Convert gpx into a ov2 file (beta)

TomTom has the bad habbit to ignore (and detour) unknown tracks if it can't be mapped to an official road (like most offroad tracks). By converting a gpx track into a file of POI's (ov2), you can follow a breadcrumb of POI's and tackle this problem.

Be carefull not to use full tracks (gpx's) but only parts of it! A full track can result in 10.000+ POI's and that might be to much for your navigation device.

Select gpx file
Distance between POI's

Minimum distance between POI's

Want to use TET on your TomTom Rider?

There are many reasons to prefer a TomTom over Garmin, expecially of you use it mainly onroad, but it sucks if you want it offroad (or on a route with parts that are offroad).

The TomTom Rider navigation maps .gpx files to existing roads on the TomTom map. This means most non-tarmac road are ignored, because they are not known for TomTom as roads and the TomTom forces you to take a big de-tour to get a closed to the original track.
Navigating turn-by-turn in offroad terrain is in most cases not possible anyway, but just showing a line on your navigation device would be very helpfull to give some directions. Even that's not possible on the TomTom, but there is work around: A breadcrumb with POI's!

How to ride a part of TET with TomTom (or any offroad gpx route)

  • Download the latest gpx file at transeurotrail.org
  • The country TET files contain multiple tracks and can easily be split via GPS Visualiser The result is a zip file containing multiple tracks. (download and extract the file on your computer)
  • Select the track you want to ride and use the tool on this page to turn the gpx in a ov2 file
  • Upload your ov2 file in TomTom MyDrive
  • Start your TomTom and wait a few seconds for the ov2 file to be synchronized
  • In the TomTom go to Menu -> Settings -> Appearance -> Show POI lists on map
  • Select your POI list and choose a colored icon
  • Ga back to the main screen and restart your TomTom
  • You're good to go!

Usefull online tools (for editing gpx and ov2)

There are plenty of advanced editing tools (like Basecamp), but those can be very annoying if you want to do some simple editing. Below a list of simple websites/applications I use.

gpsvisualizer.com

All sorts of generic gpx file options: like splitting and adding height profile to your gpx.

mygpsfiles.com

Reverse and cropping gpx files

  • In the Menu: Track -> Open -> Select gpx
  • Click 'Edit' (on the left)
  • Reverse: Click with the right mouse button on a coordinate and select 'Revert Points'
  • Crop: Click with the right mouse button on a coordinate and select 'Start here' or 'End here'
  • Click the 'Save' icon (on the left)
  • A new gpx file will be downloaded...

poieditor.com

A list style bases POI Editor (for ov2 files). Not visualized on a map. (Haven't found a tool online to preview all points on a map)

Tyre (pc)

A userfriendly POI editor (Google API key needed)

Advanced editing of a route with on- and offroad parts

Navigating on road with POI's can be annoying, so I'll use it only for the offroad parts and combine it with a normal TomTom route. The good part of TomTom is that it is very easy in 'picking up' your route again once your returning from the offroad part (it will create a big detour for your offroad part, but you just need to ignore that). The start of a row of POI's on your TomTom is the signal to use POI navigation and once the POI's ends, normal navigation takes over again. Creating mixed navigation requires two things: A TomTom route and multiple breadcrumbs with POI's.

  • Crop the track for the part you want to ride: mygpsfiles.com
  • Import the track in TomTom MyDrive
  • Select the track and click 'Edit Route'
  • Now you can exactly see which part of the track TomTom can't handle! Remember these parts!
  • Create new (multiple) tracks for the parts that are offline: mygpsfiles.com
  • Create the ov2 files with the tool on this page
  • Upload your ov2 file in TomTom MyDrive, sync your routes and ov2 files on your device and make them visible (see detailed instructions above)
  • Load the route and start riding: follow the POI's instead of the route when they appear during your ride

Warning: The map TomTom uses on the device and TomTom Mydrive may differ! Always check you route on your device as wel!

Any ideas? feedback is always welcome!