Wearable GPS devices

On or about 6/27/05 5:50 PM, thus spake "Stephen P. McDermott, MD"
<mcdermotmassmed.org>:

> Does anyone have any experience with the wearable GPS devices for
> running and such, like the Garmin Forerunner 301, or models from
> Timex? Thanks.

You mean like this? :-)

<http://forgetmenotpanties.contagiousmedia.org/>

m.

--
matt neuburg, phd = matttidbits.com, http://www.tidbits.com/matt/
pantes anthropoi tou eidenai oregontai phusei
AppleScript: the Definitive Guide! NOW SHIPPING...! (Finally.)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596005571/somethingsbymatt
Subscribe to TidBITS! It's free and smart. http://www.tidbits.com/

A guy I work with has the one from Garmin and likes it. He found that when he wore his iPod on the same arm, it interfered with the GPS. Wearing each on a different arm solved the problem. He got the idea by calling Garmin, which I have also done in the past. They have great customer service.

James, Matt and Adam,

Thanks for the advice, James. I think I'll try the Garmin device-I can let you know what I think of it, Adam, if you'd like.

[Please do post back here with any impressions... -Adam]

And Matt, the "forget-me-not panties? with the built-in GPS and unique sensor technology" wasn't exactly what I had in mind-but it's an interesting idea. Is this in the works for one of your TidBITS reviews? Perhaps, for the sake of political correctness and in the spirit of fair play (i.e., "what's good for the gander is good for the goose"), you can get them to introduce a men's line, too.

Thanks again.

Chip McDermott

I have the Garmin ForeRunner 201. It has a serial port interface but connects fine to a Mac via a standard serial to USB converter (you may need to download the latest driver from the manufacturers site though). I believe the 301 connects directly via USB.

The running logbook that comes with the ForeRunner is Windows only. I was able to use it within Virtual PC and it connects and downloads information without any problem. But it's not a really polished program, and the hassles of launching VPC mean that I don't really use it- I still maintain a pencil and paper running diary.

There are some very nice OS X apps from http://www.hiketech.com/ which allow you to manage waypoints, download track data, and superimpose it on a maps or calibrated aerial photos (GEOTiffs). You can make nice diagrams of your runs and get a convincing idea of how accurate the tracking is (eg run up the street one way and down the other, and see how the track overlays the correct sides on a surveyed aerial photo of the same route).

To be honest, after the first rush of enthusiasm for tinkering, I hardly ever connect the ForeRunner to my Mac. I do find it immensely useful while running, though, both in training and while running in an event. I'd feel all at sea if I was reduced to running with just a digital watch now... Cheers,

Michael

I have the Nike Triax Elite -- it does _not_ use a GPS, but rather uses an accelerometer pod that attaches to one's shoe. It also has a heart rate monitor, and both the pod and the HRM wirelessly connect to the watch unit and give you speed/distance/HR data. Best of all, the watch then can wirelessly connect to an included dongle and upload the data to their application, which lets you add information about the workout, download workout sets (where you choose the HR range, speed, etc etc) and the like.

The GPS units apparently aren't bad, but they may not work well in areas with lots of trees or tall buildings to block signals. The accelerometers don't have that issue, and I've found the Nike unit to be _very_ accurate -- it was a whole .01 mile off over a 1 mile test run. However, the accelerometers are only really good for running, and if your stride length changes for some reason (trails or something), the accuracy might be affected a bit. The GPS systems will work for running, biking, kayaking, whatever, although if you run on trails with steep altitude changes, you might find that the distance measurement is inaccurate there too. (I have an odometer on my bike, so if I bike I can easily manually enter the distance into the software and just have the system record the heart rate data.) If you're looking to map data points and later have the coordinates translate to a map of where you ran, you'll need to do the GPS thing, obviously, since the accelerometers don't measure direction.

The item that made the decision easy for me: the Nike Triax Elite is the only one that is Mac-compatible. The USB dongle attached and the software found it without any problem. The software interface is a little bizarre (an obvious port from the PC), but since it's really not all that complex, it's not a big deal. The transfer to Tiger led to a few issues, but that was easily solved via a re-install of the software (the dongle drivers needed reinstallation). I kind of wish they'd use Bluetooth or something so I wouldn't need a silly flashing blue LED dongle, but whatever. You can save multiple workouts on the watch, so if you're out of town and running several times, they'll all be uploaded beautifully without a problem.

All in all, I'm very happy with it.

Peace and Prosperity, Dipesh

-<*>---------------------------------------<*>- Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MS(LIS), PA-C Physician Assistant, Pediatrics Medical Student, Class of 2006 Champaign, Illinois, USA (dipeshnavsaria.com)

Stephen,

I use the timex GPS device with heart monitor. I love it. I bought it to
monitor my heart rate during a run (necessary because of my heart condition)
and upgraded to the GPS device because it didn't cost much more.

What I really like is that it gives me a read out of my pace and the
distance run on my wristwatch. I can match my pace and heart rate
throughout the run. It also provides many time parameters and has alarms
for running to fast or too slow. It will switch between miles and
kilometers (and nautical miles if you are sailing).

It is very accurate and only rarely loses the signal when running through a
forest. I like to run a minimum of 5K - my device will tell me the distance
run no matter which route I chose to run. After having used it for six
months I now feel naked if I don't wear it. I really like the feedback it
gives me.

I have not connected it to my Mac. I don't believe that Timex provides a
port. Personally I feel that is too obsessive. The data would be suspect
anyway. My pace depends on the route, the weather, the party the night
before, my dog and who I meet during the run.

Jo Hauser
28 Osborne Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 4Z9
(613) 730-2646
jhausermac.com

I volunteer for Search & Rescue Canine Team in Sacramento and everyone uses the Garmin Legend. Very nice maps but two disadvantages: Probably too big for running and the screen is grayscale so it may be hard to see in bright light. They are about $170 now.