New Garmin 520 Plus and 130
#1
New Garmin 520 Plus and 130
It doesn't look like anyone has posted about the 2 new Garmin GPS units so here is the info from DC Rainmaker:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/04/...h-mapping.html
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/04/...th-review.html
Long story short the 520 Plus is the 520 with better maps and the 130 is a bit like the old 500 but not actually the old 500.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/04/...h-mapping.html
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/04/...th-review.html
Long story short the 520 Plus is the 520 with better maps and the 130 is a bit like the old 500 but not actually the old 500.
#2
Occam's Rotor
They also completely re-designed their radar tail light. I saw it today at the Sea Otter. Major improvement. I may have to convince my wife she needs my current one.
#3
I pedal in my sleep...
I went ahead a pre-ordered the 520 Plus based on the DCR post and I was a week away from picking up a 520. Good timing Garmin!
#4
Advocatus Diaboli
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I'm not obviously understanding what the new 520 does that the old 520 can't do., Reading the DCR article, you "must have a pre-created route downloaded to the device to navigate with." Ok, I always start this way with a TCX file.
It goes on to say, that once you select the route on the device "it’ll start to ‘calculate’ the turns for your route. And this is where I’ve been having some fairly significant delays..." I don't understand this, a TCX route already has the turns calculated?
It goes on to say, that once you select the route on the device "it’ll start to ‘calculate’ the turns for your route. And this is where I’ve been having some fairly significant delays..." I don't understand this, a TCX route already has the turns calculated?
#5
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Anyway, the turns you are talking about are "course points".
The turns the 520+ has now (in addition) are "turn guidance".
The instructions provided by "turn guidance" are more clear and less-fussy about placement. "Turn guidance" requires routable maps.
"Course points" don't need maps at all.
Last edited by njkayaker; 04-20-18 at 07:45 AM.
#6
Vain, But Lacking Talent
This does present a dilemma for me. I am in the minority that I actually like the touch screen on my 510. I considered getting the 820, but in reality, do I *need* legit maps? I do like to do rides/events where it's best to have a GPS backup, so I use the 510 for that. The 520+ looks nice, but I'd be going back to buttons, which isn't the end of the world. But if I'm going back to buttons it seems like the 130 would do just as much navigation wise as the 510 and be a pretty robust unit like the old 500 and probably have a much better battery life.
On the plus side: I like my 510 and there is no immediate reason to change that. I even get all day battery when needed by adjusting the backlight settings.
On the plus side: I like my 510 and there is no immediate reason to change that. I even get all day battery when needed by adjusting the backlight settings.
#7
I pedal in my sleep...
I'm upgrading from my 500, which will just move to the backup bike. In reality I'll probably never need all the features of the 520 Plus but with the age of my 500, I didn't want it to end up in a bad spot if it finally dies. The maps will be a nice upgrade, and the color screen I won't be used to, but the Trendline routing was also intriguing. In case anyone didn't read the DCR article, here are the differences between the 520/520+ from DCR:
– Added full map set for display of roads/routing
– Added turn by turn navigation capabilities, also route recalculation
– Has Trendline popularity routing engine overlaid atop the new maps
– Added Rider to Rider messaging (introduced on Edge 1030 last summer)
– Added two mountain bike trail apps loaded by default (TrailForks & Yelp)
– Updated Strava Segments algorithm found in Edge 1030 that is more accurate for racing segments
– Added slight differences in data page/field layouts
– Added new Extended Display mode for Garmin FR935/Fenix 5 integration as a secondary display (Edge 820/1030 will get too)
– Beefs up by 2g more than the Edge 520 (63g vs 61g)
My reasoning was with the 27 points ($27) I earned through Clever Training VIP, it nicely offsets the $30 cost over the regular 520 I was going to buy.
– Added full map set for display of roads/routing
– Added turn by turn navigation capabilities, also route recalculation
– Has Trendline popularity routing engine overlaid atop the new maps
– Added Rider to Rider messaging (introduced on Edge 1030 last summer)
– Added two mountain bike trail apps loaded by default (TrailForks & Yelp)
– Updated Strava Segments algorithm found in Edge 1030 that is more accurate for racing segments
– Added slight differences in data page/field layouts
– Added new Extended Display mode for Garmin FR935/Fenix 5 integration as a secondary display (Edge 820/1030 will get too)
– Beefs up by 2g more than the Edge 520 (63g vs 61g)
My reasoning was with the 27 points ($27) I earned through Clever Training VIP, it nicely offsets the $30 cost over the regular 520 I was going to buy.
#8
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Can you enter a postcode or address on the unit, (like the Edge 1000 and 1030), or do you have to create a route on a computer, and then download it?
#9
Senior Member
#10
SuperGimp
It does some other nonsense that I couldn't care less about, like allowing you to send pre-formatted messages to your ride buddies, assuming they also sprung for a 520+
From the DCR Review: the top two lines are the only things that may interest me, but then again, the 520 may work out as well, I need to give it a test run this afternoon.
– Added full map set for display of roads/routing
– Added turn by turn navigation capabilities, also route recalculation
– Has Trendline popularity routing engine overlaid atop the new maps
– Added Rider to Rider messaging (introduced on Edge 1030 last summer)
– Added two mountain bike trail apps loaded by default (TrailForks & Yelp)
– Updated Strava Segments algorithm found in Edge 1030 that is more accurate for racing segments
– Added slight differences in data page/field layouts
– Added new Extended Display mode for Garmin FR935/Fenix 5 integration as a secondary display (Edge 820/1030 will get too)
#11
Occam's Rotor
I just looked for a picture of it on their website and only see the old one.
#12
Senior Member
I've been wondering when they'd upgrade the radar unit, and how. The first gen one works amazingly well as a radar.
#13
SuperGimp
Form factor looks better (I found it on the garmin site) and I'm always a fan of brighter. Seems like the Varia is one of the few Garmin devices that is universally praised, or at least not immediately hated-on.
#14
Vain, But Lacking Talent
For kicks, I found garmin's page on the 510 that I still have. Battery life rated at up to 20 hours. Both the 130 and 520+ are only rated up to 15 hours. I think I'll just stay put for now. I hate charging things so much, I built a dynamo hub on my Crockett so I don't have to deal with charging a headlight.
#16
Woman make me faster
#17
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From what he said, it will forward the screen (or maybe just the fields) from your watch to the head unit. For triathlon, it's a semi-major feature. The 935 and Fenix5 have dedicated triathlon modes, but you typically can't see the watch face while riding, so this allows you to record on your watch but also see the fields on your Edge.
I say "semi-" major because I just have the Edge there anyway while doing my riding, and want more than the four fields available on the watches, so that's not a great answer. I'll just start the Edge once I'm underway.
I say "semi-" major because I just have the Edge there anyway while doing my riding, and want more than the four fields available on the watches, so that's not a great answer. I'll just start the Edge once I'm underway.
#18
Senior Member
J.
#19
Senior Member
This does present a dilemma for me. I am in the minority that I actually like the touch screen on my 510. I considered getting the 820, but in reality, do I *need* legit maps? I do like to do rides/events where it's best to have a GPS backup, so I use the 510 for that. The 520+ looks nice, but I'd be going back to buttons, which isn't the end of the world. But if I'm going back to buttons it seems like the 130 would do just as much navigation wise as the 510 and be a pretty robust unit like the old 500 and probably have a much better battery life.
On the plus side: I like my 510 and there is no immediate reason to change that. I even get all day battery when needed by adjusting the backlight settings.
On the plus side: I like my 510 and there is no immediate reason to change that. I even get all day battery when needed by adjusting the backlight settings.
I know it's trendy to "hate" on Garmin, but I'm tired of their stagnant development and overpriced hardware. As a historical owner of the Garmin Forerunner 201, 205, 110, 220, 230, Edge 500 & 510 and the Etrex 20, I've sampled a bunch of their hardware. It's also a fact you can walk into BestBuy and for $30-40 walk out with a prepaid smartphone, that has a significantly higher res screen that with Bluetooth smart support can do pretty much everything a $280 Garmin does with an assortment of apps.
Garmin's strategy is incremental updates reusing the same hardware as much as possible. I'd bet the Forerunner 235 and 735XT are the same exact hardware, just the 735XT running different software, costing $150 more. The Edge 520+ is probably just a software update to the Edge 520 with minor manufacturing changes. I wouldn't be shocked if manufacturing costs were under $30/unit given the low technology involved.
What I find interesting is their two biggest competitors (Wahoo on the bike front and Suunto on the Watch front) keep innovating and adding features throughout the product life. And in the case of the Suunto, their lowest level watch runs the same software as their highest level - the difference being physical features, size, screen res, battery life, etc.
#20
Occam's Rotor
I'm gonna try that. I had no idea it would work though fabric. I was considering putting it in a saddle bag and cutting a hole for it to "see" cars. (My legs are sufficiently short that it precludes using both a saddle bag and saddle light mount, so I often mount it on a rear rack.)
#21
Senior Member
Is it just me or did Garmin make the new 520 basically the same as the 820? Why would anyone want to pay more for the 820 if the 520 can do 95% on what the 820 can do? The only real difference is 1 has a touch screen and the other does not.
I just got the 820 a couple of months ago. If this 520 was out when I was in the market, I would have gone with the 520 and saved 100.00.
I just got the 820 a couple of months ago. If this 520 was out when I was in the market, I would have gone with the 520 and saved 100.00.
#22
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Is it just me or did Garmin make the new 520 basically the same as the 820? Why would anyone want to pay more for the 820 if the 520 can do 95% on what the 820 can do? The only real difference is 1 has a touch screen and the other does not.
I just got the 820 a couple of months ago. If this 520 was out when I was in the market, I would have gone with the 520 and saved 100.00.
I just got the 820 a couple of months ago. If this 520 was out when I was in the market, I would have gone with the 520 and saved 100.00.
I suspect they were getting hammered by Wahoo, with the Bolt offering better mapping at that price point.
Many have commented they don’t see the point of an 820 now, might was well pick between the 520+ or the 1030, excepting that the 1030 at $600 is absurd.
#23
Senior Member
Do you mean the 520+ ?
I suspect they were getting hammered by Wahoo, with the Bolt offering better mapping at that price point.
Many have commented they don’t see the point of an 820 now, might was well pick between the 520+ or the 1030, excepting that the 1030 at $600 is absurd.
I suspect they were getting hammered by Wahoo, with the Bolt offering better mapping at that price point.
Many have commented they don’t see the point of an 820 now, might was well pick between the 520+ or the 1030, excepting that the 1030 at $600 is absurd.
Yeah, I meant the 520+. It does indeed seem that the 820 has become irrelevant. Guessing soft sales on the 820 and as you said, competition on the lower platforms.
#24
Senior Member
Is it just me or did Garmin make the new 520 basically the same as the 820? Why would anyone want to pay more for the 820 if the 520 can do 95% on what the 820 can do? The only real difference is 1 has a touch screen and the other does not.
I just got the 820 a couple of months ago. If this 520 was out when I was in the market, I would have gone with the 520 and saved 100.00.
I just got the 820 a couple of months ago. If this 520 was out when I was in the market, I would have gone with the 520 and saved 100.00.
https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...ge-1000-50967/
From what I've read, you still can't manually enter an address in on the Edge 520+ nor on the Garmin Connect app.
Last edited by musicmaster; 04-23-18 at 08:28 AM.
#25
Senior Member
![Frown](https://www.bikeforums.net/images/smilies/frown.gif)
What I find interesting is their two biggest competitors (Wahoo on the bike front and Suunto on the Watch front) keep innovating and adding features throughout the product life. And in the case of the Suunto, their lowest level watch runs the same software as their highest level - the difference being physical features, size, screen res, battery life, etc.