Garmin 305 Questions

Johnny · Nov 6, 2007

I've taken the plunge into early 21st century technology and purchased a 305. One of Hup's cronies should have it delivered by the end of the week, or maybe sooner if Hup can apply some pressure. Now I'm starting to get excited about having on and have a few questions (hey it doesn't take much to get me going <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> ) 
So, without trying to sound like I'm completely low tech, here's my list of ??'s so far. I know these very queries have been rehashed time and time, I'm just too lazy to go look <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> over at the other place. 
1) Is it best/better? to display an overall pace or the current pace. Most of my runs are in the woods and I'm constantly changing speeds, sometimes even stopping to climb over downed trees. 
2) Does it automatically display/ default / to mile lap times or can you set it to any distance lap, or just record any weird splits as I now do, like "the first creek", "the owl tree" etc. ?? 
3) I know you can program the display with several options, what do you guys think are best. 
4) How long can I expect the battery to last on a full charge?? I'm assuming a 4 hour hour marathon, how bout an 11 hour ultra?? 
5) Anybody use the mapping software that comes with it// 
Well, I'm sure I'll think of others 
Thanks for answering 
Lowtech Johnny

Nettie · Nov 6, 2007

I have the older version, so I will just answer and someone else can come along and correct me on the new advanced features. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> 
1. Overall. The continuous pace display jumps around way too much to be useful. 
2. You can have it auto-lap at set intervals (just about any interval that you might want) or you can just manually do laps. 
3. I typically have the overall pace at the top. If I'm doing weird laps, then I have that at the bottom as well as the lap time, but I think you should just play around and see what you like best. 
4. I get about 15 hours on mine (the old one). 
5. No.

Hippo · Nov 6, 2007

I can tell you a tiny bit. 
For battery life, there is a problem. This annoying "low-bat" thing comes on at 8 hrs, and at 10 hrs it dies. Yup, a few more hours would be SOOO much better. 
Autolap sets it to record a lap every mile, otherwise you push the lap button when you get to the tree. 
I've learned the hard way to tape the interface contacts when I run with it. I get this galvanic action thing which turns me into the sacrificial anode and eats this giant hole in my wrist. You could also wear it on top of a sweatband or long sleeves. 
Thats all I know, I'm one of the Illiterati too.

hup · Nov 6, 2007

THE SOUND THAT YOU HEAR IS THAT OF PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO JOHNNY'S LOCAL UPS DRIVER BY YOURS TRULY. 
Hey man, your doorbell should be ringing at any moment <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> 
You will love the 305. My friend Tom and I were just talking about that yesterday. Gone are the days of "the 5 mile loop" .... the 5 mile loop is anywhere you want it to be. 
To address your questions as best I can: 
1) Is it best/better? to display an overall pace or the current pace. Most of my runs are in the woods and I'm constantly changing speeds, sometimes even stopping to climb over downed trees. When you review your data, you'll get overall pace. Some folks like to track overall pace on the fly so as to not become unnerved by the constantly fluctuating number that you get with current pace. What I like to do is set it to AVG LAP PACE. This way whenever you hit your lap button your pace is stored and the number is reset. So if you want to you can make that section that goes straight up the side of the hill over 4 trees its own lap and it will keep the other, faster sections' pace "pure". (I just reread that .... clear as mud <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">) 2) Does it automatically display/ default / to mile lap times or can you set it to any distance lap, or just record any weird splits as I now do, like "the first creek", "the owl tree" etc. ?? You can set it to lap automatically at any set distance or you can just hit your lap button when you get to "the first creek" or "the owl tree". 3) I know you can program the display with several options, what do you guys think are best. That depends somewhat on what my run is that day, but my "go to" screen is time, distance, and avg lap pace. When I'm running tempo or the like, I use lap time, avg lap pace, and lap distance. I keep a 3rd screen with HR and current pace. 4) How long can I expect the battery to last on a full charge?? I'm assuming a 4 hour hour marathon, how bout an 11 hour ultra?? Mine kept its charge for 7+ hours when I ran a 50K, but petered out at about 9 or 10 when we hiked Half Dome. I noticed that at the end of the 50K the GPS got kind of wonky, losing signal for a short time when it hadn't lose signal all day prior. I sort of attributed this to the low battery, but that's just my own theory. 5) Anybody use the mapping software that comes with it 
I'm on a Mac, and I use a program called Acsent. I love this software! For a PC a great piece of software is Sporttracks. I'm not a huge fan of the Garmin Training Center program. 
We're here for you, man <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_salut.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="salute"> 
hup

choovie · Nov 6, 2007

Johnny, 
I have mine set to autolap every 1 mile. I also have one window display avg pace and another display last lap pace. I also have it auto stop if I need to stop for some reason. It restarts as soon as you get moving again. Otherwise, if I shut off the timer manually I typically forget to turn it back on and that irritates me to no end! 
I love my Garmin!

millbot · Nov 6, 2007

Johnny, congratulations on embracing your inner geek. 
0. Here is an answer to a question that you didn't ask. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> The data can be helpful and entertaining, but as someone who gets hung up on numbers, I can tell you that it's easy to become a slave to the gadget. You are sensible and I'm sure you won't let this happen. 
1. I agree that the current pace is completely useless. I use lap pace. 
2. You can set auto-lap for any distance, or each time you pass a particular location. You can also program a workout consisting of laps of different distances. I keep auto-lap set to 1 mile, or I turn it off and mark laps manually, depending on what I'm doing. I don't mess with the fancy workout stuff any more. 
3. You'll figure out what is useful to you. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> 
See ya on the trails.

Pie Jones · Nov 6, 2007

johnny....I have the older model as well and I get about 13.5 hours on each full charge. The continuous pace option on mine is iffy as well, so I hardly ever use it. Sometimes I just program the alerts so that it beeps if I go below a certain pace. Then I know to pick it up without really ever having to glance down at the watch. That works well in terrain with tricky footing where you dont want to avert your eyes from the ground. I routinely have the overall pace option set on one of my screens. There are multiple screens, so you have a variety of option settings you can use and just go between screens with the push of one button. It's really quite easy, even on the run. When it was new to me, I tried out the mapping software and it was interesting. It was fun to check routes I had run and see them as overlays on the map images. I run the same old routes for the most part, so I just played around with it for a bit out of curiosity. It's a fun product and very handy. You'll enjoy it.

Ken A · Nov 6, 2007

I echo the recommendation for Sportstracks: <a href="http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/" target="_blank">http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/</a> 
Much better than the Garmin Software.

Labduck · Nov 6, 2007

I ditto exactly what the millbot said. I've always liked millbot...and he even leaves more beer for me...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"> 
If I'm doing an easy run, I turn auto-lap off. If I'm doing tempos or fast runs, I turn it back on. 
On easy runs, I DO NOT want to see my pace, so my display just shows overall elapsed time (the big display), mileage, and time of day. For races, my lap pace is my big display, with current lap distance, and total elapsed time as the two small displays.

Rindaroo · Nov 7, 2007

I have the older model too. I know I'm the oddball, but I do use the continuous pace.. really just to get an idea about where I'm at. For me, its important for the breathing & because my endurance just sucks, its important to make sure I'm not going too fast. When I'm done I check out my avg pace per mile & overall. 
I also use the autolap feature set at one mile. When I was doing run/walking, I could set the intervals & it'd beep at me to remind me. Kinda cool. 
My battery usually lasts between 13-14 hours. 
Have fun!

TheProFromDover · Nov 7, 2007

I keep thinking about one of these, but so far that's all. 
Do you all kill the battery often? I use most things like this as little as possible to prolong battery life. My procedure would be...charge at night. Leave off. Turn on and use. Turn off. Repeat. So an hour or so per day is all it would see. 
Am I off base here? 
CRaig

Ken A · Nov 7, 2007

I don't kill the battery at all, but I've only had mine for a couple of months. It charges through the USB port on the computer when you hook it up (you can also plug it into an AC socket). When I download my run I usually leave it on there until it's fully charged.

ksrunr · Nov 7, 2007

I have the 301 and use it like Rindaroo. I usually let mine run down to 2 hours or less before recharging. I keep remembering they use to tell us batteries had memories and let them run out. don't know if it's true with the garmins. 
ksrunr

TheProFromDover · Nov 7, 2007

I think things have changed. I remember that old advice about needing to completely drain a battery to charge it fully. 
My experience in recent years has been that keeping it fully charged as often as possible keeps the battery alive longer and its length of charge longer. My theory now is (no backup here) a battery (cell phone or Garmin) has x number of full charges in it. Kill it completely each day and you get x number of days. Kill it 10% each day and you get 10x days. 
Just my observations, 
Caigr

choovie · Nov 8, 2007

John, where did you buy your new Garmin? I have a friend who is looking for one.

Johnny · Nov 8, 2007

I got it from Amazon, $214 + $4 shipping. I could have saved $30 by applying for an amazon credit card, but I really don't need another one. I probably could have save some money by shopping around, but I've dealt with amazon before and haven't had any problems.

choovie · Nov 8, 2007

Thanks, John. I also bought my 205 and hubby's 305 from Amazon. I think that's about the best place to get them. Too bad they aren't doing rebates right now.

Ken A · Nov 8, 2007

Don't forget your $50 rebate for signing up for the Powerbar Newsletter: <a href="http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/777495" target="_blank">http://www.fatwallet.com/t/18/777495</a> <a href="http://www.powerbar.com/Newsletter/?source=10075107" target="_blank">http://www.powerbar.com/Newsletter/?source=10075107</a> 
Good thru November.

rosecoloredglasses · Nov 9, 2007

Yes, Craig is sure to turn off his electronic devices and to charge them and tuck them in at night... 
BUT. 
If you throw your Garmin 305 at him at mile 13 of a 26.2 miles race... he will NOT turn it off and he will return it to you after supper... still on... with the low battery alert fading due to the low battery... 
(hee hee hee)

sauconRunner · Nov 9, 2007

Johnny, 
You can set up various "views". When I don't want to see my pace (so I'm not mad at myself) I'll set up my main view with the distance and time of day, during a race, I have distance and avg pace and you can toggle through the views while on the run. 
I love SportTracks as well. 
Enjoy! I love mine.

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