The new Timex Global Trainer watch is the next generation in the Timex Bodylink series. Timex’s most sophisticated athletics watches. The current Bodylink watches are sold as a tri-bundle that includes wrist-watch, heart rate monitor chest strap and GPS device. The new Golbal Training Bodylink watch looks like it will mount the GPS aerial inside the wristwatch itself, offering a watch that is similar to a Garmin.

Its GPS features are driven by a SiRFstarIII GPS chipset, the same type that the Forerunner and other leading GPS watch manufacturers use. The SiRFstarIII ensure the watch will maintain a reliable signal that, once calibrated, will acquire satellite signals faster and lose the connection less frequently than watches with older chipsets like the Forerunner 101, 201 and 301. SiRFstarIII is now a somewhat standard GPS chipset in modern timepieces, which will ensure that the Global Trainer watch’s signal is about the same as other GPS watches. The new Timex watch has the ability to calculate speed, pace and distance in real time as well as measure altitude ascent and descent rates and distances.

The new watch has a screen that is split into four quadrants in a very similar layout to the Forerunner watches and presumably will offer similar display something similar in terms of screen customization. There is no information about the full range of data fields that can be displayed. Knowing Timex, they will deliver something that will keep athletes well and truely satisfied.

The Global Trainer also offers better navigation than Timex’s current navigation watch, the Bodylink Trailrunner watch, with the ability to store up to 100 waypoints with track back feature and 50 custom routes.

The performance features of this watch are impressive too and are well suited to runners, cyclists and triathletes, but could just as easily be used by any athlete in any sport on dry land, that is based on movement. The new watches maintains a 20 workout history log with the capacity to store up to 1000 lap times. Some of the existing Timex Ironman features are included including 100 hour Chronograph, Interval Timer and Countdown Timers. This Timex watch loses none of it’s Ironman charm. It also offers a performance pacer that helps you judge your finish time, calorie calculation, hands free GPS operation – it essentially starts and stops the stopwatch based on your movement – no buttons required! There is also a multisport event mode which allegedly records, activates and transitions in one sequence.

Like recent innovations in the Timex Race Trainer watch, the new Timex Global Trainer GPS Watch allows you to transfer your performance data to personal computer (PC or Mac) where you can import your performance and route data to Timex’s Online Training Software, powered by the Training Peaks platform. Here you’ll be able to share your experiences with a community of active and like-minded people. The software provided with the Timex GPS Global Trainer Watch also allows you to configure your watch via computer. The USB connector recharges the watch battery, although there is currently no word on how much battery liive this watch will offer. The watch can be used with all Timex heart rate monitor chest straps and bike senors as well as ANT+ third party bike power sensors.

I have to admit, the prospect of this new Timex Ironman GPS Global Trainer hitting the market has got me a wee bit excited! Will this new Timex Ironman GPS watch rival the wildly successful Garmin Forerunner watches? Time will tell. There seems to be no reliable release date on the new Global GPS Trainer, but look out for it’s release on Amazon and other watch stores soon.

Photo courtesy of Matt Biddulph.

GPS watches tend to fall into two distinct categories in functionality with some crossover in between. GPS running watches and GPS navigation watches.

This article discusses GPS watches with navigation.

Navigation GPS allow you to find your way in the world. Most common navigation feature sets allow you to enter routes into the watches memory, enter specific locations or waypoints, follow a route or go to a specific location and in the case where a GPS has a larger screen, view your position on a map.

The Navigation mode of a GPS watch can be used to pre-plan a destination and ensure that you find it. You can also create a “waypoint” at specific locations that can be uniquely tagged and navigated to later.

Navigation mode can shows you the:

• distance
• direction
• estimated time of arrival (Suunto X watches only)
• and other essential information for all the waypoints of the selected route

A GPS watch can also guide you back to your starting point.

The following GPS watches can be considered to have at least a basic level of navigation features:

• Garmin Forerunner 405 and 405CX (basic waypoints and compass)
• Garmin Forerunner 205, 305 and 310XT
• Garmin Forerunner 301
• Garmin Forerunner 201
• Timex IRONMAN Bodylink Trail Runner
• Suunto X9/i and X9M/i
• Suunto X10
• Globalsat GH-615
• Globalsat GH-625

In the next section we will look at some of these common navigation features.

There are X general navigation features in GPS watches that support navigation. They are:

• Map Mode – The ability to view routes and waypoints in a graphical map representation
• Mark Waypoints/Locations – The ability to enter a location into the watch’s memory
• Create Routes – The ability to create a conjoined series of waypoints
• Breadcrumbs or Track Logs – The ability to automatically lay down a route in real-time
• Navigate to Waypoint – GPS watches have the ability to direct you to a waypoint
• Navigate Route – Navigation watches have the ability to direct you along a route

Map Mode

Most GPS tracking/navigation watches feature a visual map that allows you to view your position and nearby waypoints or your entire route within the current vicinity. Map modes are available in the Forerunner 205, 305 and the new 310XT and the GlobalSat watches GH-615 and GH-625. Not all GPS watches support a map viewing mode. On a watch screen size is limited, and in watches that attempt to reduce the burden of size and bulkiness often present in a GPS watch, the ability to present a map is often sacrificed.

The Forerunner 305 Map Mode	The GlobalSat GH625 Map Mode

Marking Locations/Waypoints

The ability to flag a location in three dimensions (latitude, longitude and elevation), in the watch’s memory is a feature of all GPS watches that offer you the ability to navigate, whether that be entered via computer software or the watch (flagging the current location). The waypoint can be saved using the watch’s unique numbering system with the option of assigning it a custom label.

Garmin Forerunner 205 and 305 waypoint entry	GlobalSat GH-625 waypoing entry

Creating and Modifying a Custom Route

A route is a straight line path between two or more points on the map. Navigation GPS watches let you create and save routes into the watch’s memory, then navigate to a specified route. Locations can be entered and saved in the watch’s memory and then used to construct routes.

Navigating. Finding a Waypoint, Compass View and Finding Your Way Home

Watches featuring GPS navigation have the ability to navigate to an individual waypoint and about a sequence of waypoints within a route. Some GPS watches lie the Forerunner 305, GlobalSat feature a compass view screen that graphically displays the direction to the next waypoints, the distance to the next waypoint and in some watches, the ETA to the next waypoint.

The Forerunner 305 Compass mode is displayed here presenting the direction to the next waypoint, distance and estimated time.	Selecting NAVIGATE in the Forerunner 305 your route will appear as a dark line connecting each location within the route.

Finding Your Way Home

A useful navigation feature is the “return to start” of a run or route that directs you back to your starting position, based on your most recent run.

The “back to start” feature of the Forerunner 205 and 305 is displayed here the route of your most recent run.

How GPS Navigation Watches Compare So how do navigation watches stack up? Below is a chart that illustrates how navigation gps watches differ:

	Map View	Waypoints	Routes	Track Logs	Compass
Forerunner 405 Buy For Forerunner 405CX Buy For	No	100	No	No	Yes
Forerunner 205/305 Buy For $299.99 Forerunner 310XT Buy For	Yes	100	50	No	Yes
Suunto X10 Buy For	No	500	50 (up to 50 waypoints)	25 tracks (max. 26000 track points)	Yes
Suunto X9i/X9Mi Buy For $500.00	No	500	50 (up to 50 waypoints)	25 tracks (max. 8000 track points)	Yes
Garmin Forerunner 301 Buy For $123.89	Yes	100	50	No	Yes
Garmin Forerunner 201 Buy For $123.89	Yes	100	No	No	Yes
Garmin Forerunner 101 Buy For $130.00	Yes	100	No	No	Yes
Timex Trailrunner Buy For $349.99	No	10	No	No	No
Globalsat GH-625 Buy For $169.95	Yes	60,000	6,000	6,000	Yes
Globalsat GH-615 Buy For	Yes	60,000	6,000	6,000	Yes

]]> http://www.sportswatchinformant.com/gps-watches-for-advanced-navigation-and-tracking-2/feed 0 http://www.sportswatchinformant.com/timex-gps-watches-speed-and-pace-smoothing http://www.sportswatchinformant.com/timex-gps-watches-speed-and-pace-smoothing#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 02:00:40 +0000 admin http://www.sportswatchinformant.com/?p=3528

The article that follows highlights a particular feature found in GPS capable, Timex Sports Watches A more exhaustive article on Timex GPS watches can be viewed here. Timex Watches with GPS A complete guide to Timex Ironman Watches can be viewed here. Timex Triathlon IRONMAN Watches

Serious about your training? A powerful training tool you might consider purchasing is a GPS Watch.

A GPS does not only tracks your time and your splits like a regular sports watch, it is capable of measuring both speed and distance and allows you to set speed/pace alerts and distance alerts which can assist you in tracking your runs in an event or in your training.

Timex is a brand that has established a reputation for it’s affordable and reliable sports watches. Timex have the uncanny ability to be able to strike the right balance between the sport watch features that athletes need and price.

Timex have several GPS watches on the market. You will find Timex GPS capable watches within their Bodylink and Speed + Distance lines.

Timex GPS watches utilize the Navman GPS receiver, an external device that straps comfortably onto your upper arm, or clips neatly into your running shorts. Timex Bodylink GPS watches feature 3D GPS while the cheaper Speed and Distance watches only measure speed and distance horizontally.

Both product lines support speed and pace smoothing. Smoothing is a feature that you can utilize when you feel that the reported speed or pace on your unit seems too up-and-down and erratic. This can occur if the GPS device is updating too frequently, what pace smoothing does is to average out the GPS readings over longer periods.

The downside of this is that, when smoothing is switched on, the readings can be slow to respond to changes in your speed, although If you are moving at a relatively constant speed, it should not be too big an issue.

Smoothing can be applied to both speed and pace separately, so you might like to experiment a little with the combinations available to ensure you find a solution that works best for you.

Buy Timex GPS Watches

Select a product below to buy a Timex GPS watch, see a product description for a particular product or read customer reviews.

This article describes a feature found in Timex GPS watches For more information on Timex watches with GPS, here is an article that compares Timex GPS Watches, feature by feature. Timex GPS Watches To view a comprehensive guide on Timex Ironman Watches, visit our Ironman information page. Timex Ironman Watch Page

Do you HATE stopping at traffic lights when you’re out on a run? Or when your path is blocked by people or a car coming out of a driveway forcing you to stop!

Not only does it break your rhythm, but it forces you to fumble for the darn watch button to pause your running time.

The inconvenience of having to unexpectedly stop in the middle of a training run is actually addressed in Timex’s GPS watches with a “Hands Free” operation that starts and stops the timer based on your motion.

The ability to link to GPS satellites lets your Timex watch track subtle changes in your motion. When you stop moving, your Timex watch detects it and pauses the Chrono timer accordingly. When you start moving the watch starts the Chrono again, so whether you run continuously over the entire run, or are forced to stop several times, you never need press a button on your watch.

The Timex Navman GPS device communicates wirelessly with the wristwatch. The device can be attached to the upper arm as illustrated in the picture above or can be clip onto your running shorts

Achieving this of course requires you have the Timex Navman GPS device strapped to your upper arm or clipped into your running shorts. Timex GPS watches support an external GPS that sends data wirelessly to the wrist watch. The GPS is optional – the running watch can run perfectly fine without it.

Hands Free can either be switched ON or switched OFF. When switched ON, the stopwatch chronograph will start when your velocity climbs above zero (or a minimum threshold speed) and will stop when your velocity drops below the threshold or to zero.

While auto start/stop is functioning, you may still start and stop the chrono manually.

Another hands free option is the Auto-Split feature.

Auto-Split enables the chronograph stopwatch to automatically record splits based on the time or distance traveled. Auto-Split can also be toggled ON or OFF and when switched ON, allows you to take a split manually without affecting the net criteria for automatic splits.

To configure the automatic split feature first set the “type” to be either OFF, BY DIST or BY TIME. Next set the interval value and press DONE.

As you can probably see, hands free mode in Timex GPS watches has some incredibly convenient applications, either for joggers who want to avoid the extra stress of having their runs interrupted and runners who want to do interval training without thinking too much about split times and button presses.

Until recently, athletes wishing to run repetitions away from an Olympic measured running track, have always had to take their best guess about distance. With Timex GPS technology and hands free mode, this is now a thing of the past.

Buy Timex GPS Watches

Many GPS watches like the GlobalSat GH-625M are bulky and uncomfortable to wear on a smaller wrist.

Sports watches featuring GPS are becoming more and more popular and it is little wonder when you consider the benefits that GPS to fun runners and athletes. A GPS watch can accurately measure speed, pace, altitude and can create a route profile of your runs.

A somewhat unrepresented area of the GPS market are Ladies GPS Watches. While there are GPS options for ladies available, sadly many of these watches tend to be much bulkier and more suitable for larger, more masculine wrist types.

So what exactly makes a GPS suitable for female athletes? The first feature as mentioned is size. Ladies tend to have sleeker wrists than men, so watch designs suitable for women, should feature thinner, sleeker designs with smaller wrist straps.

Another quality of a ladies GPS watch is a feminine design that is comfortable for women, these are usually lighter, with less masculine colors and usually with smaller watch faces and digits.

If you only wish to measure speed and distance, consider a footpod device

Two distinct benefits of GPS watches are:

• The ability to navigate with your wristwatch and
• The ability to recording maps of your runs

Yet these are two features many runners can live without.

If you only wish to measure your speed and distance, then an alternative you might consider is an accelerometer foot pod.

A foot pod threads into your laces and transmits a wireless signal to the wristwatch.

A foot pod attaches to your running shoe and measures your leg cadence to accurately calculate your speed and distance. It then transmits this information wirelessly to your wristwatch.

While it requires a little calibration in some cases, it is surprisingly accurate and equivalent to GPS accuracy in most cases.

Because a food pod device does not require a bulky GPS aerial be mounted in your wrist watch, this makes for a smaller, more comfortable fit for ladies.

Pros Of A Footpod:

• A smaller sized wristwatch
• Measures speed and distance accurately
• Unlike a GPS, a footpod is not affected around buildings and other large objects

Cons Of A Footpod:

• Cannot be used to navigate or record routes
• Cannot measure altitude

Follow the link to view a comprehensive collection of accelerometer foot pod watches.

If you do want to experience the full range of benefits of a GPS wristwatch, there are options that do suit girls, but due to the lack of options in this market, in some cases you may have to sacrifice femininity in style and design for the features you want.

Many GPS watches designed for guys, fit just as easily on a women’s wrist. In many cases, these are the Best GPS watches for female runners, despite being marketed at a more macho audience.

Here are a few recommended options…

Recommended Ladies GPS Watches

	Loaded with serious training features for runners. Simple, Advanced, Heart Rate & Interval Workouts, Courses, Virtual Partner + Pace/Time/Dist Alerts and Zone Training Compatible with wireless digital heart rate monitor Share locations, advanced workouts and courses with other Forerunner 405 users Wireless ANT+ technology, automatically transfers your data to your personal computer when your watch is in range Innovative, Touch-sensitive bezel for quickly setting and configuring your watch
Garmin Forerunner 405CX
Price:
The Garmin Forerunner 405CX was released in the first quarter of 2009. It is an upgrade of the Garmin Forerunner 405, featuring better GPS, an improved calorie measurement mode and the ability to change the wrist band for a smaller one. Stylish and packed with a lot of great features for runners, it may be a little on the bulky side, but the ability to switch wristbands, makes it a suitable GPS sports watch for female runners who want a maximum range of options. For more information check out: How Garmin Forerunner Watches Differ The new Garmin Forerunner 405CX Below is the official Garmin demonstration video for changing the watch band. It’s a little fiddly, but doable.

	GPS Speed/distance + vertical and heart rate monitor for serious athletes in training Digital Chest heart rate monitor with target zones features, alarm + time in zone Real-time speed measurement: speed, avg speed, max speed + Pace: pace, avg pace, best pace + Overall session distance Timex Ironman 100-hour chrono with 100-lap memory recall and 5 alarms Timex Ironman water resistance to 50 meters (165 feet) + up to 2-year battery life
Timex Bodylink T5G311
Price: $239.99
The Timex Bodylink T5G311 watch is an advanced sports watch that is actually designed for ladies. It comes with a heart rate monitor and an external GPS. Timex watches tend to be intuitive and very easy to learn, so if you want a sports watch that you can use right out of the box without reading the manual, then this might be the perfect choice. Unlike the Garmin Forerunner, the Timex wrist watch is not bulky at all, but requires you wear the GPS device on your upper arm or on your running attire. The T5G311 does not have a navigation mode or the ability to transfer data to a PC without the Timex Data Recorder device which is a separate purchase. The watch does, however feature altitude measurements plus almost all the sports features that are useful to runners. Learn more about Timex Bodylink Watches Here

	Measures your real-time heart rate and calorie consumption Presents your real-time Training Effect Interference-free digital ANT transmission and coding, for securely pairing your Suunto devices Workout summaries that includes calories, lap information and session history New comfort belt heart rate monitor strap for extra comfort
Suunto t3c + GPS Pod
Price: $319.00
The Suunto Training Series watches feature three models that support GPS, the t3c, t4c and t6c. Only the t6c is capable of measuring altitude, so it might also be worth thinking about a foot pod instead of GPS in all but this watch. The foot pod is supported in all the Training Series watches. These watches have increasing functionality (and cost) and like Timex Bodylink watches require you to attach an external GPS device to your body. Overall, the Suunto watches have better quality heart rate monitors than the Timex watches and are geared at increasing your overall fitness level, but have fewer running features. The Suunto watches have less memory capacity to store training sessions, but do feature some advanced measurement capabilities such as Training Effect, a realistic indicator of workout effort. The t6c can also measure EPOC: excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. The ability to measure Training Effect and EPOC are not found in any other sports watch, which puts the Suunto watches in a class of their own. Learn more about the Suunto Training Watches

	Tracks speed and distance data for serious athletes Tracks your speed (real-time, average, and maximum), pace (real-time, average, and best), and overall distance Continuous odometer displays total distance for a workout or for a group of workouts 100-hour chronograph with either lap/split in large digits 100-lap memory with recall 100-hour, 3-mode countdown timer
Timex Speed and Distance
Price: $199.99
Another line of Timex Ironman Watches is the Speed and Distance watches. The Speed and Distance line is a cheaper alternative to the Bodylink watches. Like the Bodylink watches these watches feature an external GPS, but the GPS in this watch only tracks your horizontal movement, not the altitude component, so are the equivalent of an accelerometer foot pod. There is also no heart rate monitor support. The advantage of this watch is that it is relatively inexpensive compared to the Bodylink bundles and contains most of the Ironman sports watch features that runners need.

More Ladies GPS Watches

Price: $503.38

TECHNICAL DATA
Basic Features
Weight	76 g
Altimeter
Weather
Heart Rate
Chronograph
Compass
Diving
PC Software
User Replaceable Straps
Water Resistance	100m/330ft
Altimeter
Altitude Alarm
Vertical Speed
Temperature Compensation
Altimeter/Bbarometer Lock
Altimeter/Barometer Lock
Chronograph
Stopwatch
Max Number of Split Times In Memory	29
GPS
Distance
GPS Resolution	1m / 3ft
Routes	50
Speed
Tracks	25
Waypoints	500
PC Software
PC Software	Suunto Trek Manager Suunto Track Exporter

The Sunnto X10 was released in 2008 as an upgrade to the X9i and X9Mi (Military) watches. These watches are noted to support GPS navigation in a one-piece watch, (GPS aerial mounted in the wrist watch). One-pieces tend to be rare as most sports watch manufacturers elect to mount their GPS aerial in a device that is separate to the wristwatch. Usually a small add-on device that straps onto your upper arm or clips into your shorts.

Garmin Forerunner and GlobalSat watches are the only other notable offerings in the GPS sport watch market. Even Suunto’s own fitness line the Training series watches features an external pod for tracking speed and distance.

Unlike the Forerunner and GlobalSat watches, the X10 is targeted at adventurers not runners, so it’s navigation features are well supported, yet it is also certainly capable of tracking speed and pace too.

Considering this, what the X10 lacks is a map view mode. A top-down map view mode is present in the GlobalSat GH-625 and Forerunner 205 and 305 (and their successor the waterproof 310XT). The X10 is a genuine Sunnto altimeter and barometer watch with more accurate and precise height readings than from GPS readings alone.

The advantage the X10 has over it’s predecessors is an alleged 33% longer battery life than previous versions. Reported battery life ranges from 5-7 hours with heavy use of GPS, backlight, compass and other functions.

With reduced use of power hungry functionality this can obviously be extended to a much larger number. One way of doing this is to change the GPS fix interval from 1 second to 1 minute or longer. You can even elect to activate the GPS manually, whereby only marking important waypoints.

The watch is 100 meters water resistant. It is not designed for heavy use in the water, but will withstand water if you accidentally get the watch wet. The back-light, while not as nice as the Timex Indiglo night light, does an adequate job of illuminating the watch face in low light conditions.

The watch comes bundled with PC software, the Suunto Track Exporter. The software will not blow you away, but does what it is supposed to do and that is to import data from your watch and analyze or edit your waypoints and routes. Routes can also be explored in Google Earth, but can’t be exported from Google Earth to the Suunto software.

Other features of the watch include Barometric altitude, a graphical representation of barometric pressure at sea level can be viewed over the last 6 hours in 15 minute intervals as well as the pressure reading at your current location. The X10 features several types of alarms including time, weather and altitude alarms.

The watch also features a compass that works even without the need to activate the GPS, with bearing lock that helps you follow a fixed bearing.

The navigation mode of the watch allows you to create routes and waypoints either directly from the watch or on your PC. Once a destination has been entered in the watch’s memory, the watch will guide you to your next waypoint and will display how far away you are, the direction and ETA. If you wish to return to your starting location, this watch can do that too.

The activity mode of the watch is a basic exercise mode for performance measurement. It shows you your basic speed, distance covered, time and altitude.

This watch is a superb option for anyone considering a lengthy hike in the wilderness, but given the premium quality of this wrist-watch computer, expect to pay top dollar for this piece of equipment, currently around the $500 USD mark.

Price: $169.95

Over the last decade or so, GPS technology has become more commonplace in the world of consumer electronics.

It was only a matter of time before GPS caught on in the world of sports watches and now athletes are reaping the benefits of the GPS Sports Watch.

GPS became prominent on the sports market and the last few years has seen the emergence of GPS-capable products from all leading sports watch brands.

The Garmin Forerunner GPS watches are almost universally thought of as “THE” GPS watches of choice, but there are other options available which are often quite a lot cheaper than the current model Forerunners.

A lesser known company called GlobalSat offers one such alternative. GlobalSat’s latest GPS watch, the GH-625 comes in two versions, one with heart rate monitor included (GH-625M) and one without a heart rate monitor (GH-625B). This GPS watch features the SiRFstarIII chipset, making the GPS signal strength equivalent to Garmin Forerunner’s watches, which use the same chipset.

The GH-625 is GlobalSat’s third generation GPS watch and replaces the GH-615. It excels over the GH-615 due to a slightly longer battery life and the ability to store up to 6000 laps. A feature runners sorely missed in the GH-615.

The watch comes in a streamlined case, but will not suit smaller wrist types. This watch is big and bulky, more so than the latest Forerunner 405CX, the advantage of this is that it boasts a much larger screen size.

It also supports a top-down map function which the Forerunner 405CX lacks.

Battery life has improved from about 9 hours to 10 with the 3D GPS signal recording every second, heart rate monitor and backlight on. The battery extends to over 20 hours with 2D GPS, HRM off and backlight off. The GPS tracking frequency can also be reduced to conserve power.

This GlobalSat watch can store a vast amount of data including 60,000 tracking points, 100 way points and 6000 laps. Tracking points are used to track your route using a crumb method, marking and saving your route via a special algorithm. Waypoints allow you to mark your current position and later navigate back to this saved waypoint.

This is a handy feature if you are on a trek and wish to flag waypoints that you will return to at a later stage.

The support of lap memory storage, is a huge addition for athletes who wish to record their interval training sessions. The GH-625 maintains a date-stamped history of all training sessions.

GPS Passions have covered the GH-625 with an in-depth review that includes a pictorial comparison of the GH-625 next to the Garmin Forerunner 405. Check it out here. GlobalSat GH-625 vs Forerunner 405.

Comparison Between GH-625 and Garmin Forerunner 305, 310XT & 405CX

	Forerunner 305	Forerunner 310XT	Forerunner 405CX	GlobalSat GH-625
Amazon Price	$299.99			$169.95
Specifications
Unit dimensions, WxHxD	5.33 x 6.86 x 1.78 cm	5.4 x 5.6 x 1.9 cm	4.8 x 7.1 x 1.6 cm	7.6 x 6.5 x 1.7 cm
Weight	77 g	72 g	60 g	73 g
PC transfer	(USB)	(USB/Wireless)	(USB/Wireless)	(USB)
Battery Type	Rechargeable	Rechargeable	Rechargeable	Rechargeable
Battery Life	10 hours, typical	20 hours, typical	8 hours, typical	8 hours, typical
Heart Rate Support
Map Navigation
Display Data Fields	4	4	3	3
Bike speed/cadence support
Foot Pod support
Device to Device Transfer
Touch Sensitive Bevel
Memory
Lap History	1000 laps	1000 laps	1000 laps	6000 laps
Waypoints	100	100	100	100
Routes	50	0	0	Unlimited 60,000 points
Software Package
	Garmin Connect, Garmin Training Center	Garmin Connect, Garmin Training Center	Garmin Connect, Garmin Training Center	GS-Sport Training GYM
Mac Support
Features
Virtual Partner Feature
Courses
Auto Pause
Auto Lap
Auto Scroll
Sports Profiles
Simple Workouts
Advanced Workouts
Pace Alert
Time/distance Alert
Interval Training
Customizable Screen(s)
Heart Rate Based Calorie Computation

Athletes are growing to recognize the advantages of the GPS Running Watch as a serious tool for accurately measuring and analyzing their training.

Once, a figment of science fiction, GPS watches are now becoming a hit among the endurance community, who are starting to realize the many benefits that accurate tracking of distance, speed, altitude and location can offer to a performance athlete in training.

Garmin, a main player in the mainstream GPS market has cornered the GPS sports watch market with their Forerunner watches.

Garmin stormed the GPS sports watch market with their early model Forerunner 101, 201 and 301 watches and soon after introduced the 205 and 305 watches which were bulky, but highly functional and utilized the SirFstarIII chipset. The new watches featured much more reliable GPS tracking.

The Forerunner 405 was introduced soon after, and featured a much sleeker, more stylish form factor, a touch sensitive bezel, wireless data transfer to PC and even unit-to-unit data transfer.

Garmin have just released two new GPS watches, the Forerunner 405CX which is an upgrade to the 405. The 405CX features superior calorie measurement, better GPS tracking and a replaceable watch band, making it suitable for more petite sized wrists. The other watch, the 310XT is an upgrade to the Forerunner 305. It features a big increase in battery life (around 20 hours from 10), wireless PC transfer and unlike the other Forerunner GPS watches, is waterproof.

The Forerunner watches have been designed to cater to the needs of runners and athletes. One of the benefits to runners is the concept of workout types.

There are four different workout modes supported in the Forerunners: Interval Workouts, Simple Workouts, Advanced Workouts and Heart Rate Workouts. We look at each in turn…

Interval Workouts

These are efforts run over a specified time, or a specified distance and then repeated a number of times with a rest component in between efforts. Interval workouts also allow you to perform an optional Warm-up and Cool-Down.

For example an interval workout might be structured like this:

WARM-UP
Rep 1. 800m (Hard), 2 minutes (Rest)
Rep 2. 800m (Hard), 2 minutes (Rest)
Rep 3. 800m (Hard), 2 minutes (Rest)
Rep 4. 800m (Hard)
COOL-DOWN

Simple Workouts

Simple workouts can be based on time, distance or calories. Simply set the type of simple workout, enter the duration, distance or number of calories you wish to target and then select DO WORKOUT. The watch will display the message WORKOUT FINISHED when you have completed your goal.

Simple workouts have been omitted in the new Forerunner 310XT, but is present in all other GPS Forerunner watches.

Advanced Workouts

Advanced workouts are complex workouts with workout “steps”. For each progression in a workout, goals can be set in advanced workouts as well as varied distances, times and calories. Advanced workouts must be set using the Garmin Training Center software that is included with the watch, or the online Garmin Connect service. Advanced workouts can also be scheduled ahead of time.

Heart Rate Workouts

Similar to a Simple Workout, Heart Rate Workouts are run against a heart rate training zone based on beats per minute (BPM). An alert will sound if your heart rate slips outsize a lower and upper heart rate limit. This feature is only present in Forerunner watches that support a heart rate monitor chest strap.

GARMIN FORERUNNER INFORMATION.

BUY GPS RUNNING WATCH

With runners undertaking their final preparations for the London Marathon of 2009, Garmin have released a new Forerunner model, the 405CX. Very much resembling the Forerunner 405 in both looks and function, the main additions in the 405CX are far superior calorie measurement, better GPS sensitivity and alternative webbing for smaller wrists that make the watch much more suitable as a ladies sports watch. Fitting the alternative wrist band is shown in this video from the official Garmin blog.

According to their website, Garmin worked with Firstbeat Technologies Ltd to perfect their calorie monitoring features. Firstbeat is a Finish company that specialize in heart rate monitoring and analysis equipment for exercise and sports, weight management and stress monitoring applications.

Aside from the fact that the 405CX is now available in a new deep blue color, the Forerunner 405CX contains most of the features of it’s predecessors, but at a very similar price, those looking for a new GPS watch, especially if you have petite wrists, should not look past the 405CX as a one-piece GPS watch with sports features that deliver.

If you have read up on the Garmin Forerunner 310XT and liked it’s 50 meter water resistance and 20 hour battery life, unfortunately the Forerunner 405CX does not offer these features.

Purchase the Garmin Forerunner 405CX on Amazon For

Garmin have just announced an upgrade of their Forerunner 305 watch, an upgrade that addresses several requests athletes have been asking for.

It will please Triathletes to know that new 310XT watch not only looks different, but is water resistant to 50 meters. The watch also features an optional quick release and bike mounts for seamless transitioning between the swim and bike legs of a Triathlon event.

We are not yet sure if GPS works in water. Water obstruct GPS signals, so while this watch may be usable in the water, the GPS tracking functions may not work when swimming. If you do wish to use GPS in the water, one technique swimmers use is to place the GPS watch under a swimming cap, so as the GPS aerial is above water throughout the swim. This might not work too well for backstroke however

Garmin are also releasing a more comfortable, waterproof, soft-strap heart rate monitor. It can be used in the water, but does not transmit heart rate data while you are swimming. While this is not what most triathletes are after, it might save time transitioning between the swim and run legs of an event by allowing an athlete to wear the heart rate monitor device under a wetsuit.

This watch also has much greater battery life than the 305, with the ability to run GPS for 20 hours, compared to just 8 hours in the older watch! This is a godsend to endurance athletes, especially those intending to compete in the Hawaiian Ironman or similar events.

Like the Forerunner 405, Garmin have fitted their new watch with wireless connectivity. With the ANT stick plugged into your computer you only have to enter the room and your data is automatically synced up with your computer. Unlike the Forerunner 405, this model does not support unit-unit transfer.

Unlike the Forerunner 305, this watch has heart rate-based calorie computation, but for some reason the 310XT lacks the Simple Workouts feature and Routes that were supported in the 305.

Overall the 310XT is a progressive upgrade of the 305, rather than a revolutionary new design, but is a worthy choice for endurance athletes who require extra battery life and triathletes who don’t want to worry about getting their timepiece wet while performing in an event.

Upgrade Summary

• New sleek, comfortable design
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix
• Waterproof to 50 meters
• Wireless connectivity equivalent to the FR 405 via an ANT stick (but no unit-to-unit transfer)
• Battery capacity upgraded from 8 to 20 hours
• Heart rate-based calorie computation

The Forerunner 310XT is expected to be released in June.

Where to Buy
To find out more information about the 310XT. Visit the Amazon product page:

• Garmin Forerunner 310XT.

Video From the Official Garmin Blog

Other Details

	Forerunner 305	Forerunner 310XT
	$299.99
Specification
Dimensions (W,H,D)	2.1″ x 2.7″ x 0.7″ (5.33 x 6.86 x 1.78 cm)	2.1″ x 2.2″ x 0.8″ (5.4 x 5.6 x 1.9 cm)
Display (W,H)	1.3″ x 0.8″ (3.3 x 2.0 cm)	1.3″ x 0.8″ (3.3 x 2.0 cm)
Resolution	160 x 100 pixels	160 x 100 pixels
Weight	2.72 oz (77 g)	2.5 oz (72 g)
Battery	8-10 hours, typical	20 hours, typical
Water Resistance	IPX7 submersed to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes	50m
Memory
Lap History	1000 laps	1000 laps
Waypoints	100	100
Routes	50	0
Watch Features
Heart rate monitor
Bike speed/cadence
Foot Pod
Virtual Partner
Courses
Auto Pause
Auto Lap
Auto Scroll
Multi-sport
Advanced Workouts
Simple Workouts
Pace Alert
Time/distance Alert
Interval Training
HR Based Calories
Software & Analysis Features
Garmin Connect
Garmin Training Center
Wireless Features
Wireless Capable
Auto Sync
Unit-to-Unit Transfer
Displays Power Data