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Garmin 305 vs other computers
I'm looking at buying a Garmin 305 for training.
Just wondering does anybody have any details or advice regarding this?
I would like to be able to track my progress with a HRM, cadence, speed and be able to map it out on the computer, are there
any other types of computers that would be as good?
Thanks
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Few reliability problems with these. Personally I'm on my second (lucky with the warranty) and plenty of people here have seen them break or become unreliable.
That said, you can get them rather cheaply now so you might like to take your chances. For what it's worth, no problems with my second unit and they are very useful when working.
my first unit started playing up after about 16months (outside warranty), started turning itself off, eventually died all together.
I now have a Edge 705 with the works, very happy so far.
My first unit was used 5-6 times per week on my commuter bike so ti did go through a hell of alot of km's before it died.
You can get the 305 pretty cheap now from the US, about $350 i think delivered with HR and cadence.
Don
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?M...
.... I am keen on from the US as they are so much cheaper, but believe the Aussie maps cost a fortune from Garmin. Any way around that that anyone knows of (and has actually used)?
A nice alternative is openstreetmap. You can download maps to garmin GPSrs. I have topos, the garmin city navigator maps, openstreetmap, and tracks4australia on my GPS. I find OSM the most useful for mountainbiking. City navigator is good for getting to the trail, but absolutely cannot be trusted off paved roads. The topos I have, whilst good for showing elevation, are not good for seeing which track you are on in a network like red hill or oxford falls. They are not as accurate as OSM either.
The hard plastic captive plate buttons on the edge 305 with associated poor weather sealing were one of the main reasons why I chose to get an etrex vista hcx instead. Mud is my friend.
CRC is not the cheapest place for Garmin gear. Try Geoman or search Spadout or Dealtime, etc, etc. Basically, US based seems the best buy. Watch out for warranty considerations when buying overseas.
GPS-OZ (where I got mine) or Johnny Appleseed seem to be the best local buy.
Well, thanks for asking about this as my reply about reliability was a curse. Got to the Dam today and the Edge was dead. Tried a few key combinations but nothing!
However, got home and read this:
http://forums.motionbased.com/smf/index.php?topi...
Tried a few other combos with no luck but then think 'press & hold reset, press power' got it back to life. Can't be sure, I wasn't being very scientific by then. Point is, don't give up when they seem dead!
Completely by chance today I bumped into a buddy who was wearing a new Garmin wrist device. Forerunner 405 think it was. Lots smaller than the old Forerunner but still a bit bulky for a watch. Not sure if these are a good idea for the dedicated cyclist (wearing on the wrist is cause for concern... oh, as Tien will confirm, if this was on his right wrist today think it would have been cactus!) but for all round use probably good. Although you have to wonder what the constant motion of your arms in pretty much any sport will do for their accuracy.
Going from a wrist display to a bike mounted display I wouldn't go back. It was always a pain (and sometimes dangerous) looking at my watch to see heart rate etc. Currently I have my Edge 305 main screen to display heart rate, cadence, speed, distance travelled, elapsed time and time of day. I going to flick the current speed as I never look at this when riding.
I got one of these cheap from Amazon in Jan.
It's been a fantastic training aid, even though it doesn't have maps.
The software (Training Centre) is a bit random, I've had to reinstall many times.
All in all I coudn't do without now. Have mounts on all my bikes (4), and take it wherever I go.
Lack of maps is no problem for me. I like being able to overlay on Google Earth later though.
W.
I'm very glad to hear that most people get a descent run from them as Alex and myself have ordered a couple of them on Ebay USA now, maybe Garmin have sorted some of the reliability issues out with them now they've been making them for some time. I'm sure it will make training for the Scott more fun.
John.
Who did you guys buy from on ebay.... can ypu post the details as I would assume you did all the price comparisons before and I am pretty keen to get one.
If anyone else is interested, let me know and I will see if I can get a discount on the units (and shipping etc).
As I understand it, Garmin Australia honours warranty for garmin products purchased new overseas from legit. retailers with a receipt etc, so I guess that's another good reason to buy overseas!
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem...
This is the one we bought they are very cheap at US$198 + delivery but they are refurbished, but it sounds like a safe bet as this is what they have to say about them.
"These are newly overhauled, like new in the original Garmin package, unused, with full one year warranties direct from Garmin. All original manuals, software, unlock codes, cords and mounting hardware where applicable are included."
John
Carlgroover> that's a very cheap one there...I'd like to purchase one - have you received yours yet ? Let us know what the packaging is like
It says the warranty is USA only so you'd have to send it back to Garmin in the US ?
Tom
It hasn't arrived as I only ordered them on the weekend.
I have a boxed, hardly used 305 HC , including manuals, chargers, sensors, chest strap etc $300 cash
you can get them brand new delivery from the US for $300
http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=pr...
might want to review your price