Garmin....worth the money?

[Mark1978]

Wahoo ELEMNT/Bolt ?

 

[vickster]

Wahoo ELEMNT/Bolt ?

They cost around £200 upwards though I think

I'd look for a used 800 if wanting proper directions and maps (not Bluetooth though so have to upload to a PC). A 200 if happy with preplanned breadcrumb trails. The newer models Bluetooth but cost more

I rarely upload from my 800 (just use phone for Strava), do use it for directions, pre planned routes or on the fly

 

[Markymark]

....and don't get me started on Garmin taking a mere 20 mins to lock onto GPS if not used for a couple of weeks.

 

[nickyboy]

Well there you go. My charging case gives me 8 hours with a full map navigation but in flight mode, just GPS on.

As a phone gps user do you never experience poor tracking? The reason I ask is because my Garmin had to go for repair so I did a couple of rides recording with the phone (Huawei....yes, I know). Didn't use for navigation as I knew where I was going but when I uploaded the ride there were bits of it where I lost gps and then it recovered sometime later

Purely anecdotally it seems the Garmin is more robust in terms of its gps signal lock, certainly more so than my phone

 

[Markymark]

As a phone gps user do you never experience poor tracking? The reason I ask is because my Garmin had to go for repair so I did a couple of rides recording with the phone (Huawei....yes, I know). Didn't use for navigation as I knew where I was going but when I uploaded the ride there were bits of it where I lost gps and then it recovered sometime later

Purely anecdotally it seems the Garmin is more robust in terms of its gps signal lock, certainly more so than my phone

The only time it gets a bit confused is very heavy tree coverage or heavily built up areas but it only varies a few meters for a few seconds until it sorts itself out. In terms of locking on pre ride my phone does it within seconds as most.

 

[ianrauk]

....and don't get me started on Garmin taking a mere 20 mins to lock onto GPS if not used for a couple of weeks.

Not true...
I use my Touring on an infrequent basis, sometimes once a month or less and it locks on very quickly.

 

[Markymark]

Not true...
I use my Touring on an infrequent basis, sometimes once a month or less and it locks on very quickly.

I have the same one and it's usually a couple of minutes but it's been 20 minutes before now if a few weeks.

 

[Markymark]

[QUOTE 4842944, member: 259"]Yes, that's why phones aren't as accurate.[/QUOTE]
You can see the difference when it locks onto GPS. I can see a wide circle of "this is roughly right" using local masts but within a few seconds it pinpoints it down correctly to the exact location.

 

[mjr]

It was in a full protective flip case and it landed flat on the screen (on a tiled floor), not on a more vulnerable corner of the case/phone. It broke the screen.

I've not seen a "full protective flip case" yet. I always go for wraparound bumpers (because I know my fingers shake sometimes). Maybe that Galaxy has a screen that pops/cracks in a flat impact, but that's pretty unusual.

There is also the question of waterproofing ... a lot of smartphones don't like water so don't cycle in the rain using one for navigation unless you have it enclosed in something waterproof (or it is a waterproof model).

Again, case. And some Garmin's hate the cold and nuke their batteries double-quick in icy winter rain.

For me battery life is the killer, because I'm often out all day, and a flat phone would mean losing my phone as well as my GPS.

I take two Garmins (one backup in my rack bag), a bucket load of rechargeable AAs and a charge tank for topping up my phone. But that's just me.

My phone (Sony Xperia, FWIW) easily lasts all day, always tracking and some navigating, typically with 40% battery life to spare, plus I have a power bank to recharge my phone (about five times - and on tour a solar panel that gives about another recharge), and if needed, I can buy AAs and put them in an AA-to-USB charger. I don't feel a need to carry backup navigation/tracking devices. I'll get there on signs and memory, even if it's not the planned or ideal route. But that's just me.

 

[nickyboy]

The only time it gets a bit confused is very heavy tree coverage or heavily built up areas but it only varies a few meters for a few seconds until it sorts itself out. In terms of locking on pre ride my phone does it within seconds as most.

That's interesting. What I found using my phone was it would "lose" GPS tracking a long way up big hills. Not in a valley so not sure why that would be the case. Maybe it's my phone. For sure the Garmin has more reliable GPS lock than my phone

 

[Markymark]

That's interesting. What I found using my phone was it would "lose" GPS tracking a long way up big hills. Not in a valley so not sure why that would be the case. Maybe it's my phone. For sure the Garmin has more reliable GPS lock than my phone

To be fair the only ride I do is around and around the BT tower.

 

[PlanB]

....and don't get me started on Garmin taking a mere 20 mins to lock onto GPS if not used for a couple of weeks.

While I am no fan boy of Garmin, I do have an Edge 510.
I feel the quality of the touch screen is a joke. It freezes and crashes on a regular basis, and Garmin Connect is dreadful.
Garmin really do need a reality check with their pricing, as there is arguably better out there for free.

BUT!

With thanks to the Russian Glonas Satelite addition, it locks on before I can get my shoes on .... every time!
Satelite and Blue teeth connection in less than a minute guaranteed.

Speed and tracking are also spot on, battery life lasts many rides, and it just goes from bike to bike with waterproof, rugged and reliable ease.

And for me, the positives just about make it a worthwhile investment.

 

[Drago]

I have to disagree there. Phones may or may not be less accurate. But it's got nothing to do with the fact that they use A-GPS which is mainly aimed at reducing the time to first fix (although it does do other stuff too). A-GPS does not make phones less accurate.

In my experience as a Search and Rescue volunteer, it does. Not radically so, but enough that if you're looking for a human sized target in foul weather you wouldn't want it.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Garmin. I have a 200 and a 705. 200 was for commuting, and the 705 was the one for nav. They are robust, and the battery lasts a long time. My 705's has a few scuffs on the case from off road crashes that would have destroyed a phone.

The 200's are being sold off new in places for about £60 as they are 'old'. They can follow a breadcrumb trail.

My 200 was used day in, day out on commutes. The first had a wonky battery, but the current one I've had years. My 705 is older and it's been dead reliable, and I still use it now on the original battery. The GPS accuracy is much better than a phone and you can leave the phone tucked away safely for pictures or emergencies.

The 820 looks to be the one to get now - compact and does everything like the 1000 series.

I don't have a Garmin. Why do you need one to commute? Don't you know the way?

 

[ianrauk]

I don't have a Garmin. Why do you need one to commute? Don't you know the way?

To record the ride