|
|
|
|
HYPERASHEL
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 15397
Location: The South's Sauna, Atlanta
|
| Back to top
|
|
 Posted: 12/26/03 - 17:07 Post subject:
| scorch99 wrote: | | elkid wrote: | | I used the Training Assistant yesterday and programmed it to stop when I stopped, but it didn't stop when I stopped at a light. Does this not work with the AutoLap feature simultaneously, or did I do something wrong? |
Not sure.
Did you set the auto stop based on pace?
I think the watch calulates your pace and then stop in that mode.
I'll have to fiddle with it some tonight to see.
S99 |
you do need to set it to stop at "less than - - - MPH" mine has worked great so far, but i cant say i have used it in conjunction with Autolap yet. So many possibilites with this thing, OOOH boy.
|
|
|
|
|
GaRebelRunner
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 1097
Location: Tucker, GA
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 12/27/03 - 16:17 Post subject:
I tested the 201 on a 3 mile run in a park behind Livsey Elementary School. I chose this park as my initial test because my Timex GPS unit always had problems here. It worked very well. There is considerable tree cover at times on this route and although it gave me a weak signal twice it was only for a few seconds and did not lose any time or distance data.
The only significant disadvantage I noticed was it doesn't give you a true pace as you are running. It tends to fluctuate. But the timing on the laps was pretty accurate as was the time and pace when I ended the run. Tomorrow morning I'm taking the 201 to Stone Mountain Park and testing it there on a 10-15 mile run. I'm going to set up the auto-lap feature and pace smoothing feature to test there.
The controls on the 201 are much easier to use than the Timex GPS unit. It's very impressive. If any Atlanta runners want to meet me somewhere on a run I'll be glad to give you the Timex GPS unit along with its instruction booklet.
updated Monday evening: Excerpts from my Sunday run report.
tested several functions on my Garmin Forerunner 201 watch today, including the auto-stop, auto-lap and training partner (the figure of a runners runs at your pace in the upper half of the watch while you run in the bottom; it keeps tabs on how far ahead or behind you are from your training partner) . It worked flawlessly. Not one weak GPS signal. Each mile it automatically recorded my lap time. When I stopped for water it paused automatically and then resumed when I started running again. I beat my training partner (on the watch) by 2 minutes and 54 seconds for the 10 mile run portion. I have not had as much fun with something as this watch in a long, long time. And its so easy to use. Those of you who haven't read the reviews on this watch in the reviews section might want to take wander over there. This watch is a great motivational tool.
Last edited by GaRebelRunner on 12/29/03 - 19:05; edited 2 times in total
|
|
|
|
|
akern
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 31 May 2002
Posts: 17149
Location: CTU
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 12/29/03 - 11:52 Post subject:
Great reviews everyone! Thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
sonnylax
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 2942
Location: Living in a lollipop and unicorn world
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 12/29/03 - 12:19 Post subject:
| akern wrote: | | Great reviews everyone! Thanks! |
I agree. This product sounds fantastic! I think I will get one later this spring AFTER they release/test/de-bugg the software.
|
|
|
|
|
scorch99
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 09 Oct 2003
Posts: 782
Location: On the road
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 12/29/03 - 17:21 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: | | akern wrote: | | Great reviews everyone! Thanks! |
I agree. This product sounds fantastic! I think I will get one later this spring AFTER they release/test/de-bugg the software. |
Oooooooooo so what are you saying??????
We are the debuggers????
Its a great product and have nothing been good reviews so far.
S99
|
|
|
|
|
sonnylax
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 2942
Location: Living in a lollipop and unicorn world
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 12/29/03 - 17:59 Post subject:
| scorch99 wrote: | Oooooooooo so what are you saying??????
We are the debuggers???? |
Yes... yes I am... 
|
|
|
|
|
airehead
Oompa Loofah
|
|
|
Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 18788
Location: Between here and eternity...
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 12/29/03 - 18:04 Post subject:
| GaRebelRunner wrote: |
The controls on the 201 are much easier to use than the Timex GPS unit. It's very impressive. If any Atlanta runners want to meet me somewhere on a run I'll be glad to give you the Timex GPS unit along with its instruction booklet. |
Ummm, I'm an Atlanta runner at heart....I'll just have to meet you in San Francisco....
|
|
|
|
|
msparks
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 3182
Location: Jammin' at the Frim Fram, Frippin' in the Krotz
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/14/04 - 09:11 Post subject:
For what it's worth:
Got mine yesterday - 1/13/04. Ordered it on 1/9/04. Promised shipping date: 1/14/04. Delivery date (via UPS): 5 -9 work days. In short: order it on Friday and got it on Tuesday - five days, total. Impressive.
Cost: 123.96 incl. s/h. I don't know if this is a blue-light special kind of price but...
Oh, yeah...from Amazon.com.
|
|
|
|
|
GaRebelRunner
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 1097
Location: Tucker, GA
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/18/04 - 14:09 Post subject:
When using the Garmin in races be aware of your settings. I have mine set to automatically pause when I stop for lights, water, etc and then resume when I start running again. This features works very well.
However, while running a race with considerable hills on Saturday, I walked at a few points. And in some cases I apparently was walking slow enough the unit sensed I was stopped (does GPS ever lie?  ). It resumed as I either speeded up my walk or started running again. But it did create a slight discrepancy between my finish time on the watch and the official results as the watch doesn't count the "rest time" in my results. I'm pretty confident the official time is correct.
Therefore, in using it for future races I will disable the auto stop feature. But the unit worked flawlessly giving me a lot of feedback on each mile (I have it set to record my laps at each mile mark) which shows me what areas I need to work on.
|
|
|
|
|
scorch99
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 09 Oct 2003
Posts: 782
Location: On the road
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/19/04 - 18:41 Post subject:
|
|
|
|
|
GaRebelRunner
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 26 Sep 2003
Posts: 1097
Location: Tucker, GA
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/19/04 - 19:24 Post subject:
Just so users don't get confused, this is a software update, not the logbook software that some are waiting for.
The instructions for the software update are a bit cumbersome (I never did find the "simulator" instructions in my manual) but all you have to do after downloading and unzipping the upgrade is:
1. Connect your serial cable to an available interface on your PC.
2. Set your Forerunner into your battery charger.
3. Connect the other end of your serial cable into the hole in the vacant hole on the wire leading to your battery charger.
4. Turn on the GPS.
5. Double Click the updater software.
6. You will see the software begin to download. Mine took maybe two minutes, three at the most.
And that's it. You can either turn your GPS off and continue charging your battery if it needs or turn it off. If you want to verify the updater worked.
|
|
|
|
|
scorch99
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 09 Oct 2003
Posts: 782
Location: On the road
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/20/04 - 11:43 Post subject:
| GaRebelRunner wrote: | Just so users don't get confused, this is a software update, not the logbook software that some are waiting for.
The instructions for the software update are a bit cumbersome (I never did find the "simulator" instructions in my manual) but all you have to do after downloading and unzipping the upgrade is:
1. Connect your serial cable to an available interface on your PC.
2. Set your Forerunner into your battery charger.
3. Connect the other end of your serial cable into the hole in the vacant hole on the wire leading to your battery charger.
4. Turn on the GPS.
5. Double Click the updater software.
6. You will see the software begin to download. Mine took maybe two minutes, three at the most.
And that's it. You can either turn your GPS off and continue charging your battery if it needs or turn it off. If you want to verify the updater worked. |
Oooops......
Thanks for clearing that up for the gang GaRebelRunner.
Also kudos for the info on the download.......
The running log is still slated for early Feb release.
S99
|
|
|
|
|
sonnylax
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Posts: 2942
Location: Living in a lollipop and unicorn world
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/20/04 - 11:47 Post subject:
Thanks for beta testing this for me...
|
|
|
|
|
HYPERASHEL
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 15397
Location: The South's Sauna, Atlanta
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/20/04 - 14:06 Post subject:
I went to the site this weekend co-incedently and downloaded the update. MAN THAT WAS EASY!!!  i just cant wait to see the logbook now 
|
|
|
|
|
msparks
Member
|
|
|
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 3182
Location: Jammin' at the Frim Fram, Frippin' in the Krotz
|
| Back to top
|
|
Posted: 01/20/04 - 17:22 Post subject:
Grassyass, Reb! Update info was helpful and it went off w/o a hitch. Not really all that sure that the update was of paramount importance but it was a breeze gettin' it done.
Simulator? Nope, didn't see that one, either!
Again, thanks!
|
|
|
|
