Garmin 310xt - update

tunney

After nearly throwing out my 310xt and buying and RS800CX I decided to ditch the premium strap and get a standard bulky plastic one before I did.

Good news is that the 310xt is now usable as a heart rate monitor. It still suffers from occasional spikes but is usable, the spikes are minimal in occurence and effect.

You can even wear it on your chest, with a top on and without smearing honey on it. Why Garmin support can't just recommend this I don't know.

mloc123

tunney wrote: »

After nearly throwing out my 310xt and buying and RS800CX I decided to ditch the premium strap and get a standard bulky plastic one before I did.

Good news is that the 310xt is now usable as a heart rate monitor. It still suffers from occasional spikes but is usable, the spikes are minimal in occurence and effect.

You can even wear it on your chest, with a top on and without smearing honey on it. Why Garmin support can't just recommend this I don't know.

I did the same about a month ago, no problems since.. no spikes that I have noticed. I had been using the soft strap for cycling but it was a pita re-syncing so I now just use the plastic one.

Anyone want to buy a garmin premium strap?

_sheep

Glad to hear you guys got sorted, I started reading your posts bashing how bad the Garmin stuff was as a HR monitor and you made me think I had just wasted a few hundred euro while I waited for it to arrive.

Luckily I haven't had a single issue using the bog standard strap so far.

mloc123

I had no issues with the soft strap for about 3 months, overnight it then spiked every time I used it. Still, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

happy_73

Been using the old HRM strap from my 305 (with no problems at all) since the 310xt one died on its arse. Slow to even bother getting onto garmin from what I've heard about the new one.

mloc123

bump bump, how do people find the 310xt in the city centre? My last few lunch time runs have taken an age to get a GPS signal. I am sometimes half way through before they get a decent lock.

Any advice? have left it on beside the window before going out to try and get a signal, no luck.

tunney

mloc123 wrote: »

bump bump, how do people find the 310xt in the city centre? My last few lunch time runs have taken an age to get a GPS signal. I am sometimes half way through before they get a decent lock.

Any advice? have left it on beside the window before going out to try and get a signal, no luck.

Based off mespil road.

Been extra bad last 5-7 days.

I bought a foot pod as it was taking 5 minutes on bad days when I was based off Stephens green.

Krusty_Clown

You have to get a lock before you start moving. Otherwise you'll be waiting forever. Trying to get a lock while moving takes a significantly longer amount of time. Best to take the watch off and leave it down somewhere (watch out for thieves!).

tunney

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

You have to get a lock before you start moving. Otherwise you'll be waiting forever. Trying to get a lock while moving takes a significantly longer amount of time. Best to take the watch off and leave it down somewhere (watch out for thieves!).

In some areas of the city centre you can be standing for 5 + minutes before getting a lock.

mloc123

tunney wrote: »

Based off mespil road.

Been extra bad last 5-7 days.

I bought a foot pod as it was taking 5 minutes on bad days when I was based off Stephens green.

Yeah my route is along stephens green and the grand canal, looking at the map here it didn't get a proper lock for almost 30 minutes. I have considered a foot pod for cadence alone but at €90 I'm not convinced.

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

You have to get a lock before you start moving. Otherwise you'll be waiting forever. Trying to get a lock while moving takes a significantly longer amount of time. Best to take the watch off and leave it down somewhere (watch out for thieves!).

I did try this last week, stood around for 3/4 minutes and then gave up.. it did however lock on quite soon after that. I might hang it out the window here next time beforehand and see.

Krusty_Clown

Just stating a fact. If you want to get a quick satellite lock, you should do it while stationary, rather than while moving (wherever you might happen to be at the time). If you're going to start while moving, why don't you run to a safe area and then stop and wait for satellite lock.

I just do my (ill-advised) stretching before I start my run, and it has a lock before I'm done. Takes about a minute. The OH leaves it on the window sill before going out. Not sure if that works. You'd want a pretty clear view of the sky.

SucCes09

slight thread hijacking but wonder if anyone knows if the USB connection for the 305 works on the 310xt?
Friend over in Europe from the US and left theirs behind - they are running in an ultra event in Germany (109km canal run....)

Krusty_Clown

SucCes09 wrote: »

slight thread hijacking but wonder if anyone knows if the USB connection for the 305 works on the 310xt?
Friend over in Europe from the US and left theirs behind - they are running in an ultra event in Germany (109km canal run....)

The 305 charges in a cradle. The 310 uses a clip on charger (like the 405). So I seriously doubt it.

Oisin11178

Getting this tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

SucCes09

thanks KC - Any one know where one could purchase Garmin ANT USB stick for Garmin Forerunner 310XT in Galway area?

pauric1

my unit froze a few weeks ago so i did the recommended return to factory settings thingy with it but since that i havent been able to get up the screen with the heart rate information on it for running or cycling. anyone else come across this.

btw i used the new swim thingamybob today and it seems to work fine.

p

Krusty_Clown

pauric1 wrote: »

my unit froze a few weeks ago so i did the recommended return to factory settings thingy with it but since that i havent been able to get up the screen with the heart rate information on it for running or cycling. anyone else come across this.

btw i used the new swim thingamybob today and it seems to work fine.

p

Seeing as you did a factory reset, you probably need to re-pair your HRM to the watch. If it's like the 405, the HRM screen is only available when the HRM is connected.

Krusty_Clown

SucCes09 wrote: »

thanks KC - Any one know where one could purchase Garmin ANT USB stick for Garmin Forerunner 310XT in Galway area?

You should try a Triathlon shop. Don't know any in Galway, but there's trizone in Athlone. Doubt any of them would sell it separately though. Best bet is eBay, Amazon, or Garmin.com.

mloc123

chainreactioncycles.com sell the ant+ stick

happy_73

Handtec - €280
http://www.handtec.co.uk/product.php/1984/garmin-forerunner-310xt---heart-rate-monitor--hrm-

CRC - €366
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44092

S

sorry my bad - thought you were looking for all the kit not just the stick

SucCes09

thanks all for the responses.

mloc123

Some positive feedback on the 310xt for once

I have just started using the 'workouts' feature and it is great, very useful for swim sets.. means I can leave it at the pool end and wait for the beeps. Works well for turbo sets too.