I just got a Garmin 305 and after my BRICK yesterday I loaded the software and it looks very cool. Does anyone use the software and if so can you share any tips on how you use it?
Which 305 did you get? The Edge or the Forerunner? There is a Garmin email list (GarminF) run off of Yahoo Groups which is pretty active, and has a searchable archive for a variety of programs that can accept, display, and analyze your workout data. Most of the authors of these programs hang out over there.
If you got the Forerunner, there are 2 things that don’t work very well:
- the altitude data is way too noisy to be useful for much as it lacks an altimeter that the Edge has
- the
Current pace' data field will bounce all over the place. If what you want is your current running pace, then uselap pace’, with a lap distance set to something like a mile.
Garmin software shows why it is that Garmin makes GPS’ as opposed to being a software company. 
TrainingCenter is good for summarizing. The mac version is worse than the PC version. It does have a bug where it will reimport your multisport/other activities every time you download. So, no, you haven’t done 10x what you expected in distance.
All that being said, it’s still fun.
-Jot
I agree I set the autolap to a mile use the average pace lot’s more stable…
While the altitude on the gps only forerunner is noisy
the problem is garmin doesn’t filter it very well.
There are other programs out there. I use topofusion
which do a good job filtering the altitude data so you can view a good profile… Once filtered you see a pretty good profile matchs up with my polar altimeter data and topo
as far as shape of the profile and relative altitudes along the way… BUT if your talking about total climbing type numbers and descent then thats more a problem with the algorithm you use once you filter the data.
It will be way off if unfiltered.
I don’t know if motionbased filters or not they guys that came up with motionbased work for garmin after garmin bought them few years ago.
I do know speed and distance on the bike are pretty good but running when you turn corners or run trails back and forth you won’t get as accurate but on the open road it’s pretty good…
How accurate do you want anyway does it matter.
I train on time and heartrate anyway gps is just there for fun and so I can download my routes get a general idea of my heartrate and pace/speed after the fact
which is fun to do… Topofusion allows you to creat your own laps takes the data splits it up in increments chosen by you .1,.5,1,5 whatever miles which is interesting.
I just have the free watermarked topofusion(think full version is $45 not sure) but it’s pretty good will download aerial photos,sat photos
and topo maps and overlay your tracks on it and I believe you can create a pseudo 3d view as well… I’ve also downloaded my trackes using get301tracks.exe(see the yahoogroups garmin forum) and then input into google earth…
Google earth plus(20 bucks a year) will talk directly
to your garmin to download as well.
I would recommend uninstalling the software that came with the Garmin unit and using the free software called Sporttracks. It is incredible.
Download here: http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/
Get TopoFusion at www.topofusion.com
It slices, dices, and can cut through a tin can. And calculate your power output in watts. And correct the crummy GPS altitude data using NASA and Terraserver. And generate GOVSS scores. Everything you need and nothing you don’t.
The demo is fully functional, and is free forever.
Phil
Darn! Beat me to it.
Can you pass along Terry’s e-addy.
Saw JZ out in the foothills yesterday but we were going in opposite directions. Didn’t get to talk.
Hope all is well.
I agree with AJhull. The sportstracks software is amazing. Links right up to google maps and gives you some very accurate layouts.