So when I first began running I assumed there was only one legitamite GPS company and that company was Garmin. Now I am finding that Nike Timex Polar and others make GPS watches too. Are there any experienced runners on here who can recommend what they think is the best watch and why?
Just make sure that the GPS is inegrated in the watch, and not an external strap-on unit (early Timex and some Polar). Garmin also makes ono-GPS units that measure distance/pace using a footpod; Polar makes one as well.
I'm not sure if I trust these things, yet. Because are
the readings instantaneous or is there a delay?
What's is the margin of error five, ten, twenty five feet?
How accurate are they? I'm not too spiffy on GPS although
the Garmin Forerunner 910XT at $450.00USD is tempting because it also does swimming laps, identifies strokes, I'd rather do the research before becoming too complacent one of these gizmo's.
I bought a Garmin 400 something on amazon because i knew they have a good return policy. I tried it on 5 routes that i knew the distances already (3 road measured by car and 2 trail that were certified mountain bike courses. I waited until all the satellites were recognized and the accuracy was 16-20 feet before i started. The watch in all cases was at least 10% short of actual distances). I read several reasons for this but i did everything i could to ensure accuracy. It wasn't good enough for me so i returned it. I have talked to others that have nothing but good things to say. I would get one from amazon that you can return if it doesn't suit your needs.
I decided to try out the Nike GPS and I don't think I'll have it much longer. Easily 5-10% off on every run - including perfectly even out and backs on fairly straight roads. Pace during runs is also ridiculous. During a workout the other day I actively watched the current pace during a mile split and never saw it show anything slower than 6:19, when the auto split went off for a mile it said the mile was at 6:22 pace. Since I specifically got it for longer MP and HMP sessions I find it pretty useless.
If anyone has any thoughts on how to improve it's accuracy, or successfully uses a different GPS for the kind of runs I'm looking for I'd love to hear about it.
Has anyone tried the new Timex Marathon GPS?
The one reviewer on Amazon states that it does not give you real time pace/speed but only average pace. Is this true?
Your real time pace will never be accurate. I don't think there is uninterrupted communication between thewatch and satellites. If i am not mistaken readings on location are taken every few seconds and the path between the points is extrapolated. I could be wrong but this is how i see my smartphone doing it with mapmyrun.
I have a love/hate relationship with garmin for about 10 years now. I've had the 101, 201, 205 (2 of them) and now the 405 (actually I think I've had two of them also) I don't use it for every run, but it's pretty close to all.
Pacing - I play with the fields and keep 2 fields for pace - overall average (usually pretty accurate within a few seconds/mile) and lap average and I keep the laps on manual, so I hit the button when I want to reset the pace on the lap, like to do intervals or something like that. There does seem to be a lag, about 20 seconds or so, so if I am doing short intervals I just take a running start before I hit the lap button. It *seems* to be fairly accurate after about 200 meters, definitely 400 meters. So you couldn't really record your pace for a 100 meters or anything like that. 200 meters, there is a better chance, but maybe not. But for the whole run, if not in trails, seems to be fairly accurate.
I really love the fact that I don't have to think about where I am going to run; I just go. I never run on a track. I can do intervals and the fun thing is, that I can also see my pace for recovery.
The thing I don't get is that the technology really hasn't gotten significantly better in the last 4 years.
Great link for reviews -
I have only had garmins and I've never had any problems with accuracy measuring distance (I check it against known courses and tracks ever once in a while). This is over 10 years now and 3 different models - including my current 410. HR is a different matter, though. The soft strap that comes with the 410 has a lifespan of about 4 months. I've been able to get garmin to replace it for free,but, not always easily. Garmin software is getting better, but is still substandard. I've had repeated problems with the battery. This is because of how the code is written THe latest update seems to have cured it - we'll see. I'm thinking about jumping ship and trying the motorala, once I've saved up enough pennies. Here's dc's review of it:
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/11/motorola-motoactv-in-depth-review.html
The primary lures, for me, are 1. I'm old and nearly deaf. THe headphones would help me hear when I'm out of the zone. 2.Direct download of data via wireless.