Garmin Edge 305 Bicycle GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor
by Garmin
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Category: GPS or Navigation System
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: GarminBrand: Garmin
Designer: Garmin
Edition: Electronics
Model: 010-00447-30
Color: Black
Publisher: Garmin
Studio: Garmin
Music Label: Garmin
Product features:
- High-sensitivity GPS receiver
- Heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor
- Automatically records up to 1000 laps. Download to your PC
- Look up and navigate to stored locations
- Virtual Partner lets you "race" a virtual competitor, making training fun
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin Edge 305 Bicycle GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor
Customer Review: Disapointed but nothing else out there like it
Summary: 1 Stars
Updated 01/30/10 - still a love/hate affair
Garmin replaced my unit 1 year ago free of charge due to the shutting off problems mentioned in the previous update. Must have been a common problem because the CS rep gave me an RMA immediately without asking questions. The replacement unit (previously used because when I went to register it said it was already registered to someone else) does not have the shut off problem.
I also reported the erroneous heart rate reading. They sent me a new heart rate chest transmitter, but that did not fix the problem which is due to "flapping" jerseys giving a stronger signal than my heart. They are well aware of this problem but did not have a fix.
To remedy the start/end altimeter discrepancies, Garmin's fix is to turn on the GPS a half hour before the ride. This helps, if I have time to remember to do so.
Now the current situation: I forgot to tun the unit off yesterday. I plugged it in to recharge overnight and today it won't turn on. I tried contacting Garmin, but understandably they aren't open weekends. They must also shut down email because the link wouldn't work using any of my 3 browsers. Time is critical because they have a 1 year warranty and my previous RMA was 1 year ago today! I'll update this with the results of my conversation with them.
Updated 10/18/08
still have, still wish I didn't and still looking for a replacement. Rode with a guy yesterday who was using one and he said he also has the erroneous heart rate readings and beginning and ending elevation discrepancies I experience. I am now also experiencing the unit shutting off mid ride. Thought it was associated to road bumps, but have looked down to see no data on smooth flat roads. And I MUST make sure to recharge the battery after every ride or it will have a low/no charge.
Added 8/4/7: If I could, I would lower the rating to 2 stars. Customer Service is nice but it doesn't make up for a weak product.
I bought this unit to be able to record my rides to computer and have one unit that does it all. I ride 4/5 times a week for about 125 miles. Previously I used a Vetta 55 odo/cadence unit, a Sunotto heart rate monitor and Garmin 60csx GPS and recorded everything in Excel. I have been using the 305 for several months now and his unit has it's problems:
1 - Usually the heartrate readings are inaccurate when going fast (downhill) and/or into a strong wind. By inaccurate, I mean readings of over 225! This is caused, according to Garmin customer service, by the pressure of a "flapping" jersey which gives a stronger reading than your heartbeat. Garmin does not have a fix, they suggest wearing a very tight jersey or none at all. I find if you cross your arm over the chest strap to stop the wind, it sometimes corrects after a several seconds. Bummer to have to ride this way. The other bummer is that these miss readings are transferred to the computer program and distort the workout totals (ie average heartrate) and graphs.
2 - The altimeter is often inaccurate with the starting altitude. When I review my ride on the computer, I see the the starting altitude is lower than the finish. I know this is not right because I start and end in the same place! I don't use the altitude during my ride but I like to know the overall assent/descent for the ride and I have to subtract the beginning from the ending to make an adjustment.
3 - I had a real problem trying to install the cadence meter. In fact, I gave up and use the old wired Vetta that I previously installed. The Garmin is bulky and interferes with the spokes. Vetta works great but I do not have the cadence data to download to the computer.
4 - The computer program is nice but has it's limitations. You cannot get an overall view of all your rides as it is organized by week and day without the ability to rename a ride. If you do many different ride routes, you have to switch to the map tab (vs the stats tab or note tab) to see which is which. Seeing only one tab at a time makes it pain to compare rides. You have the ability to break a ride into "laps" (sections) during the ride but the program will not allow for comparison of laps of different rides. My favorite ride starts with a 4 mile flat and then 3 mile climb. I would like to compare the climb between different days but no can do. I still load everything into Excel and use that, with adjustments to the data to compensate for the altitude and heartrate problems, to give me an overall ride review.
5. The battery is rechargeable and gives over 6 3/4 hours use, my longest continuous ride. I have had it quit during a ride, however, when I forgot to recharge it after the last use. I now make it a habit to download the data after each ride and leave it plugged into the USB port. It does recharge rather quickly.
On the plus side, and why I gave it a 3 and not 2 rating, is Customer Service is good. Minimal hold time and the reps seemed knowable of the products: they admitted the heartrate problem and they replaced my other product (the GPS) quickly when it died. The GPS function matches the other GPS and I don't now carry that bulky unit.
There are also "workout" and "course" functions but I usually don't ride the same route often so I don't use this.
If I knew then what I know now, I would not buy this again - at least not until Garmin fixed the HR function.
More Garmin Edge 305 Bicycle GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor reviews:
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Description of Garmin Edge 305 Bicycle GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor
The Garmin edge is based on the highly sensitive SiRFStarIII chipset and is a GPS system dedicated to the sport of cycling.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
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