Using Garmin GPS Running Watch Abroad?

mine has worked fine in Italy and Switzerland

Fact - Garmins only work in the US of A.

another average american wrote:

I'm an American and recently was given a GPS watch that I use only for pace and distance (don't care about mapping). I'll be leaving for a 3-month overseas in a few weeks. Does anyone know if the watch will have the same accuracy overseas? (Yes, I know that the G in GPS stands for global, but I could imagine a situation where it would work but not be very accurate.)

It even works better outside the US because you can use it on treadmills. That's a fact the big GPS companies like to publicize.

It will work anywhere on Earth. There is some degradation of performance at very high latitudes, but unless you're taking a seasonal job in Santa's Workshop that shouldn't be an issue.

Citizen Runner wrote:

It will work anywhere on Earth. There is some degradation of performance at very high latitudes, but unless you're taking a seasonal job in Santa's Workshop that shouldn't be an issue.

Actually...I will be living in Sweden, not too far south of Santa's Workshop! Hopefully there won't be too much performance degradation.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

another average american wrote:

Citizen Runner wrote:

It will work anywhere on Earth. There is some degradation of performance at very high latitudes, but unless you're taking a seasonal job in Santa's Workshop that shouldn't be an issue.

Actually...I will be living in Sweden, not too far south of Santa's Workshop! Hopefully there won't be too much performance degradation.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

It will actually work better there since you are closer to the satellites.

I made the switch from Polar to Garmin in 2009 while in Afghanistan. It worked extremely well then. So well in fact I had a 2nd 405 shipped to me and I rotated them so I always had one charged and just for backup purposes as it's not like I could just run to the store to purchase another. Still using both today still.

Why would you need a Garmin to watch a broad? Maybe you meant binoculars?

Just got back from Indonesia. Did not run a lick, but used it for some out of the way hikes and surf ventures. Got me out of the jungle more than once. Wife used it to run a few times and did not complain.

another average american wrote:

I'm an American and recently was given a GPS watch that I use only for pace and distance (don't care about mapping). I'll be leaving for a 3-month overseas in a few weeks. Does anyone know if the watch will have the same accuracy overseas? (Yes, I know that the G in GPS stands for global, but I could imagine a situation where it would work but not be very accurate.)

hey dipshit - they sell garmins all over the world. was that possibly a hint?

GPS = GLOBAL positioning system. was that another hint?

The global thing is an issue...

I have a Garmin 610. Wonderful watch. Used it near the equator, on the 40th latitude and the 51th latitude.

And I have to say that the higher the latitude, the longer it takes the watch gets a fix on the satellites.

Sweden is on what? 60th latitude...

Global wrote:

The global thing is an issue...

I have a Garmin 610. Wonderful watch. Used it near the equator, on the 40th latitude and the 51th latitude.

And I have to say that the higher the latitude, the longer it takes the watch gets a fix on the satellites.

Sweden is on what? 60th latitude...

GPS technology works better on even numbered latitudes so it should work very well in Sweden.

Is this a serious post ? Surely not. Just on the offchance, a Garmin works perfectly fine in the north of Sweden. Mine hasn't missed a beat or a metre in years. Right down to -15 deg C. Life exists elsewhere.

It will work fine there. Or at least as fine as it works for you in the US.

Where in Sweden will you be? Looking for a club?

Visual image in case you are serious-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ConstellationGPS.gif

More than you probably want to know-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System

another average american wrote:

I'm an American and recently was given a GPS watch that I use only for pace and distance (don't care about mapping). I'll be leaving for a 3-month overseas in a few weeks. Does anyone know if the watch will have the same accuracy overseas? (Yes, I know that the G in GPS stands for global, but I could imagine a situation where it would work but not be very accurate.)

If it was purchased in the US, you will need to download the international data packet from Garmin. It's on the website. If you purchased it overseas, you're probably okay. It typically comes standard over there. I'd go ahead and download the latest version though, just to be safe.

another average american wrote:

I'm an American and recently was given a GPS watch that I use only for pace and distance (don't care about mapping). I'll be leaving for a 3-month overseas in a few weeks. Does anyone know if the watch will have the same accuracy overseas? (Yes, I know that the G in GPS stands for global, but I could imagine a situation where it would work but not be very accurate.)

here is the answer wrote:

hey dipshit - they sell garmins all over the world. was that possibly a hint?

GPS = GLOBAL positioning system. was that another hint?

Did you even read my post? I actually mentioned that I knew G was for global...

Just because they sell Garmins all over the world doesn't mean every Garmin will work equally accurately all over the world. I'm just going off my college physics class oh so long ago, but I could certainly conceive of situations where it wouldn't work.

Thanks to those with helpful responses, and particularly for the wikipedia link. Should have checked that out first.

Would definitely be interested in clubs, but I'm not quite sure how flexible my work schedule will be.

10/10

You got them all riled up and bickering at each other even.