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Garmin FR 305 How many units have you had?
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I would definitely get another unit. I forgot it for a weekend and was lost without it. Not literally obviously although it is nice to know it could help if I was...
Not worried about a new strap, I find using the sweat band no hassle so will stick to it. Good to know Garmin do seem to be listening to the user base so "good on them".
6th FR 305 - Recovery Runner
5th FR 305 - Hot Tub Alci
3rd FR 305 - Harry Hedgehog
3rd FR 305 - Scary Fairy
3rd FR 305 - John Battersby 3
2nd FR 305 - Derby Boy
2nd FR 305 - Dek
2nd FR 305 - Fishyweb
2nd FR 305 - Beetle
2nd FR 305 - Stripeyhorse
2nd FR 305 - Snails
2nd FR 305 - pants Ants
2nd FR 305 - Bedders
1st FR 305 - Keith M Stuart
1st FR 305 - JivinJizz
1st FR 305 - Redkite
1st FR 305 - SteveBe (since Spring)
1st FR 305 - Yanner
1st FR 305 - Stet
Hope you all had a good Christmas and HopefullY we'll have a trouble free New Year with our FR 305's
Perhaps asking just a bit too much though
Hope I dont have troube with it - shes a bit of a demon shopper - red mist here she comes.
Touchwood, no problems as yet and very impressed with it, a gadget that actually provides tools that states.
One question, does anyone know how to print out the data from training centre, and also what format the files are downloaded in?
Lee
5th FR 305 - Hot Tub Alci
3rd FR 305 - Harry Hedgehog
3rd FR 305 - Scary Fairy
3rd FR 305 - John Battersby 3
2nd FR 305 - Derby Boy
2nd FR 305 - Dek
2nd FR 305 - Fishyweb
2nd FR 305 - Beetle
2nd FR 305 - Stripeyhorse
2nd FR 305 - Snails
2nd FR 305 - pants Ants
2nd FR 305 - Bedders
2nd FR 305 - Kwaka
1st FR 305 - Keith M Stuart
1st FR 305 - JivinJizz
1st FR 305 - Redkite
1st FR 305 - SteveBe (since Spring)
1st FR 305 - Yanner
1st FR 305 - Stet
Got my first one in May 06 and it lasted 2 mths. Got it replaced by Garmin after a bit of messing about because I'd originally got it from the US on eBay.
The second one has performed fine until this week when it started beeping frantically on a run, although the info downloaded Ok and then I had trouble uploading another lot of info from my run yesterday. Could have just been computer trouble the second time tho.
Lee,
The export format of the Training Center software is xml, readable but very verbose.
I do have a viewer for it if you are interested. The upload format from the 305 etc is close to NEAMA but with some Garmin extensions so hard to interface to. Garmin do publish an SDK on their website but it is very heavy going.
Mick
6th FR 305 - Recovery Runner
5th FR 305 - Snapstinget
5th FR 305 - Hot Tub Alci
3rd FR 305 - Harry Hedgehog
3rd FR 305 - Scary Fairy
3rd FR 305 - John Battersby 3
2nd FR 305 - Derby Boy
2nd FR 305 - Dek
2nd FR 305 - Fishyweb
2nd FR 305 - Beetle
2nd FR 305 - Stripeyhorse
2nd FR 305 - Snails
2nd FR 305 - pants Ants
2nd FR 305 - Bedders
2nd FR 305 - Kwaka
1st FR 305 - Keith M Stuart
1st FR 305 - JivinJizz
1st FR 305 - Redkite
1st FR 305 - SteveBe (since Spring)
1st FR 305 - Yanner
1st FR 305 - Stet
Before you send each one back do you ever try a soft or hard reset. This normally clears 90% of problems. If you are not sure of the button sequence to do the resets let me know.
Sometimes the battery plays up and the resets won't play ball. You can sometimes sort it by placing the unit in the cradle and trying to "find" it from TC. But this time it just wasn't going to happen.
Mind you I know from our local sportsd shop that good Garmin service isn't just restricted to me; they've had very few people come in with problems that couldn't be dealt with via a reset but those problems were always resolved (i.e. a replacement) within 24 hours.
This is why I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the product despite my apparent bad karma. It is a fab training tool (and I say so as a dedicated Polar fan as well).
If it is the same problem for lots of 305's you would think they would solve it before it leaves the factory?
Oh but I do want one! To buy or not that is the question.
i am on my third 305 and this one, especially since the software upgrades, works really fine.
and although when your garmin gives up on you, it is a very unpleasant feeling, your dealer (make sure you choose a good one!) will sort out the problems very quickly for you.
it also went down in price - you can get one for less than 200 pounds from sweatshop.
go and get yourself one
On the back of the unit, the far left charging dot had gone a black colour (seemingly rust) yet I never left it wet from water or sweat when I used it. I think this caused problems with the USB recognising it then it eventually failed to turn on. Now I have a new unit I don't potentially want that same problem to happen again but how to go around it I'm not sure. Keep an eye on it all who have one though.
I do do road running in areas of traffic, as I live in Glasgow. While not the city centre, there is still usually a flow of traffic near me when I'm out running.
this is a commonly reported problem on other chat lines. The accepted cure seems to be the use of a rubber tipped pencil.
Mick
A sign that this unit is better is that uploads to motionbased are instant when the device is plugged into the PC. Before, I was finding it would take a lot longer to access and send the data from the unit when the charging dot started to darken.
I used the 201 for about two years and I have had the 305 for the last six months.
It is superior in many ways. More reliable in tree coverage, Puts down twices as many trackpionts per mile, synchs quicker, uploads to the pc quicker and the most significant for me the built in HRM.
I don't think you will regret your choice.
Mick
I have 550 runs logged on the Garmins. 400 or so on the 201 and the rest on the 305. If you compare the quality of the positional data collected after running many times on the same course you will see a major difference in the data between the two devices. I don't really care too much about how precise the distance measurement is but I do care that it is consistent. The 305 is dramatically more consistent.
Mick