I was learning how to make my own custom Points of Interest (POIs) and install them in my new GPS toy [1], and as an exercise created a list of "proximity alert" POIs for all the Redflex cameras in Knoxville [2].

To make the file, I did the following:

1. Use Google Earth to find all the intersections, pinpoint them, name them, and save them to a folder called "Redflex" under "My Places".

2. In Google Earth, right click on the Redflex folder, and click "save as...", and save the file in "KML" format.

3. Use this free utility [3] to convert the file from KML format to CSV format.

4. Use the free Garmin POI Loader [4] to install the custom POI CSV file.

The CSV file is attached if you'd like to use it. (The KML file is also attached for use with Google Earth or other conversion utilities.)

NOTES:

• Each time you install custom POIs, the Garmin POI loader replaces ALL your custom POIs. Therefore, they recommend that you keep all your custom POI files in one folder. When you run the POI loader, it will install all the files in that folder to the device.

• The Garmin POI loader accepts either GPX or CSV files. I chose CSV because it allows a longer POI name. You can use other utilities such as this one [5] (check out the guy's awesome software license [6]!) to convert the KML file if you prefer GPX format or use some other device that only supports that.

• If the file name has the word "redlight" in it, the POI loader automatically installs the entries in that file as "proximity alerts" that warn you when you get within .25 miles of the location. This is done automatically if you use the "express" loader, or you can use "manual" and specify the distance and type of POI.

• On the Garmin nuvi, custom POIs are found on the "Where To?" menu under "Extras", "Custom POIs".