Rainy day DC Rainmaker GPS product review of Garmin Edge 510
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Chris Bailey
Mar 29, 2014, 1:18:46 PM3/29/14
to SF Randonneurs
And I quote from DC Rainmaker - I guess the go-to for cycling gizmo tech. (Had I only known and had the time to second-guess the market!)
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/01/garmin-edge-510-in-depth-review.html
Among the observations about Garmin Edge 510 on DC Rainmaker...
Quote: Bluetooth: Garmin made the virtually unforgivable selection of going with Bluetooth 2.1. In doing so, the unit will never be compatible with the host of new Bluetooth Smart sensors flooding onto the market – all of which require Bluetooth 4.0 (it’s a chipset thing, not a software thing). This means that there can’t be connectivity to any new Bluetooth Smart heart rate straps, speed/cadence sensors, power meters, or other items. Further, they couldn’t expand into areas such as connectivity to Bluetooth Smart trainers – like the Wahoo KICKR. How cool would it have been if you could control resistance on your trainer from the Edge? Simply can’t happen now. They could and should have placed a full Bluetooth 4.0 chip in there (not just Bluetooth Smart like in the Garmin Fenix watch), which would have still been compatible with legacy smart phones as well as new Bluetooth Smart sensors.
Some will speculate that perhaps Garmin went with a non-Bluetooth Smart compatible chip in order to slow adoption of Bluetooth Smart devices, in favor of ANT+ (which they own). The problem is, I think it’ll actually only serve to reduce their market share (Garmin’s) in this market. Garmin is facing a huge battle against cell phones as head units (including cycling), and by limiting itself, it only serves to isolate it further from the reality that consumers want both. It had a golden opportunity to bridge the gap and be the only device on the market that could do both…instead fell off the bridge. ENDQUOTE
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http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/01/garmin-edge-510-in-depth-review.html
Among the observations about Garmin Edge 510 on DC Rainmaker...
Quote: Bluetooth: Garmin made the virtually unforgivable selection of going with Bluetooth 2.1. In doing so, the unit will never be compatible with the host of new Bluetooth Smart sensors flooding onto the market – all of which require Bluetooth 4.0 (it’s a chipset thing, not a software thing). This means that there can’t be connectivity to any new Bluetooth Smart heart rate straps, speed/cadence sensors, power meters, or other items. Further, they couldn’t expand into areas such as connectivity to Bluetooth Smart trainers – like the Wahoo KICKR. How cool would it have been if you could control resistance on your trainer from the Edge? Simply can’t happen now. They could and should have placed a full Bluetooth 4.0 chip in there (not just Bluetooth Smart like in the Garmin Fenix watch), which would have still been compatible with legacy smart phones as well as new Bluetooth Smart sensors.
Some will speculate that perhaps Garmin went with a non-Bluetooth Smart compatible chip in order to slow adoption of Bluetooth Smart devices, in favor of ANT+ (which they own). The problem is, I think it’ll actually only serve to reduce their market share (Garmin’s) in this market. Garmin is facing a huge battle against cell phones as head units (including cycling), and by limiting itself, it only serves to isolate it further from the reality that consumers want both. It had a golden opportunity to bridge the gap and be the only device on the market that could do both…instead fell off the bridge. ENDQUOTE
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Maybe that's why I have had such trouble with the Garmin to Bluetooth connection on my almost 2 year-old high-end SmartPhone. I guess they assume cyclists want to spend money on upgrades to all of their devices.
It is a slippery slope to even engage the issue...
Thank you.
Rick Gordon
Mar 29, 2014, 1:36:02 PM3/29/14
to c4ba...@gmail.com, SF Randonneurs
My Garmin 810 has the same bluetooth and it connects to my iPhone 5 with no problem. For the most part the Garmin 810 and 510 do not connect to devices using Bluetooth. That was the point the reviewer was making. Garmin uses Ant rather than Bluetooth and the reviewer would have liked Garmin to connect to devices using Bluetooth. So would I but alas for some reason they did not go that route.
Garmin can connect to it’s own Ant devices and also some by Polar. Maybe there are other ones also. My 810 has no problem connecting to my Garmin HRM or my Garmin cadence sensor. And as I said no problem connecting to my iPhone 5.
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Rick Gordon
Mar 29, 2014, 1:38:33 PM3/29/14
to SF Randonneurs
Sorry forgot to sign my name.
Rick
Begin forwarded message:
Steve Saeedi
Mar 29, 2014, 1:56:15 PM3/29/14
to SF Randonneurs
Chris,
We all make purchases that sometime or another we regret. Chalk it up to experience and let the free market reign. I hear Polar and Timex make some nifty gizmos too and Magellan and Wahoo make some kickass BTLE devices that work with most Androgynous and Apple smartphones.
As for the 510, it is my primary recording device and works well with my myriad of heart rate monitors, speed/cadence sensors and my iPhone.
It is certainly not the end of the road for Garmin as they continue to innovate and are gradually integrating BTLE, BT4 into their products (Fenix 2, FR620, etc.)
Good luck with your search.
- Steve
On Mar 29, 2014, at 10:18 AM, Chris Bailey <c4ba...@gmail.com> wrote:
SUSAN R BUMP
Mar 29, 2014, 6:17:39 PM3/29/14
to sae...@gmail.com, SF Randonneurs
Good point Steve.
I am disappointed in their camera. Go Pro is better.
Cheers all.
Susie
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