Garmin 705 or SatMap ?
- Thread starter itisaboutthebike
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OP
OP
itisaboutthebike
Über Member
- Location
- Somewhere up his own jacksey
Oh yes I know - I've just bought a brand new JAMIS Exile 631 singlepeed frame off Ebay from the US - $170 (plus shipiing of course) ! Its fantastic - just what I need for my 8 speed hubb gear commuter bike.
Yes I'll be looking at the US Ebay prices for the 705 when they appear.
Could be some good deals on a 305.
Is it possible to create a route on say tracklogs and download it to a 305 ? Or is this just possible on the newer 605/705 ?
Yes I'll be looking at the US Ebay prices for the 705 when they appear.
Could be some good deals on a 305.
Is it possible to create a route on say tracklogs and download it to a 305 ? Or is this just possible on the newer 605/705 ?
itisaboutthebike said:
In a word, yes.
I use http://www.mapmyride.com/ to create the route, export it as a Edge course file (.crs) and upload it to the Edge.
I reckon you're right; I wouldn't be surprised to see some decent deals on the 305 when the 705 is released.
OP
OP
itisaboutthebike
Über Member
- Location
- Somewhere up his own jacksey
Anyone got a garmin 705 yet ?
If so how is it ?
If so how is it ?
Yep, had mine for a day or two now with the Topo map of the UK. To do an in-depth review would get me the sack, but first impressions are:
Good
Build quality is great.
Unit is relatively easy to install and use.
Highly configurable
Extensive training info
On-road navigation is good with listed turns and road names (advantage over OS)
Despite the map quality (see below), defined routes are clear enough to be useful.
Interface with Garmin Connect is simple - GC is looking like a tidy tool, although its still early in its development.
Phone Support is good
Indifferent
Screen is a bit too small compared with satmap.
Displayed map quality is very ordinary when compared with OS - I wouldn't like to use it for off-road or hiking.
Bad
Forget auto-routing unless you want to ride your bike on the M3 - not an issue for me as I like to handcraft routes anyway.
Supporting software (MapSource, driver installation etc) is shocking! Get something like Tracklogs (my fav) or Memorymap if you're serious about creating routes.
Manuals - soft and hard copy are equally useless. Expect to become a regular on garmin forums.
Map installation is a pain (but good support solved this)
Also worth mentioning that I had a scare the first time I charged it. The battery indicator only showed the battery as half charged, despite 12hrs of charging. I did a full discharge, followed by a recharge and this seems to have solved the problem.
If anyone has any specific questions, list 'em here or PM me. No promises at the 'mo, but I'll do my best.
Good
Build quality is great.
Unit is relatively easy to install and use.
Highly configurable
Extensive training info
On-road navigation is good with listed turns and road names (advantage over OS)
Despite the map quality (see below), defined routes are clear enough to be useful.
Interface with Garmin Connect is simple - GC is looking like a tidy tool, although its still early in its development.
Phone Support is good
Indifferent
Screen is a bit too small compared with satmap.
Displayed map quality is very ordinary when compared with OS - I wouldn't like to use it for off-road or hiking.
Bad
Forget auto-routing unless you want to ride your bike on the M3 - not an issue for me as I like to handcraft routes anyway.
Supporting software (MapSource, driver installation etc) is shocking! Get something like Tracklogs (my fav) or Memorymap if you're serious about creating routes.
Manuals - soft and hard copy are equally useless. Expect to become a regular on garmin forums.
Map installation is a pain (but good support solved this)
Also worth mentioning that I had a scare the first time I charged it. The battery indicator only showed the battery as half charged, despite 12hrs of charging. I did a full discharge, followed by a recharge and this seems to have solved the problem.
If anyone has any specific questions, list 'em here or PM me. No promises at the 'mo, but I'll do my best.
CopperBrompton
Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
- Location
- London
What issue do you have with Mapsource? For me, that is one of the greatest strengths of Garmin units - I find the software excellent.
I'm also surprised that the manual is 'useless' - Garmin manuals are usually very good.
Ben
I'm also surprised that the manual is 'useless' - Garmin manuals are usually very good.
Ben
CopperBrompton
Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
- Location
- London
What extra functionality does it offer?
Ben Lovejoy said:
My real issues are with the map installation and the driver support for transferring data from the unit. I found mapsource functional but clunky when compared with third party mapping software, particularly tracklogs, which is generally very intuitive. I know with these things that you get used to doing things a certain way, so I'm not going to stick the boot right in.
I'll stand by by comments on the manual though. The full owner's manual feels more like the 'getting started' guide. Playing around with the unit, I've found a host of functions not even hinted at in the manual. For example, the whole section on map use covers one and a half A5 pages. There's no mention of the digital compass screen or the route guide screen and only two sentences on the elevation plot, neither of which mention that you can set the horizontal scale using the joystick. The manual appears better when describing the training functionality. I guess this is where they took stuff from the 205/305.
CopperBrompton
Bicycle: a means of transport between cake-stops
- Location
- London
I'm surprised to hear the 705 is light on tracklogging, as you'd think that would be a key training need.
I don't need the fitness stuff, so I have the Vista HCx.
I don't need the fitness stuff, so I have the Vista HCx.
OP
OP
itisaboutthebike
Über Member
- Location
- Somewhere up his own jacksey
Hi,
can you elaborate on what you mean about lap history ?
Presumably tou can download a route (from say tracklogs) and follow it ? I'm thinking Audax type stuff here.
can you elaborate on what you mean about lap history ?
Presumably tou can download a route (from say tracklogs) and follow it ? I'm thinking Audax type stuff here.
Nope, 705 logs tracks. The format is 'tcx' which Garmin Connect takes as is but you will have to convert to gpx if you want to download to tracklogs. Tracklogs doesn't seem to recognise the 705 as a device.
You can download a route from tracklogs, again as a gpx, but there are problems. Once on the 705, the tracklogs tracks sometimes don't co-locate with the vector roads and paths. This means that the directions are sometimes a bit skitty.
I'm still playing with all of this so there may be better ways of doing things.
You can download a route from tracklogs, again as a gpx, but there are problems. Once on the 705, the tracklogs tracks sometimes don't co-locate with the vector roads and paths. This means that the directions are sometimes a bit skitty.
I'm still playing with all of this so there may be better ways of doing things.
Hi Bollo,
Any pointers on the digital compass screen or the route guide screen (or maybe a link to a useful forum)?
I'm pretty pleased with mine (but agree some things could be better). I've found http://www.oe-files.de/oefiles/gmaps/tcx_to_kml_html helpful.
Any pointers on the digital compass screen or the route guide screen (or maybe a link to a useful forum)?
I'm pretty pleased with mine (but agree some things could be better). I've found http://www.oe-files.de/oefiles/gmaps/tcx_to_kml_html helpful.
skids said:
Hiya,
Not used the compass screen. The route guide screen is one of the screens that you cycle through using the mode button while you're navigating (set a 'where to'). I've not used it directly, I've just relied on the 705 flipping from one of the 'bike' screens as you approach a junction.
For converting the tcx files, I've used something called 'tcx experience', but I'm buggered if I can find the link!
Just got myself a garmin 705 and am so far quite happy with its functionality as a cycle computer, HRM, data-logger, GPS recorder etc. (only been out with it twice so far though).
However - I didn't find any web reviews that mention what 'built-in basemap' map the 705 ships with so went ahead and took a gamble on the 705 (over the cheaper 305), and (unless I've missed something on a settings menu) it is pretty poor considering that it is designed for cyclists - so far as I can tell it has only A-Roads, Motorways and railway lines.
However - I didn't find any web reviews that mention what 'built-in basemap' map the 705 ships with so went ahead and took a gamble on the 705 (over the cheaper 305), and (unless I've missed something on a settings menu) it is pretty poor considering that it is designed for cyclists - so far as I can tell it has only A-Roads, Motorways and railway lines.