best GPS for rowing
Mike De Petris
Garmin Edge 305.
In these years I found out what are the most important features for
rowing training.
1) km count
2) pace display in time/km (Forerunner only)
3) display size, Edge is better then Forerunner
4) programmable workouts with beeps at interval changes, piece/rest
and similar, in any combination of time/distance/lap button
5) data download to pc to review and compare workouts, pace/distance/
hart rate
I do not use any map/track function, even if it may be nice to see the
path after downloading data to the pc.
Looking for a new instrument, I would look for these features and I
cannot identify a unit that has them all.
Forerunner would be perfect, it is ok for multisport but the display
is quite small.
Edge as a bigger display (not that much) but displays no "pace", and
this is a big limit, as the speed in km/h is a much less useful value,
somebody copes with it setting the Edge to autolap each km.
Anybody has experiences to share?
The other thing to say is that it is sad that these sporting gps
devices are so expensive, especially compared to car-gps, I'm looking
for a a programmable car-gps or software for a mobile phone that could
implement the needed features, as I have a gps enabled HTC with big
display.
ATP
"Mike De Petris" <mikede...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:0c5ebf9a-a5d2-42c4...@z10g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
I like the Forerunner 305 with the heart rate monitor. The display is small,
but I'm not usually looking at that while I'm rowing. Download with the map
feature is automatic when I put it in the cradle. With the Garmin Blue Chart
loaded I can see the trip on a nautical chart.
Stelph
Try robostroke on the nexus one, tho would recommend getting a
waterproof case!
http://nargila.org/trac/robostroke
Charles Carroll
> devices are so expensive, especially compared to car-gps, I'm
> looking
> for a a programmable car-gps or software for a mobile phone that
> could
> implement the needed features, as I have a gps enabled HTC with big
> display.
> Try robostroke on the nexus one, tho would recommend getting a
> waterproof case!
Robostroke is very nice and definitely meets Mike's criteria for
sofware for a mobile phone, albeit the phone must use the Android
Operating System.
The biggest problem is that Robostroke cannot be used on a Nexus One
in bright light.
So the question is when will we see an Android Phone with a backlit
screen that can be read at noon?
Mike De Petris
wrote:
very nice, that's what I need for my Windows Mobile =)
richard pratt
You might check out the new Timex Ironman GPS Global Trainer. The
manual (not a model of clarity, I must admit) can be downloaded to let
you know what it can do and I think you can add customized workouts,
intervals etc. It is a bit clunky but then again it can be strapped to
a handle.
Cheers,
Richard
Mike De Petris
> You might check out the new Timex Ironman GPS Global Trainer. The
> manual (not a model of clarity, I must admit) can be downloaded to let
> you know what it can do and I think you can add customized workouts,
> intervals etc. It is a bit clunky but then again it can be strapped to
> a handle.
it seems the display is still too small, a car-gps or mobile phone can
offer much bigger display size, and may be more general purpose,
having a phone in the boat can be really a plus even if packed in a
sealing material
richard pratt
True enough but with the Timex you get the heart rate data, which I
think was one of your objectives. However there is clearly a gap in
the market for a multifunction device.
Cheers,
Richard
Mike De Petris
maybe we've found a use for iPads =)
Roger
>
> - Show quoted text -
ipads, not just for scullers, think of the applications for coxes and
coaches. no one would ever get any real rowing in, we'd be waiting for
this analysis or that replay. I scull partly to get away from
computers, not sure I would want one in my boat.
IPS
It seems to me that the Garmin Forerunner 301 meets most, if not all,
of your requirements.
Mike De Petris
> It seems to me that the Garmin Forerunner 301 meets most, if not all,
> of your requirements.
it is older and worse them actual 305 I use, it has a small size
display and worse gps receiver chip
Sagar
An excellent device for GPS navigation, HR monitoring and a lot
cheaper than the Garmin
I recently moved to Nice and we use it often for impeccable navigation
on the coast.
Mike De Petris
> We use the Geonaute KeyMaze 700 here in France.
thank you, good one
in the while I found a beautiful software that runs on Windows Mobile,
tested it at home and it is fantastic, but while trying to find a way
to safely attach it to the boat I realized nothing can be read on my
mobile display under the sun, even at full display intensity :-(
Stamps
I use the Garmin Forerunner 310XT. It is waterproof which I find vital
in rowing, as have had previous units get damaged via rain, waves etc.
It does everything I need: distance, pace and time, and I find the
screen easy to read when it is attached to my shoe. Any more details
you can review after the outing if needed. I don't look at it all the
time but refer to it every now and then, in particular it can be
useful to see if changes you try to make in the boat, be it technique
or effort, actually make any difference to your speed. I like the
autostop and start functions, so I just start it when I push off the
pontoon and forget about it until the end of the outing.
I also use it when running, and somewhat annoyingly I have had it
'auto stop' on me when I am struggling up a hill - admittedly when
pushing my daughter in our running buggy up a very steep hill, when I
am only just running, but even so, it feels like the damn thing is
laughing at my pitiful pace.....
The other device I use is an Active Tools rate meter. I've tried a few
different rate meters in the past (Cadence etc), and Active Tools is
the only one that always works, every stroke, whatever the water
conditions and pretty much whatever angle it is set at too.
Mike De Petris
> I use the Garmin Forerunner 310XT. It is waterproof which I find vital
> The other device I use is an Active Tools rate meter. I've tried a few
so you well understand why I use in my boat:
- Garmin ForeRunner 305
- Activetools ActiveTime
:-)
this discussion is to find out if there's anything better, but what
I've found up to now is:
- Geonaute KeyMaze 700 can be an alternative to the Forerunner, but I
see the prices are quite close, features are very similar.
- You can get a bigger display with a mobile phone, but I do not know
if there is one that is readable under the sun.
Stamps
> so you well understand why I use in my boat:
> - Garmin ForeRunner 305
> - Activetools ActiveTime
>
> :-)
The Forerunner 305 is one of my previous toys that failed due to water
damage, after an outing in the rain.
:-(
Mike De Petris
yes the defect of the device is that it's made of two plastic pieces
glued together, in fact mine had stopped working this summer so I
repaired it, I opened it, soldered a wire for one corroded contact and
sealed it again with silicon, with the same process you can replace
the battery or the buzzer
afterall I had to do the same two times for my strokecoach within 10
years of use
Olivier
>
> - You can get a bigger display with a mobile phone, but I do not know
> if there is one that is readable under the sun.
I understand that the problem with the likes of Nexus One is that
their screen is of the Amoled type; there is a new screen available on
some phones called super Amoled, and it is supposed to be readable
under the sun (you can see comparisons on You tube). There are not
many around and they are still very expensive (see Samsung Galaxy:
android + super Amoled screen). Maybe one day they will be made
waterproof too as some mobile are.
Olivier
Mike De Petris
I'm thinking about shading the display surrounding the mobile using
cardboard+tape, just to experiment the situation, it shouldn't be that
difficult and may work
waterproof needs some domopack only :)
ATP
I've been underwater with it several times in salt water. No problems yet.
Mike De Petris
> "Mike De Petris" <mikedepet...@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:425dbb50-953f-4646...@k10g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
I think it's the hot direct sun that burns the sealing, I mostly train
from 13 to 14 and in Italy it can be withe hot, few days ago sea water
went over 30C !
Stamps
>
> - Show quoted text -
Well I'm in HK so in the sun it is VERY hot, maybe that contributed to
the failure. Plus you have 90%+ humidity, though it was rain that
killed it. I hope the 310XT doesn't go the same way.
Having just raved about it, my ActiveTime stopped working yesterday
morning!!!! Aaarrrggghhh. No rating from the movement so seems to be a
tilt switch problem, the manual button-pressing option still works
fine. It is still under warranty so I'll send it back for repair...
Mike De Petris
> Having just raved about it, my ActiveTime stopped working yesterday
> morning!!!! Aaarrrggghhh. No rating from the movement so seems to be a
> tilt switch problem, the manual button-pressing option still works
> fine. It is still under warranty so I'll send it back for repair...
seems unbelievable but mine stopped too, but it was just battery
completely drained, don't know if it is for the hot sun or tightening
it too much in the pocket (button pressed)
richard pratt
>
> - Show quoted text -
I had a chat to Active Tools at Henley and they said that they have
come across a small percentage of faulty units but will happily
replace. Both my and my wife's Active Tools drained their batteries
within a year, so give this a shot first.
Jim Dwyer
I have been using it in my boat for 4 or 5 years now.
I use a cadence sensor zip tied to the axel of the seat and a magnet on the
deck positioned so that it only senses once every stroke at the release.
(There is no finish as the stroke is continuous!)
The display is set up with pace/km, stroke rate, distance and heart rate.
It is wireless, has all of the features and is a lot less expensive that any
other rowing computer.
I can also use it for cycling as well!
Jim
"Mike De Petris" <mikede...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:0c5ebf9a-a5d2-42c4...@z10g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
ATP
"Jim Dwyer" <jim....@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:i49p1v$pek$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>I think that I posted about the Forerunner 305 a while back.
>
> I have been using it in my boat for 4 or 5 years now.
>
> I use a cadence sensor zip tied to the axel of the seat and a magnet on
> the deck positioned so that it only senses once every stroke at the
> release. (There is no finish as the stroke is continuous!)
>
> The display is set up with pace/km, stroke rate, distance and heart rate.
>
> It is wireless, has all of the features and is a lot less expensive that
> any other rowing computer.
>
> I can also use it for cycling as well!
>
> Jim
>
at the accuracy of the GPS. If you buy the Blue Chart maps for the area you
can plot your course on a nautical chart. Downloading the latest data
requires nothing more than plugging it into its cradle.
Stamps
>
> - Show quoted text -
I emailed ActiveTools and they said they would repair it no problem,
but after reading on here I changed the battery anyway - even though
it is a year old, I only do a max of 2 outings per week, and it works
fine via the manual button-pressing option, just not via the
accelerometer - and it seems to be working now. Duh. So it obviously
needs more battery power to work the accelerometer than any other
options. Will take it for a paddle later in the week to check all ok -
I guess I have just had lower battery life than expected, but I
suppose that should have been, erm, expected!
Mike De Petris
> I emailed ActiveTools and they said they would repair it no problem,
> but after reading on here I changed the battery anyway - even though
> it is a year old, I only do a max of 2 outings per week, and it works
> fine via the manual button-pressing option, just not via the
> accelerometer - and it seems to be working now. Duh. So it obviously
> needs more battery power to work the accelerometer than any other
> options. Will take it for a paddle later in the week to check all ok -
> I guess I have just had lower battery life than expected, but I
> suppose that should have been, erm, expected!
that's what happened to me, curiosly at the same time, maybe a mid-
august bug ? =)
As I told you, it may be related to the hot-wet conditions, or easier
putting it in its soft pocket too tight, so that the button keeps
being pressed.
I measured the battery and it was almost completely dead, the display
was showing normal numbers anyway as it seems it is good quality so
nees very low current for this, but there was not enough power for the
accelerometer/trasductor.
Mike De Petris
> >I think that I posted about the Forerunner 305 a while back.
> > I have been using it in my boat for 4 or 5 years now.
> > I use a cadence sensor zip tied to the axel of the seat and a magnet on
> > the deck positioned so that it only senses once every stroke at the
> > release. (There is no finish as the stroke is continuous!)
>
> > The display is set up with pace/km, stroke rate, distance and heart rate.
>
> > It is wireless, has all of the features and is a lot less expensive that
> > any other rowing computer.
>
> > I can also use it for cycling as well!
>
> > Jim
>
> Good idea using a cadence sensor! The 305 is an excellent unit, I'm amazed
> at the accuracy of the GPS. If you buy the Blue Chart maps for the area you
> can plot your course on a nautical chart. Downloading the latest data
> requires nothing more than plugging it into its cradle.
>
>
>
the cadence sensor is quite expensive, I have one but keep it tied to
my bicycle, how would you "zip tie" it to the boad/seat so that you
can easily move it from boat to bike? Pictures?
It would be good to download cadence/stroke rate with all other
workout data to pc.
ATP
The cadence sensor is only $37 in the states through Amazon. Are there a lot
of added costs to get it to your location?
Mike De Petris
> "Mike De Petris" <mikedepet...@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1bc35c57-f5da-41e7...@s9g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
I can't have it for less then 51 euro, that is 65USD.
I know "expensive" is a relative term.
Henning Lippke
> 1) km count
> 2) pace display in time/km (Forerunner only)
> 3) display size, Edge is better then Forerunner
> 4) programmable workouts with beeps at interval changes, piece/rest
> and similar, in any combination of time/distance/lap button
> 5) data download to pc to review and compare workouts, pace/distance/
> hart rate
What's wrong with the NK SpeedCoach XL2? Has heart-rate as well.
Mike De Petris
in first place AFAIK is not a GPS, so it's OT, anyway we know the
differences between using GPS and impeller, but:
- NK SC XL2 costs something around twice a Garmin FR 305
- can't be easily moved from one boat to another
- can't be used for running, biking, whatever
I'm not saying one is better then the other, they are just different
beast, as I wrote in the beginning the impeller may give better data
if you need to know boat/water relative speed.
richard pratt
>
> - Show quoted text -
My and my wife's use level is the same as yours: couple of outings a
week and we use only the check factor setting so it has to be the
accelerometer eating the power.
Cheers,
Richard
Jim Dwyer
http://www.facebook.com/editalbum.php?aid=473223&add=1&flash=1#!/album.php?aid=473223&id=787880550
Jim
"ATP" <walter...@unforgiven.com> wrote in message
news:4c688b11$0$4986$607e...@cv.net...
Jim Dwyer
Easier to access.
http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m39/JimDwyer/GPS%20in%20my%201x/
"Jim Dwyer" <jim....@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:i4bsa7$i54$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Mike De Petris
> Here are some pics that I put up on Facebook:
>
>
> Jim
This content is currently unavailable
The page you requested cannot be displayed at the moment. It may be
temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or
you may not have permission to view this page.
Mike De Petris
> Here thy are on Photobucket:
> Easier to access.
>
> http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m39/JimDwyer/GPS%20in%20my%201x/
thank you, but the sensor seems simply tied to the seat, no way to
remove except for cutting it away !?!
Jim Dwyer
Where I live the sensors are cheap. I have three of them attached to my
bikes and boat.
It is just zip tied to the seat so to remove it I would just cut the zip
ties.
It mounts with zip ties on my bike as well so you would be using a lot of
zip ties if you want to use it on your bike and boat.
You could tape it in place or rig up a little box attached to your seat if
you need to remove it but you sould use zip ties to hold it on your bike.
Jim
John E
> I had a chat to Active Tools at Henley and they said that they have
> come across a small percentage of faulty units but will happily
> replace.
We make the Active Tools units and while a very small number have
developed faults the most common issue is flat batteries.
Accelerometers are inherently power hungry so on average battery life
is about 150 hours of rowing.
When customers have had problems we have replaced their units
immediately and we have also just changed PCB manufacturers, which
should eliminate most further problems.
Stamps
>
> - Show quoted text -
I managed about 75 hours of rowing over the year (woefully little
eh?), so got around 50% battery life vs the 150 hours expected. From a
admittedly small sample size of 3 then, the battery life is a bit
lower than advertised. Changing it once per year is no big deal
though, and it is a great unit nonetheless!
Mike De Petris
I want to add that I suspect that CR2032 button batteries you can buy
in supermarkets are not all the same "high quality".
Stamps
>
> - Show quoted text -
True, mine came with the unit though.
John E
> True, mine came with the unit though.
They do have a genuine 150+ hours battery life. However one other
thing we have found is that if the button is held down accidentally,
for instance by pulling the case flap down too tightly, the battery
life is very much reduced
Mike De Petris
and that's what I am repeating so many times here and to myself :)