Originally Posted by
Athens80
I see in the
Garmin Dakota owner's manual (page 29) that the Dakota 20 can be paired with an optional Garmin heart rate monitor and an optional Garmin bike cadence sensor, and display the values on the map page, the compass page, and the trip computer. What does a cyclist get from a fitness Garmin -- a Forerunner or Edge -- that is not available on the Dakota for less money than the Edge 705? I don't see any reference in the Dakota manual to power meters, or to the training functions, for instance.
Interesting.
I'd think that the device displaying the ANT+ data would have to know about what kind of data is being sent to it. For example, since there is no way of telling the speed transmitter what the wheel size is, the conversion of wheel rotation pulses has to be converted to speed at the display/head unit. To be able to display power, I'd guess the display/head unit would have to be preprogrammed to display power. This wouldn't be hard to do but it might be the thing, along with the training functions, that distinguishes the Dakota 20 from the more-expensive Edge 705.
The other thing that distinguishes the Edge 705 is a handle bar mount!
Originally Posted by
socalrider
This feature is available for the Dakota 20, the Oregon 400 series and 550 series.. I think the size of the oregon is why many people did not use it for cycling, but this new model is a little more compact in size, similar to the etrex hcx series in size but more useable screen size.. The screen is being touted in reviews as working better in direct sunlight versus the oregon series..I have seen a couple of reviews on MTB sites praising the new Dakota model..
You are right, why pay 500.00 for a 705 when you can get the dakota for less, even if you factor in buying optional maps, it is still less in price..
Dakota screen size: 1.43"W x 2.15"H
Edge 705 Screen Size: 1.37" x 1.71"
Oregon Series gps: 1.53"W x 2.55"H
It's interesting that Garmin doesn't make this feature very apparent!
The $500 Edge 705 includes the $60 HR monitor and the $13 bike mount. The speed/cadence sensor is an extra $60.
It looks like the Dakota 20 can display non-computed data (basicallly, labeled counts/second), like HR and cadence.
(If I go with at GPS unit, I'd want one that would work for the car, hiking, kayaking, and bicycling. I wonder how well-suited for use in the car the Dakota would be.)