Which GPS do you use and why?
#51
Junior Member


Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 193
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From: North New Jersey
Bikes: Specilized Roubaix, 71 Raleigh Professional, 74 Raliegh Intl, 74 Peugot PX-10, 82 Puegoet PSN, Olmo Competition , Schwinn High Sierra & Others
Best Buy has the Garmin Edge 200 listed as a deal of the day for $99.99. If your looking for something basic and just want to track you route.
#52
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 879
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From: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda
Do any of the Garmin users use the Livetrack function? I have an 810 and while I'm happy with it for the most part the Livetrack function has stopped working. The recipient gets the e mail inviting them to the activity but when it's opened there is no info there. I have tried uninstalling and re installing Garmin Connect from the phone (Galaxy Edge 6) but no dice. Garmin support was really no help and I've thrown in the towel and stopped trying to get it to work. Just wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem and if so how have you dealt with it.
#53
I use Live Track all the time. It was still working as of this weekend on my Fenix 3 (with an Android phone). So it's probably not a sever issue.
Have you tried removing your Edge in GCM and re-adding it, re-doing the pairing?
Have you tried removing your Edge in GCM and re-adding it, re-doing the pairing?
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 879
Likes: 136
From: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda
Yes I have un-paired/re-paired the Edge from the phone to no avail.
#56
I have a few dedicated GPS devices, all of which contradict most everything in this post. Simpler bike-specific GPSs get 15-20 hours on a charge. All of the GPSs I have get 5-meter accuracy unless I'm in an area of heavy forest cover, and they have been accurate and reliable for me.
That said, for navigating in the backcountry, I think it's essential to know how to use a map and compass. On a road bike, not so much.
That said, for navigating in the backcountry, I think it's essential to know how to use a map and compass. On a road bike, not so much.
You get 5 meters if and only if there is no heavy cloud cover, forests or if you are riding in canyon or among tall buildings.
GPS altitude is mostly off without barometer. Altitude gained is usually wrong and tends to vary wildly among devices and apps.
Max speed is sometimes ridiculous, distance covered often inaccurate.
Meh.
#59
I'm doing it wrong.

Joined: Jun 2009
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Bikes: Rivendell Appaloosa, Rivendell Frank Jones Sr., Trek Fuel EX9, Kona Jake the Snake CR, Niner Sir9
I've thought about upgrading my 500 unit to something with live strava segments but the unit still keeps on keeping on fine.
#60
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,293
Likes: 1,771
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
Less than a day compared to months on non-gps cyclocomputer is anything but good.
You get 5 meters if and only if there is no heavy cloud cover, forests or if you are riding in canyon or among tall buildings.
GPS altitude is mostly off without barometer. Altitude gained is usually wrong and tends to vary wildly among devices and apps.
Max speed is sometimes ridiculous, distance covered often inaccurate.
You get 5 meters if and only if there is no heavy cloud cover, forests or if you are riding in canyon or among tall buildings.
GPS altitude is mostly off without barometer. Altitude gained is usually wrong and tends to vary wildly among devices and apps.
Max speed is sometimes ridiculous, distance covered often inaccurate.
The rest of it doesn't appear to be related to anything real.
If you don't want to record your track (or use navigation), GPS is overkill (and it would generally be more resonable to use a cheaper cyclometer).
Though, being able to not need a wheel sensor is sometimes convenient (when renting a bike, for example).
================
The accuracy is usually much better than 5 meters.
GPS doesn't really work for elevation (a barometer is considered the best option).
I have both a GPS and a non-GPS cyclecomputer. The results I get from both (speed, max-speed, distance, elevation-from-barometer) match very closely. I've never seen a max speed that was ever "ridiculous" (typically, it's a bit lower than that reported by my cyclometer).
If you want navigation, you need a GPS.
Last edited by njkayaker; 11-10-15 at 12:37 PM.
#61
A barometric altimeter isn't necessarily better than GPS for altitude. It's better when it's been calibrated for the conditions it's being used in, when the elevation gain isn't huge, and especially in warm weather. For large gains and particularly in cold weather, GPS gives better results. At least a modern GPS with a good antenna and a good fix.
You can test this yourself by setting up a field for baro elevation and another field for GPS elevation. Calibrate the barometer then view them side by side next time you're on your bike.
You can test this yourself by setting up a field for baro elevation and another field for GPS elevation. Calibrate the barometer then view them side by side next time you're on your bike.
#62
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,293
Likes: 1,771
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
GPS was designed more for horizontal positioning.
https://gpsinformation.net/main/altitude.htm
https://www.xcmag.com/2011/07/gps-ver...nitive-answer/
https://weather.gladstonefamily.net/gps_elevation.html
https://support.garmin.com/support/s...00000000000%7D
Once the vertical datum is taken into account, the accuracy permitted by geometry considerations remains less than that of horizontal positions. It is not uncommon for satellite heights to be off from map elevations by +/- 400 ft. Use these values with caution when navigating.
And cyclists are, maybe, more interested in elevation gain than really makes sense. It's used as a measurement of ride effort but it misses accounting for grade.
If GPS was better than a barometer, Garmin likely wouldn't be adding them to more expensive units.
(Keep in mind that we are talking about GPS units on bicycles.)
Last edited by njkayaker; 11-10-15 at 03:51 PM.
#63
Mine have been so consistent with wheel-based approaches that I don't even bother with those anymore -- I just stick the thing on any bike and go. Sounds to me like your unit has an issue or doesn't do its task all that well.
Use whatever makes you happy.
#64
Nope, I usually get 3-m accuracy. And water vapor (cloud cover) has virtually no effect on GPS signals. Solid obstructions between the GPS and the sky do, so if you cycle frequently in slot canyons or in big cities with a high density of skyscrapers, you'll have trouble. GPSs that use both the US and Russian satellites do pretty well in all but the densest of forest cover.
As others have mentioned, elevation is at best so-so with GPSs (+/- ~10%), so the better ones come with barometric altimeters. Of course, if the barometric pressure changes during a ride, those become less useful too. If you upload your rides to most any of the more popular sites, they will correct elevation based on your route.
Mine have been so consistent with wheel-based approaches that I don't even bother with those anymore -- I just stick the thing on any bike and go. Sounds to me like your unit has an issue or doesn't do its task all that well.
Use whatever makes you happy.
As others have mentioned, elevation is at best so-so with GPSs (+/- ~10%), so the better ones come with barometric altimeters. Of course, if the barometric pressure changes during a ride, those become less useful too. If you upload your rides to most any of the more popular sites, they will correct elevation based on your route.
Mine have been so consistent with wheel-based approaches that I don't even bother with those anymore -- I just stick the thing on any bike and go. Sounds to me like your unit has an issue or doesn't do its task all that well.
Use whatever makes you happy.
I don't use Strava at all, and only Ride with GPS or Bikemap occasionly so uploading is unimportant.
So, yes, whatever works.
#65
iPhone 6 in back pocket, Wahoo RFLKT on the handlebars, iPhone running Cyclemeter. The RFLKT shows me all the stats I need (speed, cadence, HR, time, distance on the main page, others at a click), and the phone loads my ride to Strava the minute I finish. In this configuration GPS drains my iPhone 6 about 5-7% of battery per hour (used to be 10% but in iOS9.1 Apple have been really pushing on battery life improvements), i.e. less than if I was sitting on my butt in my office where I'd be using my phone periodically to check Facebook and the like.
Unfortunately in your case, if you put it in airplane mode, your Wahoo (bluetooth) device won't get anything.
Last edited by kbarch; 11-11-15 at 06:02 AM. Reason: add disclaimer about certain phones
#66
Speaking of battery life, and maybe you already know this, but you can put your up-to-date iPhone in airplane mode and still track your ride (this doesn't work on all phones - evidently iOS 8.2 and some other devices also shut off GPS in airplane mode). I discovered this when riding around the countryside, and realized that the phone's search for signal was draining the battery. I wanted to still have some power when I got to stopping points, so I put it in airplane mode, but didn't bother to stop Strava. To my surprise and delight, when I got to the end of the ride and switched airplane mode off for the last time, I found that when I hit the finish button on Strava, it had traced the whole ride - I had expected it to just jump straight to the end.
Unfortunately in your case, if you put it in airplane mode, your Wahoo (bluetooth) device won't get anything.
Unfortunately in your case, if you put it in airplane mode, your Wahoo (bluetooth) device won't get anything.
#67
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,293
Likes: 1,771
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
As others have mentioned, elevation is at best so-so with GPSs (+/- ~10%), so the better ones come with barometric altimeters. Of course, if the barometric pressure changes during a ride, those become less useful too. If you upload your rides to most any of the more popular sites, they will correct elevation based on your route.
#68
Senior Member


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 15,293
Likes: 1,771
From: Far beyond the pale horizon.
During my rides I will usually reach max speed in a canyon. Of course, road is at the bottom, with cliffs and a lot of tall trees around. This is exactly where my phone app (tried iPhone and Android) would lose a signal for a short time which would result in wrong position and speed. Since it is exactly the place I like my max speed recorded this is not working for me.
I don't use Strava at all, and only Ride with GPS or Bikemap occasionly so uploading is unimportant.
So, yes, whatever works.
I don't use Strava at all, and only Ride with GPS or Bikemap occasionly so uploading is unimportant.
So, yes, whatever works.
If you aren't navigating or recording your ride, GPS is overkill.
For your interests, a GPS isn't really the right tool.
Nothing is perfect but GPS works well. And for navigation and recording rides, GPS is the only option.
Last edited by njkayaker; 11-11-15 at 09:08 AM.
#69
Junior Member

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 82
Likes: 17
The only thing correct about this is the need for the barometer and the much-lower battery life of GPS units.
The rest of it doesn't appear to be related to anything real.
If you don't want to record your track (or use navigation), GPS is overkill (and it would generally be more resonable to use a cheaper cyclometer).
Though, being able to not need a wheel sensor is sometimes convenient (when renting a bike, for example).
The rest of it doesn't appear to be related to anything real.
If you don't want to record your track (or use navigation), GPS is overkill (and it would generally be more resonable to use a cheaper cyclometer).
Though, being able to not need a wheel sensor is sometimes convenient (when renting a bike, for example).
Of course the price is 7x that of a normal computer and you can't use it on the rollers. And it needs charging after every few rides.
#70
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,843
Likes: 16
From: Central PA
Bikes: 2016 Black Mountain Cycles Monster Cross v5, 2015 Ritchey Road Logic, 1998 Specialized Rockhopper, 2017 Raleigh Grand Prix
Speaking of battery life, and maybe you already know this, but you can put your up-to-date iPhone in airplane mode and still track your ride (this doesn't work on all phones - evidently iOS 8.2 and some other devices also shut off GPS in airplane mode). I discovered this when riding around the countryside, and realized that the phone's search for signal was draining the battery. I wanted to still have some power when I got to stopping points, so I put it in airplane mode, but didn't bother to stop Strava. To my surprise and delight, when I got to the end of the ride and switched airplane mode off for the last time, I found that when I hit the finish button on Strava, it had traced the whole ride - I had expected it to just jump straight to the end.
Unfortunately in your case, if you put it in airplane mode, your Wahoo (bluetooth) device won't get anything.
#72
A GPS in a typical phone (often with the disadvantage of being stuffed in a jersey pocket) does not equal the GPS in a dedicated GPS device.
During my rides I will usually reach max speed in a canyon. Of course, road is at the bottom, with cliffs and a lot of tall trees around. This is exactly where my phone app (tried iPhone and Android) would lose a signal for a short time which would result in wrong position and speed. Since it is exactly the place I like my max speed recorded this is not working for me.
I don't use Strava at all, and only Ride with GPS or Bikemap occasionly so uploading is unimportant.
So, yes, whatever works.
I don't use Strava at all, and only Ride with GPS or Bikemap occasionly so uploading is unimportant.
So, yes, whatever works.
#73
That's basically correct. Also it was designed for military navigation use but it works pretty well for civilian applications too. Just like it works pretty well for elevation as long as you have a good antenna. Even if you've read some older articles.
You don't seem to understand how the stuff works so I'll leave it at that.
You don't seem to understand how the stuff works so I'll leave it at that.
#75
During my rides I will usually reach max speed in a canyon. Of course, road is at the bottom, with cliffs and a lot of tall trees around. This is exactly where my phone app (tried iPhone and Android) would lose a signal for a short time which would result in wrong position and speed. Since it is exactly the place I like my max speed recorded this is not working for me.
I don't use Strava at all, and only Ride with GPS or Bikemap occasionly so uploading is unimportant.
So, yes, whatever works.
I don't use Strava at all, and only Ride with GPS or Bikemap occasionly so uploading is unimportant.
So, yes, whatever works.




