daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
BlueArc has been bugging me for months. If you don't know who BlueArc it doesn't really matter. They want me (us) to buy their stuff.
Whatever - so finally they send me a package. In it is an enormous not ugly map of the USA, and an invitation that says if I sit through their 45 minute schpeel they'll give me a Garmin Nuvi 205w GPS device for free.
So my question - anyone had any experience with these devices, what's the battery life like, and do you have to pay a service fee or something to do the sat link? I'd assume so but the last time I used GPS was using a PLGR in the army like 12 years ago so really have no frame of reference.
Bonus points goes to those volunteering details specific to bicycling for obvious reasons.
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joby
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:43 pm
goes to elevenJoined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 3899Location: The Cloud
Garmin stuff works just fine.
No subscription required.
I'd say it's worth 45 minutes of your time.
Alex
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:21 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
It's more of a car GPS, but it's worth the 45 minutes. Can always sell it and buy a hike/bike GPS with the money.
joby
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:27 pm
goes to elevenJoined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 3899Location: The Cloud
Or put it in your car!
tehschkott
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:56 pm
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
It's a 1983 BMW 528e with around 420,000 miles on her - she runs good but has shitty paint. I put that in her and she'll probably get broken into. But I get your point.
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the dreaded ben
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:13 am
Grumpy GreebJoined: 20 Aug 2005Posts: 5329Location: flavor country
make this worth my time and tell me someone found some money somewhere.
surlykat
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:27 pm
Joined: 05 Jul 2007Posts: 658Location: in the CD
I have a Garmin Edge 305 that I bought used off a teammate who upgraded to a PowerTap earlier this year. Battery life is alright, not excellent, but certainly sufficient. The Edge is awesome because it does heart rate and cadence, but you probably only care about that if you're a fucking squid and like to wear spandex and pretend you're Lance Armstrong like me. Dunno about the Nuvi. As was mentioned, you could always sell it and buy something more bike-oriented.
There is no subscription fee for GPS. Turn it on, and it works (assuming you have a clear line of sight to the satellites. Often a problem indoors or in cloudy climates.)
bobhall
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:55 pm
Joined: 28 Jul 2006Posts: 460
Stick with one of these:
ethan
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:44 pm
Joined: 21 Jan 2008Posts: 920Location: Maple Leaf
surlykat wrote:
There is no subscription fee for GPS. Turn it on, and it works (assuming you have a clear line of sight to the satellites. Often a problem indoors or in cloudy climates.)
not to mention tall buildings. :P
curious, have you used your Edge in downtown SEA or EUG, or anywhere w/ tall buildings? cuz the Edge is supposed to be much better under thick tree canopy than a lot of the other GPS units... wondering if the same carries over to the tall buildings issue but i somehow doubt it.
Alex
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:22 am
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
I had an Edge 305 and it worked pretty well downtown. It took a long time to pick up a signal in the first place (especially if you didn't think to turn it on until you were riding), but once it had a signal it kept it.
I think the 605/705 have a newer receiver.
Note that the 305 has no mapping capabilities. I sold my 305 and bought a Vista HCx which is missing the heart rate monitor and cadence sensor, but it's a lot more useful as a GPS.
freemywrld
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:38 pm
Joined: 30 May 2006Posts: 374Location: Lost
IIRC from my friend's Garmin, it has a mode for determining routes for Walking/Biking.
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daywalker
Joined: 09 Nov 2007
Posts: 6108
Location: Hatertown
goes to eleven
Joined: 25 Jul 2005
Posts: 3899
Location: The Cloud
Joined: 18 May 2006
Posts: 3128
Location: Roosevelt
Grumpy Greeb
Joined: 20 Aug 2005
Posts: 5329
Location: flavor country
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Posts: 658
Location: in the CD
Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 460
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 920
Location: Maple Leaf
Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 374
Location: Lost
