thread. It says that shaping points created using the insert tool don’t alert on the 600. You might want to experiment with this.
Hello EZ Moto Tim, I have a Gaia GPS track that is supposed to be an out and back. Gaia GPS quit at the end of the out. All I want to do is finish the back by telling it to track back to the starting Trail Head. Do you have a video for that?
I don’t know how the Gaia handles return trips. What I do is create two routes, one out and one in.
Regarding Area Avoidances. I understand from your videos how this works in BaseCamp, but do these areas get transferred to the GPS so that in the event the route gets recalculated on device, the avoidance area is still recognized?
I’m not aware of a way to copy area avoidances to a GPS. I beleive you can enter them manually on the Zumo XT.
Hi Tim,
My wife and I live in Northern Wisconsin and are planning a trip around Lake Superior on our Spyders. Would I be better off creating two trips, one through Minnesotta to the furthest point above Lake Superior and then another coming back home through Sault Ste Marie?
Thanks…love your video’s!!
Jim
It’s always better to create out and back routes rather than a circular route. Sometimes the GPS will “short circuit” a circular route and bring you right back home.
I was trying to fire up my years old trusty copy of Mapsource Trip and Waypoint Manager that was gathering dust for a few years, and it was being super cranky with Windows 10. Then I found BaseCamp which is apparently an update to the old Trip and Waypoint Manager. Great! Just watched a couple of your videos as a refresher.
Spend some time getting to know BaseCamp and you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for your comment and for watching my videos.
THANK YOU for the series of Basecamp tutorials.
Coffee on the way.
Thanks; I apprecieate the support.
Good morning EZ Moto Tim
I went to Buy Me A Coffee.
It appears that I have to join the site.
I really don’t wat to set up a business.
How do I buy you a coffee?
Is there a page with a link to buy a coffee?
Bill
I’m not sure, but this link should work. https://buymeacoffee.com/ezmototim
Firstly Tim, thank you so much for investing your time and effort in developing these excellent resource materials.
I am a “lower tech user” who can learn. However, it just takes some time for me to “get it”. I bought a new ZUMO XT and really want to maximize my investment in it. I’ve watched every one of your videos, taken notes and now understand much of it. A few things I still don’t get but I’m sure those light bulba will go off eventually.
One topic I don’t see is an overview. For instance, there are a number of different apps that are available, used for different purposes and work together in some capacity for route planning. I would appreciate a clear and simple explanation of these.
For example, What is “Basecamp”, what does it do? and how does it interface with say Garmin Express? Same questions on Garmin Express. What is it? What does it do and how does it interface with say my ZUMO XT. Hopefully you get the picture.
Sometimes when people are so expert in a subject, they tend to make assumptions about their audience or just leave out the fundamental basics that us neophytes need before we can put the pieces together and grow our knowledge and understanding.
Keep up the great work and thanks again Tim. Ride safe … All-Ways. ~ Nela ~
You’re right, those of us who have been using tools to plan trips no longer have access to a “newbie’s” mindset. I’ll try to give you a quick overview that addresses your concerns.
Garmin Express is an app that stands at the top of the pyramid. It has one basic function (and a couple collateral functions.) It’s primary purpose is to update the firmware on a GPS and update the “maps” on a GPS. The term, “maps” includes the maps you see on the screen and the database of points of interest (POI) that you can lookup on the GPS. (Restaurants, Gas Stations, Parks, etc.) One collateral function is to copy the maps and POIs to a computer for BaseCamp™ to use. Another collateral function is to backup your GPS data to a computer.
BaseCamp™ is a program designed to make it easier for you to create a route for the GPS to follow. We motorcyclists often want to follow specific roads on a ride. If you just put your destination into the GPS and tell it to take you there, it will follow the most direct route. You may want to go on other, more picturesque roads. Creating that route using just the GPS is tedious. Instead, you create the route in BaseCamp™ and then transfer the route to the GPS. You then tell the GPs to use the route you created in BaseCamp™.
That’s a nutshell overview. I hope you find it useful.
Yes your reply was useful. But then just about everything you say or write is useful. Thank you.
👌
First – GREAT Basecamp video collection. No one else has such extensive library and explains it as well.
I prefer very curvey PAVED raods. How does Basecamp distinguish between paved and dirt. I see many roads go to a dashed line but I still think some of those are paved(?)
There is an option in each Activity Profile / Routing to avoid unpaved roads. I don’t know how it knows what is unpaved. That info would be embedded in the map. The best way to verify is to use Google Maps Street View.