Basecamp bootcamp

Are you baffled by Basecamp or just frustrated by its foibles? I'm here to help, with simple advice to make this powerful planning tool work for motorcycle touring. It's a big subject, though, so I'll be covering it in short chunks – one step at a time.

Part 1: Installation

You can't use Basecamp if it's not on your computer. So the first step is to install it. How? It's free from the Garmin website – if you can find it. Open or download the instructions – or watch the video (but not if you're sleepy: you'll nod off in no time. Quality reflects the fact I'm a biker, not Steven Speilberg).

Download

Part 2: first look

A one-minute video, just showing what you can expect to see when you open Garmin Basecamp for the first time (demo on the Mac version).

Part 3: Seeing maps

A one-minute video, just showing how to see the maps when using Garmin Basecamp for the first time. Hint: you'll want the sat nav connected to the computer…

Part 4: Updating maps

A four-minute video explaining how to update the maps on Garmin motorcycle sat navs – and how to install the maps on the computer, so you can then use Basecamp without having to connect the sat nav

Part 5: Quick routes

A five-minute video looking at one quick way of making routes in Basecamp. This demo is on a Mac

Part 6: Better routes

An eight-minute video (sorry) looking at how to construct a route using waypoints and lists – which is really the basis of getting the most out of Garmin Basecamp.

Part 7: Importing routes

A two-and-a-half minute video looking at importing GPX files from the internet and getting them onto your sat nav.