Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - garmin 305 or 705

im looking for a new cycle computer .. the garmin 705 looks great with being color .. doing gps .. etc .. just not quite sure i need all that .. the 305 does gps as well ?
or not ?? and is the 705 worth it ?

The Edge 705 has detailed map displays, on-the-fly route finding, etc. If you want a GPS that works like a car navigation system, this is what you should buy. It costs 2-3 times as much as the Edge 305, of course. The Edge 305 is mostly a training tool. It records where you were for later review, but the real-time navigation capabilities are very rudimentary.

damn cant decide

how is the wireless signal of both .. i thought wireless = bad .. unreliable readings ?

I just received my 705 today; therefore, I have not had time to use it but at first glance it is pretty much the same as my 305. The only difference is that the unit is bigger and has a larger display. I really do not care about the map routing but wanted the 705.

I have the cadence kit; therefore, if the unit loses GPS signal, it can still track mileage using the cadence speed unit. The 705 uses the same mount as my 305 so for me the only change for me was the added weight of the 705 and the larger display.

If you have the money... buy the 705 if you do not buy the 305... You really cannot go wrong with either unit.

so the screen on the 705 is bigger and of course color ?
currently i dont have a use for the maps since its getting cold here and im gonna be on my trainer

so maybe the 305 is a better choice currently .. just dont know if its worth spending the money on the 305 when id assume id eventually want a 705

is the screen on the 305 easy to read ?? one of the reasons the 705 is nice its cuz its color

GPS is not useful if you're riding on a trainer. Just get a cheap heart rate monitor (around $50).

well im still going outside till snow falls .. its basically 50/50

I just received my 705 today; therefore, I have not had time to use it but at first glance it is pretty much the same as my 305. The only difference is that the unit is bigger and has a larger display. I really do not care about the map routing but wanted the 705.

I have the cadence kit; therefore, if the unit loses GPS signal, it can still track mileage using the cadence speed unit. The 705 uses the same mount as my 305 so for me the only change for me was the added weight of the 705 and the larger display.

If you have the money... buy the 705 if you do not buy the 305... You really cannot go wrong with either unit.

Are the two halves of the 705 screwed together or are they glued together like the 305?

That glue eventually gives out and your 305 turns off.

Are the two halves of the 705 screwed together or are they glued together like the 305?

That glue eventually gives out and your 305 turns off.

I've had a 705 for a few weeks, now. First, to answer the question, the 705 is screwed together. Second, it is only the MAP display that is in color. The speed, distance, time, heartrate etc. displays are in living LCD black and gray. In addition, the battery run time of the 705 is considerably longer than the 305.

If you have some time, Luv2Climb does a thorough review of the 705 and answers more than 20 pages worth of questions in this thread. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=394187)

I had have both a 305 and a 705. They are, in my opinion, the most feature packed bike computers on the market. What I like about the 705 over the 305 is the display. The letters are larger and easier to read. During the day, both the 705 and 305 are easy to read, but at night, the 705 is much much easier.

I do use the GPS functionality of the 705 though. I can put a ride together using Garmin's Mapsource software and then get turn-by-turn directions.

The 705 will also work with a power meter which I will have some day.

A 705 can be had for less than $400.00.

thanks .. i think i might end up picking up a 705 .. 705 for less then 400 ?? where ?? ive seen the speed cadence one for a bit over 400 ..

Remember that the Edge 705 is sold in lots of different configurations. Any price that looks cheap probably does not come with the cadence or HR sensors or even the map software. Those will add around $200 to the base price.

well i would just pick up cadence version first and pick up the software later

I got a bare-bones 705 on sale from Nashbar a few weeks ago and paid just about 400 when you add in the shipping and tax (Nashbar collects sales tax if there is a brick and mortar Performance store in your state). Even the most basic model comes with the heart rate monitor. I picked up a cadence/speed sensor from fleabay for about fifty bucks shipped. You are much better off buying one WITHOUT the maps preloaded on the micro-SD card. If you buy the preloaded maps, then you only have them on your device. If you buy the "City Navigator NT" you will get the maps on a CD which you copy to your computer, then install onto the 705. You then can use the higher res maps in Garmin's MapCenter to plot rides, which you can then upload to the 705. Plus you have the CD as a back up to the SD card.

im looking for a new cycle computer .. the garmin 705 looks great with being color .. doing gps .. etc .. just not quite sure i need all that .. the 305 does gps as well ?
or not ?? and is the 705 worth it ?

Very simple:
- If you just want real-time data display and logging: 305.
- If you want that, plus GPS navigation: 705