Using REVER and MRA Route Planner to Create GPS Routes
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- After doing a video on my trip to the Windy 9, I was asked to go into more detail about how I use MRA Route Planner and REVER to research and create my GPS routes. This video is a bit long, and might get a bit detailed but I tried to keep it as simple as I could.
The bottom line is that when you create a route in REVER, the best practice is to export it as a TRACK and then import that into MRA, Basecamp or directly into a Garmin GPS (not the best way, but it can be done).
Start: 0:30
Why I Use Rever: 2:27
Butler Maps: 3:23
How I use Butler Maps: 6:25
Summary of Using Rever: 12:46
Exporting from Rever: 15:45
Using MRA Route Planner: 20:00
Looking at Rever Route in MRA: 21:35
Looking at Rever Track in MRA: 22:28
Converting Track to Trip: 22:57
Splitting the Route: 24:52
Using Google Maps: 30:17
Naming Conventions: 32.19
Exporting from MRA: 34.12
Reversing a Route: 37:22
Moving Files to GPS: 39:01
Summary: 39:53
VISIT MY WEBSITE AT: www.livingofft...
Learn about my online courses, eBooks and self-guided tours. Sign up for my email list and get notified about new videos, courses and tours plans. To say thanks, you will get a free digital download of "5 Tips for Creating an Epic Road Trip."
LIVING OFF THE SLAB MEMBERSHIPS:
Want to hang out with other riders who love to travel? Want to learn and share your experiences? Then consider becoming a Living Off the Slab Member. We no have four memberships starting at just $2 per month.
Not only will you help support the channel, but each membership level offers additional benefits such as access to ad free videos, Living Off the Slab stickers, additional content, tools to help you create the tour of your dreams, as well as access to on the road updates and behind the scenes footage.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MEMBERSHIPS AT:
www.livingofft...
MUSIC CURTOSEY OF:
www.epidemicso...
Thank you for watching and ride safe! --Craig Ripley
This is a fantastic video. Thank you for putting this together. Helped me a lot. Actually, I watched this video around 8 months ago during my initial days into routing. But when I watched it again today, I was able to get much more out of it.
I ride that Hancock Catskill area every chance I get. There's a nice river side motel in Downsville with fire pits and porches. I dip my feet in the water and have post ride smoke, highly recommended.
Would that be the Octagon Motor Lodge???
I've been using MRA Route Planner for a few years now and it's a great tool like you mentioned. Now that they combine the Navigation with the route planner makes it nice for us since we have Harley Boom with Android Auto and Apple Car Play. I've always just made routes for each day but I like how you make one complete route then split it into separate days. Thanks for the info!
I agree with you that someone just starting to plan trips this way could get a little lost, but for others like me, it’s spot on. I suggest your video series on MRA Route Planner for someone just starting out. If nothing else, MRA sings and dances with my Zumo XT better than anything else.
I use Rever for the same reason you do, along with Kurgiver, Roadtripper, and scenic trip ideas from social media as reference tools. I go with your alternate of only looking at their road selections, finding them in MRA and creating the routes from scratch. Too much fix-up hassle importing routes from Rever.
Very good. I just purchased the MRA app. If I understand their email and promotion correctly, tomorrow, June 19th, they will be releasing an update that gives us turn-by-turn directions. As someone who just uses my phone for navigation (I tried a Garmin, but just couldn't...) this is what I'm looking for. Thanks for the detailed video.
Know there is a big update but not sure what is in it. Making it CarPlay compatible was one thing...
Thank you for yet another helpful video.
RE 21:45 to 22:20: Short explanation why this happens: A route exported from Rever has only 2 route points in it, the start and end points (rtept in the gpx file). It makes sense that MRA uses these two points to calculate the route.
Obviously the method you describe using an exported track works much better.
The [very large number of] other points in the exported route are route point extensions (gpxx:rpt in the gpx file). These are sometimes referred to as “ghost points”. Garmin does use these ghost points when initially importing a route. That’s why the Rever exported route looks fine on initial import to a Zumo (or to Basecamp). However those ghost points are not used when [re]calculating a route. That is one of the reasons why importing a route directly from Rever to the Zumo is not the best option.
Hands down the MRA planner is the best one i've ever used. Having the ability to have the files organized into folders is a fantastic option as it keeps the rides, trips neatly organized. Being able to quickly copy part or all of a route to adjust or compare, without disrupting the original is also one of my favorite options. Since I share my routes and often have other gps units which run different algorithms, saving the files in different formats and being able to split the route to break it into sections is also very helpful. I have been using the MRA planner for 4 yrs now and it seems I am always stumbling onto a new feature to make things easier.
Thank You for posting this Craig! I'm using a Zumo 660 that came with my Super Tenere and am struggling to get GPX files that work. I now have a new approach.
With the 660, I would use the GPX version 1.0 (from MRA) and then make sure you stick to the 29 waypoint limit. Hope it works out!
Great information Craig - thank you so much for taking the time to share!
Thanks for a very informative video, Craig. Five of us have just returned from a 6,000 mile tour and the different routing/navigation apps. people used all had their quirks. I like that MRA Route Planner gives you access to Google Maps. Worth a subscription.
Question, have you ever use Garmin Basecamp? I used it with the BMW (Garmin) Navigator V and it was pretty good most of the time. The biggest frustration was when the Garmin would recalculate the route I had created. Not good for the Windy 9.
I have used Basecamp, mostly when working with off road tracks as MRA is limited in that regard. For creating on road routes I much prefer MRA. It is so much easier to use and has several built in tools that make life easier, and it works very well with my Garmin Zumo XT. Today's route going to Ohio was spot on.
Great video on route planning tools - agree that Rever works great, esp. for quickly planning those Sunday day rides, or for more elaborate planning of BDR's and variations thereof, or your own 'MyBDR' route, and can see the critical need for use of MRA tool for planning big multi-week trips like AK to set hours/miles per day goals into route segments 👍
A very informative video, I myself have been using MRA route planner for years but only use this app. What I also find very useful in MRA is that you can make a route for eg. for Tomtom reader and then paste the Here map of garmin so that you can equalize the waypoints then the route can be used for both the here and tomtom user. You must be a Gold member to use this tool. Greetings and many more safe trips desired.
@Craig. Thanks for the information. I just purchased a Garmin XT2. Looking forward to learning more about the process of navigating with the Garmin.
Hi, just came upon you video and had a question. If you get off the track or the route, will it (GPS) take you back to the route, or will it create a new route to get to your destination?
Depends on how you generated the route, but generally if you are running a route the GPS will return you to the route. If you are running a track, then no. The GPS will just paint a line and you have to follow.
Hey Craig, great video, very informative. I just signed up for Rever so I was looking around for more info on how to use it and your video popped up. I may have to have a look at MRA. I am not familiar with it. I have been using Basecamp for years and it seems to be very well integrated with Garmin devices (I have a BMW NAV V and a Zumo 396). My question is one of the issues I have when I am out on a trip following a route created with Basecamp ( I have my GPS set to not automatically reroute) and I hit an unexpected detour, a road closed or something that causes me to not be able to follow part of the route on my GPS. After the detour I always have trouble getting back on the route. If I let the GPS automatically reroute it throws my route out the window. How do you handle these unexpected detours from you planned route? Thanks for this video and I will be looking for more of your TH-cam videos.
Hey John, when I create routes I try to use enough shaping points that the GPS has no choice but to stay ony route. If I do need to detour it will always try to pull me back to the original route. On occasion I need to skip a point or two if it keeps trying to get me to turn around. If it gets really screwed up, I may pull over, stop the route and restart, selecting a starting point up the road.
Hey Craig, Thank you for creating this video. It was great help and turned me on to the MRA app. I had been using Basecamp and Rever previously. My nav unit is the Garmin Zumo XT. I now have a Gold subscription to the MRA app. My Rever subscription just expired. With having the XT and the MRA, is there any advantage to using the paid subscription to Rever? Also, as long as you use the XT, you really shouldn't need the Next part of MRA, correct?
You are correct, with the XT you should not need the MRA Navigation app. I keep Rever because of the Butler maps, but if you don't use those, then no need to keep it.
I see in your video that you use a Garmin zumo XT. That's what I use. Can you make a video of how you export from Myroute app to your zumo. I tried using the free version of the myroute app and then exported the gpx file and then imported it to the Garmin basemap app. Then uploaded it to my xt. Well, the route that I designed on the myroute is not what ended up on my garmin. It's like the garmin changed it. Frustrating. Also, do you ever use the myroute phone app? Seems like that would be easier than using the garmin. I trying to decide if I want to pay the price for the Myroute. I just discovered your channel. Loving it. Thanks for any help you can give me.
I do not export directly to my Zumo XT. After creating the route in MRA I then export using the "Save As" menu. I export in the GPX 1.1 format, saving it to my computer (it does in the downloads folder in Windows). I then transfer them to the GPS itself. This is a small extra step, but it allows me to have saved copies on my local machine. It also allows me to save the files on an SD card, giving me more storage space for long trips.
I know there are restrictions in what you can do within MRA in the free version, so this may be at least part of your issue. The paid version allows you to save in several GPX formats based on what device you are going to use. I have used MRA exclusively for many years and unless I am creating a Track, I have no reason to import it into Basecamp.
I have not used the phone app other than a minimal test. I prefer the Garmin as it is always connected to the satellites and always has maps. With the phone aps, you have to pre-download your maps for those time when you will be out of cell service. Not that big a deal for day rides, but on a long trip, I don't want to have to worry about that. Just my preference. I do have the MRA Navigation app for backup should the GPS crash.
@@LivingOffTheSlab Thanks so much for the detailed and quick response. So you don't mess with Garmin basecamp to push it to the device. I just tried putting my file on my xt and it worked. They have a sale going on right now for lifetime subscription that I think I might buy. The All in one looks like it would cover all the bases. I love your videos. Plan on lots of likes and comments from me. I lead small rides for friends and have been using google my maps to create routes and then all the steps of converting the file to a gpx using a different site. I'm done with that and really think the MyRoute planner is maybe the way to go. Thanks again for your help.
Is MRA paid for in Euros vs USD??? It appears that this is not an USA website??? Also, do I need to purchase the Routeplanner for a cost and also pay for the MyRoute-app to actually be able to put the routes on my mobile device??? Please advise.
They are based out of the Netherlands. That has never been an issue You pay with your credit card and it will get converted to Euros. Will there be a FTF, maybe, check your card. Since you went to the website, look at the packages they have to offer. I believe they offer an all in one that includes both to be MRA website and the phone app. I have lifetimeb to or both, but I use my Garmin to navigate.
curious, when you are travelling, what do you use to edit routes? From watching your video, it seems you need to travel with a laptop to make adjustments while on the road. Could you help me better understand the process.
I very really need to edit routes, but I do carry a Chromebook to backup video files, go on the Internet and edit routes if needed. Routes can be edited on the GPS as well.
I like REVER, but not for $40. I used the free version until they offered me a year for $20.
I always use a Garmin for personal needs and at work.easy to use and ridgid..B safe.peace.