Large Blue balloon icons (experience from eTrex Touch 2)

[WallyGator]

I mentioned this in my overview of the eTrex Touch 2 (in it's own forum). I believe this may in fact, affect the H1 series as well. Possibly, those with H1 can try this out and verify

When copying/syncing data from Basecamp to Touch 2 via GPX files, waypoint icons use large bubble icons, obscuring the map way too much. Non-issue when syncing data from Garmin Explore. Syncing through the Explore app & using the “multicolor” icon style, icon's characteristics are maintained

I believe that when even just *one* waypoint is transferred from Basecamp or if the GPX file (again, with even just *one* waypoint) is manually transferred to the unit into the "NewFiles" folder, all icons you have previously set (like the blue flag, red push pin, etc) will ALL be turned into the blue balloon icon.

The only way I've found around this is to use the Garmin Explore website/app on a mobile device to sync data to the GPS. This preserves the icon flags you may have set up for your waypoints, provided that you select the "Multicolor" icon style. This is a work-around that should not be necessary but until Garmin addresses the issue, it's what I've been doing as I do NOT care for using Garmin Explore and it's "syncing" baloney and like to work directly with GPX files (adding a GPX file to the unit directly to the unit to transfer it). At the same time, I do NOT want a map screen full of hideously large blue balloon icons that block a good portion of the map depending on the waypoint density.

Hope this helps you guys out with the H1.

[JungleJim]

Thanks for sharing. I noticed this behaviour as well on the H1, see this post.

It for sure happens when you send a waypoint (or multiple) from Basecamp to the device. The device keeps waypoints in a file called Locations.fit. This file also contains information on the color and style of each waypoint icon.

When you send waypoints from Basecamp to the device, Basecamp will create a new Locations.fit file containing both existing and new waypoints. However, Basecamp does not know about the style and color data in the original Locations.fit file, so this information is lost in the new Locations.fit file, resulting in the style and color being reset to the default blue for all waypoints. Explore app does know about this metadata.

I didn't test yet with GPX waypoint files though, so not sure if it happens there as well.

[GPSrChive]

I do NOT want a map screen full of hideously large blue balloon icons that block a good portion of the map depending on the waypoint density.

Sounds like GPSrChive > GPSMAP H1 > Common Issues > Bug 13.