I’m feeling pretty guilty and a bit slovenly.
I skipped BPTT today so that I could wait for the postman to bring me my new toy. When it arrived I took it back to bed with me so I could check out its functions, but I didn’t mean for anyone to feel rejected! I hinted at my new love affair in the gadgets page, but I thought we’d all be able to get along fine and just co-habit. You can’t always have your cake and eat it though – someone always gets hurt.
I planned on pitting the two against each other on my familiar 3.5km river track, a sort of duel for my affections. The Polar took pride of place on my left wrist and the Garmin was shifted across to my right but it wasn’t to be. The Garmin just sort of sputtered and powered down. I tried the cardiac restart but no use, it opened its eyes once or twice but gave up when it saw the Polar was still around. I tried reinstalling the latest bio-rhthym software version 2.6 but it was too late. The Forerunner 305 appears to have just given up on me.
So it was just me, the Polar RS800SD and the river. First impressions were not good. The speed and distance readings were half what I knew they jolly well ought to be. I looked to see if I had some irritating credit card man dragging by my ankle but there was no such excuse for going so slow. Decided I would have to calibrate the speed sensor but when I got home and investigated it seems the previous owner had already done it and set the calibration to 0.5. Why would you do that, what sort of crazy running style would require you to make such a drastic step. I wonder if anyone has ever tried one of these watches on their dog, perhaps having extra feet would make the difference.
Can’t wow you with any amazing stats yet because running at 4km/h is just not very amazing and also because I need the optional IR port to connect to my pc. I thought I’d be able to use the sonic link function with my microphone but apparently this model doesn’t use it.
I haven’t given up on the Garmin of course, the support centre have already got back to me about the automatic powering down of the unit and are suggesting that I will need to return it to base. Sounds like a fault with the internal battery. Either that or a broken heart.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
You technotart!
You gave up being shouted at at BPTT for a watch?
And I bet you’ve got like ten of them already…
P.S. On the 305 try the mode and on buttons together…
If that doesn’t work then try:
- putting it in the docking station and letting it charge again…
If that doesn’t work then try:
- put it in the docking station
- make sure Garmin TC is closed but Hollybar is running
- open a command prompt
- type “com -open -USB 1″
- type “step -away_from the_light”
- that should fix it.
You absence at BPTT was noted
Like the new page
Have to admit to “stealing with pride” from Jogblog. I may have to nick your t-shirt page as well if I get a decent one at tomorrows race.
You can’t get away with anything on this interweb thingy.
Great post. It reminds me of the TV ad where the Macintosh takes the piss out of Windows. (It’s an ad we get over here in Oz).
Very good idea about ‘Gadget Page’. May I steal it? The idea that is.
So does your Garmin have a name?? It’s got to have a name!! I notice you have splurged on the 305. My little Percy is only the 205 – but still I don’t know how I’d survive without him.
I went for a run this morning and someone stopped me to ask the time. I’ve got this amazing gizmo sitting on my wrist, but do you think I could tell the time?? I could have told her how fast I was running, even my GPS coordinates – but the time? That was too hard! LOL!!
I can see I’m going to have to get a Garmin. All this gadget talk has me lusting after the latest gizmo. I’m almost afraid to look at your gadgets page.
To think of the time I’ve teased my IT workmates about all their gadgets (boys and their toys). I think I’ll keep my running gadgets very quiet at work!
You’re welcome
Where’s the race report? I’ve been waiting all day. I wanted to enter that one but you had to pay an extra £12 for the t-shirt and chip, and they didn’t have a pic of the t-shirt on their website.