Edge 305

[speedlever]

Just got my 305 bundle today. I found the mini-USB weather cap must have been folded back when it was placed in the box at the factory. The plug will not stay closed on the USB port. Anyone else run into this? If so, how did you fix it?

http://i26.tinypic.com/jslke1.jpg

[daveydave]

I just got my 305 Garmin Edge this week. I didn't have the same problem.

Thoughts on what to do:
a.) use some electric tape
b.) maybe try to provide some type of heat close to only that region (be careful)
c.) return

Good luck. I hope you get this resolved.

Dave

[derath]

Mine kind of does that after having it for the last couple years plugged in charging. If it looks like rain i just put a small piece of tapeover it.

-D

[cccorlew]

Mine doesn't like to plug in, but work with it. It will eventually drop in.

[speedlever]

It goes in, it just won't stay and springs open as in the pic above. Right now I've rubber-banded it closed.

Just got through getting it installed on the bike. I had to finagle it a bit because I wanted to keep the wired Cateye Strada Cadence running in parallel with the 305. I finally figured out a way to make it all work except for the cadence part of the Strada. But that should be no loss.

Now I gotta figure out how to use this new toy.

[brucewiley]

Just got mine and also had the same problem until I finally worked with it and got it in exactly the right position to go fully on. It wasn't getting all the way into the groove near the end where the rubber is connected and just popping back out after a minute. Now it seems to be staying.

[speedlever]

I'll hafta play with it some more. I feel like I've about worn out that cover trying to make it fit and stay. Right now the rubber band is doing the trick. Something this simple shouldn't be such a task to position correctly.

Otherwise, I just got back from a 40 mile ride. Still fine tuning the display options. And learning to hit the start/stop button! I'm so used to the auto on/off of the Cateye that I'll have to learn another step before launching with the Edge.

I find the display (stem mounted) a bit dim unless the sun is behind me. I'd like to move it further up to get it more in my field of view rather than having to look down so much.

Here are my current screens:
BC1
speed/distance
hr/cadence
heading/grade
time/time of day

BC2
avg spd/max spd
avg hr/avg cadence
total ascent/total descent
time/paused time

I ran it in parallel with my wired Strada Cadence and my Polar F11 HRM. Except for once early on, the 305 was right with the Polar. The 305 was also right with the Strada for speed and distance too. (after 15+ miles, the Strada was 0.08 miles ahead of the 305). I find the HRM strap for the Edge to be equally if not more comfy as compared to the Polar strap. (I wore both straps for this ride). The Garmin HRM appears to have a longer range vs the Polar. If I leave the close vicinity of the bike, the Polar loses the HRM signal.

I may keep the Strada on the bike, but plan to take off the Polar and keep it for other activities.

Now to learn the ins and outs of analysis software!

[cccorlew]

It makes sense the Garmin will read fewer miles for the same ride. It measures the distance between points, the bike computer measures how far your wheel actually rolls. I small difference, but a real one.

I too find the display a bit dark, no matter how i set the contrast. The number sare so small I'm going to get my next cycling glasses insert in bi-focal.

I'm a huge fan of Ascent software. If you have a Mac, check it out. If you don't have a Mac... well, it's one more reason you should.

[speedlever]

I did a roll out calibration for the Strada... but that was over 2000 miles ago. So tire wear could have something to do with that too. Still, I thought that was pretty darn close. My overall mileage today was off because I forgot to restart the timer on the 2nd leg for about a half mile. I kept wondering why the grade was showing "---". Then it dawned on me that I'd forgotten to restart the 305.

Regarding the display, I've heard that the newer 605/705 color displays are not as readable as the 305. I've never seen them in person, so I don't know. If I wasn't such a data junkie, I'd display less info and might be able to see it better.

I've got a copy of SportTracks and will try TC and MotionBased. Might give Cyclistats a try too, but it doesn't appear to have any continuing development as the last version is over a year old.

I'm in a Mac free environment! (and plan to stay that way). Probably something to do with being left brained. ;) I enjoy tweaking and upgrading PCs too much to worry with a Mac. I even like Vista/64!

[speedlever]

Just got mine and also had the same problem until I finally worked with it and got it in exactly the right position to go fully on. It wasn't getting all the way into the groove near the end where the rubber is connected and just popping back out after a minute. Now it seems to be staying.

Bruce,

I just fixed my USB port cover! Duh.

Instead of inserting it from the hinge side, I tried to insert it from the open side and rolled it closed towards the hinged end... it fits and stays closed without the rubber band. Son-of-a gun.

Now that I realize that, your post about the end where the rubber is connected (hinge side in my post) makes more sense to me.

[brucewiley]

Bruce,

I just fixed my USB port cover! Duh.

Instead of inserting it from the hinge side, I tried to insert it from the open side and rolled it closed towards the hinged end... it fits and stays closed without the rubber band. Son-of-a gun.

Now that I realize that, your post about the end where the rubber is connected (hinge side in my post) makes more sense to me.

I was just sitting here trying to figure out how to explain that exact method to you! Yup!

Just took mine for a good long ride today and still trying to figure everything out but the plug stayed in place. :)

[carbonlife]

...Still fine tuning the display options. And learning to hit the start/stop button! I'm so used to the auto on/off of the Cateye that I'll have to learn another step before launching with the Edge.

The Edge 305 has auto start/stop! No need to keep hitting the button. Under the Training menu, see AutoPause/Lap.

I just fixed my USB port cover! Duh. Instead of inserting it from the hinge side, I tried to insert it from the open side and rolled it closed towards the hinged end... it fits and stays closed without the rubber band. Son-of-a gun.

I just saw this, but yeah I was going to recommend this technique. I do exactly that, push the open side down first, work my way to the hinge, and the rubber lays down flat.

I display eight fields for my main display! The numbers are easy enough for me to read, but it takes me a little longer sometimes to make sure I'm looking at the right field because the text is so small.

I use SportTracks for the excellent mapping of my rides, but it's annoying that GTC and SportTracks give different figures for various pieces of data.

[speedlever]

The Edge 305 has auto start/stop! No need to keep hitting the button. Under the Training menu, see AutoPause/Lap.

*snip*


I thought I had that setup properly. I have it set to custom and 2.5 mph (auto lap trigger is off). But when I stopped for a while, then got back on the bike and pedaled away, I didn't see any gradient info presented, so I hit the start/stop button and there is a gap of about .4 miles in my ride info. Now I may have messed up the AutoPause feature by hitting the stop/start key.. can't remember exactly. But it seemed to pick up and continue recording at the point I hit the start button a half mile down the road.

But if I understand what you're saying, enabling the AutoPause feature (did I do it right?) should make it respond just like the Cateye ... with the exception of hitting the start button at the beginning of the ride and again at the very end. Is that correct?

I find the user manual lacking in how to actually use the 305.

I use SportTracks for the excellent mapping of my rides, but it's annoying that GTC and SportTracks give different figures for various pieces of data.

Thus far I've played some with TC, MB and ST. Still too new for me to know what I'm doing yet. MB is pretty nice. ST is a bit confusing, but I'm trying to work through the tutorial as I have time.

[brucewiley]

Don't feel alone Speedy, I'm having the same problem understanding this function. But then my excuse is I'm an old fart. :)

Now if I can just get that damn rubber cap back on.

Bruce

[carbonlife]

I thought I had that setup properly. I have it set to custom and 2.5 mph (auto lap trigger is off). But when I stopped for a while, then got back on the bike and pedaled away, I didn't see any gradient info presented, so I hit the start/stop button and there is a gap of about .4 miles in my ride info. Now I may have messed up the AutoPause feature by hitting the stop/start key.. can't remember exactly. But it seemed to pick up and continue recording at the point I hit the start button a half mile down the road.

When I first set it up I also tried setting the pause to trigger at some slow speed, but I remember not being happy with something so I just set it to pause at a full stop. When you come to a stop there is a slight delay, and then there is a beep and the display will say Paused. When you start up again it will beep and say Resume.

It sounds to me like you pressed the Start/Stop button when you came to a stop, because when you pressed it again it functioned as Start.


But if I understand what you're saying, enabling the AutoPause feature (did I do it right?) should make it respond just like the Cateye ... with the exception of hitting the start button at the beginning of the ride and again at the very end. Is that correct?


Yeah, that's how it should work. You understand it correctly. The Start/Stop button starts recording. During recording the auto pause function stops the timer when you stop, and starts the timer when you get going again. Press the Start/Stop button again to stop recording.

I think you just don't remember hitting the Start/Stop button when you came to a stop, that's why you got a little confused about whether it was working correctly!

[speedlever]

Yeah, that's probably what I did. I'll try it again tomorrow and see if I've got it figured out.

[cdalefan]

When I first set it up I also tried setting the pause to trigger at some slow speed, but I remember not being happy with something so I just set it to pause at a full stop. When you come to a stop there is a slight delay, and then there is a beep and the display will say Paused. When you start up again it will beep and say Resume.



I had mine set to zero MPH (full stop) when I first got it so that I could get a true riding average speed. I found that if you are using the speed from GPS, just waving the bike back and forth (like getting or replacing a waterbottle) will register as speed and keep it from stopping the times. I have been using 0.5 mph for mine and it seems to work fine.

[speedlever]

That's a good point. I set mine to 2.5 mph so I could walk the bike without starting the timer. I still have to watch the speed if I walk too fast to keep the timer from starting.

The 305 worked just fine for me today and behaved as expected with the autopause enabled. Now I just have to remember to hit the start button at the beginning of the ride and again at the end of the ride and all is well. That shouldn't be too hard for a 50+er. ;)

I think I'll move the 305 to the bar instead of the stem and see how the display compares to the Cateye. Wish Garmin would take some lessons from Cateye. That Strada is much easier to read than the 305. 'Course it's not showing near as much data either.

[brucewiley]

Hey Speedy

Yeah, getting used to mine now too & hitting the start button (hey, 60 yo here so hope I remember). I also got some of those stick-on bifocal lenses to put on my riding glasses (walmart specials) so I can see all that new data. Kinda cool.

Bruce

[speedlever]

Darn.. forgot to hit the start button again this morning for the first 1/2 mile. It will get better.

Question about the reset button: do you have to hold it down until the countdown is complete for the reset to occur? I assume so and that this is a fail safe in case you accidentally hit the reset button.

Next question: is it necessary to hit the reset button after linking to TC? I'm thinking the 305 resets automagically after the uplink to TC and that reset is redundant. True?

And speaking of stick-on bifocals, that sounds like a good idea. I normally wear contact lenses (gas perms), but not to ride. I wear my glasses for that and thus have no issues reading the data screen. I did move my 305 to the bar from the stem. I think it's easier to read there.

[cdalefan]

I think downloading to TC will reset for you. I, of course, have 100's of 2nd laps that are 100 ft because I forgot to hit the reset between rides.

Yes, you do have to wait until the countdown stops for the reset to be effective. If you are not looking and sloppy like me you will appreciate the "fail safe."

As far as reading the screen. I had everything under the sun displayed on mine when I got it and it was hard to pick out the right field. Now I am down to speed, cadence, time, distance and time of day and it is much easier to read. I look at the rest of it after I download. Think about what you really want to know when you are on the bike.

If any one from Garmin happens to be reading, I would really like to have time and total time. Time, as it is, would be moving time and total time would be button press to button press. Paused time does not download and I'm too lazy to add anyway.

[speedlever]

Thanks for confirming the reset hold procedure.

Yeah, I know what you mean about data and screen readability. I really like to see HR and grade... which would add 2 more to your screen. I could move/delete the heading field as that is not as useful as I first thought.

Here's my latest screen layout:
BC1 - 4 fields
speed
hr/cadence
distance/lap distance

BC2 - 6 fields
time of day
avg speed
heading/grade
time/lap time

Haven't played with the lap feature yet, but if it does what I think (lets me start/stop lap time/distance with a press of the lap/reset button), it may be useful to check intermediate times/distances during a ride.

Most of the averages I won't care about until I download the data.

[brucewiley]

I think it's a good idea to to the reset no matter what. My first ride with the 305 was 6 miles with the wife in the neighborhood. I then reset and went for 40 miles or so. When I downloaded the data, I found that first 6 mile ride lasted for about 40 hours! I must have not reset it or stopped it a couple of days before. Duh.

Bad day to ride here but I went to turn it on this afternoon and the battery is low, I suspect while playing with it last night I must have left it on. Another senior brain fart.

I'll get the hang of it yet, or not. :)

Bruce

[speedlever]

Update on my Edge 305 experience:

1) went back to the original 8 field display I setup earlier in the thread. Just didn't like switching screens to see the data.

2) I am mainly using SportTracks analysis software and like it for the most part. I still use GTC and MB, but tend to prefer ST.

3) Wishes: a firmware update that allows me to set different screen displays per bike. I have not found a way to do that. For instance, I don't have a GSC-10 on a 2nd bike or a rental, thus I wouldn't need the cadence display. But if I modify the display for Bike3 (rental), the display is modified for all bikes.