Which GPS?

hawksuil

Hey im new to this so apologies if its not right!! im trialing by error at the mo :0) Im looking for some help with choosing a gps for cycling... im looking at the garmin 705 edge.. about €370 new... any ideas n this??

Lumen

Moved from Training Logs.

ashleey

I got the edge 500 for about 200 euro ish. It calculates speeds and distances etc saves the data and then you upload your workout via your pc to a website which overlays the data onto a map. No need for wheel magnets etc. If you need full mapping on the move you will need to go up the price and bulkiness scale and down the battery life scale. What exactly do you need?

Possedion

If you have an iphone 'motion x gps' is not bad, works most of time.
there is a lite version which is free, uploads maps and everything as well!

BeepBeep67

I'm using my 405, with a little doctoring to view with aero bars, offers more versatility than a stand alone unit - anyone know of a such a thing as watch stem mounts.

Stokolan

If your looking for something to help you find your way around the 705 is the one to go for.

If its just a gps to track your progress then I would go for the 500.

Also if you are looking for something to give you directions then you will need to buy a map pack for the 705.

For the unit itself id probably buy from Handtec.co.uk its a good price there if the excahange rates are right.

Tau

When using aerobars, I use one of these for my forerunner 305:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Profile_Tri_Bar_Computer_Mount/5360012977/?referid=frogoog&source=googleps

It's expensive but neat (photo attached). Gets the GPS far further forward, which makes it easier to look at.

72hundred

Garmin 705 - FTW. Don't do half measures in the end you'll find it's more expensive.

markcroninbsc

i say buy a blackberry and buy my application BBSpeedOMeter its only $4.99 on mobihand.com

CheGuedara

Edge 500 FTW -

If you don't need to be guided around roads you're unfamiliar of then this is the one to get, does everything else in a tidy small package

Lumen

The Garmin 705 offers an excellent way to bring all the excitement of an in-car domestic navigational dispute to a solo bike ride.

"Take me to Brittas"
"Which Brittas?"
"What do you mean, which Brittas?! How many Brittases are there?"
"17".
"Where?"
"In Ireland"
"Well, just take me to the nearest one"
"Sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that"
"Why not? Surely you know where they all are"
"Yes, but I'm not telling you. You have to pick one at random. Give me a number between 1 and 17"
"OK, 6"
"Thanks. We'll be there in 117km"
"OK, not that one. Give me the next one"
"The next what? We must now restart this conversation because I have no backup function and no memory of what you were just asking me"

etc

In fairness, it does seem to work better in very lightly populated areas, preferably outside Ireland.

blorg

I managed to navigate all the way from Ireland to Istanbul on a 705. Poor workmen and tools, etc. It is not perfect, but I think it is better than anything else out there.

If you don't need navigation the 500 is the one to get.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

I managed to navigate all the way from Ireland to Istanbul on a 705

No you didn't, you started in France. Which brings me to...

Lumen wrote: »

In fairness, it does seem to work better in very lightly populated areas, preferably outside Ireland.

Mine worked brilliantly in Lesbos. But I still sketched out my routes in advance on a piece of paper.

hawksuil

Hey guys thanks for the replys.... i went for the 705 after... having problems with it though as it wont locate satelites.. ive emailed garmin so hopefully it can be resolved!!!

DirkVoodoo

hawksuil wrote: »

Hey guys thanks for the replys.... i went for the 705 after... having problems with it though as it wont locate satelites.. ive emailed garmin so hopefully it can be resolved!!!

Are you trying it out indoors or outdoors? Silly question I know.

72hundred

hawksuil wrote: »

Hey guys thanks for the replys.... i went for the 705 after... having problems with it though as it wont locate satelites.. ive emailed garmin so hopefully it can be resolved!!!

As DK said make sure you actually outside. Also if you're in a very built up area you might have a poor accuracy initially, but it corrects quickly.

Lumen wrote: »

Mine worked brilliantly in Lesbos. But I still sketched out my routes in advance on a piece of paper.

Les bos?

hawksuil

Ive brought it outside in a few different places.... when i turn it on it starts trying to locate satelites... the reception bar only gets up to about 10% on the screen before it resests itself and tries locating again. it stops at the same place everytime!!

penexpers

Slightly related : Are Handtec authorised Garmin dealers?

DirkVoodoo

hawksuil wrote: »

Ive brought it outside in a few different places.... when i turn it on it starts trying to locate satelites... the reception bar only gets up to about 10% on the screen before it resests itself and tries locating again. it stops at the same place everytime!!

Are you moving it around? I normally leave it sitting on the bike for a few minutes to acquire satellites while I put on shoes or grab bottles. One day I tried acquiring satellites on the move and it (a 500) did what yours is doing and kept reaching a certain percentage before resetting and trying again.

Lumen

penexpers wrote: »

Slightly related : Are Handtec authorised Garmin dealers?

Does it matter? All warranty issues are dealt with by sending back to Garmin directly.

Also, Garmins never go wrong.

penexpers

Lumen wrote: »

Does it matter? All warranty issues are dealt with by sending back to Garmin directly.

Also, Garmins never go wrong.

It does because, as I understand it, Garmin only entertain warranty returns when bought from an authorised retailer.

blorg

It matters insofar as that Garmin won't warranty units bought on eBay from non-authorised dealers. Whether they will warranty them from other online sellers I don't know; they specifically mention online auctions. Handtec don't seem to be on the Garmin dealer list so I would ask them to be sure.

DirkVoodoo

Their twitter says they are:

Handtec: Retailer offering worldwide delivery of Smartphones and GPS. Authorised retailers for HTC , Blackberry , TomTom , Garmin , Apple , Samsung etc

Whether that is true or they simply mean they stock them is unclear.

pprendeville

Had a smiliar post up recently and was recommended I use an app on my HTC Hero (assuming I had one which I did).

Had a Blackburn Delphi that doesn't have GPS but is a good computer. So just pop my phone in my jersey now and have CardioTrainer recording my ride. Save you a few bob if you already have a decent computer.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055974332

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

It matters insofar as that Garmin won't warranty units bought on eBay from non-authorised dealers. Whether they will warranty them from other online sellers I don't know; they specifically mention online auctions.

I imagine this is legal but is it practical? How would they know?

I don't remember ever providing Garmin with proof of purchase when dealing with a warranty return.

FrankGrimes

I've a friend in the market for a bike GPS and it does really come down to the Edge 705 or 500.

I've used mobile phone apps and they are grand if you're on a very tight budget but they just don't stack up to the real deal: I find having gradient data for example is extremely useful during the ride (I now have a good feel for what pace on can sustain on what gradient so it helps my pacing on climbs). AFAIK, most people using mobiles for GPS just use them for retrospective analysis after the ride, due to the challenges with both mounting the phone to the bike and keeping it waterproof. So, I'm all for saving a few quid and the phone apps may well be more than adequate for many, but I'm just pointing it out cos you do miss quite a lot compared to a Garmin device (based on my experience with the Edge 305 and now 705).

I rarely use the maps on the 705 but find them very handy when I need them, but it's the navigating a course that is most useful for me. E.g. when I'm doing a sportive, I'll download the course, mark out the start and summit of each climb and each foodstop. Then on the bike I'll know how long more my water needs to last for till the next stop etc. But most important of all is knowing when the next climb starts and then when I'm on the climb being able to see the gradient of the road up ahead and my progress through the climb is pretty invaluable to me. I had thought the 500 does not have that functionality, but the screenshots on this page suggest it does. If the 500 has that functionality, I'd be perfectly happy with it as I could do without the maps on the 705.

barrmur

Hi,

I am looking for some advice in realtion to a cycling computer, my first one. I have been looking at the Garmin edge series, 500 and above, and trying to make up my mind. Ideally I would like on with both maps and stats bundled with a cadance sensor and a HRM. Any suggestions from the experts. Best prices ssem to be on handtec.co.uk so any specific ones from there would be great. Budget about £250 ish

barrmur

Hi,

I am looking for some advice in realtion to a cycling computer, my first one. I have been looking at the Garmin edge series, 500 and above, and trying to make up my mind. Ideally I would like on with both maps and stats bundled with a cadance sensor and a HRM. I cant find any specific info as to if the 500 has any maps on it. Any suggestions from the experts. Best prices ssem to be on handtec.co.uk so any specific ones from there would be great. Budget about £250 ish

AstraMonti

If you want maps, cadence and hrm then your only choice would be the 800. Unfortunately your budget doesnt buy you that. You can look though at the previous model, the 705, but no touch screen or fancy menu. Generally I 've found handtec to be the cheapest for Garmin products.

blorg

500 no maps
705 and 800 have maps

barrmur

Cheers. Any known problems with the 705. Seems like the job but just want to make sure before shelling out. A friend did say something about a poor mount.

blorg

barrmur wrote: »

Any known problems with the 705.

You might want to pull up a chair

barrmur

Bullet point will do, surely it can't be that bad!!!

blorg

Mine has been back to Garmin I think three times although one of those was my fault (crash.)

- Altimeter failed
- USB connection to computer failed, can't download rides any more
- HR strap failed
- Cadence sensor failed (1 of 4, the other 3 continue to work fine)
- Water ingress
- Mount breaks easily (2 broken on current trip, currently have it attached with elastic bands)
- Ride data gets corrupted and can't be imported/needs manual XML editing to import

I'd still recommend it as there simply isn't anything else out there that does the same (other than the 800 I guess.) I had a 305 before and it was similarly flaky, they all are. It is not the computer for you if you need rock solid reliability. But it is better than any other GPS solution such as trying to use a smartphone.

barrmur

Bloody hell. Than aint a short list. Is this common or are you just really unlucky!!!;)

AstraMonti

• Two cadence sensors have failed on mine
• Screen went black, sent it back and got a repaired unit
• Three broken mounts in 2years period
• Lost all my data 4 times without a reason, the unit just reset it self deleting everything. Luckilly I upload after every ride.

Although I have to admit the newest firmware hasn't caused me any issues.

barrmur

Cheers for that. I have gotten a few bad reports about the 705 though, bad mount, signal not great etc etc. Any experience??

Lumen

AstraMonti wrote: »

Although I have to admit the newest firmware hasn't caused me any issues.

Me too (705). And the new mounts have worked fine too.

I don't currently have anything to complain about.

TinyExplosions

barrmur wrote: »

Cheers for that. I have gotten a few bad reports about the 705 though, bad mount, signal not great etc etc. Any experience??

Had one for a few years... yes, there are some problems with it, but there are with most of the Garmins out there, and there's been nothing I've come up against yet which is a deal breaker for me

Paul Kiernan

I used my smartphone yesterday to navigate a nice road cycling route through Wicklow ........


My wheel spun out from under me sending me into a gorse bush. I then got about a zillion little thorns embedded in my palm which I still can't get out:(.

DubOnHoliday

I'd be happy enough using sportstracker on my nokia n8 if I could get a decent holder for it.

Beasty

@barrmur - Please don't raise the same questions in two different threads

Threads merged

Thanks

Beasty