DMD2 App Questions

[Steve Jarrell]

I am a new DMD2 use with extensive Garmin and MyRouteApp experience. I will primarily be using DMD2 for on-road (touring) use and will be creating my routes using a web based planner (MyRouteApp or MRA) and exporting the 1.1 gpx file with the route, track and POIs to a Google Drive folder where I’ll then be importing it into DMD2. I create enough shaping points and place them where necessary so that I’ll force the DMD2’s route to follow what I had planned.

I am using DMD2 with a DMD-T865X nav tablet.

Questions:

1. When I want to view a route in DMD2 that I’ve created that’s far away from where I currently am located, how do I do that without DMD calculating a route from my current location to the starting point of the route. That can be very time consuming if I’m planning a route that’s 1,000 miles or more away from where I am currently. A “View Route” option would be very useful if there isn’t one already available that I’m missing?
2. I don’t see an “Avoid unpaved roads” option although I saw it in one of DMD’s “how we use it” YouTube videos. Has this option been eliminated? If so that will really limit it’s usefulness for touring riders.
3. Once a route has been created in DMD is there any way to see the route’s statistics (time, distance, etc)?
4. When I import a .gpx file with a route DMD shows a LOT of POIs on the route that I didn’t export which makes the route hard to see. How do I hide these POIs?
5. I’ve downloaded all of the maps for the United States. Does this slow down DMD? Why is there an option to turn them on or off once they are downloaded?
6. Is there a way to view a route’s turn-by-turn instructions like you can do on a Garmin device?
7. If I do put a via point in a route is there a way to skip it if I decide to bypass it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

SteveJ

[Guzzist]

Hi Steve,

uh – lot of questions! I will try to answer some.

Please keep in mind: each Navi device has it’s own algorithm to calculate a route. So, naturally if you create a route in one system – and transfer it via gpx-file into another system, the result is a different route! Because the algorithm calculates – based on map data and user profile – how to reach the next route point.

Alternatively, you can transfer not a route, but a track. The difference is: a route needs only a view route points to be calculated; min. 2 routepoints. A track – usually recorded during ride (but could be also constructed / drawn nowadays) – contains hundreds or thousands of track points.  Usually you will not be guided via symbols nor via voice instructions. You need to observe on screen, if your current position is still on the correct street.

Next point: if you export a route which you created at MRA-Routeplanner via gpx-file, then the file can contain both – a route and a track! If you have imported the gpx-file into DMD2 app, the  you can select, what you want to see on screen; route o track or both. Check the menue: there are options for each. I believe, the many “POI” you see after import, are the track points which are automatically in the gpx.

About visibility of downloaded offline maps, I’m not sure if it burdens the system. If I don’t need the map of a region currently,  then I make it not visible.

But beside of all your questions, why don’t you use your MyRoute-App on your T865-X?  I’m doing the same: if I’m riding offroad, then mostly I have got a track. Therefore I use the DMD2 to make the track visible as overlay line on the map. DMD2 has the better  maps for offroad!

But if I’m riding onroad, then mostly I have got a route (or have created by myself). Therefore I use MyRoute-App, which I have installed additionally at T865-X.  If I created the route on MRA-Routeplanner, it’s not needed to transfer a gpx-file! It will be automatically synced – if you have permanent synch switched on, and if you have Internet connection via WLAN (for couple of seconds). Later, I can navigate offline (if I have also downloaded the offline maps).

Try it to use both apps parallel on T865-X. It’s easy an pleasant

 

__________________________________________
www.youtube.com/@moto.in.travel

[Steve Jarrell]

Thanks very much for your response! I do have the MRA app installed on the 865 and it certainly works better than it does on my iPhone. I do have the offline maps downloaded and I synch my routes and tracks automatically, so I do plan on switching back and forth until I decide which I like best. Alternately, I may just use one or the other full time.

I do like using routes if possible as I get turn-by-turn verbal instructions which are very helpful if you’re not watching the screen closely, and also being able to have via points to mark places that you don’t want to miss is very helpful.

Yes, every device does create its own routes using its own algorithms, but I’ve been doing it long enough that I know where to put my shaping points so that I can almost guarantee that the device will create a route exactly like my track. As I’m sure you’re aware on the paid version of MRA you can actually compare the routes that will be created by the HERE/Garmin, TomTom and OSM maps while simultaneously overlaying them over the track. On my Garmin XT I overlay the route over the track in a different color so that I can immediately see if there are deviations.

I did find how to remove the POIs from appearing on the map if I don’t want them to under the GPX advanced settings.

All that being said I still always like to double check the route that the device created, and with the DMD2 app I can’t find a way of doing this if the route is located far away from where I currently am as it doesn’t seem to have a “Show Route” function.

Regrettably the DMD2 app doesn’t seem to have almost any documentation. That’s one of the many areas where MRA has done a great job.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to respond!

SteveJ

[TR42]

It will be great when DMD gets the route shaping function they’re working on finished and implemented.

Currently, you can only drop 1 waypoint for DMD to navigate to and it’s algorithm comes up with some really strange routing. Road Fast seems to come up with the most direct route, but it still does some odd street routing, taking you thru neighborhoods and such before putting on you the more direct route that you should have been on all along, if you were to shape the route yourself. Don’t think I’ll be using DMDs routing function for now, as you can’t currently edit/reshape the route that DMD comes up with.

For now, I guess I’ll keep using Google Maps for routing road trips.

[Steve Jarrell]

Thanks!

The more that I investigate I find that DMD2 is GREAT for offroad tracks, and its interface has some really cool features, but both its app, non-existent web route planning app, and documentation are probably 3-4 years behind MRA. Their hardware is superb, but the software for anything other than gpx tracks is FAR behind the competition.

[Steve Jarrell]

Also, the fact that I’m not getting any response on the forum from anyone from DMD2 or their power users about my questions tells me everything I need to know about the app and its support from DMD. I’m a long time power MRA user and I can assure you if I would post this type of question on their forum I would get half a dozen answers. I love DMD’s hardware, but I’m not wasting any more time on the app.

If I was an off-road rider primarily just following simple tracks the DMD2 app would no doubt be an excellent choice. For on-road, it’s very seriously lacking! Just my opinion as an experienced, technically inclined user.

Thanks for your help!

SteveJ

[Arjan de Vries]

Steve:

I am a big fan of using MRA as well. DO you use a controller on the handlebar? For example dmd remote2 or the silverfox H1?

[Steve Jarrell]

I ride a BMW R1300GS and there’s no room for the DMD controller. I have the Carpe Iter controller ordered from ABikeThing and it should be here today or tomorrow. I’ve heard mixed reviews but I’ll let you know what I find out.

 

SteveJ

[TR42]

I totally agree with your sentiment SteveJ.

For the small, cottage shop the DMD folks seem to be, I think they’ve done very well with the hardware. The software and features seem to be the heavy lifting part of the package. Probably because it’s just a few of them developing, coding and finally implementing it. If they also have day jobs slows things down a bit too I’m sure.

I’m well enough versed in other platforms and willing to come up with work arounds for now, because I see the potential in DMD to become what we’ve become accustomed to as far as abilities, from other platforms we’ve come to know.

I’d also like to see a change log for app updates on the DMD2 website as they’re implemented. I have no idea what the updates the tablet is getting is doing. They could implement a new feature and I wouldn’t know it unless I stumbled across it or read about it in the forum.

 

[Steve Jarrell]

Yes, I totally understand their challenges. I built a successful SAAS technology business from the ground up (2 people) over a 20 year period and sold it in late 2020. I know it’s hard to take time from developing to documenting, but in my opinion and experience it’s equally important for successful long term growth. Good software without good support, which includes documentation, is severely limited.

Personally I think working on a web based planner should be a much lower priority than documentation. There are a number of very good planning tools out there. I wish them the best, and I’m very, very impressed with the hardware, and I’m sure if I did primarily off-road riding I’d be impressed with that as well.

SteveJ

[Author]

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