Gilsson GHS 12V Cigarette Lighter Adapter for Garmin n vi 600 to 5000 StreetPilot C510 to C580 and Zumo 400 to 550 Black
September 26, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
This cable is specifically designed for Garmin Nuvi, StreetPilot, Zumo GPS receivers. It will power and charge your Garmin GPS receiver at the same time. It utilizes a proprietary 18-pin connector that connects either directly to the GPS or through the Garmin cradle.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Fits the Garmin perfectly, better quality than the factory piece
This charger is better quality than the original piece. The charging unit on the factory piece use to come off in 5 different pieces if you pulled it out of the cigarette lighter the wrong way. Eventually, we lost one of those pieces and the charger was useless. This Gilsson charger is MUCH better than the original. The charging piece is solid and there is no way that it could come apart.
3 Stars Does not fit Zumo 550.
The Zumo 500 and Zumo 550 look almost identical, but they have different connectors. The Zumo 500 uses an 18-pin flat plug (which this product has), but the Zumo 550 uses a USB mini-B style plug. I couldn’t use it since it didn’t fit, so I can’t comment on its performance.
5 Stars Gilsson GHS-12V Cigarette Lighter Adapter
Great product. Fits and works with my Garmin StreetPilot C530. No problems with shipment/receipt of item.
5 Stars Garmin 760 power cord
My dog chewed up my Garmin power cord for my Nuvi 760 while I was at school, so I bought this one. It arrived in a couple of days and works perfectly.
1 Star It TOOK 7 days to be “ready to be shipped” by AMAZON
Not worth the trouble. The item was “in stock” but took 7 days for amazon to ship the item. No help from costumer service. Plus, another 8 days with good old free shipping to get it. So don’t buy it unless you can wait 15 days or more to get it.
Garmin nuvi 200 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator
September 26, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Garmin nuvi 200 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Navigate without breaking your budget with n
Garmin Suction Cup Mount for Nuvi 010 10723 03
September 26, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Garmin Suction Cup Mount for Nuvi 010 10723 03
Every Garmin product is designed to meet the most demanding standard: customers’ satisfaction. That’s why Garmin equipment is manufactured to give you reliable service for years to come, with intuitive features you can grow into over time – all at a price you can afford.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Just junk
Looking for a replacement to the OEM now. What a piece of junk. Pops off – no matter what you do – and when the miracle happened it did stick – it was because the rubber melted to the window on a not-so-hot day.
1 Star Broke Two of These Losers
I have now broken two of these brackets trying to remove them from my windshield. The plastic is the cheapest I have EVER experienced in a supposedly quality product. Garmin “bought cheap” in order to make a few more cents on their Nuvi GPS products and risks ruining their quality image. Don’t waste you money on this cheap “made in China plastic product”. They should offer it for $4 so I could buy 4, 3 spares.
5 Stars Finally a suction cup mount that sticks!
So far so good with this product. Have purchased several others in the past that failed to stick properly from day #1. This suction cup mount is doing a great job so far. Also has good flexibility so you can move the view around if there’s glare or your co-pilot is typing in new locations or an alternate route.
4 Stars good improvement
The orginal set has no circle pad that can be attached to the windshild. This set come with one that is a great improvement.
1 Star unhappy customer
The product was not what I wanted. Since I had to open the package to discover that it was the wrong device, the seller would not take it back. I’m very unhappy with the experience. The seller was very unhelpful and unfriendly when I called.
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Personal Navigator
September 26, 2009 by
Filed under Garmin GPS
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Personal Navigator
Neither deep foliage nor steep canyons will faze the rugged Garmin eTrex Legend HCx navigator. Equipped with a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, the unit locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover. The advantage is clear: whether you’re traipsing through thick woods or strolling near tall buildings and trees, you can count on the Legend HCx to help you find your way when you need it the most. Adding maps to the Legend HCx is easier than ever thanks to the device’s microSD card slot, which accepts cards preloaded with MapSource data for your land and sea excursions. Just insert a MapSource card with detailed street maps, and the Legend HCx will provide turn-by-turn directions to your destination. Plus, the card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you needn’t worry about it getting wet.
Besides appreciating its small size, users will also be happy with the Legend HCx’s unique button layout, with five buttons located on either side of the unit. The benefits of this design are twofold: First, the Legend HCx is a breeze to operate with just one hand, and, second, with the buttons on both sides of the unit, the bulk of the front is dedicated to the 256-color, sunlight-readable TFT display. This makes it easy to distinguish map details regardless of the time of day.
The Legend HCx basemap, meanwhile, contains lakes, rivers, cities, interstates, national and state highways, railroads, and coastlines–in short, a host of helpful details for your outdoor adventures. Other details include an IPX7 waterproof housing that withstands inclement weather, a speedy USB interface, 1,000 waypoints with names and graphic symbols, a track log with 20 saved tracks, a hunt/fish calendar, a built-in patch antenna, and a geocaching mode. The Legend HCx, which runs for up to 25 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included), measures 2.2 by 4.2 by 1.2 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What’s in the Box
eTrex Legend HCx, basemap, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager software, USB cable, wrist strap, quick start guide, user’s manual.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Much improved model
I had previously owned an Etrex Legend (about 5-6yrs old) it was okay but had a short battery life, took a long time to locate satalittes, worked only so-so in the woods( new one works great doesn’t loose satalittes). Finally the display went out so I decided to buy a new model (much better features) rather then repair the legend. I’m really glad I did eTrex Legend HCx is really great, locates satalittes fast, has great features and battery life is about 25-30 hrs. I aloo really appreciate the USB connection (instead of the serial). I use the GPS for hiking, biking and kayaking. Another plus is that it comes with a bike mount adapter that works with my old bike mount bracket.
All in all I really like this GPS
5 Stars Feels Like the Sweet Spot Between Price & Performance
I’ve been using the HCx Legend for about a month now and I’ve been very, very pleased with it. I use this unit mainly for hiking and backpacking; anywhere from well established trails in state parks to the deep back-country of southern California. This is not a unit I would suggest for use while driving. Maybe in the hands of your navigator, sitting shotgun, but this not a drivers GPS unit in my opinion. For hiking, and some casual Geocaching, it’s been an excellent companion and tool.
Some of the things I really like about it are, for one, that the buttons are located on the side of the unit near the top. This becomes particularly relevant when the unit is actually in use IN your hand. Your fingers are at the top, the display is at the bottom and you can manipulate the buttons without your hand blocking the display. This may sound like a minor thing, but it’s not.
Another thing I’ve come to appreciate is it’s relatively small size and… well… “roundedness”. The Legend doesn’t have one of those protruding antennas which, for some reason, always seems to be a problem for me somehow; always poking something or taking up space. The Legend is small, round and “pockets” easily (yes, I’m using a noun in the verb tense, deal with it; you know what I mean).
Let’s see… What else to say about this unit. Well it’s got WAAS. Believe me, you want that in a GPS unit. It acquires satellites quickly and I’ve never been at a loss for a good, solid signal (very confidence inspiring when you’re deep in the back country). The color display is nice, details are easy to read and work with. The little thing that looks like a button on the top left of the units display is actually a tiny joystick, or mouse, that you use to move the pointer on the display and/or make menu choices by pressing down (much like a mouse-click). I find this a niftier solution than using buttons or a scroll-wheel sort of thing. Battery life seems pretty good to me using either alkaline or NiMH (I prefer to use the latter) and there’s a setup option where you can choose which type of battery you’re using in the device since the two types of batteries have different discharge profiles. Sweet that it also accepts SD cards for additional map storage.
Regarding the use of 4GB memory cards: Previously my review stated that this unit worked with 4GB memory cards. Well, now it appears that while the unit will in fact ACCEPT a 4GB card, it will only RECOGNIZE 2GB. That’s still a ton of maps but a little disappointing nonetheless. However, just to give you an idea of how many maps that is: I have 24K TOPO maps for ALL of CA, NV, UT and AZ, as well as street level maps for just over half the United States (west to east from California to around Kansas and border-to-border north to south), all loaded on a single 2GB card with around 300MB of memory remaining on the card. This is using Garmin TOPO maps and free street-level maps from gpsfiledepot dot com (an awesome source for free maps for your Garmin GPS by the way).
If you like to go geocaching this unit should get your consideration. Lots of options specifically for geocaching in particular. I can easily upload cache locations right off geocaching dot com, modify the entry if I need to, add a quick note and be off ‘caching in no time.
The Legend also has a lot of cool features that are just plain sweet to have even if you don’t use them every day. The only thing missing on the Legend that I can think of that some of the pricier units have is the Altimeter. The Legend has the Compass, the Tracking/Backtracking options (”bread crumbs”), the Odometer, a Proximity Alert… All the cool “bells-and-whistles” type stuff.
Map facts you should be aware of: 1) The unit ships with a VERY basic install of maps. By this I mean interstates and major through-streets and that’s about it. If you want TOPO maps and/or city navigation (residential & side streets, points of interest, stuff like that) you’ll have to buy, and install, Garmin map products. 2) Garmin map products are NOT cheap. You might want to research how much they get for their TOPO maps and/or City Navigator software packages if you’re new to the whole GPS thing. With a little research you can also find places that offer Garmin-compatible maps that are (legally) free to download and install. The proprietary nature of GPS units and the maps they work with is not unique to Garmin either. If you go with, say, Magellan, you’ll need Magellan map products; you can’t “mix and match” as far as I know.
All in all I love this unit. It does it all and does it with a nice, compact form-factor. I really can’t see spending more on a GPS unit. This one does so much for the price it really feels like I hit the sweet spot between price and performance.
Pro-Tip: Get a screen protector, one of those tough plastic sheets that people put on their iPods and such. The ones designed for the Microsoft Zune work well, even if a bit too small to cover the entire display, they do protect the essential part you really need protected. A set of protectors will set you back about $8 or so. That’s pretty cheap insurance.
Regarding the use of 4GB memory cards. It appears that while the unit will ACCEPT a 4GB card, it will onlyr recognize 2GB. That’s still a ton of maps but still a little disappointing I guess. Still, to give you an idea of how many maps that is: I have 24K TOPO maps for ALL of CA, NV, UT and AZ as well as street level maps for just over half the United States (west to east from California to around Kansas and border-to-border north to south) loaded on a 2GB card) with around 300MB left over.
4 Stars Excellent. Amazing battery life
I use several GPSs, in-dash, bluetooth in my older phone, my Iphone’s a Magellan 315 and a Microsoft USB GPS, and I think this is among the best in terms of speed and accuracy. Its form factor makes it ideal for hiking and backpacking trips. And the best of all, it’s infinite battery life.
I put two AA alkaline batteries when I got the GPS (Energizer, which are not the best in town in my opinion), and they lasted for my initial testing, the whole 4-day hiking trip and they’re still going. It’s amazing. In my Magellan I used almost a set of batteries per day.
I’m sorry I don’t have the exact number of hours I kept it turned on, but I’m sure it was more than 24.
The details of the waypoints are very good, including the time, and other features included in the mapping software, like you can review day by day, average speed, highlight the segment you select in the map, etc.
Not rocket science by I nice GPS/Software bundle for the price.
Note that this model does NOT have altitude profile that’s nor temperature reading that are features you might want to have in a new gps. However you can create the altitude profile for your track using the waypoint data.
I’m really happy with it. I would recommend it.
5 Stars Garmin eTrex HCx has indoor GPS sensitivity
The eTrex HCx is much faster and more sensitive than older Garmin products. I can get fixes anywhere within my house; my old StreetPilot 2610 only works 1ft from a window. It is compact and lightweight. I loaded Citi Navitagator 8 on it and plan to add topo maps for the southwest. I got a 2G SD card for $6 and and loaded CitiNav maps for the entire western US and eastern seaboard using about 900M of space. Figure that the 1G left over will be enough for my topo maps. I went to the MyGarmin website and got a Citi Navigator 8.0 unlock code for an additional unit at no cost (we had purchased it earlier for our Garmin StreetPilot). I am told the new 2009 version only unlocks one unit.
The user interface is not intuitive but after reading the manual and using it a few times it gets easy. The screen though small is bright and clear and I have no problem reading it from my dashboard. The turn-by-turn navigation works well; just like a PND, except that there is no audio. I got this unit mostly for hiking and am looking forward to taking it on the trail.
5 Stars Garmin ETREX ledgend HCX
Unit works great. It even picks up satellites indoors and does not loose them once they have been quickly acquired. Much better than the regular Etrex model that loose the satellites in heavy tree canopy or indoors. Color screen is a bonus with the ability to change color to your liking. Extra micro XD card slot allows you to put maps on the unit for a better location perspective. Many other options that I don’t even use.
Garmin n vi 350 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator Factory Refurbished
September 25, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Garmin n vi 350 3 5 Inch Portable GPS Navigator Factory Refurbished
This is a refurbished GPS. Refurbished generally means that the unit has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the navigator back to like new conditions. Some GPS may contain cosmetic blemishes.
What if one device could help you navigate anywhere in the U.S. andCanada, while offering travel tips, storing your favorite tunes and photos, providing translation assistance, and more? That device is here, and it’s not much bigger than a deck of cards. The Garmin n
Garmin GDB 50 MSN Direct Receiver for n vi 750 760 765T 770 775T 860 850 855 5000 Includes 1 Year of Service
September 25, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Receive real-time MSN Direct content–including local weather, traffic, movie times, and gas prices–with the MSN Direct Receiver / GDB 50. This integrated receiver and cigarette lighter adapter connects to your compatible Garmin device and conveniently plugs into your vehicle’s power outlet (for use in the United States only).
Get MSN Direct
The MSN Direct receiver comes with 1-year of free service and sends traffic reports, weather, movie times, and gas prices to your compatible Garmin navigator via an FM signal. Now you can avoid traffic, save money at the pump, check the forecast, and find out what’s playing as you move about town. You can count on your compatible Garmin navigator to route you to the theater, gas station, or destination of your choice with clear prompts while helping you avoid congestion and other traffic delays.
Activate and Navigate
The MSN Direct receiver is plug-and-play portable, making it easy to connect to your unit when on the go. No professional installation required. Simply activate your receiver following the instructions in the manual. After activation, plug the receiver into your compatible Garmin device, connect to your vehicle’s power outlet, and you’re ready to receive data.
Subscription Information
MSN Direct is available only in select cities where coverage exists. Visit MSN Direct to extend your current service, purchase a service plan for an additional area, or view coverage information.
What’s in the Box
MSN Direct Receiver, Owner’s manual
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Technically Great, Content Lacking
A true plug-and-play device. Installation was as simple as replacing the power cord. The information available on MSN Direct is not all that useful. Traffic information is very incomplete. E.G. It reports highway construction that has not been causing too much trouble between Dayton and Cincinnati while ignoring major freeway reconstruction in downtown Dayton that regularly results in miles-long backups. You can send routes and destinations from a computer to your GPS without removing it from the car. That’s a modest convenience. The weather forecasts and the radar have been the most useful features.
5 Stars Traffic receiver
This traffic receiver was a great purchase. Not only has it informed me of any traffic delays or problems, it also shows the weather, movie times, and places, nearby events, etc. It is very handy to have. When I was on vacation, it helped us decide on a movie, show wherer it was playing, showing times, and then directions to get to the theater. It was great.
Jenni
3 Stars Garmin MS Traffic
MSN Direct traffic via this device to my Garmin NUVI 770 works pretty good, about 50% accurate in predicting the occurrence and importance of traffic delays.
[...]
The receiver powers my GPS from the lighter and updates itself over a couple of days. Gasoline prices and movies seem timely and accurate. Events don’t show for my part of VA.
The traffic updates are spotty, but worth the cost. The device and my GPS will reroute me if they decide that traffic ahead will make my current route slower than the alternate. That’s good. What’s weak is the traffic data itself. I have good coverage of main highways and secondaries, but receive alerts for traffic on empty roads and no alerts for 6 lanes stopped or slow for long periods during rush hour.
I am learning to use secondary tools to verify the MS Direct traffic information when making decisions.
It’s just another tool, but it has helped my 40 mile commute.
4 Stars slow start but going strong
I bought MSN Direct for a cross country trip thinking that it would be a valuable addition to the Garmin 850 I have. Amazon had a hicup in the delivery and it didn’t arrive until two days before my trip. OK, no problem, its here. Following the directions I activated my MSN Direct subscription over the internet. I was told it would take 20 minutes or up to an hour to turn on. Nothing happened. Called MSN Direct and spoke to customer service who pushed some buttons and said it would be activated later that day. Nothing. Called the day before my trip and spent an hour on the phone with another customer service rep. Still nothing. Went on my trip without MSN Direct and didn’t feel like I missed anything. Came home and within a day it was working. Go figure.
Once I’m passed the connection problems I’ve found MSN Direct to be a good tool in my travels. I bought it for the Traffic alerts and it does fine there. I wish it would recommend alternate routes to avoid tie-ups rather than just announcing that there is a traffic jam 10 miles ahead. The stock ticker, gas price finder, news service, weather reports (basic at best. NO Doppler maps, geeze come on) and movie theater information. All of this is nice but only rates a “B-” in content and delivery. Is it something I couldn’t live without? The jury is still out after a month. There hasn’t been a “it saved my day” moment but it has allowed me to travel a little bit smarter.
2 Stars warning: no dopler and flight info for garmin 760 units with GDB50!!
bought the GDB50 cord for my nuvi 760 and found out later from msndirect tech support that the dopler radar and flight tracker features were not available for my nuvi even with a garmin online firmware update. the msndirect weather info lacked detailed weather information and was not enough to help me plan road trips without still going online to my home computer and getting detailed information such as radar, hour by hour and severe weather warning reports. I blame garmin for this because they market their gps’s so that you the consumer will want to buy a new unit every six months to get the features that you want; crooks! my priority for buying this unit was the dopler feature, weather, traffic and gas price applications. unfortunately, I was disappointed and it is not even worth my effort to mail this back to get a refund. this is another garmin write off!!!
Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount for n vi Series and StreetPilot C5XX Series GPS Navigators C530 C550 and C580
September 25, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Portable dashboard mount for your Garmin StreetPilot or nuvi navigator. It does not slide Or detach while vehicle is in motion. It is Adjustable To Position Nuvi In Variety Of Angles.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Friction Mount for Garmin
Again, another item from Garmin that I have previously purchased. I had looked a some of the “other brands” in stores but the Garmin quality was not present, and as I had already used one of these on another Garmin product, I was already sold. I purchased both proucts on Amazon.com as they had the best deal for these, and they always make it very easy to purchase. The friction mount makes it easy to transfer the unit from vehicle to vehicle, and in the past I have had the units fall from the suction cup mount on the windshield, plus it alway leaves a little curcle to have to clean. Only issue is the possibility of it sliding around some in tight corners, but it usually finds a spot it likes to stay in.
5 Stars Great addition to go with the Garmin GPS
When I purchased my daughter’s GPS, her dad suggested this mount to use rather than the windshield mount that comes with the product. He has one and she really likes hers, also. Positions the GPS in a better place and makes it easy to remove the GPS and not have it visible when the car is parked where someone could see it and possibly “remove” it.
4 Stars Garmin Mount
The only drawback with this item is its’ bulkiness which makes for a tight fit on the console, however with the theft concern when using a window mount, I willing to accept this drawback.
5 Stars Friction Dashboard Mount
Used this recently on a long trip. Great device, makes the Garmin easily accessible and easy to see. Does not move on the dashboard at all.
5 Stars Why cant GARMIN provide this with original GPS ?
I wish GARMIN packages this along with ORIGINAL GPS, than the mount which is useless and damages GPS as it cant stick to the window properly.
Garmin n vi 265 265T 3 5 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
September 25, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Garmin n vi 265 265T 3 5 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
The Garmin nuvi 265t GPS has integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling and lifetime traffic alerts for avoiding traffic delays and road construction. Bluetooth wireless technology enables users to make hands-free calling with nuvi’s built-in microphone and speaker. Just pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free through nuvi while staying focused on the road. Simply dial numbers with nuvi’s touchscreen keypad to make a call. To answer calls, just tap the screen and speak into its built-in microphone. Take advantage of Garmin’s first premium traffic service without subscription fees. Steer clear of traffic with nuvi’s integrated FM traffic receiver. Receive alerts about traffic delays and road construction that lie ahead on your route. Simply touch nuvi’s screen to view traffic details or detour around the problem area. Traffic service includes a lifetime premium subscription in North America for the life of the product or as long as Garmin receives traffic data from its traffic supplier. The Where Am I? feature finds the closest hospitals, police stations, gas stations, nearest address and intersection Auto time zone – nuvi will automatically adjust your time zone while navigating Turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance Configurable vehicle icons allows users to select a fun, customized car-shaped icon Offers a three-dimensional mapping perspective, or 2-D overhead view Built-in lithium-ion battery lasts up to four hours depending on usage Dimensions – Width 3.8 x Height 2.8 x Depth 0.8 Weight – 5.2 ounces
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great product, great Amazon support
This was the first product purchase that I have had a issue with. When I received the unit, I noticed the screen was a bit discolored. Amazon was so easy to deal with! They sent me an advance replacement, arranged for return shipping… no problems! Now that I have the new unit, I love it. My only complaint, if any, is that the internal speaker leaves much to be desired as far as voice command sound quality goes… but, it is minor and only an issue when the volume is cranked up. The FM traffic works flawlessly and is generally accurate. Most of my driving is between Boston and Manchester NH, I seem to have no problem picking up a signal. I am also impressed with the Eco Route software in this unit. It is quite accurate on my MPG, fuel used, etc. Just have to remember to always have the GPS unit on when moving so it can track vehicle usage.
5 Stars Excellent portable GPS; 5th star for the Amazon price
The Garmin Nuvi 265T (with discounts offered when we bought it) is a great value, and offers all the essentials for a basic, truly portable, GPS. The bonus of prepaid lifetime access to basic traffic alerts is a welcome extra. The “small” screen size is more than compensated for by its ease of portability and mounting for use. The Bluetooth capability is also very good, apparently, though we have no use for it.
The Garmin online support, .pdf manuals, and wide-ranging downloadable maps is outstanding, and serves both Mac and Windows owners well and essentially equally. Updates at this time appear to be readily available for both platforms and include updated firmware for the model owned.
We were pleasantly surprised to get an included update of N. American maps if downloaded within 30 days– more than fair. Paid updates are also reasonable in price, in contrast to Toyota’s charge of $250, the last I checked, for an new DVD, updated every 3, years for Toyota factory installed GPSs.
Finally, thank you, Garmin, for sponsoring a world class bicycle racing team.
5 Stars Love it
I just love my Garmin. It hasn’t gotten me lost yet. I just love that it talks to me so I don’t have to be constantly looking at it. My friends also love borrowing it. It is extremely easy to set up and remove so that I never have to leave it in the car and take a chance on it getting it stolen. I also purchased the case so that I can carry it in my purse. My husband loves it too (even though he would never admit that he sometimes needs help with directions).
4 Stars Garmin
Directions are few. If you don’t have exact address you can’t go there. I am sure there is a way around this but, I haven’t figured it out yet. Also, sometimes it takes us thru undesireable neighborhoods when I know there is a safer way…….
4 Stars Garmin GPS 265T
So far so good with only one hicup. I have only used the 265T 5 or 6 times so far. One time last week I was using it just to become accustomed to how it works. I entered the address knowing full well the shortest and best way to arrive at the address but the directions I got from the 265T were wrong. Each time I would drive the correct direction it would tell me to go a different direction. Even to the point of when I was within eyesight of the address it told me to make a U turn and go a different direction.
Seems rather strange in that I double checked the address which I input and it was correct.
Otherwise all is good.
I will take a trip to my son’s home next week, about 900 miles from where I live and will see how it performs.
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor
September 24, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor
Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 305. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn’t just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 305 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we’ve ever tested. Yes, it’s that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 305 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. The 305 model includes wireless heartrate monitoring and it can also be connected to Garmin’s wireless bicycle speed and cadence sensor. If you don’t need these features, consider the lower-priced Forerunner 205.
View Garmin’s Forerunner demonstration video.
Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305’s screen. View larger. |
The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you’re running or walking. View larger. |
The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger. |
Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger. |
The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger. |
Design
The 305’s design is a radical departure from Garmin’s previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn’t quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn’t much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist.
Not so with the 305. Garmin’s engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit’s antenna to face the sky when you’re running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it’s smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness.
Garmin has smartly given the 305 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout.
The underside of the 305 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 305’s embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.
GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 305 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 305’s ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, the tester had the 305 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 305, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn’t faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!
The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap. |
While the Forerunner 305 isn’t billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. In addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There’s also a “go to location” feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. Once you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future. As you’ll see below, the 305’s new “Courses” feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your favorite runs and rides.
Training Functions
The 305 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can’t use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it’s worthless. When it comes to these factors — and here’s the take home message on the 305 — this device is successful where many other devices fail.
The heart and soul of the 305 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes. The 305 adds the ability to track heartrate, lap heartrate, average heartrate, and heartrate zones via the included coded heartrate chest strap. With the purchase of a separate wireless cadence and speed meter, you can also track bike performance data.
Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that’s most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you’ll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it. The ability to display heartrate is a big plus, too, as it’s a fairly good indicator of excercise output, fatigue, and fitness level. The 305 has all the heartrate functions you’d expect from a full-function monitor, including the ability to set target zones and alerts to maximize the effectiveness of your workouts.
Garmin’s Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they’ve decided to keep a good thing going with the 305. If you’re the type that performs best when you’ve got a competitor egging you on, you’ll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.
If you’re looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 305 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device.
Computer Connectivity and Software
Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now — a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 305 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the computer. Not only does Training Center–which is compatible with both PC and Mac–make it easy to track your performance, you can graph data such as heartrate alongside your speed and distance. Over time, this is a great way to view your fitness levels increase, and it also helps you see what types of workouts are necessary to strengthen your weaknesses. For instance, if you see your heartrate begin to spike after a certain distance, you know you need to increase your endurance workouts to train that area of fitness.
In a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your computer that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you’re on the road or path. Back on the computer, the software’s ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement.
The 305 is also fully compatible with Garmin’s MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we weren’t able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you’re a serious endurance athlete, you’ll be glad to know that the 305 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.
Pros
- Radically new design is better in every way
- Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
- So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it
Cons
- Okay, it’s bigger than a sport’s watch — but so much more powerful
What’s in the Box
Forerunner 305, Garmin Training Center CD-ROM, heart rate monitor, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner’s manual, quick start guide.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Love it…
great training tool. I wish I had it when I was training for my marathon. Can’t wait to decrease my pace time thanks to the display on the watch.
5 Stars GARMIN FORERUNNER 305 – PERFECT
The service was great and expedient. I love my Garmin. So far, so good!
5 Stars Calorie counter more accurate than previously thought
Lots of folks have complained about the calorie counter, however, it seems to parallel 2 separate commercial treadmills I use at the gym. I have also noticed that if the “locating satellites” prompt seems to lock-up I can turn the unit off then immediately back on and everything is up and running fine. This is a terrific investment if you are obsessed with times and distances (like myself) or you simply want to get an idea of how far or long you have traveled (my wife).
5 Stars Good Price, Great Product
The Garmin Forerunner 305 was about $60 less than the comparable Timex and you don’t have to wear a separate receiver clipped onto your waistband. Also, the heart rate monitor works great and I have had problems with others in the past, having owned several Polar monitors and a Cateye. All of them gave me problems from the start and so far the Forerunner has been perfectly reliable, and this is during running, where the bouncing can really tend to interfere with heart rate monitors. I also found the Forerunner very easy to program, the instructions being very clear.
5 Stars Garrmin Forerunner 305 – wouldn’t run without it!
The watch allows me to run any variation in my normal routes without worring about how far I ran or what my pace is. It is reliable and receives GPS signals in the city and on my country routes, in sun or normal cloud cover. The heart rate monitor works flawlessly and was a great addition to the information I was keeping and it is all in one place…my 305!
Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
September 24, 2009 by
Filed under Electronics
Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
The venerable Garmin 60CS just got a whole lot better. The 7.5-ounce GPSMap 60CSx now features an insanely accurate, high-sensitivity GPS receiver by SiRF that tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons. Plus, you get a bright, sunlight-readable color TFT display and an included a 64 MB microSD card for storage of optional map detail. Add all that to the 60CSx’s integrated barometric altimeter and electronic compass, and you’ve got a unit that is ready to take you anywhere on land or sea.
The 60CSx is a refreshing upgrade of the 60CS, and features a removable microSD card for detailed mapping memory. View larger. |
The device features the powerful SiRF GPS navigation chip for supreme accuracy in all conditions. You also get an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter. |
You also get a large color TFT display and turn-by-turn routing capability. |
You can use the 60CSx’s memory card slot with preprogrammed microSD cards from Garmin (sold separately) that provide topographic maps, city streets, and nautical charts. In fact, the unit is compatible with most Garmin MapSource products including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. Topo 24K, and U.S. Topo and Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. The unit comes preloaded with an Americas autoroute basemap that provides automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits, and tide data. There’s also a preloaded marine point database. You can even get turn-by-turn directions when you’re driving, and an integrated trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more.
The 60CSx’s 2.6-inch, 256-color TFT color display is designed to present mapping and trip information clearly and accurately in any lighting conditions. Plus, the case is lightweight, rugged, and water resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes). When using two AA alkaline batteries, you’ll get up to 20 hours of battery life from the unit. The unit’s barometric altimeter system features automatic pressure trend recording while providing current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Meanwhile, the electronic compass allows you to get accurate headings while standing still.
Another key feature of the 60CSx is the 10,000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions. There’s also a large-numbers option for easy viewing, as well as a dual-position display mode.
The 60CSx’s trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. Meanwhile, a fast processor allows the 60CSx to provide quick auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when you use the optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the unit’s included 64 MB microSD card. Downloading information is quick with the USB or serial port interfaces. Using the dedicated serial port, the 60Cx can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots. The four-position rocker pad and dedicated high-use buttons make navigating through the unit’s features easy, even when your fingers are cold or wet.
Finally, the GPSMap 60CSx is packed with some extra fun features. An integrated outdoor calendar provides ideal hunting and fishing times, plus moon rise/set/location information. There is a dedicated geocaching mode for those of you into the hot GPS community treasure hunt game. Finally, there are indoor/outdoor GPS games to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors.
If you like the features of the 60CSx, but don’t need an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin 60Cx.
What’s in the Box
60CSx unit, 64 MB microSD card, belt clip, USB interface cable, MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, lanyard, owners manual, and quick-start guide.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Rockn & Rolling
LOVE the GPS. The 60CSx is my first GPS unit. I found it very easy to setup and use in a very few minutes. The topo map I bought (separately) works perfectly.
Had it up in the Rocky mountains finding old mining sites & such. The terrain was spot on too. Rolling in to winter I’ll be using this a lot to keep from getting lost snowmobiling.
5 Stars off-road motocross
i bought this for off-road motocross trail riding. i also bought the ram handlebar mount and works fine on my pro taper bars. would recommend for this use over any other handheld gps and i did my research.
4 Stars Great GPS
I have used a Garmin V for years and finally upgraded to the GPS 60CSX. Satellite acquisition is fast and accuracy is great. Needs a better set of maps for use in hiking, hunting, camping, etc. Controls work much the same as the old GPS V. Reception in the trees and even in my house is great. I use it primarily when hunting in Colorado mountains, but also on off the highway adventures in many other places. Well built and solid unit. Digital compass doesn’t work quite as easily as I thought it might, but is adequate for most uses.
The only negative is the cost of maps which must primarily be bought thru Garmin. Some others work, but require some computer expertise to get them to work.
5 Stars Can take a beating
I have had my 60 for a couple of years and geocache with it. I have dropped it a few times but Last night I stopped to get my mail and as I got out of my car my 60 fell off my belt to the ground and then into a storm drain. I had to leave it there all night as I was going to work. This AM I went to the storm drain and opened the cover and retrieved my 60. I turned it on and its still works great !!! . Garmin makes good stuff!!!!!!
5 Stars Best Hand held GPS I have ever used
This is by far the best hand held GPS that I have ever used. I would recommend it to anyone