Garmin Forerunner 305 problems anyone else ? - Gear

Banbert

24/04/2006 at 20:37

Just wondering if anyone else has had a problem with their new 305 ?

I bought mine less than a month ago and had only had chance to wear it a couple of times before yesterdays FLM due an an injury but uptil yesterday i was very pleased with it.

Wore it for yesterdays London Marathon and it was going fine uptil half way (as I was) but then it all seemed to go wrong (for me and my 305 :-) at the same point I did, some point around 20 miles I looked down to see what snails pace I was now going at and found it had switched itself off.

I hadnt knocked it on anything and it was fully charged the night before so I was a bit peeved as to why it was switched off and even more so when it wouldnt switch back on via the power button.

After a few pushes off the on button not reviving it I decided to forget about it and concentrate on my staggering instead.

After crossing the line I noticed it had strangely switched itself back but also I could see that there was water inside it.

I know it was quite a wet race yesterday but these things are meant to be waterproof upto 1 metere for an hour or something arent they ?

Anyway gonna call wiggle (where i bought from) first thing in the morning to see what I have to do to get it sorted but was wondering if anyone else had had a similair problem with one ?

Wore my forerunner 101 in all sorts of weathers and never had a problem and had to have the cover off every few runs to change the batteries so I am a little surprised this has happened with the 305.

DM 1

26/04/2006 at 15:48

Hi Banbert,

I have had mine for a month now and not had anything like that happen. The only issues I have is that I live in quire a hilly area and it takes ages to get a fix but once it has one it is very good.

If I were you I would return it and get a replacement or at least it can be returned to Garmin for them to examine it.

Just one thought what did the unit read when you uploaded it to the training centre??

Banbert

26/04/2006 at 15:59

Hi DM 1

Looking at the lack of responses and the positive one form you is quite reassuring as I have been very pleased with how mine performed up to this Sunday so hopefully its an isolated problem that I have.

I think i must be tired (even though dont feel it) because I meant to upload the data, but completely forgot and have now merrily sent it on its way back to Wiggle after going through their returns process.

Sounds like they will just replace it straight away (from the automated responses) which is great service and will keep me buying from them in future if thats the case.

Doh doh and double doh .. I would have liked to see what it said about teh first half of the race ;-(

Ta for the feedbac about your unit.

DM 1

26/04/2006 at 16:02

Hope the second units works out better, glad to hear wiggle is top notch as thats where I got mine from.

carol moir

27/04/2006 at 09:39

For the price, I'm disappointed in the calorie calculation (approx 300 per mile).

I'm also probably being thick, but can you actually have the heart rate showing in one of the main boxes and not just as a dot in the corner?

DM 1

27/04/2006 at 10:26

Hi Carol,

You can configure the screens to show what you want ranging from GPS accuracy to HRM.

You do it through the settings menu, can't remember of the top of my head as I have not got it in front of me. I will post this evening if no one jumps in before me.

carol moir

27/04/2006 at 10:55

DM1 many thanks

I did read that, but couldnt get past selecting 4 options - I wasn't then able to change the existing options

DM 1

27/04/2006 at 16:44

In a fit of complete boredom and waiting to go home I have looked up how to change the displays on the 305. So here goes:

1) Press mode until you get to the options/settings page
2) Use the Arrow keys to scroll down to the Settings Page. Then Select General then Data Fields
3) Select the page that you want to change
4) Then select the number of fields to be displayed
5) Then use the up and down arrow keys along with enter to select the fields that you want to display.
6) Use mode to exit once happy.

I hope that helps, I was bored enough to download the manual from Garmin. If you need any more info just yell and I shall go through it in more detail this evening once I get back from my run.

Hurrah now only 17 mins left!!!!

Banbert

27/04/2006 at 17:30

Looks like wiggle have sent me a replacement 305 today (got an email and checked my account online with em) which is great service if they have, always worry about service when buying from an online retailer but they will keep my future business based on their performance on this one so far !

Steve J

27/04/2006 at 19:56

i bought a 205 from Wiggle (not interested in heart rate monitor etc) and it would not charge. Sent it back on Monday and new one arrived this morning so another vote for Wiggle - never had a single problem in any order i have placed with them. As you say Banbert they have got my business from now on.

carol moir

28/04/2006 at 07:27

DM many thanks - I've sussed it with your help.

The next thing will be the virtual training partner - have you done this - is it easy?

DM 1

28/04/2006 at 09:07

Hi Carol,

I have only played with this on a course as I am not racing myself at the moment but I have got it working with little fuss. If you need a hand let me know.

GymAddict

28/04/2006 at 19:05

I am actually on my third. Have been for one run so far and apart from the bonkers calories (200 a mile for me) it seems pretty good so far. Both of the others i had just wouldn't pick up and retain a signal but I got mine from sweatshop and they have been first class about it all.

(I was getting pretty paranoid about it).

Dina Mo

29/04/2006 at 13:59

Only used mine twice and have had no problems really.... the buttons froze once but you just press mode and lap reset and its ok....again, calories, about 200 per mile for me too ???? I like that part ;)

Rats

03/05/2006 at 14:36

Anyone know what the coverage on this is like? I'm looking at getting the new garmin forerunner 305, but am currently working (and living) in southern sweden, is there somewhere that shows the european coverage? I'm only here for another 2 months, so will predominately be using it in the UK, option is to buy it next weekend when back in the UK or wait until i'm back for good mid july, hmmm...

DM 1

03/05/2006 at 14:47

Hi Rats,

As it is basically a GPS system you should get coverage. However this can be effected by your environment i.e. Mountains and tall buildings, heavily wooded areas will effect the signal that you receive from the satellites. For example I have issues getting reception as I step out of my front door due to the surrounding town houses however 200 yards away I pick up excellent signal strength.

To see if anyone is using the 305 in your area have a look on motion based and see if anyone has uploaded any routes from where you live. You will have to register but it is free. Have a look at motionbased.com

Hope that helps

Banbert

03/05/2006 at 15:08

As DM1 has already said coverage is worldwide and motionbased will show you how many people are using a GPS and motionabsed in your area.

I subscribe to motionbased and certainly theres quite a few users of the system in Sweden, selecting Sweden as a filter shows up 2,445 trails that have been uploaded to motionbased.

Training Centre that comes with the 305 and 205 is very good but Motionbased just takes the possible analysis to another level... tis all very motivating !!

IronChamp

04/05/2006 at 22:43

I bought mine last month and after a couple of weeks, I cannot load/dump to Training Center. The problem is that it seems to be shorting (and gone black) on the left-most contact of the 4. I understand this is a known problem (and not resolved by cleaning it).

So, I'm a bit miffed I wont be able retain my courses etc. when replaced.

Keep u posted how that goes.

Rats

05/05/2006 at 11:45

Well it's been ordered, thanks Banbert & DM 1. The only annoying thing now is waiting until next weekend until i go home, rather frustrating knowing it's waiting for me on my door step! Fingers crossed it will work in southern sweden, mountains and tall buildings are definately not a problem here, it's as flat as a pancake!!!

Woody from 24

22/05/2006 at 13:01

Had an interesting problem a couple of times now. I use it for walking as well as cycling and running. When walking, if I stop for lunch I leave it on but stationary for a while. When I down load it i find I have been to some wierd and wonderful places well in excess of the speed of sound and a 10 mile walk turns into a 250 mile round trip. Anybody else get this?