merider1

Okay, Joel is going to smack me upside my head next time he sees me as I've driven the poor man to drinking I'm sure with all of my complaining about my recent Garmin 305 purchase (not a cheap one, might I add). But I'm so frustrated since it really seems faulty. Granted, I've yet to read the manual, but honestly, they market the stupid thing as "pop it on your bike and go." Yeah, right. My main problem is that mine just goes out without warning and the battery goes low easily. I've yet to have a full ride where I've just loved it.

Finally, I notice that when riding it gets immediate satellite reception, but then will just drop out for about 5 to 10 miles right in the middle of a ride and then pick back up ruining my data for the ride! Is this just indicative of use in Southern Ca? Or everywhere? (Mods, if you're going to move this thread, please make sure there are existing comments on this issue in other areas like Road Forum, etc. - i.e. the Garmin may work just fine in flat land Missouri but frizz out in our mountainous terrain! I really am asking my fellow So Cal riders who use these Garmins in the areas I ride.)

Thoughts? Comments? And before you write, "It's most likely the user and not the gadget,"- DUH, I know that. But, seriously, I just want to know if there are some NON-fans of the 305 Edge on here (I'm seriously considering returning it and going back to my little Cateye that cost $40 and worked just fine!)

Scootcore

how are you charging it? have you updated the units software**********

merider1

I charge it with the cord. And Joel put the data on my laptop. He did it all correctly. But he noticed that it wouldn't turn on (initially) the first time I used it. It may just be I have a faulty Garmin. But since I'm truly a blond when it comes to gadgets, I'm just curious if anyone ELSE has had similar issues and also if anyone ELSE has had a faulty one. It would just make me feel better about replacing it in lieu of returning it!

Brandy

I haven't had any issues other than the battery not lasting for longer rides. I get a low-battery warning about 6 hours in, but it usually lasts for about 10 hours. I haven't read my manual either (Karen actually changed my display for me when we rode last weekend...lol) and haven't done any updates yet.

What is the cell phone charger that everyone is using to extend the battery life?

Scootcore

its made by energizer and i got mine at fry's...its like 20 bucks and works great!

voltman

Anything that does mini-USB. I believe Energizer is a popular one.

awiner

Mine works great.

Make sure you UPDATE both the GPS Chipset firmware and the UNIT Firmware in the Edge however to the latest versions.

Scootcore

try the motionbased message boards...whenever ive had a problem with mine(never the unit, just the silly software that came with it), thats been my savior.....

CynCarvin32

Marry talk to adam about this stuff as he is a Garmin expert for the most part. I just got mine on saturday and Adam showed me the ins and outs of it all and everything is fine. Batt life is an issue for rides over say 8 hrs as it needs a back up batt pack for that.

My only issue with it is that the cal burnt statistic seems over inflated by a factor of almost 2!

merider1

The guys already answered on the cell phone charger, but I can add, Brandy, that it's awesome. It's light and easy to carry and it definitely works! It's just mine (the Garmin itself) going out that has me perplexed. Also, if you have the 305, carry extra batteries with you as it may take two sets of batteries to fully charge it due to the heart rate monitor and cadence thingy (God, I'm hopless). The 205 doesn't need as much juice to recharge. I learned that the hard way.

Scootcore

as far as the dropping of the sattelite goes, that may have something to do with the firmware(if that hasnt been updated). garmin has an updater you can run to keep everything up to snuff, it works great...

Scootcore

the calorie stuff on all of these units is hooey and should be ignored.....

merider1

*sigh* Fine...I'll read the manual - and go on that website, Bill, thank you. And I'll pick Adam's brain (Adam, I'll buy you a beer and a taco. ) I'm leaving Joel alone - he's done all he can do.

merider1

Well, and that is my OTHER complaint! It showed that I had used 12,550 calories at mile 130 on Saturday. NOT.

magicant

What Scootcore said:

What m.e. read:

Scootcore

the manual isnt really that great truth be told. unless of course you want to get waaaay off into what it can do(training, et all...). the garmin site is pretty good though..i think john(jp) is all up in these things as well...i just use mine so i can have the maps afterwards!!!!

Scootcore

nice....!

CynCarvin32

my old polar was far more accurate than the garmin. I think the garmin folk want to keep us happy by making us think we are burning enough calories to eat for a week strait.

Garmin should update how the calculate that stuff since its clearly as you say "hooey!"

merider1

I know you're frustrated with me for calling you TWICE this morning, but you don't have to be mean.

Scootcore

the newere unit softwares have smoothed that out a bit....it also calculates that from the weight you enter either on the unit or through training center, so there may be some bogus number in there....

nygirl777

I'm a Garmin 305 hater........only cause I don't have one

Scootcore

this is one of my favorite points to bring up....who says the polar is right**********??

merider1

Well, without saying my weight, the number that is in there is over (and the default), but even still, there is NO way at the default weight, I would have burned more calories than most men do on the same ride.

Scootcore

like is said...the newer software versions have made some attempt at changing that....seriously....some of my "calories burned" data dropped by as much as a third, sometimes more...

CynCarvin32

well you can read what doctors say is a normal figure for calories burned on a ride of varying difficulties and the back that into what you should be burning. From what I can see the garmin is over inflated by about 35-40% sometimes. Mine said I burnt 2700 calories on a 41 mile ride with not that much climbing (2200 ft). That has to be a bunch of monkey business.

12,555 calories burnt Mary? Thats insane! Thats almost a pound of fat burnt in 1 ride right there!! Ya there is an issue here (not that you need to burn any fat -- im not trying to make the point!).